How to Install Planka on Ubuntu VPS (5 Minute Quick-Start Guide)

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to install Plankaon Ubuntu VPS using Docker and Docker Compose.

What is Planka?

Planka is an open-source project management tool designed to help teams organize tasks and collaborate effectively using a Kanban-style board interface, similar to tools like Trello or Jira.

🔧 Key Features

• Kanban Boards – Drag-and-drop cards across customizable columns
• Tasks and Subtasks – Create tasks, assign users, and add checklists
• Real-Time Collaboration – Updates sync across users instantly
• Self-Hosted – You can host Planka on your own server for full control
• User Management – Invite team members and manage access
• Minimal & Modern UI – Clean and fast interface, built with React

💡 Why Use Planka?

• Privacy: Keep your data private by self-hosting
• Customization: Modify the codebase to suit your team’s needs
• Cost-Effective: No per-user pricing—free and open-source
• Lightweight: Less resource-intensive compared to Jira or Trello Enterprise

🧰 Built With

• Frontend: React
• Backend: Node.js with Koa
• Database: PostgreSQL
• Docker: Official support for containerized deployment

Planka is ideal for developers, startups, and teams who want a Trello-like experience but with open-source flexibility and full ownership of their data.

✅ Requirements

• Ubuntu 22.04 VPS
• Root or sudo user access
• Docker and Docker Compose installed
• At least 1 GB RAM (2 GB recommended)
• Public IP address or domain (optional for SSL)

How to Install Planka on Ubuntu VPS

To install Planka on Ubuntu VPS, follow the steps below:

1. Update System Packages

   sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

2. Install Docker and Docker Compose

   1. Install Docker

      curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh sudo sh get-docker.sh

   2. Install Docker Compose

      sudo apt install -y docker-compose

      Verify installations:

      docker --version docker-compose --version

3. Create a Planka Project Directory

   mkdir ~/planka cd ~/planka

4. Create a docker-compose.yml File

   Create the file:

   nano docker-compose.yml

   Paste the following content:

   version: '3' services: postgres: image: postgres:15 restart: always environment: POSTGRES_DB: planka POSTGRES_USER: planka POSTGRES_PASSWORD: planka volumes: - pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data planka: image: ghcr.io/plankanban/planka:latest restart: always depends_on: - postgres ports: - "3000:1337" environment: - BASE_URL=http://your-server-ip:3000 - DATABASE_URL=postgres://planka:planka@postgres:5432/planka - SECRET_KEY=your-strong-secret-key volumes: pgdata:

   🔐 Replace your-strong-secret-key with a secure random string.

5. Start Planka with Docker Compose

   docker-compose up -d

   This will pull the Planka and PostgreSQL images, and start the containers.

6. Access Planka in Browser

   Go to:

   http://your-server-ip:3000
   

   Default admin credentials:

   • Username: admin
   • Password: admin

   Change these immediately in the app settings.

   

7. Enable HTTPS with a Reverse Proxy

   For a production setup:

   1. Point your domain to your VPS IP (e.g. planka.yourdomain.com).
   2. Use Nginx + Let’s Encrypt:

      1. Install Nginx and Certbot

         sudo apt install nginx certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y

      2. Configure Nginx Reverse Proxy

         Create a config file for your domain:

         sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/planka

         Example config:

         server { listen 80; server_name planka.yourdomain.com; location / { proxy_pass http://localhost:3000; proxy_set_header Host $host; proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr; proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for; } }

         Enable the site:

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

      3. Get SSL Certificate

         sudo certbot --nginx -d planka.yourdomain.com

🔄 Useful Commands

• Restart Planka:

docker-compose restart

• View logs:

docker-compose logs -f

• Stop services:

docker-compose down

Conclusion

You now know how to install Planka on Ubuntu VPS. Planka should now be running securely on your Ubuntu VPS. You can log in, create boards, and manage your team with ease.