Suppose you want a solution that will allow you to handle complex projects with changing requirements and automate repetitive tasks and workflows. In that case, you need to consider agile project management software. Since agile is one of the most in-demand software development methodologies, there are a host of new agile tools on the market to choose from.
We have put together this comprehensive roundup of some of the market’s best agile project management tools. Each of these agile tools has its unique pricing structure, features, benefits, and even cons, so be sure to read through our recommendations carefully before making a decision.
Why the Agile Method?
The agile method is a response to the limitations of traditional waterfall project management. With agile, instead of trying to plan and predict every aspect of a project in advance, you embrace change and allow for flexibility.
With agile tools, you can deliver working software faster, respond to changes and feedback more quickly, and adapt your plans as needed.
What is Agile Project Management?
The agile project management methodology is the iterative approach to managing software development projects. In agile development, requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organizing cross-functional teams.
The agile approach is characterized by short iterations (called sprints), which allow for rapid delivery of working software. Each iteration includes all steps necessary to take a product from idea to delivery: planning, development, testing, and deployment.
These agile project management software programs are designed to support the agile process and give visibility into every aspect of your project. Whether you’re working on designing and coding of a website, web application scanning for security, or successful deployment — using the right agile tools can help you manage agile projects by providing a flexible framework for planning, tracking, and reporting.
What are the Benefits of Agile Project Management?
While the agile methodology is typically used by software developers and programmers, traditional companies like banks or even insurance companies can reap the benefit of agile tools to manage non-software projects. Whether your team carries out custom enterprise software development, or if you’re simply looking to improve the way you manage projects, the agile methodology can positively impact your everyday workflow.
Some of the many benefits of agile project management include:
- Increased flexibility and responsiveness to change
- Improved communication and collaboration among teams
- More effective use of resources
- Greater transparency and accountability
- Faster delivery of working software programs
Best Agile Tools To Manage Your Projects
The agile process helps teams deliver high-quality products–fast. To facilitate that process, agile teams need the right tools to do the job. While there isn’t a perfect agile tool that will help you “do all the things,” some of the picks on our list come pretty darn close.
1. Hive
Hive is a leading agile project management tool used by thousands of teams. For those teams that follow the agile project management methodology, Hive offers Kanban boards to help visualize task progress and inform everyone of project status in real-time.
The Hive time-tracking feature is a pivotal tool for sprint planning, and Hive’s thousands of integrations and real-time note-taking make it simple to collaborate on projects and meetings in the digital space. These tools make it easier for agile teams to conduct effective daily scrums and sprint planning meetings.
Price: Free forever plan for individual users with limited features, and paid plans start at $16/user/month.
Key Features
- Automation
- External guest access
- Time tracking
- Zoom from Hive + 3rd party integrations
2. Wrike
Wrike is a flexible, agile project management software that can be customized to fit any workflow. One of its key features is the Gantt chart which provides users with a clear overview of their project and the ability to track dependencies and progress.
With Wrike, you can also create custom workflows, perfect for agile teams that need to track non-standard processes or have unique requirements. Since the agile method needs to be scalable and flexible, Wrike answers these needs by offering customized automation, workflows, and a variety of integrations, including Google Drive, Dropbox, and Salesforce.
Price: Free forever plan for individual users with limited features, and paid plans to start at $24.80/user/month.
Key Features
- Gantt chart
- Custom workflows
- spreadsheet views
- Integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox, and Salesforce
Comparison: Learn about the top Wrike alternatives on the market.
3. JIRA
JIRA is an agile project management tool software developers use to track bugs and new programming features. The tool’s flexible workflow capabilities make it easy to map out processes and ensure everyone is on the same page.
JIRA’s agile project management features include agile boards, scrum boards, sprint features, and customized management reporting to help teams track their progress and identify areas of improvement. The tool also integrates with a number of popular development tools, making it easy for developers to work seamlessly between JIRA and their other tools.
Price: Free trial available; paid plans start at $11/user/month.
Key Features:
- Agile boards
- Sprint functionality
- Customized reporting
- Integrations with popular development tools
Comparison: Learn about the top Jira alternatives on the market.
4. Asana
Asana is a project management software with flexible features for planning, organizing, and managing Agile projects and Scrum sprints. Asana offers boards, timelines views, and custom fields to dependencies, which can be handy when collaborating with a team in a fast-paced environment. As an agile tool, Asana lets you streamline work pipelines and easily spot bottlenecks and backlogs. The platform is built on tasks, which can be grouped into larger projects and assigned to individual team members.
Price: Asana has a free plan with limited features, and its paid plan unlocks premium features and starts at $10.99.
Key Features:
- Workflow Builder Board
- Calendar, Gantt Chart and Kanban Board views
- Tasks automation
- Desktop and mobile apps
- Third-party app integrations
Comparison: Check out our full guide to the best Asana alternatives on the market.
5. Monday.com
Monday.com is a project management software that features agile solutions for OKR management. You can easily create boards to manage all strategic objectives and measure key results across the company. Monday.com allows you to set deliberate timelines and key results where you are able to plan and monitor performance in transparent real-time dashboards. There’s also tracking and responding to budget risk levels within your organization’s portfolios. Entire teams can work together to plan and accomplish tasks within a single workspace.
Price: Get started with Monday.com for free and plans start at $8/user/month
Key Features:
- Sprints planning adaptable to hybrid work models
- Easily report and track bugs with color-coded labels
- Quickly plan phases for product launches
- Real-time reports showing team progress, product backlogs, and continued improvement
Comparison: Check out our picks for Monday.com alternatives.
