How to Self-Host Focalboard (2026) – Beginner to Production Guide

If you have been hunting for a Trello‑style kanban board you can run on your own server, self‑hosting Focalboard is one of the cleanest ways to get there.

Focalboard is an open‑source, self‑hosted project management tool that feels familiar if you come from Trello or Notion but lets you keep all data on infrastructure you control.

In this guide you will learn how to self‑host Focalboard on a VPS using Docker and Docker Compose, put it behind NGINX with HTTPS, and keep it maintained with simple backups and upgrades. Along the way, the article targets practical search phrases like "how to self host Focalboard", "install Focalboard on Ubuntu", "Focalboard Docker install", and "self hosted kanban board for developers" so beginners can actually find it

What Is Focalboard?

Focalboard is an open‑source project management tool from the Mattermost ecosystem that provides kanban boards, tasks, checklists and templates in a lightweight, web‑based interface. It is designed as a self‑hosted alternative to Trello, Notion and Asana, with multiple views (kanban, table, calendar, gallery) and custom properties that make it attractive for small technical teams.

Many people choose to self host Focalboard personal server because it delivers Trello‑like boards and Notion‑style flexibility without sending data to a third‑party SaaS provider. As a self hosted Focalboard deployment, you can integrate it with other open‑source tools, keep backups under your control, and tune the environment for your own performance requirements.

Why self‑host Focalboard?

Common reasons to self host Focalboard include:

• Privacy and control over project data, especially for companies or individuals who do not want boards stored on commercial clouds like Trello or Notion.
• Zero subscription fees for the core platform, because Focalboard is open source and the only costs are your VPS and domain.
• Lightweight and fast UI compared with many heavier all‑in‑one workspaces, which makes a self‑hosted kanban board attractive on modest hardware.

If you want a privacy‑friendly, self hosted Focalboard server that behaves like a focused Notion/Trello hybrid, a Docker‑based install is usually the best starting point for 2026.

Prerequisites (beginner‑friendly)

To self host Focalboard on a VPS in a way that is usable for small teams, you only need a minimal Linux box and basic terminal access. Typical minimums for a simple Docker‑based Focalboard Docker install are:

• RAM: 1–2 GB
• Storage: 5–20 GB
• OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or similar
• Access: SSH + sudo

Useful tools and services for a production‑ready self hosted Focalboard stack are:

• A VPS provider (Hetzner, DigitalOcean, AWS Lightsail, Scaleway, etc.)
• Docker and Docker Compose for the Focalboard Docker install and upgrades
• A domain name if you want a clean HTTPS URL like board.example.com
• NGINX as a reverse proxy in front of the Focalboard personal server

This combination lets you target search topics such as "install Focalboard on Ubuntu 22.04", "Focalboard Docker Compose example" and "Focalboard NGINX reverse proxy SSL" in a natural way inside the tutorial.

How to Self-Host Focalboard with Docker (Beginner Setup)

This is the easiest and cleanest way to self-host Focalboard.

Step 1: Install Docker

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | bash

Step 2: Install Docker Compose

sudo apt install docker-compose

Step 3: Create a Focalboard Folder

mkdir -p /opt/focalboard
cd /opt/focalboard

Step 4: Add Your docker-compose.yml

version: "3"
services:
  focalboard:
    image: mattermost/focalboard
    container_name: focalboard
    restart: always
    ports:
      - "8000:8000"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/data

Step 5: Start Focalboard

docker-compose up -d

Now visit:

http://your-server-ip:8000

You have officially self-hosted Focalboard.

Configuring Focalboard for real‑world use

Once the basic Focalboard Docker install works, the next step is to tune configuration for production. The main items are:

• Server settings such as serverRoot URL, port, and bind address.
• Database configuration: SQLite for small teams or PostgreSQL for a more scalable self hosted Focalboard deployment.
• Authentication model, either standalone accounts or integration via Mattermost or an external SSO layer.

Using an embedded SQLite file is entirely fine for a few users, while PostgreSQL is the better option if you expect 20–50 light users on your self hosted kanban board.

Example Environment Config

{
  "serverRoot": "http://localhost:8000",
  "port": 8000,
  "dbType": "sqlite3",
  "dbConfig": { "filename": "/data/focalboard.db" }
}

SQLite is fine for small teams. For larger setups, you can use PostgreSQL.

Production Hardening: NGINX Reverse Proxy + SSL

To turn your installation into a secure production deployment, set up:

• Domain routing
• HTTPS via Let's Encrypt
• Reverse proxy via NGINX

Step 1: Install NGINX

sudo apt install nginx

Step 2: Configure Proxy

Create /etc/nginx/sites-available/focalboard:

server {
    server_name yourdomain.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:8000;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
    }
}

Enable it:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/focalboard /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
sudo systemctl restart nginx

Step 3: Add SSL

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx
sudo certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com

Your Focalboard installation is now:

• Secure
• Accessible via HTTPS
• Safe for team use

Backup & Maintenance Essentials

To self-host Focalboard responsibly, follow these simple maintenance tasks.

Backup Strategy

• Backup /opt/focalboard/data daily
• If using PostgreSQL, dump data weekly

Upgrade Steps

docker-compose pull
docker-compose up -d

Logs

docker logs -f focalboard

Using Focalboard: Tips for Teams

To get the most out of Focalboard:

• Create workspace templates
• Use labels and tags strategically
• Automate backups
• Combine it with Mattermost for SSO

Focalboard shines when used by small teams that want control without vendor lock‑in.

Conclusion

Self-hosting Focalboard in 2026 is easier than ever. With Docker, NGINX, and Let's Encrypt, you can spin up a production‑ready system in under an hour. Whether you're replacing Trello, breaking away from SaaS tools, or building a privacy‑first workspace, Focalboard gives you the control you need.

If you want lightweight, flexible project boards you fully own - self-host Focalboard and enjoy the freedom.

FAQ

1. Is Focalboard still supported in 2026?
Yes. As of 2026, Focalboard continues to receive community contributions through the Mattermost ecosystem. While the standalone edition evolves slowly, it remains stable, reliable, and fully functional. Updates mainly focus on security patches, performance improvements, and compatibility with modern Docker and server environments. You can safely self-host Focalboard without worrying about sudden abandonment.

2. Can I self-host Focalboard without Docker?
Yes - you can compile and run Focalboard manually from source or use prebuilt binaries. However, the manual method requires setting up systemd services, managing dependencies, and configuring environment files by hand. Docker simplifies everything: upgrades become a single command, isolation improves security, and logs are easier to handle. If you're new to self-hosting, Docker is the recommended route.

3. Does Focalboard need a separate database?
Not necessarily. The default SQLite database is suitable for small teams and single-user setups. It's lightweight, file‑based, and easy to back up. But if you're planning to host teams with heavy task usage, PostgreSQL provides better performance, parallel access handling, and long-term durability. It's optional, but beneficial for large deployments.

4. Can I run it on a Raspberry Pi?
Yes. Focalboard is surprisingly lightweight, making it compatible with Raspberry Pi 4 or newer. You'll just need to use ARM-compatible Docker images. Performance is sufficient for personal use or small-group task boards. Just ensure you use a quality SD card or external SSD to avoid storage corruption during database writes.

5. Does Focalboard support authentication?
Yes. You can use Focalboard in standalone mode with built-in user accounts. For more advanced setups, pairing it with Mattermost unlocks SSO options like OAuth2, LDAP, and Active Directory. If you're running it behind a reverse proxy, you can even implement external authentication layers such as Authelia or Authentik for a full enterprise-grade login flow.

6. How many users can it handle?
For most setups, SQLite supports 1–15 users smoothly. If you're using PostgreSQL and have optimized caching at the reverse proxy level, Focalboard can comfortably support 20–50 light users. However, it is not designed to handle hundreds of concurrent members like full enterprise platforms. It excels in small, focused teams.

7. Does it support mobile apps?
There is no official mobile app for Focalboard. However, Focalboard renders cleanly in mobile browsers, and many users simply create a home-screen shortcut on iOS or Android. Performance is solid for basic task manipulation, though complex boards may feel cramped on small screens.

8. How does Focalboard compare to Notion/Trello?
Focalboard is lighter and simpler than Notion and Trello. It focuses on kanban-style boards rather than databases, documents, or deep integrations. You should self-host Focalboard if you want privacy and control without depending on a cloud service. But if you need advanced collaboration features, live editing, or large templates, Notion and Trello still hold the advantage.

9. Can I migrate data?
Focalboard supports JSON-based board exports. You can export individual boards and import them into another Focalboard instance. Full workspace migration requires manually copying the database or Docker volume. If you want seamless transitions between servers, using Docker volumes (backed up regularly) is the easiest approach.

10. Is HTTPS required?
HTTPS is strongly recommended for any production setup - especially if you're logging in remotely. Without HTTPS, credentials travel over the network in plain text. With a reverse proxy like NGINX and Certbot, getting a free Let's Encrypt certificate takes under two minutes. Even for private home-lab deployments, HTTPS adds an important layer of security.

Sources & Tools

• Focalboard GitHub
• Mattermost Documentation
• Docker & Docker Compose
• NGINX Docs
• Certbot