devBoard vs Trello

By Darko Bačić, founder of App Tube · 9 October 2026 · Facts checked 9 October 2026

Pick Trello if you want the simplest board there is, for any kind of work. Pick devBoard if you build software and want epics, releases and a timer in one place. For boards that are not about code, Trello is still the better pick. We make devBoard, so keep that in mind as you read. Where Trello is better, we say so.

The main difference: one flat board or levels of work

Trello is a kanban board. Kanban is a way to track work as cards that move across columns. In Trello, a card can hold a checklist, and that is as deep as it goes. Trello has no native subtasks.

devBoard has a board too, but work in it has levels. An epic is a big piece of work split into smaller tasks. A subtask is one small step inside a task. A release is a version of your app that goes out on a date. And every task has a timer.

An example: Ana

Ana is a freelancer with three clients: a bakery app, a hotel site and a clinic booking app. On Trello, the bakery board had a "Checkout" card with a long checklist. She tracked her hours in another app.

In devBoard, each client has its own workspace. "Checkout" is now an epic, and the checklist items are tasks. She adds the first six to release 1.0. She presses Start on the task she is doing, and the time lands on it.

Her list for moving flats stays in Trello, which does that well.

Side by side

MCP is the open standard that lets an AI assistant use other tools. Both have an official MCP server. Trello's MCP page says it is on by default on Premium and Enterprise.

What Trello does better

It runs in a browser and on Windows

Trello works in any browser and on Windows. devBoard does not run in a browser, and its Windows app is not out yet.

Power-Ups on every plan

Power-Ups are add-ons that plug into a board. Even the free plan allows as many as you like. Time tracking and detailed reports come this way. devBoard has no add-ons.

Rules that run on their own

Trello has built-in automation, called Butler, on every plan. The free plan caps the runs each month. devBoard has no automations.

More views on Premium

On Premium, a board can also show as a calendar, a timeline, a table, a dashboard or a map. devBoard shows a board or a list.

What devBoard does better

Epics, tasks and subtasks

In devBoard, an epic holds tasks, and a task holds subtasks. Each one has assignees, dates, a priority and an estimate. More on epics, tasks and subtasks.

Releases

Give a release a name and a target date, and add its tasks. Mark it shipped when it goes out. Small dev teams use releases instead of sprints.

A timer on every task

Press Start on a task or subtask, then Stop. The total shows next to the estimate. On Trello, time tracking needs a Power-Up from another company.

Pull requests on the task

A pull request asks to merge a set of code changes into the main code. Connect GitHub, and a pull request with a key like APP-42 in its title shows on that task. By default, the card moves to In progress when it opens and to Done when it merges.

What devBoard does not have

• No web app or browser version.
• No Windows or Linux app yet. Both are coming.
• No Power-Ups, add-ons or automations.
• No calendar, timeline or Gantt view.
• No checklists, custom fields or recurring tasks.
• No docs, wiki or chat.
• No importer and no export.

Who should stay on Trello

• You track work that is not code, like a content plan.
• You rely on Power-Ups or Butler rules.
• Someone needs a browser or a Windows app.
• Your board is simple, and it works.

Who should try devBoard

• You build software, alone or in a small team.
• Your Trello cards keep turning into long checklists.
• You want time on the task, without an add-on.
• You want Claude Code or Cursor to start and finish tasks.
• Everyone is on iPhone, Android or Mac.

See also other Trello alternatives and all our comparisons.

What it costs

Prices as of October 2026, from Trello's pricing page.

For devBoard, there is one line. Free while in early access; paid plans will be one plain number, posted here first.

Moving from Trello

devBoard has no importer, so you move open work by hand. Cards become tasks, and checklist items become subtasks. Leave finished cards in Trello as your record. Our guide to moving from Trello goes step by step.