Project Management Apps for Agile Teams Utilizing Collaboration Tools and Kanban Boards

19 Best Agile Collaboration Tools to Improve Team Performance

Searching for the best Agile collaboration tools but baffled by the variety available?

In this article, weve gathered 19 of the top options on the market, each with its unique features.

Read on to find the right ones for your team.

Before delving into reviews of Agile collaboration tools, its crucial to understand the distinctions between Agile collaboration tools, Agile tools, and collaboration tools.

Heres a quick comparison:

Agile collaboration tools are further categorized into four common types based on their purpose:

1. Project Management Tools: For breaking down projects into manageable tasks, deadlines, and resources.
2. Communication and Collaboration Tools: Enable real-time chat, call, and collaboration among team members.
3. Documentation and Knowledge Management Tools: Assist in storing, sharing, and managing project documentation and knowledge.
4. User Story and Product Backlog Management Tools: Allow Agile teams to organize, prioritize, and manage user stories and product backlogs.

In addition to these general categories, there are specialized Agile collaboration tools designed for specific use cases, such as marketing, sales, and development.

The right tools for your Agile team depend on 5 factors:

• Project goals
• Team size
• Teams Agile adoption level
• Workflow
• Budget

(Many teams find it beneficial to use a combination of tools from different categories to meet their diverse needs.)

Now that you may have a better idea of the types of Agile collaboration tools you need, lets take a look at the following list.

1. Asana

Availability: Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

Asana, as an Agile project management tool, is a breeze for teams to organize projects and track tasks.

It offers features that align well with Agile principles. For example, Kanban boards, Gantt charts, custom fields, task dependencies, etc.

Read Full Review: Asana Review.

With robust task management capabilities, Asana lets you effortlessly organize, track, and delegate tasks to individual team members.

The app also offers dashboards, helping project managers to track Agile metrics that are the most important to them.

Limitations:

• Unable to assign multiple people to a single task -> limited team management capability.
• Lack of built-in time tracking features.

Key Features

• Kanban boards and Gantt charts
• Custom fields and task dependencies
• Inbox and Message
• Task descriptions, assignees, collaborators, file attachments, and comments.
• Automation

Pricing

2. Upbase

Availability: Web, Android, iOS.

Upbase stands out among Agile project management tools, offering a unique blend of simplicity and power that sets it apart.

Unlike other tools that complicate things with excessive features, Upbase keeps it simple and focused on what really matters without sacrificing a wide range of features.

Imagine having all your project needs in one place tasks, files, documents, links, plans, schedules, discussions, and even chats without the hassle of switching between different tools.

Plus, the user-friendly interface ensures that even those less tech-savvy can dive in effortlessly.

Thats Upbase for you, an all-in-one solution designed to make your Agile team work seamlessly and effectively.

Heres how Upbase makes Agile project management a breeze:

1. Easy Task Tracking and Workflow:

At the heart of Upbase lies a robust task management system with visual Kanban boards, priority lists, deadlines, and drag-and-drop functionality.

Personalize your experience with custom filters, a multiple-tags filtering system, and sorting options.

2. Effortless Documentation and Knowledge Management:

Upbases Docs module is where your teams creativity meets productivity.

Real-time collaborative editing on project documents means no more version control nightmares.

Add watchers, tag collaborators in the comment box, and witness your documents evolving seamlessly.

3. Organized File Storage:

Your project-related files deserve a VIP lounge, and thats precisely what Upbases Files module provides.

Share public links, manage file versions, and tag someone in the comment box of each file.

4. Smart Link Management and Collaboration:

Save your project-related URLs in the Links module. But unlike the regular bookmark tools, it lets you add descriptions, tag watchers, and leave comments on each link.

5. Collaborative Brainstorming:

Need a space for team discussions, brainstorming, or announcements? Enter the Messages module.

Say goodbye to lengthy emails; embrace organized and efficient team communication. Its not just messaging; its collaborative brainstorming at its finest.

6. Transparent Communication:

The chat tool serves as your teams communication hub. Silos crumble as real-time communication fosters transparency. No more waiting for emails; your team is always on the same page.

7. Seamless Connections with Existing Tools:

Upbase seamlessly integrates with Google Calendar and allows embedding Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive folders.

This way, your team can manage external project data without switching between tabs, enhancing seamless workflow.

Pricing

Unlike others that offer short free trials or basic free plans, Upbase is a different story.

Enjoy a free-forever plan with unlimited tasks and users. Upgrade only when youre ready.

The low-cost Premium plan offers unlimited everything, providing exceptional value.

3. Jira

Availability: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, web.

Jira is known as a powerful Agile project management tool specifically designed for software development teams.

Unlike many project management tools, the Agile methodology its focused on is Scrum boards.

These boards allow for the creation of sprints, backlogs, and progress tracking, which are essential for Agile project management.

Not only that, but Jira also offers advanced reporting features and portfolio management capabilities, making it an ideal enterprise solution.

Limitations:

• Steep learning curve for those unfamiliar with complex project management tools.
• Can become overly complex for smaller teams.

Key Features

• Scrum boards
• Highly customizable workflows
• Burndown charts and cumulative flow diagrams
• Detailed analytics
• Task templates

Pricing

4. Planbox

Availability: web, Android, iOS

With its notable emphasis on innovation management, Planbox is particularly suitable for those project managers with innovation management needs.

The Agile project management tool allows team members to quickly capture ideas, and manage or submit them for collaboration.

It also offers a systematic evaluation process to determine which ideas to pursue.

Limitations:

• High learning curve for new users
• Clunky user experience
• Basic task management features

Key Features

• Scrum and Kanban
• Document sharing
• Idea capturing and management
• Custom fields and forms
• Roadmaps

Pricing

The Agile project management tool offers two pricing options: cloud or on-premise deployment. The starting price is $6/user/month for up to 250 users.

1. Slack

Availability: web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux

Slack is widely recognized as an effective Agile tool for real-time communication.

It enables Agile teams to send direct messages or create group chats in channels, where everyone can communicate through text, share files, create threads, or mention someone.

Additionally, users can conduct video meetings and conferences without leaving the platform.

In summary, with its robust communication and seamless collaboration capabilities, Slack proves suitable for both Agile teams and remote teams.

Limitations:

• Cost considerations
• Potential for information overload

Key Features

• Channels and direct messages
• Threads and @mention
• File-sharing
• Customizable notifications
• Huddle

Pricing

2. Microsoft Teams

Availability: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

Similar to Slack, Microsoft Teams follows a channel-based communication model and provides built-in audio and video conferencing capabilities.

The key distinction lies in its seamless integration with the Microsoft 365 suite.

Agile teams extensively utilizing the suite can easily incorporate the apps they require. For instance, team members can collaboratively author documents in real-time using Office Online.

This unique feature sets Teams apart from other communication tools.

Limitations:

• High learning curve
• Become clunky for simple Agile project management needs

Key Features

• Channels and direct messaging
• Audio and video conferencing
• Document collaboration
• Integration with Microsoft 365 suite

Pricing

3. Zoom

Availability: Mac, PC, Android, Chrome, and Firefox.

Zoom is a popular video conferencing tool that facilitates high-quality video meetings and accessible audio calls via phone. Such flexibility is beneficial for remote teams or individuals who prefer audio-only participation.

But what truly makes Zoom stand out from many similar Agile tools is its support for screen sharing, real-time messaging, and meeting recording.

All-in-all, if your remote team primarily relies on virtual meetings rather than persistent chat, Zoom is a reliable Agile tool for you.

Limitations:

• Limited customization options
• Not provide as comprehensive collaboration features as other similar Agile tools

Key Features

• High-quality video calls
• Phone-accessible audio calls
• File-sharing and chatting during meetings
• Meeting recording

Pricing

4. Google Meet

Availability: web and mobile apps (Android and iOS)

Google Meet stands out from other communication tools for two reasons: 1) great scalability and 2) simplicity.

Its suitable for both small team meetings and larger virtual events without complex setup requirements.

While Meet primarily focuses on video conferencing, its native integration with Google Workspace provides users with broader collaboration features.

For example, you can schedule meetings via Google Calendar or share files during a meeting via Drive.

Meet vs. Teams Quick Comparison: Meet stands out for its simplicity and ease of use, whereas Teams offers more robust built-in chat features.

So, if youre seeking a user-friendly and scalable video conferencing software option, Google Meet might be a great choice.

Limitations:

• Limited chat capability
• Lack of extensive features for Agile project management, collaboration, and customization

Key Features

• Video calls
• Business email
• Security and management control
• Integration with Google Workspace

Pricing

1. Miro

Availability: web, Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.

Miro offers a wide range of dedicated features for collaborative ideation among cross-functional teams.

Imagine having a digital canvas, equipped with sticky notes, drawings, and various templates, where your Agile team can visually represent ideas, capture concepts, or create mind maps. Thats the power of Miro!

Moreover, this Agile tool supports real-time collaborative editing, allowing multiple team members to work on shared documents simultaneously.

The user-friendly interface makes it easy for team members to participate in brainstorming sessions.

Limitations

• Lack of structured hierarchy for document organization
• Limited content formatting options
• Can be overwhelming for large projects

Key Features

• Editable boards, timelines, and cards
• Sticky notes and drawing tools
• Templates

Pricing

2. Confluence

Availability: Web, Android, iOS

Confluence is not as good for visual brainstorming as Miro.

However, it excels in rich content editing options, deep hierarchy, and detailed permission settingsideal for documenting and organizing knowledge.

It is noteworthy that Confluence is part of the Atlassian suite and integrates seamlessly with Jira, meaning that it also supports Agile project management.

Limitations

• Complexity for new users
• Not intuitive for brainstorming
• Can be challenging for multiple people to collaboration simultaneously

Key Features

• Spaces and pages
• User permissions
• Analytics
• Integrations with Atlassian ecosystem

Pricing

User Story and Product Backlog Management Tools:

1. Pivotal Tracker

Availability: web, Android, iOS

Compared to other Agile tools for user story management, Pivotal Tracker is relatively simple and lightweight.

It provides a basic reporting engine that can track velocity, cycle time, and other lean metrics, while its backlog consists of a simple list of user stories.

The easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface makes it a breeze to move tasks around and track progress.

Limitations

• Very limited free plan
• Lacks advanced features, compared to popular tools

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop interface
• Scrum and Kanban boards
• Velocity tracking
• Stories status updating and commenting

Pricing

2. Aha!

Availability: Web, Android, iOS

Aha! offers more comprehensive features than Pivotal Tracker.

This Agile tool has a more sophisticated backlog that allows you to group user stories into initiatives and epics. You can also prioritize the backlog using a variety of criteria, such as effort, value, and risk.

Moreover, Aha! has a powerful reporting engine that can help you track the progress of each team member and identify areas for improvement.

Limitations

• Sky-high pricing
• Can be complex and overwhelming for some users

Key Features

• Detailed idea descriptions
• Roadmaps and timelines
• Reports and analytics
• User permissions

Pricing

3. Productboard

Availability: Web, Android, iOS

Productboard is one of the popular tools for product backlog management, with a focus on helping Agile teams prioritize features and make data-driven decisions.

Its backlog works a bit like Aha!s you can group user stories into initiatives and epics and prioritize them in different ways.

Plus, it has a reporting feature to collect customer feedback, analyze data, and create roadmaps.

Limitations

• Expensive
• Not strong for user story management

Key Features

• Effort-value mapping
• Kano analysis
• MoSCoW prioritization

Pricing

A. For Agile Development Teams

1. GitHub

GitHub is a powerful, flexible, and easy to use option, known for its clean interface and extensive features.

It offers code review, issue tracking, project management, and wiki, along with commenting, @mentions, and activity streams for fostering collaboration within the entire team.

Limitations:

• Too limited free plan, compared to other tools.
• Lack of CI/CD features.

2. GitLab

Like GitHub, GitLab is designed for teams of all sizes and offers extensive features to control versions, manage multiple projects, and streamline collaboration.

However, GitLab is a bit more flexible, offering two service options: self-hosted or cloud-based.

It also stands out for providing powerful CI/CD features, a built-in Kanban board, and an open-source codebase.

Limitations

• High pricing
• Limited storage for free plans

3. Bitbucket

Bitbucket has a strong focus on code review. It highlights syntax and code blocks, making it easy for reviewers to understand, check, and provide feedback on the code. Teams can also define custom code review rules, enforcing specific standards and best practices.

Other features include issue tracking, project management, wiki, and CI/CD.

If youre a small Agile team already using other Atlassian products, such as Jira and Confluence, Bitbucket might be one of the right Agile tools for you.

Limitations

• Limited features
• Have a slightly more cluttered interface

B. For Screen Capture and Screen Recording

4. Loom

With Loom, you can use it to record, edit, and share screen recordings. Then, add notes, comments, and reactions to videos if needed.

This way, you can easily spark discussions and clarify questions without the need for lengthy emails.

Overall, Loom is ideal for Agile teams that need to communicate asynchronously.

Limitations

• Limited editing and annotation tools
• Can be slow to upload and download large video files

5. Snagit

Snagit stands out from similar software tools for its robust feature set dedicated to capturing and editing screenshots.

You can capture any specific parts of the screen, including rectangular captures, window captures, and full-screen captures. It also lets you add annotations, highlights, and watermarks to these screenshots.

Limitations

• Very basic video recording and editing capabilities
• Lacks advanced features like webcam recording and interactive videos

C. For Collaborative Designing

6. Figma

With this cloud-based design tool, you can make interactive prototypes, design parts, and libraries; then, store your work on the cloud, and share them with collaborators.

What makes Figma special is its collaboration features. Many designers can work on the same design at the same time, and collaborators can leave comments on the design, keeping everyone on the same page.

Limitations

• Not ideal for complex design workflows
• Limited customizability

Its your turn now!

Remember to determine your project goals, team size, workflow, and budget before making your decisions.

With the right Agile tools, you can elevate your teams collaboration and productivity.

If youre looking for a quick recommendation, our pick is Upbase.

Choosing Upbase isnt just a decision; its an investment in your teams success.

This project management tool strikes a rare balance between power, simplicity, and affordability. It streamlines Agile project management, turning collaboration into a joy and ensuring your team effortlessly stays on the same page.

As you navigate the dynamic landscape of project management, consider Upbaseyour trusted companion in the pursuit of Agile excellence.

Sign up for a free Upbase account now.

IV. FAQs

1. How to choose the best Agile tools?

Finding the best Agile tools can be a challenge. Although many teams operate under the agile methodology, no two Agile teams are the same.

The most important factors to consider include the team size, workflow, project requirements, budget, and the teams agile adoption level.

2. What are the collaboration practices in Agile?

Here are some key collaboration methods in Agile:

• Visualizing work
• Daily stand-up meetings
• Sprint planning meetings
• Open communication channels
• Cross-functional teams

These collaboration methods can be used in different Agile frameworks, such as Kanban and Scrum methodologies.

3. What are the advantages of Agile methodologies?

Agile methodologies help improve team communication and collaboration, adaptability, and deliver value to the customer through frequent and incremental iterations. This allows Agile teams to learn and optimize their processes over time.

4. What tools can be used for Agile management?

Great Agile tools include:

• Upbase, an all-in-one solution for project planning, team collaboration, instant messaging, etc.
• Jira, for progress tracking.
• Trello, for Kanban-style project visualization and task management.
• Google Meet or Zoom, for video conferencing and screen sharing.

These tools facilitate project management, team communication and collaboration, and transparency within Agile teams.