Best agile project management software in 2024

With so many variables constantly affecting the priorities of modern organizations, flexibility has become a key component of staying competitive in a dynamic, constantly evolving market. Thus when project teams are tasked with overseeing multiple initiatives at a single time, a static project management software simply no longer suffices.

Enter agile project management (APM), an increasingly utilized methodology that allows its users to adapt to changing requirements and priorities. In APM, projects are split into several different phases, or sprints, empowering teams to continually plan, execute, and reflect, facilitating quick adaptation to changing needs.

Today, we’ll take a look at what agile project management software is, the key components that a capable solution should provide, and 10 of the best APM systems currently available to you.

What is agile project management software?

Agile project management software is designed to prioritize flexibility, collaboration, and continuous improvement across an organization. Unlike traditional project management approaches that follow a linear path, agile methodologies promote iterative development, allowing teams to adapt to changes quickly. APM software provides the necessary tools to support these practices by enabling teams to plan, execute, and monitor initiatives in a dynamic manner.

Benefits of agile project management

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Agile project management typically provides a plethora of benefits, particularly for teams operating in fast-paced environments and managing multiple projects simultaneously. Its dynamic and iterative nature allows it to be effortlessly molded to reflect the most current needs of a company, as opposed to static project management, which is usually more rigid.

Boost flexibility & scalability

APM allows teams to reassess priorities and adjust their work based on feedback or shifting project requirements at the end of each sprint. Agile software facilitates this flexibility by providing tools for real-time updates, backlog management, and sprint planning, empowering teams to re-prioritize tasks with ease. 

Moreover, as projects grow in complexity and size, an agile framework's iterative nature allows for manageable expansions. APM platforms support this by offering features like customizable workflows and task boards, which can be tailored to accommodate an increasing number of team members and project components. 

Improved collaboration across teams

Agile methodologies, such as Scrum and Kanban, involve regular meetings which ensure that team members are constantly in sync with each other. These meetings provide opportunities for staff to discuss progress, share insights, and address any obstacles they might be facing. Agile software enhances these efforts by offering tools for real-time updates and instant messaging, making it easy for team members to stay engaged regardless of their physical location.

Additionally, agile project management encourages cross-functional collaboration, breaking down silos between different departments within an organization. Agile teams are typically composed of members with diverse skill sets, allowing for a more holistic approach to problem-solving. APM software offers centralized platforms where all team members can access relevant information and collaborate on tasks. 

More transparency in projects

One of the core principles of APM is to maintain a high level of transparency among all  stakeholders. This is typically achieved through regular daily stand-ups, sprint planning sessions, and retrospectives, where team members discuss their progress and challenges. Agile systems enhance this transparency by providing tools that allow everyone to view real-time updates, task statuses, and project timelines. 

Another way in which agile project management increases transparency is through the use of visual management tools like task boards and burndown charts. Task boards provide a visual representation of work in progress, showing the status of each task and who is responsible for it. Similarly, burndown charts offer a clear picture of how much work remains in a project, allowing teams to quickly identify any potential issues. 

Increased efficiency

In APM, work is broken down into manageable chunks, or sprints, typically lasting two to four weeks. These short cycles enable teams to focus on a specific set of tasks, reducing the scope of work at any given time. Agile project management software expedites these processes by providing tools for detailed sprint planning, task assignment, and progress tracking. 

Furthermore, agile methodologies emphasize regular reviews and adjustments based on team performance and stakeholder feedback. These practices empower teams to identify bottlenecks, address issues promptly, and dynamically refine their procedures.

Better quality

Agile project management can significantly improve project quality by embedding continuous feedback and testing throughout the development process. In APM, each sprint within an initiative includes specific tasks that must be completed and tested before moving on to the next cycle. Continuous integration and regular testing ensure that defects are identified early, reducing the risk of major issues accumulating later in the project. 

APM promotes a culture of continuous improvement as well, which directly impacts the quality of deliverables. Retrospectives encourage teams to reflect on their performance after each sprint, identifying what worked well and what needs improvement.

Key features to look for in agile project management software

When engaging in the APM software selection process, you’ll want to verify that potential prospects offer features and functionalities relevant to your organization’s needs. This requires thorough research to identify your unique challenges and pain points. Though, in general, capable systems should offer tools like:

Collaboration & communication features

Collaboration features provided through APM software typically include shared task boards, where team members can visualize and update the status of their tasks in real time. File-sharing capabilities also allow for easy exchange of documents and other critical resources, verifying everyone has access to the necessary information. Even more, collaborative editing tools enable multiple team members to work on the same document simultaneously, reducing the risk of version conflicts. 

Reporting and analytic capabilities

Essential APM reporting tools include burndown charts, which visualize the amount of work remaining in a project and help track progress towards completion. Velocity charts are another critical feature, showing the rate at which a team completes work over successive sprints, enabling better future resource allocation. Cumulative flow diagrams (CFDs) are often included as well, offering a visual representation of work status across various stages, highlighting bottlenecks and inefficiencies. 

Feedback loops

Key elements of agile project management software’s feedback loops include mechanisms for stakeholders to provide their thoughts on completed work during sprint reviews. This feedback enables teams to gauge whether they’re meeting expectations and allows for adjustments to be made early in the development process.

Another essential aspect of feedback loop features is the integration of retrospective meetings. These sessions, held at the end of each sprint, enable teams to identify areas for improvement and discuss actionable insights for future iterations. APM software should support these retrospectives by providing templates for organizing feedback and monitoring progress on implemented improvements. 

Integrations

APM integration with version control systems empowers teams to manage code repositories directly within the software, verifying that all changes are synchronized seamlessly. CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) connections enable automated testing and deployment pipelines, facilitating more reliable delivery of software updates.

Furthermore, these systems should support integration with popular communication platforms such as Slack or Microsoft Teams. These connections allow teams to synchronize project updates across multiple channels, ensuring that all stakeholders are informed in real time. 

Easy to use

User-friendly interfaces with intuitive navigation are essential, empowering team members to quickly manage tasks and collaborate seamlessly. Clear and visually appealing task boards should also be easy to understand and manipulate so that users can organize their work effortlessly.

Moreover, APM platforms should support robust customization to adapt to various team preferences. For instance, flexible settings for sprint planning, task categorization, and workflow stages allow teams to tailor the software to fit their specific needs. Similarly, personalized dashboards and configurable reports enable users to access relevant information quickly and make informed decisions based on real-time data.

10 best agile project management softwares for 2024

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1. Freshservice

Freshservice acts as a comprehensive IT help desk solution that provides an abundance of functionalities designed specifically with project management in mind. With both traditional project management and project portfolio management (PPM) tools available, organizations can verify that individual initiatives are successful, while also ensuring that they contribute to broader business objectives.

Standout features include attributes like unified task management, which provides a centralized location for managing all project-related activities, and integrated projects, which connects IT service management (ITSM) and project management to make sure that team members have complete visibility into all IT initiatives. 

When it comes to combining a comprehensive ITSM platform with project management capabilities, there is simply no better choice than Freshservice.

Key features

• Time-tracking tool enables team members to log time spent on project tasks, helping managers track the amount of effort an agent has put into an item

• Actionable insights and reports consolidate projects views across teams, while allowing for custom-built reports in the way you want them

• Built-in roadmap, backlog, sprints, and versions allow you to roll out software projects on time

• Workflow automator expedites routine project tasks, offering the ability to create a project or task based on specific triggers in your service desk

• Asset lifecycle management allows business leaders to track the performance and utilization of all their assets, verifying that they’re operating at peak efficiency and being used efficiently

• Integrated projects provides comprehensive visibility into key IT initiatives, allowing companies to give their service desk team full context of project timelines and associated assets

• Unified task management tool gives technicians a single view of all their tasks across multiple initiatives, with the capacity to assign work and manage resources efficiently

Pros

• Customizable project task types, statuses, and fields make Freshservice’s project management flexible enough to suit unique business requirements

• Offers ability to save existing projects as a template or use pre-built templates

• Enhances collaboration by offering easy-to-use @mentions and comments

• Highly integrable with GitHub and GitLab, empowering high-velocity DevOps teams to optimize efficiency across IT functions

• Multiple modern views empower team members to visualize and work on the same set of tasks in a Gantt chart, Kanban board, task list, or group view

• Provides the flexibility to run projects in an agile, waterfall, or hybrid mode

Why clients rave about Freshservice

Freshservice’s robustness and versatility help lend its use to both project management and general ITSM efforts, increasing its cost-effectiveness and boosting client satisfaction. 

The platform’s impressive flexibility allows it to be customized to fit the unique needs of nearly any business, ensuring that its processes and functionalities are always operating optimally. With extensive and malleable visualization tools to boot, organizations can rest assured that project-related tasks are being completed on time and nothing is slipping through the cracks.

For instance, one of our satisfied clients on G2 lauds Freshservice’s ticketing system and versatility, saying, “[Freshservice] is a comprehensive platform that allows our company to have a ticket system for all administrative departments, providing a single interface to our end users but allowing us to separate our departments by groups with different permissions to ensure confidentiality of the requests and issues received. For the IT department, it has other tools like inventory, change management, and project management that helps on documentation of day to day issues.”

2. Zoho Sprints

Zoho Sprints is an online agile project management for scrum teams. Sprints is an easy-to-use tool that works with Office 365 to help these teams plan and track tasks seamlessly.

Key features

• Product backlog provides a comprehensive list of all the upcoming features, fixes, and requirements that a scrum team needs to complete

• Scrum board helps visualize the progress of sprint backlogs, while serving as a visual cue for teams to drag and drop their backlog items towards completion

• Epics serve as a collection of user stories, tasks, or bugs that span across multiple sprints with a common objective

Pros

• Offers a dedicated release planning module that promotes cross-functional collaboration, empowering teams to accelerate their release cycles

• Extensive reporting capacity through features such as velocity charts, burnup and burndown charts, and cumulative flow diagrams

• Unified collaborative feed enables team members to post status updates, track project activities, and brainstorm ideas in a single location

Cons

• Limited automation capacity results in heavier manual workloads

• Restricted customization features make it difficult to tailor to unique business needs

• Great at integrating with other Zoho apps, but not so great at connecting with many popular third-party tools

Price

Plans start at $1 per user per month, up to $5 per user per month for its Premier package

3. Jira

Jira is a project management and issue tracking tool that helps teams plan, track, and release software. It can be used for a variety of tasks, such as issue tracking, software development, and building and supporting software

Key features

• Project boards track the status of everyone's tasks at each stage of the workflow, helping teams understand what’s still in progress and what to tackle next

• Goal tracking allows teams to comprehend how work is mapping to company goals over time, while progress can easily be shared with stakeholders

• Save time and scale your work with no-code automation and workflows, like approvals, to keep projects moving forward

Pros

• Connects with wide variety of popular third-party apps like Slack, Figma, and GitHub to ensure synchronization across platforms

• Handy calendar view helps to visualize work over time, empowering teams to hit every deadline

• Agile teams can utilize Jira’s backlog to prioritize all their work and tackle subsets in their next sprint

Cons

• Mainly caters to software teams, limiting its applications for other projects

• No native timeline available, which can make sticking with established timeframes challenging without the integration of a third-party app

• Limited collaboration tools can limit cohesiveness across disparate departments or locations

Price

Starter package begins at $0, while you’ll need to reach out to Jira directly for a custom quote on its Enterprise plan

4. FigJam

FigJam is a digital whiteboard used for collaborative activities like meetings and brainstorms, as well as async activities like diagramming and planning. It offers the ability to bring research, project management, and prototyping tools right onto the canvas, helping to streamline workflows.

Key features

• 300 ready-made templates, like project timeline, flow chart, and customer journey map, provide a great jump-off point for teams looking to kickstart conversations or projects

• Spotlight mode allows project managers to guide team members to focus on the content that matters most

• Abundance of brainstorming, diagramming, and agile workflow tools empower businesses to leverage the platform for a plethora of APM initiatives

Pros

• Extensive AI features allow teams to create meeting templates and visualize timelines with a single prompt

• A variety of communication tools available to accommodate different preferences; talk things out with audio and live chat, or use comments to give feedback on the go

• Highly customizable and personalizable – add Bitmoji avatars, stamps, emotes, and high-fives to add a spark to interactions

Cons

• Whiteboards can quickly become complex and convoluted, making it difficult to follow ideas

• Slow load times and occasional lags reported by several user reviews

• No offline version available, meaning that you’ll need always require internet access to utilize any of FigJam’s services

Price

Basic plan starts at $0, while its Enterprise package runs $5 per user per month

5. Quickbase

Quickbase is a versatile cloud-based platform most commonly used for project management, team coordination, and execution. Its main draw is that it empowers users to build custom applications and automate workflows without extensive coding expertise.

Key features

• Intuitive no-code application building features allow teams to create custom solutions for complex initiatives

• Drag-and-drop workflow automation tools empower teams to streamline various tasks and processes

• Dynamic, role-based reports, charts, and dashboards enable real-time visibility into project performance

Pros

• Extensive document management capacity allows teams to efficiently store project docs, while enhancing overall data integrity

• Enables organizations to easily oversee tasks, develop effective workflows, and automate reviews

• Powerful mobile app available that offers the ability to access information and manage workflows on the go

Cons

• Prohibitively expensive, particularly for smaller business, when compared to similar solutions

• Limited financial management capacity, which can result in teams going over budget if they don’t connect a third-party application

• Large-scale projects may suffer from restricted exporting and configuration summarization capacity

Price

Team plan begins at $35 per user per month, while you’ll need to contact Quickbase directly for a custom quote on its Enterprise package.

6. Confluence

Confluence is a web-based application that helps project managers organize and collaborate on initiatives. It’s most often leveraged to assign tasks, keep teams aligned, and brainstorm and visualize projects.

Key features

• Powerful whiteboard allow teams to illustrate with stickies, lines, and sections, engage in real-time editing, and collaborate using stamps, times, and more

• Confluence databases empowers teams to create a library of information, track deliverables, and aggregate tools and information into a single, customizable view

• Mission control equips teams with actionable insights to improve content and engagement across their space

Pros

• Easily document processes with dynamic pages that include text, images, code tables, and more

• Offers hundreds of unique templates for every kind of team and project, assisting in simplifying complex projects

• Wide-ranging automation capabilities help teams coordinate workflows, prompting next steps when a dependency is completed

Cons

• Non-intuitive interface may present challenges for non-technical users

• Limited real-time collaboration, as team members can’t edit the same page at the same time

• Restricted visualization of existing projects can create redundancies or allow some initiatives to slip through the cracks

Price

Starts at $0 for up to 10 users, while you’ll need to reach out to Confluence directly for a custom quote on its Enterprise plan

7. Forecast

Forecast is a project management software that leverages an abundance of AI tools to help with resource, project, and financial management. It's designed to assist teams in improving efficiency and project delivery by centralizing all initiatives into one platform.

Key features

• Forecast AI learns from your best projects and project managers to give recommendations specifically tailored to your company

• Risk warnings flag issues proactively so that you can take preventative action to stay on track

• Resource management tools provide the flexibility to oversee retainer, fixed price, time and material, and non-billable projects side by side

Pros

• Provides a holistic picture of financial performance, allowing businesses to see where they earn revenue, what it costs, and how profitable projects are

• Ability to streamline the retainer billing process by automatically invoicing work in progress based on the time of entries

• Predictive analysis features help determine whether businesses have the capacity to take on more work, while letting them know exactly when to hire new talent to keep scaling smoothly

Cons

• Limited third-party integrations can restrict synchronization across softwares

• Overwhelming set of features, which may be confusing for team members and cost-ineffective for businesses

• Scheduling tools could use improvement

Price

Forecast offers just one single plan, its Core package, for which you’ll need to reach out directly to the company to receive a customized quote on

8. Loom

Loom is a video messaging tool that helps get messages across through instantly shareable videos. Engineered for simplicity and speed, you can record, share, and interact with videos to move work forward whether you're at your desk or on the move.

Key features

• Calls to action (CTAs) offer the ability to add links to resources for viewers to reference as teams grow

• Loom AI can be leveraged to generate titles, summaries, and message sharing invites

• Natural reactions allow team members to collaborate like they’re in person; viewers can comment and react with emojis as they watch

Pros

• Robust engagement insights empower team leaders to see who watched videos, how long they watched them, and monitor CTA performance

• Ability to share specific clips of one Loom or stitch clips together to make a new, unified video

• Verify your meetings are secure by controlling access using email and password protection

Cons

• Loom is a video-sharing app at heart, so its application as a comprehensive project management tool is limited

• Basic video editing features may suffice, but those seeking advanced features for professional training videos may be disappointed in the scope of its functionality

• Videos are automatically saved to Loom’s public cloud storage, making it less than ideal for sensitive materials and unfinished projects

Price

Loom’s starter plan for individuals is $0, while you’ll need to contact Loom directly for a custom quote on its Enterprise package

9. MondayDev

Monday.com Dev is a workflow management platform that helps software teams, developers, and project managers plan, build, and launch products. Its main purpose is streamlining collaboration and speeding up project completion.

Key features

• Sprint management oversees the lifecycle of sprints from planning all the way through review

• Burndown charts help detect any potential problems or bottlenecks by comparing the actual remaining effort with the ideal progress

• Knowledge management docs empower teams to collaborate on documentation, work on projects, and save time by leveraging their collective expertise

Pros

• Kanban view, Gannt charts, and custom dashboards provide several different ways to visualize work

• Choose from predefined recipes or easily build an automation to fit your needs in just a few clicks

• Powerful integration capacity allows teams to streamline updates directly from Git repositories, updating statuses within monday and tracking progress directly through their Git dashboard

Cons

• Significantly more expensive than other similar solutions

• Mobile app doesn’t update well and dashboards are difficult to utilize through the app

• Doesn’t offer many of the common features offered by comparable providers, while other useful tools are reserved for upper-tier packages

Price

Monday’s basic plan begins at $9 per user per month, while you’ll need to contact the company direct for a custom quote on its Enterprise package

10. Asana

Asana is a web-based project management tool that helps teams plan, organize, and execute tasks in real-time. It excels in helping teams stay accountable and aligning work with company-wide goals.

Key features

• Time tracking allows for the measurement of how much time is being spent on work, enabling individuals to budget the time they need

• Custom fields provide the option to add labels to tasks so they can be sorted, filtered, and automatically reported

• Ready-to-use templates standardize best practices with pre-made guides for both projects and tasks

Pros

• Multiple project views empower teams to view work as a list, calendar, timeline, Gantt chart, or Kanban board

• Capable mobile app translates well from the desktop, allowing team members to contribute while on the move

• Enables teams to easily identify blocks, as they can mark one task as waiting on another, automatically notifying assignees when they’re unblocked

Cons

• Limited task assignment functionality allows only one team member to be designated at a time

• Files can only be exported in JSON or CSV formats, requiring a third-party integration to accommodate other file types

• Not ideal for more rudimentary projects; feature set can be overwhelming, creating a convoluted interface that makes it difficult to find and use specific tools

Price

Personal plan is $0, while its Advanced package is $24.99 per user per month

Choosing the right agile project management software for your business

You’ll need to consider a variety of different factors when determining which of the APM softwares mentioned above is best for your business. Some considerations you might want to add to your checklist include:

How will it fit within current structure

First, evaluate your current project management practices. Understand whether your teams predominantly follow agile methodologies like Scrum, Kanban, or a hybrid approach, as this will influence the capabilities you require from the software.

Next, consider the scalability and integration capacity of the softwares. Assess whether they can accommodate your current team size and project complexity, and whether it can scale as your organization grows. Connection with existing infrastructure is also crucial for seamless workflows; evaluate whether the APM platforms can integrate with your preferred tools for communication, development, and testing.

What are the desired outcomes

Begin by establishing your specific objectives such as improving team collaboration, increasing productivity, or enhancing project visibility. These outcomes serve as benchmarks against which you can evaluate the features of potential agile project management solutions.

Then, conduct a thorough feature comparison of your different options. Look for key functionalities such as task management, backlog prioritization, sprint planning, and reporting tools. Don’t forget to consider how well the software facilitates communication among team members, as effective collaboration is vital for achieving desired outcomes.

Is it easy to use

A clean, organized UI with intuitive menus, clearly labeled buttons, and easy-to-understand icons are all integral to facilitating a positive user experience (UX). Layouts should offer quick access to essential features such as task boards, backlog management, and sprint planning tools. A responsive design that adapts well to different screen sizes and devices can further enhance usability, especially for mobile users.

Additionally, you’ll need to gauge the onboarding process and learning curve of potential providers. Look for resources such as tutorials and help documentation provided by the vendor. APM software that offers guided tours, tooltips, or in-app assistance can help users quickly familiarize themselves with its functionalities.

Can it integrate with other software

Start by identifying the essential tools your team relies on, such as version control systems, communication tools, and productivity software. APM platforms should offer robust integration capabilities with these systems to ensure smooth data exchange and eliminate silos between different aspects of project management.

Once this is done, it’s time to evaluate whether potential solutions connect well with your existing tools. Check if integrations cover key functionalities such as syncing tasks, sharing documents, and triggering automated actions based on specific events in the project lifecycle.

Enhance your agile project management capabilities with Freshservice!

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Freshworks’ Freshservice acts as a full-feature, cloud-based service management solution, offering a plethora of useful features designed specifically to enhance project management initiatives.

A primary draw of the Freshservice platform is its ability to bring IT service and project management together to deliver consistent business results. Features like integrated projects and asset lifecycle management assist in these efforts by ensuring that ITSM and project management remain aligned, while verifying that technical resources are always being leveraged optimally.

Furthermore, Freshservice’s abundance of automation and reporting tools empower project teams to streamline routine tasks while refining their processes in real-time. These attributes ensure that initiatives are able to be completed within established time frames and that adjustments can be made on the go.

Even more, if there are any features your business requires that Freshservice lacks, simply browse our extensive Marketplace for access to hundreds of third-party apps!