What is Agile project management software?
Agile project management is a flexible and iterative approach to project management, prioritizing collaboration, adaptability, and small, incremental changes over fixed, large-scale planning.
The Agile methodology originated in software development and focuses on continuous improvement, stakeholder feedback, and rapid adjustments throughout the project lifecycle. With this methodology, teams can quickly respond to changes and improve the quality of the product or software, even as needs evolve.
Agile PM software streamlines processes, aids in task tracking, and keeps all team members aligned with the project’s goals. Moreover, features like backlogs, sprint planning, and real-time dashboards can make Agile practices more efficient. These functionalities help shorten project timelines while meeting stakeholders’ expectations.
Also read: 6 Essential Software Features for Agile Project Management
To help you choose the best Agile project management software for your needs, here’s a list of our hand-picked favorites and what sets them apart from other APM software:
Featured partnersFeatured Partners
Top Agile project management software
ClickUp is best overall for Agile project management
Pros
Cons
ClickUp stands out for its versatility and comprehensive feature set. It is designed to cater to a wide range of project requirements from simple tasks to complex workflows, and it offers a customizable platform tailored to specific team needs.
ClickUp’s user-friendly interface helps teams quickly adapt and integrate their processes, regardless of familiarity with other project management tools. The software’s adaptability makes it a top choice for Agile methodologies, where flexibility and iterative progress are key.
Customizable workflows
ClickUp’s capability to customize workflows makes it an excellent PM software choice for various project needs. Whether it’s a strict Agile methodology or a more flexible hybrid approach, ClickUp can adapt to your team’s preferred work style.
Comprehensive feature set
ClickUp boasts a wide array of features suitable for both basic and intricate project management tasks. Beyond task tracking, it offers tools for time management, reporting, and more. As a result, it can streamline processes and boost overall productivity.
User-friendly interface
Even with its extensive feature set, ClickUp takes pride in its intuitive interface. New team members can quickly get up to speed with the platform, thus reducing onboarding time. The user-centric design makes sure that daily operations, from task assignment to progress tracking, run smoothly.
- Free plan is available.
- Unlimited: Starts at $7 per member per month, billed annually.
- Business: Starts at $12 per member per month, billed annually.
We chose ClickUp because it stands out as the best overall solution for agile project management. With its robust feature set, ClickUp offers unparalleled flexibility and customization, allowing teams to adapt to agile frameworks like Scrum, Kanban, and Lean. Its intuitive interface makes it easy for team members to collaborate, track progress, and manage tasks efficiently.
One of the key differentiators is its Spaces feature, which enables teams to create dedicated workspaces for different projects or departments, thereby streamlining workflows. ClickUp also excels in reporting and analytics, providing real-time insights that are crucial for agile development.
Jira: Best for complex Agile projects
Pros
Cons
Jira is a widely recognized Agile project management tool primarily tailored for software development teams. It has various features and supports custom Scrum and Kanban methodologies workflows.
Jira enables teams to map their project roadmaps, monitor work progression, and even automate specific project management tasks. It’s mainly geared towards Scrum, but it provides multiple charts for evaluating workflow performance, such as burndown and burnup charts.
Scrum & Kanban boards
Jira offers both Scrum and Kanban boards, which allows teams to visualize their tasks and progress. These boards can be customized to fit the team’s workflow, and establish that everyone is on the same page.
The Scrum board, in particular, is designed to support sprint planning and review. This board makes it easier for teams to manage their sprint goals and backlogs. On the other hand, the Kanban board is perfect for teams who prioritize continuous delivery, because it offers a clear view of work in various stages of completion.
Roadmaps
Jira’s project roadmaps provide a high-level view of goals, milestones, and timelines. Roadmaps in Jira are interactive. It gives team members a quick overview of the project status and adjusts timelines or dependencies as needed. This keeps stakeholders informed about the project’s direction and potential challenges.
Agile reporting and custom filters
Jira provides Agile reporting tools that help teams measure their performance and progress. These reports can range from velocity charts to sprint burndown metrics. Jira’s convenient reporting tools can give teams a comprehensive view of their Agile practices.
The custom filters, however, allow for more refined views of tasks and issues. They enable teams to create specific views based on criteria like assignees, labels, or due dates. This feature places the most relevant information at the user’s fingertips.
- Free plan is available.
- Standard: Starts at $7.75 per user per month, billed annually.
- Premium: Starts at $15.25 per user per month, billed annually.
- Enterprise plan requires custom pricing.
- Jira offers a 7-day free trial for the Standard and Premium plans.
We chose Jira because it stands out as a powerhouse for managing complex Agile projects. Designed primarily for software development teams, Jira offers a strong set of features that support custom Scrum and Kanban workflows. It allows for creating visual roadmaps that enable teams to track work progress easily.
One of Jira’s strengths is its adaptability; you can automate various project management activities and make the process more efficient. Teams can also track bugs, collaborate easily, and generate Agile reports.
Wrike: Best for Agile templates
Pros
Cons
Wrike stands out for its customization options with workflows, dashboards, and reports. Wrike’s interface is designed for simplicity, and its navigation allows users to quickly switch between Kanban boards, interactive Gantt charts, and workload views.
Additionally, the software boasts a range of Agile templates, backlog management tools, collaboration spaces, and Agile reporting and analytics. This adaptability ensures teams maintain their preferred work style while benefiting from Wrike’s comprehensive features.
Task management
Task management in Wrike allows users to break down big projects into smaller, manageable tasks, which is essential for sprint planning and Agile methodology. You can assign these tasks to team members, set deadlines, and even establish dependencies. This level of organization is crucial for keeping sprints on track and making sure that everyone knows their responsibilities.
Agile templates and backlog management
Wrike offers a variety of easy-to-use Agile templates coupled with backlog management functionalities. This combination helps teams to effectively plan, prioritize, and execute their tasks in an Agile manner. These tools are especially beneficial for teams transitioning to Agile because they provide a structured yet adaptable framework as a guide.
For instance, the sprint planning template allows you to split projects into sprints and tackle work in bite-sized chunks for quicker and better results. Similarly, the actionable items template highlights takeaways from meetings so your work remains efficient and valuable.
Collaboration and feedback spaces
Wrike emphasizes collaboration by providing dedicated team discussions and feedback spaces. This feature helps team members align and foster a collaborative environment where ideas and feedback are encouraged. In today’s remote and hybrid work environments, having a centralized space for communication is crucial for maintaining team cohesion.
- Free plan is available.
- Team: Starts at $9.80 per user per month, billed annually.
- Business: Starts at $24.80 per user per month, billed annually.
- Enterprise and Pinnacle plans require custom pricing.
We chose Wrike because it has various innovative, out-of-the-box templates that cater to different aspects of Agile project management, such as sprint planning, actionable items from meetings, and Kanban projects. These templates streamline the project management process and make it easier for teams to adapt to Agile methodologies. They are particularly useful for teams new to Agile, as they provide a structured approach to implementing Agile practices.
Smartsheet: Best for spreadsheet-format tracking
Pros
Cons
Smartsheet blends the simplicity of spreadsheets with visual timeline management and collaborative file-sharing capabilities. This functionality helps teams customize and automate workflows and promote alignment across various projects. The platform’s innovative approach to project management makes it a top choice for businesses aiming to improve operational agility.
Gantt charts
Smartsheet’s Gantt charts provide a visual project timeline. These charts make tracking and managing the project’s progress less arduous. They can be especially beneficial for teams that need a clear visual representation of tasks, deadlines, and dependencies. This feature also helps keep everyone aligned and aware of the project’s trajectory.
Resource management
With Smartsheet’s resource management capability, stakeholders can utilize every team member most effectively by distributing tasks and balancing workloads. Proper resource management can lead to better project outcomes and improved team morale.
Mobile accessibility
The mobile app lets you update tasks, check dashboards, and collaborate from anywhere, anytime. This is crucial in Agile, where quick decision-making and real-time updates are key. Whether in a meeting, working remotely, or even on the shop floor, you can stay connected and keep the Agile process rolling without skipping a beat.
- Free plan is available.
- Pro: Starts at $7 per month, billed annually.
- Business: Starts at $25 per user/month, billed annually.
- Enterprise plan requires custom pricing.
- Free trial is available.
Smartsheet’s cloud-based platform takes the familiarity and ease of spreadsheets and elevates it with robust project management capabilities. It’s not just a static grid — it’s a dynamic workspace where you can capture and track plans and automate workflows. The spreadsheet format allows for smooth integration with other tools and offers a level of customization that’s hard to find elsewhere. This makes it easier to adapt to agile methodologies, where quick iterations and flexibility are key.
Asana: Best for task management and integrations
Pros
Cons
Asana has features that can help your team manage tasks, visualize roadmaps, plan projects, and craft stylish reports. The platform’s capabilities include work visualization and team collaboration, project timelines, and a plethora of integrations with handy digital tools. Asana has carved a niche for itself, especially among creative teams.
Activity feed
Asana’s activity feed provides a real-time look at all updates happening across your projects. It’s like a newsfeed for your tasks that helps you stay in the loop. By centralizing all updates and comments in one place, Asana eliminates the need to jump between tasks or threads and makes communication more streamlined and efficient.
Workload visualization
With Asana, you can get a bird’s eye view of everyone’s workload. This helps make sure that no one is overwhelmed and tasks are evenly distributed. Workload visualizations help managers make informed decisions about resource allocation, identify potential bottlenecks, and keep projects on track without overwhelming team members.
Automatic updates to email/inbox
Asana sends automatic updates to your email or inbox, so you’ll never miss out on important notifications. This feature is especially beneficial for those who are always on the go because it allows them to stay informed and respond promptly, even when they’re not actively using the platform.
- Free plan is available.
- Premium: Starts at $10.99 per user per month, billed annually.
- Business: Starts at $24.99 per user per month, billed annually.
- Enterprise plan requires custom pricing.
Asana’s user-friendly interface allows for task creation and tracking, aligning perfectly with Agile’s fast-paced, adaptive methodologies. The platform is incredibly flexible, supporting custom workflows tailored to fit Scrum, Kanban, or any other Agile framework. Features like backlog prioritization and highly customizable visual project boards make it a comprehensive solution that excels in task management.
monday.com: Best for customizable Agile sprint planning
Pros
Cons
monday.com is designed to cater to various workflows, making it a go-to choice for teams looking to tailor their project management processes. Its visually engaging interface allows users to navigate and manage tasks efficiently. This intuitive dashboard helps make sure that projects remain on track. Moreover, its robust integration capabilities enable users to connect to other tools and improve overall productivity and efficiency.
Visual work OS
monday.com functions as a comprehensive work operating system that allows teams to create workflow apps. This means you can customize it to fit any work process, from simple task lists to complex project management. By centralizing all tasks and processes, teams can streamline their operations and enhance collaboration.
Integration capabilities
One of the strengths of monday.com is its ability to integrate with many other tools. The platform helps a broad range of systems — including CRMs, communication tools, and financial software — communicate effectively in the context of your projects. More integration opportunities mean more opportunities to create a unified workspace, reduce data silos, and enhance overall efficiency.
Automation
To reduce manual and repetitive tasks, monday.com offers automation features. Once the routine tasks are handled automatically, team members can focus on more pressing matters. By automating workflows, stakeholders can also reduce errors, save time, and maintain consistency across tasks.
- Free plan is available.
- Basic: Starts at $9 per seat per month, billed annually.
- Standard: Starts at $12 per seat per month, billed annually.
- Pro: Starts at $19 per seat per month, billed annually.
- Enterprise plan requires custom pricing.
monday.com’s customizable Agile sprint planning features offer the flexibility to adapt to any industry or work method, including Scrum and Kanban. Real-time reporting features enable teams to track product backlog progress and even predict story points for future sprints.
ProjectManager: Best for Agile-Waterfall hybrid project management
Pros
Cons
ProjectManager has gained popularity among traditional project managers with features like Kanban boards, Scrum workflows, and product roadmap visualization. What sets ProjectManager apart is its ability to cater to hybrid approaches. This capability makes ProjectManager a go-to solution for teams that employ both Agile and waterfall methodologies. Its real-time dashboards also offer teams a live view of their project’s status.
Kanban boards
These boards help Agile teams visualize their workflow, track tasks, and manage backlogs efficiently. Kanban boards are essential for Agile teams to manage tasks and visualize workflow. This feature allows teams to track their progress, and keep every team member aligned with the project’s goals.
Product backlogs and sprint planning
This feature aids in organizing tasks, setting priorities, and planning sprints effectively. A crucial aspect of Agile methodologies, especially Scrum, is managing product backlogs and planning sprints. These features help stakeholders set priorities, organize tasks, and plan their sprints efficiently, which can result in better project outcomes.
Real-time dashboards
Real-time dashboards in ProjectManager provide teams with an up-to-date view of their project’s status. This live overview keeps every team member aligned with the project’s progress. With real-time data and progress view, quick and informed decision-making will be less taxing.
- Team: Starts at $13 per user per month, billed annually.
- Business: Starts at $24 per user per month, billed annually.
- Enterprise plan requires custom pricing.
- ProjectManager offers a 30-day free trial.
Unlike other platforms focusing solely on Agile methodologies, ProjectManager integrates Agile and Waterfall frameworks. This allows teams to adapt and pivot quickly while maintaining a structured project delivery approach. The software also boasts robust collaboration features, including file sharing and in-app commenting, which foster a more cohesive team environment.
Find your new Agile project management software
Agile project management FAQs
How to choose the best Agile project management software
An effective Agile project management software is characterized by its adaptability, real-time collaboration features, and intuitive user interface. It should facilitate iterative development, and allow teams to prioritize tasks, manage backlogs, and adjust to changes swiftly.
Integration capabilities with other tools, transparent reporting, and visualization features like Kanban boards or Gantt charts are also vital. Additionally, the software should promote team communication. Transparent communication can keep everyone aligned with the project’s goals and progress.
When choosing the best Agile project management software, one should consider the specific needs of the team and the nature of the projects. It’s essential to assess the software’s ease of use and scalability. Ultimately, the best software will align with the team’s workflow, enhance productivity, and support Agile principles at their core.
Read next: Tips for an Easier Project Management Software Purchase
More Agile project management resources
