TaskNote vs Trello
Trello is the most recognised kanban board tool. TaskNote is a kanban board alternative that adds a full note editor, end-to-end encryption, and built-in reminders - without requiring Power-Ups or a paid plan to unlock the basics.
Updated May 2026
Choose TaskNote if…
- →You want notes and tasks in one workspace
- →You need end-to-end encryption for privacy
- →You want reminders without paying for Power-Ups
- →You work alone or in a small personal setup
Choose Trello if…
- →You manage a larger team with shared boards
- →You rely on specific Trello Power-Ups integrations
- →You need advanced admin and permission controls
- →Your team already lives inside Atlassian tools
Feature comparison
| Feature | TaskNote | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Kanban board | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unlimited cards (free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rich notes on task cards | ✓ | Basic description only |
| Built-in reminders | ✓ | Power-Up required |
| End-to-end encryption | ✓ | ✗ |
| Standalone notes workspace | ✓ | ✗ |
| Works in browser, no install | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free Power-Up limit | None | 1 per board |
| Price to unlock core features | Free forever | $5/mo per user |
Kanban board
Both TaskNote and Trello give you a drag-and-drop kanban board with columns and cards. The workflow is familiar: move a card from To Do to In Progress to Done by dragging it across columns.
The difference is what you can do with a card. In Trello, the free plan gives you a basic description field and limits Power-Ups to one per board. In TaskNote, every card has a full rich-text note editor - headings, checklists, links, bold, italic - with no add-ons needed.
Columns and cards are unlimited on both free plans. TaskNote also lets you reorder tasks within columns and rename columns to match your workflow.
Notes on task cards
Trello cards have a description - a plain-text area for adding context. For richer formatting you need a Power-Up, and the free plan only allows one Power-Up per board.
TaskNote takes a different approach: every task card is backed by a full note. Write a meeting summary, paste a spec doc, add a checklist of subtasks - it is all there, inside the card, formatted with the same rich editor used for standalone notes.
TaskNote also has a separate notes section independent of the board. Write a quick thought as a note, then drag it into the board when it becomes a task.
Reminders and due dates
Trello supports due dates on cards, but calendar views and notifications require the Calendar Power-Up - which counts against the free plan's one-Power-Up limit.
TaskNote has reminders built directly into every task card and note. Set a date and time, and get a browser notification when it is due. No Power-Ups, no integrations, no third-party calendar required.
Privacy and encryption
Trello stores your board data on Atlassian's servers in plaintext. Atlassian can read your cards. For most team workflows this is an acceptable trade-off, but for personal projects or sensitive tasks it is worth considering.
TaskNote encrypts all notes and task cards end-to-end on your device before they are sent to the server. The encryption key never leaves your device. Even TaskNote cannot read your content - only you can.
Pricing
Trello's free plan covers the basics but restricts Power-Ups to one per board. Unlocking multiple Power-Ups, advanced automation, and admin features requires the Standard plan at $5/month per user or higher.
TaskNote's core features - kanban board, notes, reminders, and end-to-end encryption - are free forever with no credit card required and no artificial limits on cards or notes.
Verdict
If you love Trello's kanban board but want integrated notes, built-in reminders, and end-to-end encryption without a paid plan - TaskNote does all of that. If you need team collaboration with shared permissions across a large organisation, Trello's paid tiers are the more mature choice.
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