We’re nearing the silver jubilee of the 21st century, so we have a question to ask: are you part of the minority 4% of IT companies worldwide who still haven’t adopted Agile?
Because if that’s the case, you’re missing out! Big-time. Go ahead and add every other superlative to this.
What’s more, we’re willing to bet your competitors who use Agile project management software are giving you a hard chase in the market.
That wouldn’t be surprising – because the Agile methodology (on the back of a best-fit Agile project management tool; different for every organization) promises:
- Significant increases in product go-to-market (GTM) delivery rates
- Improved, customer-feedback-centered products (which meet market needs more perfectly; raise end-user satisfaction)
- Better team and departmental collaboration in the workplace (the razing of organizational silos/bureaucracies)
- Faster and deeper organization-wide digital transformation
Agile Project Management Software: Still an Advantage?
Truth be told, we wouldn’t even call Agile teams a competitive advantage for practically any prominent company in 2023 since, by 2019, almost 81% of all businesses surveyed in an industry report confirmed using the approach to expedite their workflows. So, if pretty much everyone is onboard and implementing, what’s the scope for any claim of a unique selling proposition (USP) here?
An argument could be made, though, for project managers who use Agile project management tools with greater finesse/nuanced sophistication and understanding to streamline their resource management concerns.
And this work orientation is not only applicable to software development teams – multiple projects across a myriad of product and service categories can reap benefits.
Think noticeably better team collaboration, project planning, task management, stakeholder/end-user collaboration, and project progress tracking – all reflected in a growing, competitive bottom line.
The dream equation for every business, right?
It all starts – and gets better (to no theoretical end) – with the adoption of the best Agile project management tool for your workflow needs and budget: what we will guide you to in this piece.
Contents
But first, we’ll take a brief dive into some Agile Project Management Tools 101, followed by:
- Our Simple, 5-Point, Formula on Sourcing the Best ‘Bet for Your Bang and Buck’
- The Top 7 Agile PM Tools to Consider (by default!)
- Expert Advice on Getting Subscribed – Fast & FREE
Also, we won’t be getting into the conceptual intricacies of the Agile methodology. For a complete account, please read our ‘Why You Need an Agile Project Manager’ and ‘What Benefits Can Your Business Reap from Using Agile Software’ pieces.
Let’s get started.
So, What’s an Agile Project Management Tool, Anyway?
Agile project management is a method of handling software development projects in an iterative manner. It emphasizes the importance of regular releases and taking customer feedback into account with each iteration.
The inception of Agile dates back to the 1970s, but it only gained significant traction in the late 1990s and early 2000s, especially after the publication of the Agile Manifesto in 2001. This public manuscript laid out the core principles of Agile development, emphasizing flexibility, customer collaboration, and responsiveness to change.
Over time, Agile methodologies have evolved and diversified, giving rise to various applications like Scrum, Kanban, and Extreme Programming. While rooted in software development, these methodologies have found widespread use in various other industries due to their focus on adaptability and iterative development.
Coming to Agile PM Software: the Dawn of Accelerated, Iterative Growth
In essence, Agile project management software is a tool that helps teams implement these methodologies. It allows for collaboration, tracking of project progress, issue detection and resolution, and integration with other software tools. These features enable teams to deliver functional pieces of a project at regular intervals, gather feedback, and incorporate changes in subsequent iterations.
In non-software industries, Agile can manage any project requiring flexibility, quick responses to change, and continuous delivery. For instance, Agile in marketing could involve releasing small campaigns, gathering consumer feedback, and refining the campaign based on the feedback received.
Ok…So, How Do You Find the Best Agile Project Management Solution?
Well, that’s simple…if you use our software experts’ five-point evaluation formula.
And here, we’re assuming you already have your favorite Agile project management tools shortlisted.
If not, don’t worry.
The next section provides our top PM tool picks for you to consider (software to match almost every workflow setting). In making this selection, we’ve used both this framework as well as our assessments gleaned from reviewing authentic Software Finder user accounts/the takes of other field vets.
To begin evaluating, simply weigh your chosen software on each of these formula cues. Make a mental note of every ‘hit’ and ‘miss’. At the end of the run, the tool with the most hits is your clear winner.
Evaluation Benchmarks/Criteria
- Ease of Use
The software should have an intuitive interface and be easy for all team members to use. It should not require extensive training or technical knowledge to navigate.
- Collaboration Features
Effective Agile project management relies heavily on collaboration. Look for features like shared dashboards, real-time updates, comment sections, and integrations with communication tools.
- Customization
Every project has unique requirements. Therefore, the software should allow for customization, such as creating custom workflows, fields, and reports to match your team's needs.
- Scalability
As your team grows and projects become more complex, your project management tool should be able to scale and support these changes without compromising performance.
- Reporting and Analytics
The ability to track and measure project progress is crucial in Agile methodologies. The software should provide comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities, including visual project timelines, burndown charts, and velocity charts.
For more thorough probing (recommended for advanced users/subscribers), please consult our
- Comprehensive Project Management Evaluation Checklist, where we provide an extended list of analysis metrics for your testing use
- Cost Comparison Template for Evaluating Project Management Software Vendors – a complete guide on matching cost with feature; identifying the most cost-effective tool for your workflow
Our Top 7 Agile Project Management Software Recommendations
So, without any further ado…and not listed in any order of priority (though we do mention the best industry use-case for each), here are our top picks for your radar:
Let’s explore each.
ActiveCollab
ActiveCollab is a powerful Agile project management tool designed to streamline team collaboration and project execution. It offers a comprehensive suite of features that cater to the needs of Agile teams, making it an ideal choice for managing complex projects in fast-paced environments.
Key features of ActiveCollab include task management, time tracking, and team collaboration. The tool allows you to manage tasks with ease, assign them to team members, set due dates, and track progress in real-time. The time tracking feature helps in accurately logging work hours, which is crucial for productivity analysis and billing purposes.
The software also boasts a robust collaboration suite, including shared dashboards, comment sections, and @mentions, making it easy for team members to communicate and collaborate on tasks. Additionally, it integrates seamlessly with various third-party apps like Slack, Google Drive, and QuickBooks, enhancing its functionality.
ActiveCollab's reporting and analytics capabilities are impressive, offering insightful reports such as Gantt charts, burndown charts, and workload charts. These visual aids help measure project progress and team performance, aiding in data-driven decision-making.
The software shines in industries where project complexity and team collaboration are paramount. These include software development, marketing and advertising, architecture and planning, and design firms. However, its versatile feature set makes it adaptable to virtually any industry where project management is needed.
For Pricing, Demo Screening, User Reviews, Subscription Onboarding
- Please head to our ActiveCollab profile page for updated figures/info.
Asana
Asana is a highly versatile Agile project management tool designed to help teams organize, track, and manage their work. It's known for its user-friendly interface, robust functionality, and seamless integration with other tools, making it a popular choice among businesses of all sizes.
The platform offers a range of powerful features to enhance your productivity. With its task management, project timelines, and team collaboration capabilities, you can effortlessly stay organized and achieve your goals. Seamlessly create tasks, assign them to team members, set deadlines, and track progress. The project timelines provide a visual representation of your project, allowing you to meticulously plan each step, identify potential roadblocks, and make necessary adjustments along the way.
A standout feature of Asana is its strong collaboration capabilities. Shared views, comment sections, file attachments and real-time updates facilitate effective team communication and collaboration. Moreover, Asana can integrate with numerous third-party apps like Slack, Google Drive, and Microsoft Teams, further enhancing its collaborative capabilities.
Asana's reporting and analytics tools are also noteworthy, providing insights into project progress and team productivity. These tools can generate reports on task completion, workload distribution, and project status, aiding in data-driven decision-making.
As for industry use cases, Asana is highly adaptable and can be used across various sectors. It excels in industries where project coordination and team collaboration are critical, such as marketing, software development, event planning, and content creation.
For Pricing, Demo Screening, User Reviews, Subscription Onboarding
- Please head to our Asana profile page for updated figures/info.
Axosoft
Axosoft is a comprehensive Agile project management tool specifically designed to cater to the needs of development teams. It offers a robust platform for implementing Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid methodologies in the workplace.
One of the platform's key features is its ability to plan sprints and releases accurately. With Axosoft, teams can effectively create, track, and manage work items, which include epics, user stories, bugs, and tasks. This makes it easier for teams to prioritize their work and ensure that they are focusing on the most important tasks.
The software also shines in the area of visualizing work progress. Using its agile engine, development teams can see how their projects progress in real-time, making it easier to identify bottlenecks and adjust strategies as needed.
Regarding industry use cases, Axosoft is primarily designed for agile software development. However, its functionality extends beyond this, with teams finding it useful for managing all sorts of daily tasks and assignments.
For Pricing, Demo Screening, User Reviews, Subscription Onboarding
- Please head to our Axosoft profile page for updated figures/info.
Binfire
Binfire is a flexible Agile project management tool that offers a robust platform for planning, tracking, and managing projects, particularly in remote or distributed team environments. It's designed to support Agile, Formal, and Hybrid project management methods, making it adaptable to various project management styles.
One of its notable features is its comprehensive task management system. This includes managing milestones and tasks, creating to-do lists, and setting deadlines. Tasks can also be color-coded based on their completion status, providing a clear visual cue of project progress.
Additionally, Binfire offers online file storage, making it easy for teams to share and access project-related documents. The software also features a virtual whiteboard, facilitating brainstorming sessions and collaborative planning.
Furthermore, the platform is renowned for its ability to track and coordinate work across distributed teams. Its solid collaboration and communication tools ensure that all team members stay updated on project status and progress, regardless of their location.
In terms of industry use, Binfire is suitable for small to midsize businesses across various verticals. However, given its strong emphasis on remote collaboration, it's particularly beneficial for companies that operate with virtual teams or flexible working arrangements.
For Pricing, Demo Screening, User Reviews, Subscription Onboarding
- Please head to our Binfire profile page for updated figures/info.
ClickUp
ClickUp is a holistic Agile project management solution that offers a wide array of features to help teams effectively manage their projects. This dynamic tool aims to enhance productivity by providing a single platform for all work-related needs.
One of the service's most prominent features is its customizable structure, which allows users to tailor their workspace according to their unique requirements. It comes with different 'ClickApps' (tools) designed to help organize backlogs, manage tasks, and track progress, making it a versatile tool for Agile teams.
ClickUp offers powerful Agile development support, including Github issue tracking, Scrum meetings, code management, and Kanban boards, all within one interface. This makes it an excellent choice for software development teams following iterative release principles.
Moreover, ClickUp allows breaking down large projects into smaller, manageable chunks (Sprints), which is a fundamental aspect of the Agile-Scrum workflow.
Best industry use cases for ClickUp include software development, marketing, design, and any other industry requiring efficient project management and collaboration - both in small and large enterprise settings.
For Pricing, Demo Screening, User Reviews, Subscription Onboarding
- Please head to our ClickUp profile page for updated figures/info.
Jira
Jira Software, developed by Atlassian, is a well-regarded Agile project management tool that offers an extensive array of features tailored to support teams in planning, tracking, and releasing software.
One of the platform's best features is its flexible Scrum and Kanban boards, which provide teams with a clear visual overview of ongoing work and progress. These are highly customizable, allowing teams to create their unique workflows and track tasks effectively.
Jira also offers advanced reporting features, including burn-down charts, sprint reports, and velocity charts, providing teams with valuable insights into their performance and helping them make data-driven choices.
Additionally, Jira excels in its integration capabilities. It seamlessly integrates with various other tools, such as Confluence for documentation, Bitbucket for code repository, and Trello for task management, creating an interconnected ecosystem for Agile teams.
Regarding industry use cases, Jira Software is primarily designed for Agile software development teams. However, its flexibility and adaptability make it suitable for various other sectors as well, including IT operations, business project management, HR, and marketing. Essentially, any team that needs to manage tasks and track progress in an Agile manner can benefit from it.
For Pricing, Demo Screening, User Reviews, Subscription Onboarding
- Please head to our Jira profile page for updated figures/info.
Monday.com
Last, on our list, Monday is another dynamic Agile project management tool built to streamline teamwork and boost productivity across a variety of industries. Its robust features and customizability make it stand out from other project management tools.
A key feature is the platform's flexibility in supporting different work methods, including Scrum and Kanban. It allows teams to customize their workflows to best suit their project needs and industry-specific requirements.
Moreover, Monday.com is recognized for its intuitive interface and easy-to-use tools that facilitate Agile project management. The platform software interface offers a range of templates to get started quickly and efficiently.
Another noteworthy feature is its product development module, which helps software development teams manage, track, and maintain backlogs of their most complex projects.
Monday.com's customizability allows it to be used in virtually any field or sector. Whether it's software development, marketing, HR, operations, or any other industry that requires efficient project management, Monday.com provides a flexible and user-friendly solution.
For Pricing, Demo Screening, User Reviews, Subscription Onboarding
- Please head to our Monday.com profile page for updated figures/info.
Getting Started
Congratulations!
You now know everything there’s worth knowing about souring the best Agile project management system for your business – almost as well as the pros do (and then some).
But, if you’re still unsure about which tool to pick, or need some friendly, human guidance to point you in the right direction, do this:
Contact our helpline reps now at (661) 384-7070 to get quick, free and expert advice on your perfect PM software fit!
That’s it.
And once you’re subscribed, or even before this stage (the ideal point to do this), read our detailed ‘Implementing Project Management Software: A Roadmap to Win’ piece for going about the deployment process the right way.
