Can I Create Epics in Trello? A Complete Guide

If you’re using Trello for project management, you might be wondering: Can I create epics in Trello? The short answer is yes, but not directly. Trello doesn’t have a built-in epic feature, but there are some workarounds and Power-Ups that can help you manage epics effectively.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to create and manage epics in Trello using Power-Ups, automation, and best practices. I’ll also include comparisons, pricing, and screenshots to help you decide the best method for your needs.

What Is an Epic in Project Management?

Before we jump into Trello, let’s first understand what an epic is.

An epic is a big task that consists of multiple smaller tasks (also called stories). Think of it as a big project with many steps. For example:

📌 Epic: Launching a Website

• Task 1: Design the homepage
• Task 2: Write content for the blog
• Task 3: Set up SEO optimization

By breaking big projects into smaller tasks, it becomes easier to manage and track progress.

Can You Create Epics in Trello?

Trello doesn’t have a built-in way to create epics, but you can still do it using:

✅ Power-Ups (add-ons for Trello)
✅ Labels & lists
✅ Automation with Butler

Now, let’s go through each method in detail.

1️⃣ Using Power-Ups to Create Epics in Trello

Power-Ups are extra features that you can add to Trello to extend its capabilities. There are two main Power-Ups for managing epics:

Let’s take a closer look at how they work.

🔹 Epic Cards by Screenful

This Power-Up lets you group multiple Trello cards into one epic. You can track the progress of all the tasks under an epic and see reports.

📌 How to set up Epic Cards by Screenful:

1. Go to Trello → Power-Ups
2. Search for “Epic Cards by Screenful”
3. Click “Add Power-Up”
4. Choose the lists you want to track as epics
5. Start adding tasks under each epic

💡 Pros:
✔️ Easy to set up
✔️ Great for visual tracking
✔️ Works across multiple boards

❌ Cons:

• Paid feature (no free version)

🔹 Hello Epics

Another great Power-Up is Hello Epics, which allows you to create parent-child card relationships. This is helpful when you want to visually connect smaller tasks to a bigger epic.

📌 How to use Hello Epics:

1. Install Hello Epics from the Power-Ups menu
2. Open a card and link it to a parent card
3. View all child tasks inside the parent card

💡 Pros:
✔️ Affordable compared to Epic Cards
✔️ Works well for simple task management

❌ Cons:

• Doesn’t support advanced analytics like Epic Cards

2️⃣ Alternative: Using Trello Labels & Lists for Epics

If you don’t want to pay for Power-Ups, you can still manage epics in Trello using labels and lists.

📌 How to use labels for epics:

1. Create a new label called “Epic”
2. Apply the label to big tasks
3. Use different colored labels for different projects

📌 How to use lists for epics:

1. Create a list for each epic
2. Add tasks inside the list
3. Move completed tasks to a “Done” list

💡 Pros:
✔️ 100% free
✔️ Easy to use

❌ Cons:

• No tracking features
• Can get messy with too many tasks

3️⃣ Automating Epics in Trello with Butler

Trello Butler is a built-in automation tool that can help manage epics.

📌 Example automation:

• When a task is completed ✅, move it to the Done list
• If all tasks in an epic are completed, mark the epic as done

How to set up Butler automation:

1. Go to Automation → Rules
2. Click “Create a new rule”
3. Set up conditions (e.g., “When all subtasks are completed…”)
4. Choose an action (e.g., “Mark the epic as complete”)

💡 Pros:
✔️ Free for basic automation
✔️ No need for extra Power-Ups

❌ Cons:

• Takes time to set up
• Limited free commands

Best Practices for Managing Epics in Trello

Here are some tips to keep your Trello epics organized:

✅ Use clear naming conventions (e.g., Epic: Website Launch)
✅ Add labels & due dates to stay organized
✅ Use checklists inside cards for subtasks
✅ Set up automation to reduce manual work

Which Method Is Best for You?

💡 Recommendation: If you’re on a budget, use labels & lists. If you want advanced tracking, go for Epic Cards by Screenful.

Conclusion

So, can you create epics in Trello? Absolutely! 🚀 You just need the right Power-Up, workflow, or automation.

For teams that need analytics → Use Epic Cards by Screenful
For a budget-friendly option → Use labels & lists
For automation lovers → Use Butler

Now that you know how to manage epics in Trello, go ahead and start organizing your projects like a pro! 🎯

Got any questions? Drop them in the comments!