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I have several projects that are too much to manage in my head or with a simple calendar or text file. When those projects come along, I turn to a project management app on my Linux desktop.
Before you turn away thinking, “Project management is for business users only,” know that these apps can be used for just about anything: chores, school homework, extracurricular activities, and even creative work. I use project management tools for writing books, planning theatrical productions, and even dealing with busier clients.
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For me, these apps are a must.
Once you start using a project management app, you’ll find that it can be a big help to keep you moving forward efficiently.
What apps are available for the Linux operating system? Some project management tools — such as Trello and Asana — can be used via your web browser. I prefer keeping my project management tool in a window of its own (so it doesn’t get lost in a wash of tabs). If you, too, prefer a dedicated app for this, you should check out one of these five options.
1. Trello
The Trello desktop app is, hands down, my go-to tool for all my project management needs, from small to large. Trello features every single thing you’ll need for project management — and then some. What I really like about Trello — other than the vast array of features — is that the user interface makes it very easy to get up to speed. This is especially so with the Kanban option (which is what I use).
There are also the Trello Power-Ups that allow you to add new features. Visit the Trello Power-Ups page and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how many extensions there are to install (many of them free).
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Speaking of free, you can use Trello for free on Linux. I’ve been using my free account for all my projects and have yet to run into any limitations. If your projects run large, however, you’ll most likely need to pony up for a paid plan. Plans range from $5 per user/month for the standard plan to $17 per user/month for the Enterprise plan. The free plan does limit you to 10 boards per workspace, but gives you unlimited cards and Power-Ups.
To install the Trello desktop app, you’ll need a Linux distribution that supports Snap (as it’s not available for Flatpak). Install the Trello Desktop app with:
sudo snap install trello-desktop
2. ProjectLibre
Unlike Trello, ProjectLibre is all about the Gantt chart. If you’re unfamiliar with this style of project management, you might want to skip this one because Gantt charts can be confusing for new users. (I’m not a big fan of the Gantt chart because I much prefer the at-a-glance nature of Kanban boards.)
But for those who do like a good Gantt chart, ProjectLibre is right up your alley. This app includes Gantt charts, task usage, resource, usages task sheet, resource sheet, network diagram, calendar view, resource graph, cost view, and baseline view, along with multiple project views, resource/task/cost management, and support for importing/exporing with Microsoft Project Files, XML files, and CSV files.
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Note that the ProjectLibre UI is pretty out of date, although that doesn’t detract from the app’s usability. It’s just important to understand that you really need a solid understanding of Gantt charts before you go into this app, because it doesn’t hold your hand one bit. ProjectLibre is free to install and use. Install the app with Snap like so:
sudo snap install projectlibre
3. GNOME Planner
Think of GNOME Planner as a stripped-down version of ProjectLibre. It very much leans into Gantt charts, but it’s not nearly as complex as ProjectLibre. Because of that, if you’re interested in working with Gantt charts for your projects, GNOME Planner is a great place to start.
GNOME Planner includes features like Gantt chart visualization, task and sub-task management, resource management, calendars and working time, export options, localization, and project storage. Understand that development on GNOME Planner has slowed down to a trickle. Even so, the app is still very useful for small projects where Gantt charts are the preferred management style.
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GNOME Planner is free to install and use and is found in the standard repositories. On Ubuntu-based distributions, you can install it with the command:
sudo apt-get install planner -y
4. Kanri
Kanri is a modern, minimalist take on the Kanban board, which makes it hard to resist. Unlike Trello (where there can be a lot to take in), Kanri simplifies everything. You can simply create a board and get to work. After installation, it took me less than a minute to create a new board and start adding cards — it really is that simple.
Kanri allows you to select between dark and light themes, includes the Catpuccin theme, and even allows you to create a custom theme. Outside of theme selection, there’s not much in the way of additional configurations, which helps to make Kanri a great option — especially for those new to project management.
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One very nice feature is that you can add background images — and even change the blur and brightness strength — to each project, so you can quickly know exactly which project you’re using based on the background image. Within each card, you are limited to a title, due date, description, tasks, and tags. There’s no user management/assignment or other fancy features. Kanri is bare bones, but it does the job very well.
If I didn’t need access to my Kanban boards from multiple machines/locations, Kanri would be my go-to Kanban app. Kanri is available (for free) as an AppImage for Linux.
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