Trello's free plan, checked October 2026

A Trello alternative for families, classes and groups bigger than 10

Trello is a great kanban board. But its free plan allows 10 collaborators per Workspace, counting members, guests and pending invites, and once you go over, the Workspace's boards turn view-only. For a big family, a class or a club, that's the wall. Here is how Trello and Instaboard compare, honestly.

Updated

Ready board · free
An Instaboard Thanksgiving host plan with lists for the plan, the menu, who's bringing what, a prep timeline, a shopping list and tips
A holiday plan the whole family can open: the menu, who's bringing what, a prep timeline and the shopping list. Swipe to see the whole board.

The short answer

  • Trello Free: 10 collaborators and 10 boards per Workspace, unlimited cards. Calendar view is on Premium.
  • Paid Trello is $5 per user a month billed yearly, and every Workspace member is billed.
  • Instaboard Free: unlimited collaborators, 5 boards and 150 cards and items. Pro is $5 a month billed yearly for the owner, and people you invite join free.

The 10-collaborator limit

Since spring 2024, a free Trello Workspace counts everyone toward a limit of 10: members, guests and pending invites. Over 10, the Workspace's boards become view-only and its automations stop.

Viewing is not the problem. Anyone with the link can view a public Trello board without an account. Editing is: only board members can edit, and every member counts toward the 10. So a big family can look at the plan, but only 10 people can tick things off.

In 2025 Trello also redesigned itself as a personal planner, with an Inbox and a Planner. Many long-time users disliked the change, and its Google Play listing is now "Trello: Personal Planner App".

Trello and Instaboard side by side

TrelloInstaboard
Free collaborators10 per Workspace (members, guests and invites)Unlimited
Free boards and content10 boards per Workspace, unlimited cards5 boards, 150 cards and items (pen strokes don't count)
Paid priceStandard $5 per user a month billed yearly ($6 monthly); Premium $10 ($12.50)Pro $5 a month billed yearly ($59.99) or $7.99 monthly, for the owner
CalendarCalendar view on Premium; there is also a Calendar Power-UpCalendar lists on the free plan
LayoutKanban lists and cardsAn open board: lists, cards, drawings, photos and places, anywhere
Drawing and Apple PencilNoYes
Video callsThrough Power-Ups such as Zoom or TeamsOn the board, free up to 1 hour
View without an accountPublic boardsAny shared board, plus a 4-digit code or QR
EditTrello account and board membership (counts toward the 10)Free sign-in
OfflinePhone apps; the web and desktop apps need a connectionYes
Integrations and automation200+ Power-Ups, built-in automationNone

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Trello facts from trello.com/pricing and Atlassian's Trello help center, checked October 22, 2026.

Where Trello is the better choice

  • Repeatable workflows: a content pipeline, a small dev team or a client tracker.
  • Power-Ups and automation, plus capture from email, Slack and Teams.
  • More room on the free plan for one person: 10 boards and unlimited cards, against Instaboard's 5 boards and 150 items.
  • Desktop apps for Mac and Windows, and JSON export on every plan.
  • Everyone already knows it.

When Instaboard fits better

  • More than 10 people need to edit for free: a family holiday, a class, a team of volunteers.
  • The plan isn't columns. A wedding with photos, a trip with places on a map, a lesson with drawings.
  • You decide things on a call. Start one on the board instead of switching to another app.
  • The plan grows. Any card can open into its own board.

What to know before you switch

  • No Trello import. Trello exports JSON (and CSV for boards in Premium Workspaces), which Instaboard can't read, so you'd retype your lists.
  • No reminders, automation or integrations.
  • The free plan has 5 boards and 150 cards and items.
  • Everyone who edits signs in for free with Google, Apple or email.

Start from the ready board

It opens in your browser in a few seconds, with nothing to install. Sign in for free when you want to save it and share it.

iPhone & iPad appAndroid app

Questions

How many people can use Trello for free?

Up to 10 collaborators per Workspace, counting members, guests and pending invites.

What happens when a free Trello Workspace goes over 10 people?

Its boards become view-only and automations stop until you remove people or upgrade.

Can people view a Trello board without an account?

Yes, if the board is public. Anyone with the link can view it; only board members can edit.

Does Trello have a calendar on the free plan?

Trello's pricing page lists Calendar view under Premium. Trello also has a Calendar Power-Up, and the Free plan includes unlimited Power-Ups per board, but Trello's help page for it doesn't say which plans can use it, so check on your own board.

Can I import my Trello boards into Instaboard?

No. Trello exports JSON, and CSV for boards in Premium Workspaces, which Instaboard can't import. Most people retype their lists.

Is Instaboard free?

Yes. The free plan includes 5 boards, 150 cards and items across your account (pen strokes, arrows and sections don't count), 3 images and 1 file per board, unlimited collaborators and video calls up to an hour. Pro is $5 a month billed yearly ($59.99 a year), or $7.99 monthly, and the people you invite join free.

Sources

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