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SealTask vs. Trello

Security and privacy comparison for kanban-style task management.

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No credit card Zero-knowledge encryption Team-ready boards

Zero-knowledge

We do not hold the client keys needed to decrypt readable workspace content

$0 Free tier

No credit card required

500+ professionals

Trusted by privacy-focused teams

Quick verdict.

Choose SealTask if you need true end-to-end encryption for sensitive projects. Your workspace content stays private, even from us. Before any PHI use, SealTask must expressly agree in writing. Where HIPAA applies, SealTask and the customer must execute a HIPAA-compliant BAA before use. Choose Trello if you want a free, feature-rich kanban tool and you're comfortable with conventional SaaS access controls.

Feature comparison.

Feature SealTask Trello
End-to-End Encryption
Zero-Knowledge Architecture
Self-Hosted Deployment Option
Provider Can Access Workspace Content
Free Tier
GDPR Support
SOC 2 Certified
Open Source Crypto
Data Export
Team Collaboration
Kanban Boards
Integrations
Automation
Starting price €0; Personal €5.90/mo; Team €4.90/seat/mo Free (10 collaborators); paid $5-$17.50+/user/mo annually

Want the private option?

Try SealTask in the hosted cloud, or talk to us about the licensed self-hosted Docker image for your own hardware.

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Who should choose which?

Choose SealTask if...

  • You handle sensitive client or internal project data
  • You need strong encryption for regulated workflows
  • You do not want server-side AI processing workspace content
  • You prefer focused task management over a broad work OS
  • You want the provider unable to read encrypted content
  • You want a licensed self-hosted Docker option on your own hardware

Choose Trello if...

  • You need a broader free tier for personal use
  • You want Power-Ups and integrations
  • Butler automation is important to you
  • You're managing non-sensitive projects
  • Your team already uses Atlassian tools

Security architecture.

SealTask: zero-knowledge.

SealTask encrypts readable workspace content on your device with ChaCha20-Poly1305 before sync. The client unlocks keys with an OPAQUE export key plus HKDF, and optional one-time backup keys stay user-held. The service does not hold the keys needed to decrypt that content; account and operational metadata remain server-visible.

Result: A database breach or legal demand can expose ciphertext and server-visible account, billing, security, audit, service, and workspace metadata. SealTask cannot decrypt readable workspace content without the client-held keys.

Trello: standard cloud security.

Trello, owned by Atlassian, uses encryption at rest and TLS in transit. Atlassian manages keys through standard cloud key-management controls. This is conventional SaaS encryption rather than zero-knowledge encryption, so Atlassian's service can process Trello content for product operation and support.

Result: Provider-side compromise or authorized access paths could expose plaintext content. Atlassian can respond to lawful data requests with content it is technically able to access.

Frequently asked questions.

Is Trello end-to-end encrypted?

No. Trello publishes encryption at rest and in transit, but not SealTask-style client-side end-to-end encryption. That means the service can process workspace content in plaintext for product features and authorized support workflows.

Can Trello employees see my data?

Trello publishes access controls and policies limiting employee access, but its architecture still permits authorized server-side access to workspace content. With SealTask's zero-knowledge architecture, even our engineers cannot access encrypted workspace content because we do not have the keys.

Can I use Trello or SealTask for HIPAA-regulated PHI?

Do not treat either product as HIPAA-ready by default. SealTask's zero-knowledge design may help with technical safeguards. Before any PHI use, SealTask must expressly agree in writing. Where HIPAA applies, SealTask and the customer must execute a HIPAA-compliant BAA before use. Atlassian currently lists Jira, Jira Service Management, and Confluence as BAA-eligible products, not Trello.

Is Trello free to use?

Trello has a free tier for small workspaces, while paid plans add more administrative and automation features. SealTask has a $0 Free tier with solo-only collaboration and capacity limits, paid Personal with project sharing, and Team for centralized billing and seats.

Explore private Trello alternatives

Researching Trello's security history?

We maintain a dated, source-linked record of publicly documented Trello security incidents — what happened, who was affected, and how the vendor responded.

Read the Trello incident record

Comparing for a specific kind of private work?

The guide library adds audience-specific workflows, metadata caveats, and system-of-record decisions for legal, people, executive, startup, consulting, and private-practice work.

Browse audience guides

References.

  1. 01
    Atlassian Trust & Security - Official security documentation
  2. 02
    SealTask security architecture - Zero-knowledge encryption details
  3. 03
    RFC 8439: ChaCha20-Poly1305 - Encryption standard used by SealTask

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