Quick Overview: Trello vs Favro
Trello and Favro often come up in the same sentence because both offer flexible board-based ways to manage work, but they target somewhat different needs. Trello is famously simple: cards, lists and boards that anyone can pick up in minutes. Favro, by contrast, layers in more structure for teams that need simultaneous views — boards, backlogs, timelines and spreadsheets that all reflect the same underlying data.
If you want something lightweight to track personal tasks or small team workflows, Trello’s straightforward approach is hard to beat. If you’re running multiple teams, need cross-team planning and want to switch easily between high-level roadmaps and detailed tasks, Favro’s multi-dimensional setup can be a better fit.
Boards, Views and Workflow Flexibility
Both platforms use Kanban-style boards as a core organising principle, but they differ when it comes to alternative views and customisation. Trello allows customisable boards and integrates Power-Ups to add views like calendars, timelines or automations. It’s ideal when the board itself is the primary interface for work.
Favro’s strength is in offering multiple, synchronised views of the same information. You can have a Kanban board for a team, a backlog for product planning and a timeline for delivery — all linked to the same cards. That makes it easier to maintain consistency across planning and execution without duplicating work. For teams that need to pivot views often, Favro can save time and reduce friction.
Collaboration, Integrations and Automation
Trello provides a gentle learning curve for collaboration: comments, mentions, attachments and checklists are straightforward. Its ecosystem of Power-Ups and integrations (Slack, Google Drive, Jira and more) means you can extend Trello where needed. Trello’s automation via Butler is powerful for automating repetitive tasks without coding.
Favro also supports rich collaboration features and connects to tools like Jira, Slack and various CI/CD services. Where Favro shines is in supporting larger, matrixed team structures with shared collections and boards that multiple teams can contribute to. Its automation options and API help teams build more tailored workflows, especially in organisations that need coordinated planning across teams.
Pricing, Scalability and Team Size
Trello’s free tier is generous for individuals and small teams, making it an excellent entry point. Paid plans add advanced features, larger automation quotas and more Power-Ups per board, making it a fine choice as teams grow modestly.
Favro is aimed more at scaling teams and enterprises, so its pricing reflects the added capabilities and collaborative reach. If your organisation requires cross-team planning, multiple synchronised views and advanced permissioning, Favro’s model can justify the cost. It’s worth trialling both platforms with real projects to see which aligns with your scale and process.
Alternatives and a Handy Mention
There are several alternatives that sit between Trello’s simplicity and Favro’s depth. If you’re exploring options, take a look at tools that offer both Kanban and Scrum boards, flexible views and a sensible free tier.
One such option is onlinetcards.com, which provides a free project management system with Kanban and Scrum boards. It’s a useful midway point if you want more structure than Trello without immediately committing to an enterprise-focused solution. Trying a few platforms with your actual workflows will quickly reveal which tool complements your team’s habits best.
Which to Choose: Practical Guidance
Pick Trello if you value simplicity, rapid adoption and a visual, card-based interface for day-to-day work. It’s excellent for small teams, freelancers and anyone who wants minimal setup time.
Choose Favro if you need synchronised multi-view planning, tighter coordination across multiple teams and features that support product management at scale. If budget is a concern but you still want structure, try one of the free or low-cost alternatives like onlinetcards.com to validate your needs before upgrading.
Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer: Trello and Favro both do what they promise, but for different audiences. Consider team size, the need for multi-view planning, integrations and cost when deciding. The best approach is to prototype a real project in each tool for a couple of weeks and see which one fits your team’s habits and pace.
Whichever you choose, a clear process and consistent use will matter more than any single feature. Tools enable work — they don’t replace good communication and sensible planning.