Focalboard vs Motion: Features, Pricing and User Reviews 2026

Focalboard

Free Open Source Project Management Tool

Project Management AI Productivity+1 more

Motion

AI-Powered Productivity & Task Management

Project Management AI Productivity+3 more

Focalboard

Free Open Source Project Management Tool

Project Management AI Productivity+1 more

Motion

AI-Powered Productivity & Task Management

Project Management AI Productivity+3 more

Focalboard

Focalboard is a project management platform that lets you organize work in different ways. You can view tasks as cards on a Kanban board, rows in a table, items in a gallery, or events on a calendar. This flexibility helps you work in the style that suits you best.

It comes in two main versions. The Personal Desktop version is a single-user app for managing your own tasks and projects. The Personal Server version supports multiple users and works well for teams. When used with Mattermost, it integrates messaging and project management in one place.

The tool is completely free to use and modify because it is open source. You can find the source code on GitHub and contribute to its development.

Motion

Motion is an all-in-one productivity tool that uses artificial intelligence to manage your time and tasks. Instead of spending hours organizing your workday, Motion automatically schedules everything based on deadlines, priorities, and your available time.

The platform combines several tools into one: a smart calendar that syncs with Google Calendar and Outlook, a task manager that auto-schedules work, a project management system with Kanban and Gantt views, and meeting scheduling features similar to Calendly. Motion also includes AI Employees—smart assistants that can draft emails, create content, analyze data, and handle repetitive tasks.

Motion continuously monitors your schedule and adjusts tasks when meetings pop up or deadlines change, ensuring everything gets done on time.

Features of Focalboard and Motion

Focalboard

Kanban, table, gallery, and calendar views
Customizable task cards with properties
Pre-built templates for quick start
Board filters and saved views
Team collaboration with comments and mentions
Open source with GitHub access
Self-hosted for data privacy
Multi-language interface
Works offline on desktop
Free to use and modify

Motion

AI auto-scheduling that adapts to changes instantly
Smart calendar with Google/Outlook integration
Project management with Kanban and Gantt views
AI Employees for automating repetitive tasks
Meeting booking links for easy scheduling
Task prioritization based on deadlines
Team collaboration and workload balancing
Mobile apps for iOS and Android
Real-time schedule adjustments
Integration with Zoom, Teams, and Slack

Use Cases of Focalboard and Motion

Focalboard

Task Management Project Tracking Project Coordination Roadmap Building Gantt Chart Creation

Motion

Task Management Project Tracking Project Coordination Meeting Minutes Meeting Scheduling Workflow Automation Productivity Improvement

Pricing of Focalboard and Motion

Focalboard

Focalboard is completely free to use because it is open-source software. There are no subscription fees, usage limits, or hidden costs. You can download and use it without any payment.

You have two main options for using Focalboard. The Personal Desktop app is available for free download on Windows, Mac, and Linux. This version is perfect for individual use and small projects. The Personal Server version is also free and can be installed on your own computer or server to support multiple users and team collaboration.

If you use Mattermost, Focalboard comes built-in as the Boards plugin starting from version 6.0. This integration is also free and provides seamless connection between messaging and project management.

Motion

Motion offers flexible pricing plans designed for individuals and teams of all sizes:

AI Workplace ($29/seat/month): Perfect for individuals starting with Motion. Includes 1 seat with 1,000 AI credits monthly, covering basic AI features and calendar scheduling.
AI Employees Starter ($49/seat/month): Ideal for solo professionals needing more AI power. Includes 1 seat with 10,000 AI credits monthly for enhanced automation.
AI Employees Light ($148/month): Great for small teams with 3 seats and 25,000 AI credits monthly, offering full project management features.
AI Employees Standard ($446/month) (Most Popular): Best for growing teams with 10 seats and 100,000 AI credits monthly, providing comprehensive AI Employee capabilities.
AI Employees Plus ($894/month): Designed for larger teams with 25 seats and 250,000 AI credits monthly.
Enterprise (Custom Pricing): Includes AI strategy consulting, custom implementation, and unlimited seats tailored to your organization's needs.