What is Fizzy?

Fizzy is a modern kanban board application designed to track various items like bugs, issues, ideas, and small projects. Created by 37signals, it positions itself as a refreshing alternative to traditional project management tools that have become slow and overloaded with features. The core philosophy is simplicity, speed, and a vibrant user interface. It offers a generous free tier allowing users to track up to 1000 items at no cost, with an affordable flat-rate paid plan for unlimited usage. Notably, Fizzy is also open-source, giving users the option to download and run the software on their own servers for complete customization and control.

Main Features

1. Simple and Fast Kanban Interface: Offers a straightforward, uncluttered board for visual task management.

2. Generous Free Tier: Track up to 1000 cards for free with no time limit or user restrictions.

3. Auto-Close: Automatically prunes old, completed cards to keep boards clean.

4. Webhooks & API: Enables integration with tools like Slack or Campfire and allows for custom integrations.

5. Public Boards: Create shareable boards so anyone can view progress without needing an account.

6. Notification Stack: A convenient fan-style interface for managing all your alerts in one place.

7. Stamps: Visual indicators on cards showing who created or modified them and when.

8. Open Source: The complete codebase is available for self-hosting and customization.

Use Cases

1. Bug and Issue Tracking: Ideal for development teams to log, assign, and monitor software bugs.

2. Idea Management: Capture and organize creative ideas, feature requests, or brainstorming outcomes on a visual board.

3. Small Project Management: Manage tasks and workflows for personal projects or small team initiatives.

4. Property Management: Example given of tracking maintenance issues across multiple properties.

5. General Task Tracking: A versatile tool for organizing any list of items that benefit from a "To Do, Doing, Done" workflow.

Supported Languages

1. The primary language of the interface and support materials is English. The website content and product tour are presented in English.

Pricing Plans

1. Free Plan: Track up to 1000 cards with unlimited users. Includes 1GB of storage. No credit card required and no time limit.

2. Paid Plan: $20 per month for unlimited cards and unlimited users. Includes 5GB of storage. Cancel anytime.

3. Additional Storage: Can be purchased in 50GB increments beyond the included storage.

4. Self-Hosted Option: The software is open-source and 100% free to download and run on your own servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Q: Does Fizzy integrate with other tools like Basecamp or Slack?

A: Yes, via Webhooks to send events to Campfire, Slack, or other tools. It also has an API for custom integrations.

2. Q: Can we import data from other services like Trello or Jira?

A: Not currently. This is a potential future feature but is not available in the current release.

3. Q: Can we install Fizzy on our own servers for free?

A: Yes. Fizzy is Open Source. You can download the code from GitHub and run it on your own server.

4. Q: If I delete a card, does it count against the 1000 card limit?

A: Yes. Every card created is counted, even if deleted later. The card ID counter always shows the total created.

5. Q: Are there any AI features?

A: No. The focus is on removing complexity and bloat, not adding artificial intelligence.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

- Extremely generous and permanent free tier.

- Simple, fast, and intuitive user interface.

- Transparent, affordable flat-rate pricing with no per-user fees.

- Open-source model offers flexibility and self-hosting option.

- Built by the reputable team behind Basecamp and HEY.

Cons:

- Lacks direct import tools from popular competitors.

- No built-in artificial intelligence or automation features.

- Storage limits may require additional purchase for heavy use.

- Primarily an English-language interface.

Recommendation Rating

8/10 (An excellent, straightforward kanban tool with a fantastic free offering and ethical pricing, ideal for those tired of bloated alternatives. Points deducted for lack of import tools and AI features.)