Kaneo vs Kanboard
The Kanboard alternative with a modern interface
Kanboard is admirably small and famously plain. Kaneo keeps the small footprint and gives your team something they will want to look at every day.
Short answer: is Kaneo a good Kanboard alternative?
Kaneo and Kanboard are both MIT-licensed and simple to self-host. Kanboard is a minimal PHP application that runs almost anywhere, including on SQLite. Kaneo is a modern React and PostgreSQL app with realtime boards, workspace roles, time tracking, integrations, and an optional managed cloud.
- License
- MIT for both
- Hosting
- Kanboard is PHP with SQLite or MySQL. Kaneo is Docker plus PostgreSQL
- Single sign-on
- Built into Kaneo, plugin-based on Kanboard
- Pricing
- $0 self-hosted for both, Kaneo Cloud from $4 / month
Kanboard details checked on 19 August 2026. Kanboard, Kaneo pricing.
Why teams choose Kaneo
Adoption, not just installation
Kanboard installs in minutes and then people avoid opening it. Kaneo is built to be the tab your team actually keeps open.
Team features in the core
Workspaces, roles, notifications, integrations, and SSO come with Kaneo rather than arriving as separate plugins to keep updated.
Still small
One container plus PostgreSQL, with a Helm chart if you are on Kubernetes. Kaneo is not the heavy option in this comparison.
When Kanboard is the better choice
Kanboard's footprint is remarkable: PHP, an SQLite file if you want, and it will run happily on the cheapest VPS you own for years without attention. If minimal resource use and total simplicity are what you value, it is hard to beat.
Kaneo vs Kanboard, answered
Is Kanboard still maintained?
Yes. Kanboard is MIT licensed and still receives releases. Its design is deliberately conservative, and much of its extra functionality comes from community plugins.
Kanboard or Kaneo for a small team?
Kanboard if you want the smallest possible install and do not mind a plain interface. Kaneo if you want realtime boards, backlog planning, roles, and SSO without assembling plugins.
What are Kaneo's system requirements?
A small VPS is enough. Kaneo runs as a single container alongside PostgreSQL, and there is a Helm chart for Kubernetes deployments.
Does Kaneo have a plugin system?
No. Kaneo extends through its public API, outgoing webhooks, API keys, and an MCP server rather than in-process plugins.