5 Agile Development Tools to Organize Your Sprints

Many software development teams rely on the Agile project management methodology to successfully develop and complete tasks. In this framework, a team takes a large project and breaks it down into discrete phases, called sprints. It’s an iterative methodology, which means that after every sprint, the team takes time to reflect on how that sprint went and what to adjust or improve to make the next sprint even more effective. This way, the Agile framework facilitates collaboration, increased efficiency, and the development of high-quality products, contributing to adopting Agile tools across companies. 

A survey conducted by Digital.ai found that 71 percent of software development professionals used Agile methodology in their development lifecycle [1]. So by choosing the Agile development tools that align with your needs, you can significantly improve your team’s productivity and workflow. 

Many Agile development tools address various processes, goals, and needs. Explore different Agile development tools that serve various purposes and discover how to choose the right ones for your projects.

What are Agile development tools?

Agile development tools are the tools a team can use to manage and complete an Agile project. Agile tools could just be a whiteboard and sticky notes to visualize and manage sprints. With the increasing popularity of Agile, businesses can opt for a plethora of digital tools to successfully implement Agile frameworks and methodologies.

How to choose the best Agile tools for your project

Equipping your team with the right Agile tools can significantly enhance the entire Agile development lifecycle. When considering the many Agile tools available, it’s essential to consider your team’s specific needs and goals. Take the time to think about what your team wants out of its Agile tools, the Agile methodology you follow, your budget, what functionalities you need, and what your target outcomes are.

Some key features to look for include:

• The ability to effectively collaborate and communicate

• Ease of use and accessibility

• Provides a centralized access point and storage space for all materials

• The ability to make work visible across your entire team

• Scalability as the project becomes more complex

Once you have your list of wants and needs, it’s time to compare the different tools available to see which one best suits your team.

What are the popular tools in Agile development?

The most popular Agile development tools all support seamless project management by prioritizing features such as task assignment, sprint management, and project tracking. These tools include:

Agile tools: Jira

Jira is a sprint planning tool that supports the creation and prioritization of ideas, task definition, and product backlog management. According to Digital.ai's 17th State of Agile survey, 62 percent of companies used Jira for Agile project management, making it one of the most popular tools for general Agile development [1]. Jira’s versatility in supporting project managers and various other teams within a company, like marketing and HR teams, is a significant reason for its global success. 

Features: Scrum boards, Kanban boards, and customized boards; timeline view for high-level project tracking; report generation available in a wide range of visualizations and formats

Costs: Free version available; paid versions start at $8.60 per user, per month; price per month will vary based on team size [2]

Pros: Robust issue-tracking capabilities; customizable workflows for tailored project management; app integration for easier data sharing. 

Cons: Steep learning curve that can make it difficult for new users to utilize the software; limited collaboration tools mean teams must use additional applications to achieve desired capabilities.

Agile tools: Asana

Asana is a task-management tool that works well for small teams or individuals. It makes it easy to break down complex projects into customized workflows and task lists to better track each step.

Features: Project reporting; shareable dashboards; tailored information tracking using custom data fields; customizable and versatile

Costs: Free personal version available; paid versions start at $10.99 per user, per month [3]

Pros: The customizable rules make it easy to create efficient, tailored processes, and its ability to support cross-functional projects makes it ideal for teams across multiple departments.

Cons: Limited time-tracking feature; the premium plan options quickly become expensive.

Agile tools: ClickUp

ClickUp is a great option for workflow customization. Its color-coding systems make it easy for a team to assign tasks, helping to identify potential bottlenecks and monitor progress as a project advances.

Features: Goal and time tracking, mind map creation, document hub, task checklist

Costs: Free personal plan offered; team plans start at $7 per person, per month [4]

Pros: The free plan holds much value for personal use or potentially smaller teams; ClickUp offers Agile templates and an attractive user interface.

Cons: The sheer number of options might make it overwhelming to use; the interface can be slow.

Agile tools: Trello

Trello is an excellent choice for task management. The Kanban board feature uses cards to easily track and move different team members’ progress and tasks. It’s scalable across small and large teams and can be customized based on your project needs.

Features: Visual task boards, project and workflow templates, Kanban boards, custom task cards

Costs: Free plan offered; standard plans start at $5 per user, per month [5]

Pros: Highly customizable cards and workspaces; one-click actions to trigger sequences

Cons: Pricing is high compared to others; communication is limited; it’s easy to scale out of the free plan quickly

Agile tools: Monday.com

Monday.com allows you to visualize different milestones and tasks within a set timeline. It provides a high-level view of a project and more granular, task-focused views to help keep everyone on track.

Features: Sprint planning abilities; project portfolio management; Objectives and Key Results (OKR) and goal tracking

Costs: Free individual plan; basic plan starts at $9 per user, per month [6]

Pros: Robust customer support, workflow automation, a wide range of templates

Cons: Steep learning curve for new users; some stability issues

Tools within Agile that don’t involve software

Implementing Agile methodologies doesn’t always require software. Some of the foundational aspects of Agile are frameworks that anyone can utilize because they focus more on how someone works. The following techniques are key parts of Agile development:

Scrum

Scrum refers to a specific framework that structures work using a set of practices, values, and principles. In Scrum, the product owner, Scrum master, and other team members work together to complete a project. The Scrum master ensures that everyone follows the agreed-upon creation process, while the product owner ensures the maximization of the product value. 

If your client or team is unsure how to do the work in a project, you should choose the Scrum methodology. The process is highly adaptable, allowing changes to be identified and implemented quickly. Scrum focuses on providing customer value within fixed periods, making it an effective strategy for teams that must develop and deliver products frequently. 

Iterations

Iterations in Agile refer to different phases of work during which development takes place. An iteration is a set amount of time for submitting the deliverables for each phase. This helps to break down the larger, complex project into a timeline of smaller, more discrete periods. Iterations are an effective strategy if your project needs to be completed within a specific deadline. For example, an iteration-based Agile framework might be a suitable approach if a software development team needs to submit a software prototype within a certain time. 

Sprints

Sprints are work phases that each iteration breaks down into. Each sprint is typically two to four weeks long and focuses on a specific, smaller piece of the larger project. Everyone agrees to finish their assigned chunk of work within that sprint. At the end of the sprint, the team reflects on how the work went and decides how to improve processes for the next sprint. So by facilitating continuous improvement, sprints help companies produce high-quality products in less time. If your team needs to work on complex projects or projects with changing requirements, a sprint-based approach might benefit you.

Learn more about Agile development on Coursera

Agile development tools help teams implement Agile methodologies, such as sprints, in their projects. If you’re interested in learning more about Agile development, you can consider exploring courses and certifications on Coursera. With options such as LearnQuest’s Scrum Master Certification Specialization, you’ll obtain the foundational knowledge to get started with Agile Scrum. Additionally, you can opt for the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate, which will demonstrate the fundamentals of Agile project development and the Scrum methodology.