Built for builders, not managers
Asana generated $724M in revenue serving 175,000+ customers — mostly project managers. Kanbo is built for teams that write code, ship products, and move fast.
Kanbo is an Asana alternative designed for builders, not project managers. It's a kanban-first tool with AI ticket writing, code-friendly rich text, REST API, and an MCP server for AI agents. Asana Starter costs $10.99/user/month; Kanbo Pro is $5/user/month (annual) with a generous free tier for teams of up to 3.
Common Asana frustrations
- Designed for project managers — no code blocks, no dev tools
- Starter plan is $10.99/user/month for basic workflow features
- Advanced jumps to $24.99/user/month for goals and portfolios
- Board view is an afterthought — list view is the default
- No MCP server — can't connect AI agents to your board
Side-by-side comparison
See how Kanbo stacks up against Asana across the features that matter most.
| Feature | Kanbo | Asana |
|---|---|---|
| Target Audience | Developers and technical teams | Cross-functional teams and project managers |
| AI Assistant | Built-in ticket writing with project context | Asana Intelligence (Starter plan, $10.99/user/mo) |
| API & MCP | REST API + MCP for AI agents (Claude, ChatGPT) | REST API + webhooks, 200+ integrations |
| Rich Text Editor | 33 extensions, code blocks, slash commands, templates | Basic rich text, no code blocks or slash commands |
| Pricing (10 users) | Free tier + affordable Pro | $110/mo Starter, $250/mo Advanced, ~$350/mo Enterprise |
| Setup Speed | Under 5 minutes, no training needed | 30 min - 1 hour, team onboarding required |
| Revenue & Scale | Lean and focused | $724M revenue, 175K+ customers, Gartner Leader |
| Custom Fields | Types, priorities, sizes, tags | Extensive custom fields, forms, rules |
| Views | Board, backlog, completed, analytics | List, board, timeline, calendar, Gantt, portfolios |
| Integrations | API-first, GitHub integration, growing ecosystem | 200+ native integrations, Salesforce, Slack, Teams |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kanbo better than Asana for developers?
If your team is technical, yes. Kanbo offers REST API access, an MCP server for AI agent integration, a rich text editor with code blocks and syntax highlighting, and slash command templates for technical tickets (bug reports, technical tasks, spike research).
Does Kanbo have Asana's portfolio/project views?
Kanbo is intentionally focused on kanban. While Asana offers timeline, list, calendar, and portfolio views, Kanbo provides board, backlog, completed, and analytics views. If you need Gantt charts or portfolio management, Asana may be a better fit.
How does pricing compare?
Asana's free Personal plan works for up to 10 people with limited features. Starter is $10.99/user/month (annual), Advanced is $24.99/user/month, and Enterprise is ~$35/user/month. For a 10-person team, Asana costs $110-$250/month. Kanbo offers a free tier with AI and more affordable Pro pricing.
Can I connect AI agents to Kanbo?
Yes. Kanbo includes an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that lets AI assistants like Claude and ChatGPT create tickets, update statuses, and manage your board programmatically. This is unique among project management tools.
Ready to try something simpler?
Set up your first board in under 5 minutes. No credit card required.