20 Best Kanban Board Apps For Organizing Projects in 2024 (Features & Pricing Reviewed)

From WWII Spitfires through Toyota’s just-in-time manufacturing to software development, Kanban has been everywhere. For over 80 years, the framework has redefined productivity and changed the way we get things done. In today’s article, we take a look at some of the best Kanban software for your team.

While you can rock Kanban with a simple analog setup, adopting a digital workflow will help you make the most out of the method. So, why don’t you take a look at our list of the best Kanban apps in the wild and take your pick?

📌 What Is Kanban and What Can You Use It For?

“The slower but consistent tortoise causes less waste and is more desirable than the speedy hare that races ahead and then stops occasionally to doze. The Toyota Production System can be realized only when all the workers become tortoises.”

Taiichi Ohno, Father of the Toyota Production System

Who Is the Father of Kanban?

The history of Kanban started back in the 1940s with Taiichi Ōno, an employee of a Japanese automaker Toyota. Facing the economic slump that hit Japan after WWII, Ōno looked for ways to curb wasteful practices and improve overall productivity at the company.

Kanban Storage Area, image by Toyota Global⁽¹⁾

Long story short, Ōno came up with a set of improvements that would later become the Toyota Production System (TPS). One of the key elements of the overhaul was “Kanban,” a system of cards meant to optimize the process of restocking raw materials.

What Is Kanban for Software Development?

After years of successful application in manufacturing, Kanban caught the attention of white collars. If Taiichi Ōno was the father of Kanban for big-scale production, David J. Anderson is the father of Kanban for software development and knowledge work.

Similar to the original concept, the Kanban Method is a process of gradual workflow improvement. It helps software development teams manage projects and tasks by visualizing workflows as a board, with cards and columns representing tasks and steps in a process.

And this is when digital Kanban boards come into play.

What Are the Benefits of Kanban Board Apps?

Compared to the analog corkboard-style workflow, digital Kanban gives software development teams much more control over the process. It also makes Kanban perfectly useful as a collaboration tool for a fully remote team which can easily access and modify boards on the go.

One of the key features of Kanban is breaking down project tasks into smaller actionable task cards. This makes the Kanban methodology a go-to for agile teams.

Other key features of Kanban apps include:

• ⚡️ Real-time synchronization and cloud backup
• ⚡️ Visual aids like icons and color-coded tags
• ⚡️ User-friendly UI and drag-and-drop editing
• ⚡️ Collaboration features (video conferencing, chat)
• ⚡️ Integrations with business-grade apps and tools
• ⚡️ Real-time progress tracking and project overview
• ⚡️ Analytics, reporting, and administration tools
• ⚡️ Security features like encryption and 2FA
• ⚡️ And more…

A Kanban framework coupled with the best Kanban software will help you bring order to the most complex projects. Your team will always know what needs to be done, how to prioritize work, and what tasks should end up on the back-burner.

🌟 Compare the Best Kanban apps In 2024

Finding the best Kanban tools for your team can be a time-consuming task. And since Kanban is all about saving time and resources… we’ve done the heavy lifting for you! Here are 16 awesome Kanban task management tools for your team. 👇

1. Taskade
2. Trello
3. Kanban Tool
4. KanbanFlow
5. MIRO
6. Notion
7. Zenkit
8. Todoist
9. Workflowy
10. ClickUp
11. Wrike
12. Airtable
13. Jira
14. Kanbanize
15. Kanban Zone
16. Bitrix24
17. Whimsical
18. Wrike
19. TickTick
20. Asana

Taskade

If project management is magic, Taskade is an archmage. With instant synchronization, powerful AI features, and real-time collaboration, Taskade is one of the best Kanban tools and team collaboration platforms on the market.

To build a Kanban workflow in Taskade, simply create a new Project (click here to learn how) and select the Board view. All that’s left is to populate the digital whiteboard with as many boards and cards as you like. You can also pick one of the 1000+ free templates to get started quickly.

Don’t want to waste time setting things up?

Tap into the power of the 🪄 AI Generator and let Taskade AI do the heavy lifting. Create complete Kanban frameworks, structure documents, generate tasks, and plan all kinds of projects in seconds, all based on natural-language prompts. So you can focus on the work that really matters.

Of course, every Kanban board in Taskade can be customized and tailored to your teams’ needs. That includes color-coded tags, different types of to-do lists, formatting options, and even emojis. Because Kanban doesn’t have to be boring!

Taskade Kanban Features at a Glance 👀

• Powerful AI Integration. Uses the latest GPT-4 Turbo model from OpenAI to streamline you Taskade workflow (check the video below to learn more).
• Drag-and-Drop Navigation. Reorder cards/columns, prioritize tasks, and move elements of your Kanban workflows by dragging them across the screen.
• Board Cross-Linking. Connect boards with hyperlinks to quickly navigate between tasks, cards/columns, content blocks, and individual projects. 
• Free Video Conferencing. Video conference and chat with your team in real-time, in the same window, without leaving the app.
• Customize the Workflow. Customize columns/cards and individual tasks. Pick checkbox styles, apply colors, or add emojis anywhere you like.

• Zoom In, Zoom Out. Get a bird’s-eye view of the workflow by zooming out on all project views. Zoom in to see all the details, down to a single task dependency.
• Keyboard Shortcuts. Format lists, reorder elements, and complete tasks without taking your hands off of the keyboard! 
• Undo/Redo. Undo any edits to the workflow like you’d in a text editor. Reverse changes even when collaborating with other team members.
• Project and Version History. See all changes made by you and your team members. If you encounter any issues, simply restore a project snapshot with a single click.

• Copy Tasks/Sub-Tasks. Copy column/card elements directly to other boards in a shared workspace, subspace, or project. Receive a notification on completion.
• Multi-Select. Modify or bulk assign many board elements at once. Select several tasks and task dependencies to copy, paste or reorder.
• Folding/Unfold Lists. Create high-level nested lists. Fold and unfold lists to hide or display task dependencies manually or with the ⌨️ Ctrl/⌘+↑keyboard shortcut.
• Sort Columns/Cards. Organize tasks and sub-tasks in a column by due dates, status, and name. Define sorting details inside a convenient pop-up menu.

• Drag-and-Drop Uploads. Drag-and-drop documents, images, video, and other files to upload. Add attachments to chat or anywhere in the project space.
• #Tags. Organize your workspaces with color-coded tags and filter projects with clickable hashtags. Add #tags anywhere inside a workflow.
• Recurring Tasks. Create recurring items with custom due dates, start and end times, and intervals. Set to repeat daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly.
• Project and Global Search. Search inside workspaces, projects, boards, and cards. Click on search results to quickly jump between items.

• User Roles & Permissions. Define user roles and editing privileges (Owner, Admin, Editor, Checker, Viewer) for all team members.
• Export Boards. Export your shared Kanban boards as images. Use exported files for emails and presentations or print them out.
• Shared Calendar and Roadmap. Track progress in a shared calendar and on an interactive Roadmap. Sync with Google, Apple, and Outlook calendars.
• Assign Tasks. Assign to-dos and notify team members with @mention. Receive email notifications whenever somebody mentions you in a project.

Taskade Pricing 💵

Visit Taskade’s pricing page for a full breakdown of plans and AI features.

Trello

When it comes to Kanban tools, Trello needs no introduction. The task management app offers a solid visual-first productivity environment for teams and individuals. Built around the concept of boards and cards, Trello brings native support for the Kanban flow.

You can think of Trello as a fully-featured digital corkboard—although the developers compare it to a digital whiteboard—where your team can “pin” colorful cards with tasks to track. Trello is one of the best Kanban board apps to help project managers manage complex projects.

Trello Kanban Features at a Glance 👀

• Drag-and-drop editing
• Color-coded labels and tags
• Support for attachments
• Comments and voting
• Calendar and Timeline
• Built-in automation via Butler

See how Trello compares to Taskade (click). 👈

Kanban Tool

Kanban Tool is a web-based project management tool (one of the oldest) built around the principles of Kanban and a visual flow. With a rich set of collaboration features, it’s a solid choice for agile teams of all sizes, especially those working remotely across time zones. 

Kanban Tool Features at a Glance 👀

• Real-time collaboration
• Comments and notifications
• Cycle time tracking and reports
• Visual customization
• Changelog and analytics
• Integrations and export

KanbanFlow

KanbanFlow is a user-friendly Kanban app for agile teams looking for an intuitive, customizable, and flexible Lean experience. Don’t let the colorful visuals fool you. KanbanFlow comes packed with powerful Kanban key features that’ll help you and your team get more done with fewer issues.

KanbanFlow Features at a Glance 👀

• Real-time collaboration
• WIP limits and swimlanes
• Sub-tasks and collapsible columns
• Documents and file attachments
• Search and filtering options
• Analytics and reporting

MIRO

Miro is an “infinitely zoomable canvas and web whiteboard” that offers a range of tools designed to improve team collaboration. Miro includes a fully-fledged Kanban mode, drag-and-drop navigation, and a catalog of customizable templates for quick startup. 

Miro Features at a Glance 👀

• Real-time Kanban collaboration
• 200+ customizable templates
• Infinite zoomable canvas
• Sticky notes, shapes, drawings, and more
• Screen sharing and presentation mode
• Video conferencing, chat, and comments

See how Miro compares to Taskade. 👈

Notion

Notion is an all-in-one workspace for personal and team projects. The platform offers a highly customizable Kanban flow fit for engineering, creative, HR, sales, and marketing projects of all shapes and sizes. All in all, a noteworthy collaboration solution for productivity enthusiasts.

Notion Features at a Glance 👀

• Integrations and templates
• Real-time collaboration
• Embed with 500+ tools
• Simple interface
• Drag-and-drop organization
• Multiple project views

See how Notion compares to Taskade. 👈

Zenkit

Among popular Kanban tools, Zenkit offers a completely new approach to Kanban boards. Instead of displaying projects in one, prescriptive way, Zenkit lets you tweak and customize everything, making it a complete Kanban solution.

Zenkit Features at a Glance 👀

• Real-time collaboration
• Integration with 1000 services
• Swimlanes and rows
• Track tasks and collaborators
• Customizable board views
• Global Kanban task overview

Todoist

Todoist allows you to share lists, assign tasks, and integrate with Twist for a convenient team chat. With an excellent board view and a strong set of project management features, Todoist remains one of the best task management apps in the wild.

Todoist Features at a Glance 👀

• Reminders and recurring due dates
• Sections and sub-tasks
• Task priority settings
• Delegating tasks
• Task notifications
• Board view, labels, filters, and themes
• Email and calendar integrations
• Activity history and progress tracking

See how Todoist compares to Taskade. 👈

Workflowy

Workflowy is streamlined outlining software that lets you map out all kinds of projects. The app offers a minimalist, distraction-free board workflow called Fractal boards. You can use Workflowy in a web browser or get it for Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile.

Workflowy Features at a Glance 👀

• Infinite nested lists (in Workflowy Pro)
• Filtering features
• Color-coded tags and highlighting (beta)
• Multi-factor authentication
• Outline backup to Dropbox
• A selection of themes and fonts 
• Outline sharing and collaboration

See how Workflowy compares to Taskade. 👈

ClickUp

A shared to-do list, team calendar, mind map… when it comes to project management, ClickUp is many things. It’s also one of the best board apps you can get. ClickUp’s Board view is an aesthetic, powerful, and surprisingly complete Kanban experience.

ClickUp Kanban Features at a Glance 👀

• Collaboration features
• Unified workflow overview
• Drag-and-drop editing
• Board columns grouping
• Bulk card editing
• Board sorting and filters

Looking for the best ClickUp alternatives? 👈

Wrike

Wrike lets you build flexible Kanban workflows backed by AI data insights and process automation. The app offers real-time collaboration and communication features, complete with comments, notifications, live edits, and reporting.

Wrike Kanban Features at a Glance 👀

• Task sorting and filtering
• Custom Kanban workflows
• Customizable dashboards
• Built-in Kanban templates
• Time tracking features
• Team communication via integrations

See how Wrike compares to Taskade (click). 👈

Airtable

Airtable is another project management platform that makes great use of its Kanban view. Get a fine selection of Kanban features, a user-friendly interface, and powerful collaboration and communication tools to top it off.

Airtable Kanban Features at a Glance 👀

• Drag-and-drop board editing
• Customizable cards
• Task sorting and filtering
• Collapsible stacks
• Built-in Kanban templates
• Integrations 

See how Airtable compares to Taskade. 👈

Jira

Jira is an enterprise-grade project management solution built for agile teams. The platform comes with a Kanban board view that supports all the usual Kanban features like WIP limits, swimlane, backlog, and user stories. It’s an older sibling of Trello.

Jira Kanban Features at a Glance 👀

• Supports Scrum and Kanban boards
• Real-time insights and reporting
• Customizable workflows (views)
• Progress tracking and reporting
• Search and filtering options
• Customizable Kanban template
• Issue tracking

See how Jira compares to Taskade. 👈

Kanbanize

Kanbanize is another web-based board app designed for product development, project management, and software development teams. The app comes with everything your need to create multi-level workflows with excellent visibility.

Kanbanize Features at a Glance 👀

• Drag-and-drop workflow
• iOS and Android apps
• Board/card filtering
• Kanban templates
• Custom card fields
• Email notifications
• Cumulative flow diagrams

Kanban Zone

Kanban Zone is a visual-first project management platform for individuals, small businesses, and the corporate. The app strikes a balance between powerful features and ease of use for a great Kanban experience. Works on web, desktop, and mobile.

Kanban Zone Features at a Glance 👀

• Communication and collaboration 
• KPI and milestone tracking
• Linking boards and cards
• Custom card fields
• Voting and recurring cards
• Kanban templates

Bitrix24

Bitrix24 covers all the basic bases of a digital Kanban and throws team communication and collaboration features into the package. The interesting bit about Bitrix24 is that you can self-host the platform and run it on your own servers.

Bitrix24 Kanban Features at a Glance 👀

• Search and filtering
• Board customization
• Reminders and time tracking
• Chat, video, and calls
• Drag-and-drop navigation
• Smart Kanban suggestions

See how Bitrix24 compares to Taskade (click). 👈

Whimsical

Whimsical is a piece of software that allows users to collaborate visually online by using a drag-and-drop style interface. The digital collaboration tool encourages visual collaboration and ideation mainly via the use of mind maps, wireframes, documents, and flowcharts.

On Whimsical, agile teams can collaborate on brainstorming sessions in real-time and also organize projects by using a Kanban board.

Whimsical Kanban Features at a Glance 👀

• Search and filtering
• Template design
• Infinite canvas design
• Board customization
• Drag-and-drop navigation

Wrike

Wrike is a collaborative work management platform that was founded in 2006 by Andrew Filev, with an Enterprise platform released in December 2013. Wrike helps empower teams’ project management and collaboration tasks with its minimalist and simple interface.

There are reportedly over 20,000 companies across 140 countries that have integrated Wrike into their processes.

Wrike Kanban Features at a Glance 👀

• Search and filtering
• Templates
• Create customized workflows
• Board customization
• Calendar sync
• Cumulative flow diagrams
• Issue tracking

TickTick

TickTick is a task management tool that was founded by Appest Inc in 2013. Appest Inc originally created an app on Android called GTasks. TickTick was then created based on GTasks with added features to help with productivity such as cross-platform synchronization.

In 2013, TickTick was launched on web browsers, Android, and iOS. The task management app then made its way to Windows and Mac three years later.

TickTick Kanban Features at a Glance 👀

• Search and filtering
• Simple interface
• Setting due dates
• Task activity
• Calendar sync
• Kanban on mobile

Asana

Asana is a collaboration and project management software aimed at helping teams get more work done.

It was first created at Facebook as a tool to help people collaborate on projects more efficiently. Codenamed ‘Tasks’, the tool was created by Dustin Moskovitz, who was a co-founder at Facebook, and Justin Rosenstein, an ex-engineer at Facebook.

The goal at Asana is to reduce reliance on traditional emails and sync-ups. Instead, the company wants to provide a common space where users can manage projects and find all the information they need to get work done.

Asana Kanban Features at a Glance 👀

• Search and filtering
• Drag and drop interface
• Customizable workflows
• Multiple project views
• Task automation

And that’s it!

⚡️ Ready to Pick the Best Kanban App Around?

The Kanban method is one of the most unassuming yet powerful and flexible project management tools around. So, why wait any longer? Pick the best Kanban app for the job and start reaping the benefits of digital boards today.

• ⚡️ Real-time synchronization and cloud backup
• ⚡️ Visual improvements like color-coded tags
• ⚡️ User-friendly UI and drag-and-drop editing
• ⚡️ Collaboration features (video conferencing, chat)
• ⚡️ Natural, keyboard-friendly editing with shortcuts
• ⚡️ Integrations with business-grade apps and tools
• ⚡️ Real-time progress tracking and project overview
• ⚡️ Analytics, reporting, and administration tools

Are you still on the fence?

P.S. We are! 🐑

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🔗 Resources

1. https://www.toyotaglobal.com/company/history_of_toyota/75years/text/entering_the_automotive_business/chapter1/section4/item4.html
2. http://taskade.com/compare