Focalboard vs Rowboat

Comparing two open source alternatives to Notion . Use the comparison below to decide which one fits your needs.

Focalboard

AGPL-3.0

Open-source, self-hosted project management tool — a free alternative to Trello, Notion, and Asana.

Visit Full details

Rowboat

Apache-2.0

Open-source desktop AI coworker with a living knowledge graph, built-in email, browser, meeting notes, and code mode.

Visit Full details

Side-by-side comparison

	Focalboard	Rowboat
License	AGPL-3.0	Apache-2.0
Self-hostable	Yes	Yes
GitHub Stars	26,276	15,654
Forks	2,557	1,558
Open Issues	783	103
Last Commit	May 18, 2026	Jul 8, 2026
First Released	Oct 6, 2020	Jan 13, 2025
Categories	Time & Task Management Tools Knowledge Management Tools Collaboration & Communication Tools	Note Taking & Knowledge Management Tools Automation Tools AI Coding Agents
Tags	#kanban #project management #collaboration #docker #self hosted	#ai #ai agent #desktop-app

Similar open source alternatives

Kestra

Event-driven workflow orchestration platform with a YAML-based pipeline DSL, 500+ plugins, and a built-in UI editor.

Alternative to:

Zapier

AppFlowy

Open source Notion alternative that brings projects, wikis, and teams together with AI while keeping you in control of your data.

Alternative to:

Notion

HelixNotes

A fast, privacy-first local markdown note-taking app built with Tauri and SvelteKit. Your notes stay as plain .md files on your device.

Alternative to:

Obsidian

Jotty

Lightweight self-hosted app for managing personal file-based notes and checklists.

Alternative to:

Notion

Plane

Open-source project management platform — an alternative to Jira, Linear, Monday, and ClickUp.

Alternative to:

Jira

tududi

Self-hosted task management that combines personal todo lists with powerful project organization. Built for individuals and teams who value privacy and control.

Alternative to:

Todoist