You probably have too many tabs open. Honestly, most of us do. You’re staring at that tiny Trello favicon, buried between a half-finished Google Doc and a YouTube video you’ve been meaning to watch for three days, and you're wondering why your computer sounds like a jet engine taking off. It’s a mess. Browsers are great for grazing the internet, but they suck for deep work. That is exactly why the desktop app for Trello exists, though a lot of people just ignore the download button and keep struggling in Chrome.
Using Trello in a dedicated app isn't just about clearing up space. It’s about focus. When you Alt-Tab or Command-Tab, you want to land exactly on your project board, not a browser window where you accidentally get distracted by a Facebook notification. It sounds small. It’s actually huge for your brain.
What the desktop app for Trello does that your browser can't
Browsers are "sandboxed." That’s a techy way of saying they are locked in a little digital cage for security reasons. Because of that, the web version of Trello is limited. The desktop version? It’s got its own keys to the house.
One of the best things is the global quick add. Imagine you’re in the middle of a Zoom call or reading an email in Outlook. You realize you forgot to add "Buy more ink" to your office supply board. Usually, you’d have to find your browser, find the Trello tab, wait for it to refresh, and then type. With the desktop app, you just hit a keyboard shortcut—usually Shift + Option + Space on a Mac—and a little window pops up. Type the card name, hit enter, and go back to what you were doing. It takes two seconds.
Native notifications are less annoying here
Web notifications are the worst. They feel like spam. But native notifications through the desktop app for Trello actually respect your operating system's rules. If you have "Do Not Disturb" turned on in Windows 11 or macOS, the Trello app won't bug you. A browser might still try to sneak one past the goalie. Plus, you get that little red badge on the app icon in your dock or taskbar. It tells you exactly how many alerts are waiting without you having to go looking for them.
The app also handles multiple windows way better. In a browser, if you want two boards open side-by-side, you’re dragging tabs around and resizing windows like a madman. The desktop version lets you pop out boards into their own windows effortlessly.
The performance reality check
Let’s be real: Electron apps get a bad rap. Trello’s desktop app is built on Electron, which basically means it’s a specialized browser wrapper. Some people complain that it uses too much RAM.
But here is the thing.
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Chrome is already eating your RAM. If you run Trello in a tab, Chrome is managing the memory for that tab along with forty other tabs. When you use the standalone desktop app for Trello, the memory usage is isolated. In my experience, and based on feedback from project managers at places like Grandview and various agile startups, the app feels "snappier." Dragging cards feels less laggy. Large boards with hundreds of attachments don't make the page stutter as much. It’s stable.
Offline access is the big "if"
There is a common misconception that the desktop app gives you full, 100% offline editing like a Word doc. It doesn't. Not exactly. Trello is fundamentally a cloud-based tool. However, the desktop app is much better at "caching" your data. If your Wi-Fi blips out for a minute while you’re in a tunnel or at a coffee shop with spotty internet, the app won't just turn into a white screen of death. You can usually still see your boards.
Apple Silicon and Windows optimization
If you’re on a newer Mac with an M1, M2, or M3 chip, the performance difference is even more noticeable. The desktop app for Trello is optimized for Apple Silicon. It’s efficient. On Windows, it integrates beautifully with the "Snap Layouts" feature. You can pin Trello to the left third of your screen and keep your code editor or your spreadsheet on the right. It feels like a part of your computer, not just another website you're visiting.
Touch bar and shortcuts
For the three people left who actually use the MacBook Touch Bar (I see you, and I respect the commitment), the Trello app actually supports it. It surfaces helpful shortcuts right there. Even if you don't use the Touch Bar, the sheer number of custom keyboard shortcuts available in the app—like Control + Option + C to copy a card link—makes you feel like a power user.
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Why some people still stick to the browser
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There are legitimate reasons to skip the download.
If you are someone who works on a highly restricted corporate laptop where you can't install software without an IT ticket that takes six weeks to process, the web version is your best friend. It’s also easier if you’re constantly switching between twenty different Trello accounts for different clients. While the desktop app handles multiple accounts, sometimes the browser's ability to have different "Profiles" (like in Chrome or Edge) is just more robust.
Also, extensions. If you use a very specific Chrome extension that modifies Trello’s CSS or adds custom functionality that isn't a standard Trello Power-Up, that extension won't work in the desktop app for Trello. You’re stuck with the vanilla experience. For most, that’s fine. For some, it’s a dealbreaker.
Setting up your workflow for actual productivity
If you decide to make the jump, don't just install it and leave it. You have to set it up right.
First, go into the settings and enable "Launch on Startup." It sounds annoying, but if Trello is your "home base" for work, you want it there the second you log in.
Next, customize your Global Quick Add shortcut. Make it something your fingers can remember without looking. This is the single biggest "pro move" in the desktop app for Trello. When a thought hits you, you dump it into Trello immediately. No more "I'll remember to add that later" (you won't).
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Dealing with the "Too Many Windows" problem
One trap people fall into with the desktop app is opening a dozen different windows for a dozen different boards. Suddenly, you’ve just recreated the "too many tabs" problem but on your desktop.
Use the "Starred Boards" feature. In the desktop app, these are super easy to toggle between using Cmd+1, Cmd+2, and so on. Keep your main "Daily Tasks" board as #1. Keep your "Big Project" as #2. This keeps your workspace clean.
Is it actually worth the disk space?
Honestly? Yes.
The desktop app for Trello isn't a revolutionary redesign of how the software works. It’s the same cards. It’s the same lists. It’s the same Butler automations. But the psychological shift of moving your work out of the "distraction zone" (the browser) and into its own "work zone" (the app) is worth the 100MB of space it takes up.
It stops being a website. It starts being a tool.
If you’re tired of losing your project boards in a sea of tabs, or if you just want to be able to add a task without stopping what you're doing, give the app a shot. It’s free. It’s fast. And it’s a lot more professional than digging through your browser history to find that one card you edited this morning.
Actionable steps to optimize your Trello desktop experience
- Download and Install: Grab the official version from the Trello website or the Mac App Store / Microsoft Store. Avoid third-party "wrappers" which can be security risks.
- Map Your Shortcuts: Immediately go to Settings and set a Global Quick Add shortcut. Try
Ctrl + Shift + A(Windows) orCmd + Shift + A(Mac). - Pop-Out Your Most Used Board: If you have a second monitor, use the "Open in New Window" feature to keep your primary "To-Do" list visible at all times.
- Clean Your Browser: Once you’re settled in the app, close all your Trello tabs in Chrome or Safari. Feel that instant relief as your RAM usage drops and your focus sharpens.
- Enable Desktop Notifications: Turn them on, but customize them in your OS settings so they don't make noise—just a silent banner or a badge icon is usually enough to stay informed without losing your flow.