5 Leading Scrum Tools for Productive Teams

May 22, 2024
Best Tools
17 min read

Scrum tools are the backbone of efficient project management. They streamline communication, clarify roles, and help visualize a project’s journey. In an environment where time is money, selecting the perfect Scrum tool can make all the difference.

The right tool ensures seamless collaboration, clear task allocation, and timely project completion. With countless options out there, which ones truly stand out?

Let’s delve into the leading Scrum tools that have proven invaluable to professionals across industries. This guide is your key to making an informed choice.

Quick List of 5 Scrum Tools:

Onethread: A versatile project management tool tailored for Agile teams.
Trello: A visual board-based tool, perfect for organizing tasks and sprints.
Asana: Streamlines task and milestone tracking for Scrum workflows.
Scrumwise: Specifically designed for Scrum, offering sprint planning and backlog prioritization.
LucidSpark: A visual platform that merges Scrum with portfolio management.

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Comparison Chart Of Scrum Tools

Here’s a comparison chart with features:

Tool	Task Visualization	Collaboration Tools	Customization	Sprint Planning
	Intuitive cards and boards, gantt chart and project health dashboard	Team Chat, Discussions, comments, document sharing	Custom Workflows and Fields	Sprint planning with comprehensive sprint report
	Visual boards and cards	Comments and Discussions	Custom Fields and Labels	Not supported
	Task lists and boards	Team Conversations and Discussions	Custom Fields and Labels	Timeline View
	Backlog view and cards	Collaboration Board and Chat	Custom Workflows and Fields	Sprint Backlog and Planning
	Collaborative whiteboard with cards	Real-time Collaboration and Chat	Template creation and Customization	Real-time Sprints and Backlog

What Are Scrum Tools?

Scrum Tools are software applications specifically designed to support and enhance the Scrum framework, which is a widely adopted Agile project management methodology. Think of Scrum Tools as the Swiss Army knives of project management.

Just as a Swiss Army knife combines various tools in one handy package, Scrum Tools bring together essential features for Agile project management. They act as the all-in-one solution for Scrum teams, offering visual boards for task organization (like the knife’s blades), communication tools (like the screwdriver), customizable workflows (like the corkscrew), sprint planning capabilities (like the can opener), and integration options (like the tweezers).

Just as a Swiss Army knife simplifies tasks in various situations, Scrum Tools streamline and simplify the complexities of Agile project management.

Why Scrum Tools Is Important to Your Business?

Scrum Tools are indispensable for individuals and businesses alike, playing a pivotal role in achieving success in the fast-paced world of Agile project management. Here’s why they are crucial:

Enhanced Collaboration: Scrum Tools foster team collaboration by providing a central platform for communication and task management.
Improved Productivity: They streamline workflows, ensuring that teams work on the right tasks at the right time, boosting overall productivity.
Transparency: Scrum Tools offer transparency into project progress, allowing stakeholders to track milestones and make informed decisions.
Efficient Planning: Sprint planning and backlog management features enable efficient resource allocation and project planning.
Customization: These tools can be tailored to specific business needs, adapting to different industries and project types.
Real-time Insights: They provide real-time data and analytics, helping businesses identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions.
Competitive Advantage: Adopting Scrum Tools gives businesses a competitive edge by enabling them to respond quickly to market changes and customer feedback.

In summary, Scrum Tools are not just tools; they are a strategic asset for businesses, ensuring agility, efficiency, and competitiveness in today’s dynamic market landscape.

Key Features to Consider in Scrum Tools

Selecting the right Scrum tool is pivotal for effective Agile project management. To make an informed choice, it’s crucial to understand the key features that these tools offer. Each of these features plays a unique role in streamlining project workflows, enhancing communication, and ensuring efficient Scrum implementation.

Workload Management

Workload Management is a critical feature in Scrum Tools that allows teams to balance and allocate tasks effectively. It provides insights into team members’ workloads, helping Scrum Masters and managers distribute tasks evenly. With workload management, you can:

Avoid Overloading: Prevent team members from being overwhelmed with tasks.
Optimize Resource Allocation: Ensure that team members are working on tasks that match their skill sets and availability.
Monitor Progress: Track task completion and identify potential bottlenecks in real-time.
Enhance Efficiency: Maintain a well-distributed workload to maximize productivity and prevent burnout.

Messaging

Effective communication is at the heart of Scrum, and the Messaging feature in Scrum Tools facilitates seamless collaboration. It includes chat and discussion functionalities, enabling:

Instant Communication: Team members can communicate in real-time, fostering quick decision-making.
Threaded Discussions: Keep conversations organized around specific topics or tasks.
Notifications: Receive alerts about important updates or mentions.
Reduced Email Overload: Centralize team communication, reducing the need for lengthy email threads.

Team Calendars

Team Calendars in Scrum Tools allow you to coordinate schedules and plan sprints effectively. This feature enables:

Sprint Planning: Schedule sprint start and end dates, as well as review and retrospective meetings.
Holidays and Time Off: Keep track of team members’ availability and plan work accordingly.
Dependencies: Identify task dependencies and visualize how they align with your project timeline.
Visibility: Ensure everyone on the team has a clear view of important dates and milestones.

Kanban Board

The Kanban Board feature provides a visual representation of work items and their flow through various stages. It’s particularly useful for teams that prefer a Kanban approach to Scrum. With Kanban boards, you can:

Limit Work in Progress: Set limits on the number of tasks in each column to maintain workflow efficiency.
Visualize Workflow: Quickly identify bottlenecks and areas where work is piling up.
Continuous Improvement: Implement the principles of Lean and continually optimize your processes.
Flexibility: Adapt to changing priorities and handle both planned and unplanned work effectively.

Top 5 Scrum Tools

Scrum tools are the driving force behind efficient collaboration, transparent task management, and successful project delivery. Here, we present the top 5 Scrum tools that have earned their place in the spotlight.

From simplifying sprint planning to enhancing team communication, these tools are essential for any organization serious about mastering the Scrum framework. Let’s dive into the world of Agile excellence with these standout Scrum tools.

#1. Onethread

Onethread is a top-notch Scrum tool that excels in simplifying Agile project management. With its user-friendly interface and robust features, it’s a game-changer for teams seeking efficiency and clarity in their Scrum processes.

One of Onethread’s standout features is its intuitive task visualization. It presents tasks as clear and easy-to-understand cards and boards, making it a breeze to track progress and allocate work. This visual approach enhances transparency, helping teams stay on the same page.

Collaboration is at the heart of Agile, and Onethread understands this well. It offers a team chat feature, allowing members to communicate seamlessly. Discussions and comments keep conversations organized, eliminating the need for lengthy email chains.

Customization is key to adapting Scrum to your specific needs, and Onethread delivers. It allows for custom workflows and fields, ensuring the tool fits your unique processes.

Overview and key features

From efficient workload management to visual task tracking, Onethread is designed to streamline Scrum processes. Let’s explore its key features in detail, each contributing to seamless collaboration and successful project delivery.

1. Workload Management

OneThread offers a comprehensive workload management system. Users can allocate and track tasks seamlessly. Team members can view individual workloads, ensuring balanced distribution. This system helps prioritize tasks, ensuring that critical jobs get attention first. With this feature, overburdening is minimized, and productivity is maximized.

2. Board View

The Board View is a visual representation of tasks. It showcases every task at a glance. The intuitive drag-and-drop interface allows for quick task adjustments. Users can categorize and filter tasks, making organization a breeze. It’s an essential tool for a clear project overview

3. Messaging

Onethread-Collaborative Discussions and Feedback

Communication is vital for teams. With OneThread’s messaging feature, team members can converse in real time. This eliminates the need for third-party chat apps. Users can send direct messages, create group chats, or discuss specific tasks. It fosters swift decision-making and clarity.

4. Team Calendars

Scheduling is made easy with Team Calendars. Everyone can view team availability, holidays, and crucial dates. It’s a tool that aids in planning meetings, setting deadlines, and tracking milestones. It’s integrated, ensuring all team members stay in the loop.

5. Vendor Management

Onethread allows you to add and manage vendors AKA external stakeholders in a task or project, all in the same platform. Managing stakeholders from all the end has never been easier.

Onethread’s suite of features empowers teams to navigate Agile projects with ease, ensuring they remain organized, productive, and adaptive throughout their Scrum journeys.

Pricing plans and options

here are the pricing plans and options for the Onethread Scrum tool:

Free Plan:
- Cost: Free
- Features:
  - Task Visualization with Cards and Boards
  - Team Chat for Collaboration
  - Basic Customization Options
  - Limited Sprint Planning
  - Minimal Integration Options
Growth Plan:
- Cost: $3.6 per user per month
- Features:
  - Full Access to Task Visualization with Cards and Boards
  - Enhanced Team Chat for Seamless Collaboration
  - Custom Workflows and Fields for Tailored Processes
  - Comprehensive Sprint Planning Capabilities
  - Expanded Integration Options with Other Tools
Scale Plan:
- Cost: $6 per user per month
- Features:
  - Advanced Task Visualization and Board View
  - Robust Messaging for Efficient Team Communication
  - Extensive Customization for Workflow Optimization
  - Team Calendars for Effective Sprint Planning
  - Kanban Board for Enhanced Task Management
  - Broad Integration Capabilities for Maximum Workflow Efficiency

Pros and cons

Pros:

Intuitive Task Visualization: Onethread offers an intuitive card and board system that simplifies task tracking and progress monitoring.
Efficient Collaboration: The team chat and discussion features facilitate real-time communication and collaboration, reducing the need for external messaging tools.
Customization Options: Onethread allows for custom workflows and fields, making it adaptable to various project management needs.
Robust Sprint Planning: Comprehensive sprint planning capabilities help teams allocate tasks and resources effectively.
Integration Flexibility: Onethread provides a wide range of integration options, ensuring compatibility with other tools and workflows.

Cons:

Limited Free Plan: The free plan has limited features and may not suit the needs of larger or more complex projects.
Learning Curve: While user-friendly, Onethread may still require some time for new users to become fully proficient.

#2. Trello

Trello is a straightforward and efficient project management and collaboration tool that simplifies work for teams and individuals. It’s designed to enhance productivity and organization across various projects and tasks.

Trello uses a visual approach with boards, lists, and cards to manage tasks and projects. It offers a simple and intuitive platform that allows you to create custom workflows and adapt them to your specific needs.

The platform’s flexibility is its strong suit, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced users. Trello integrates seamlessly with a variety of apps, streamlining your workflow and simplifying your work processes.

Real-time updates and notifications keep everyone informed about task progress, promoting collaboration and accountability. Trello is accessible on both desktop and mobile devices, ensuring you can work from anywhere.

Trello: A Snapshot

Company Valuation: Trello, a subsidiary of Atlassian, was acquired for $425 million in 2017.
Employee Numbers: Trello had 445+ of employees.
Founding Team: Trello’s founding team included:
- Joel Spolsky: Co-founder and CEO (at the time of Trello’s founding). He is also known for co-founding Stack Overflow.
- Michael Pryor: Co-founder and former CEO (at the time of Trello’s founding). He played a significant role in Trello’s growth.

Key Features:

Trello stands as one of the best Scrum tools, known for its simplicity and versatility. It’s favored by individuals, startups, and enterprises alike for its visual approach to task management. Let’s delve into the key features, pros and cons, pricing plans, customer ratings, and our unbiased review of Trello.

Visual Task Management:

Trello’s hallmark is its visual board, which presents tasks as cards that move through columns representing workflow stages. It’s the epitome of simplicity, allowing teams to grasp project status at a glance.

Collaboration at its Best:

Trello fosters collaboration with features like comments, mentions, and attachments on cards. Team members can discuss tasks, share files, and stay updated without switching to other communication tools.

Customization Galore:

Teams can tailor Trello to their needs with custom boards, lists, and cards. This adaptability makes it suitable for various project management methodologies, including Scrum.

Kanban at Heart:

With its Kanban-inspired approach, Trello excels in visualizing work in progress. It’s perfect for teams that prefer a more flexible workflow without the rigidity of Scrum.

Power-Ups and Integrations:

Trello’s ecosystem extends with Power-Ups and integrations, enhancing its functionality. You can integrate it with popular tools like Slack, Google Drive, and more.

Pros:

User-Friendly: Trello’s intuitive interface requires minimal training, making it accessible to users of all levels.
Scalability: It’s equally effective for small teams and large enterprises, adapting to diverse project management needs.
Affordable: Trello offers a free plan and reasonably priced paid options.
Integration Hub: It integrates seamlessly with popular tools like Slack, Google Drive, and more.
Mobile Accessibility: With mobile apps, teams can manage projects on the go.

Cons:

Complex Projects: For highly complex projects or those requiring advanced features, Trello may fall short.
Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While easy to start with, mastering Trello’s advanced capabilities may take time.
Limited Reporting: Trello’s reporting and analytics capabilities are somewhat limited compared to dedicated project management tools.
Dependency Tracking: It lacks built-in dependency tracking, which can be crucial for some projects.
Customization Limitations: While customizable, it may not offer the same level of workflow customization as some other tools.

Pricing Plans:

Free Plan: Basic features with limitations.
Trello Standard: $5/user/month, offering more Power-Ups and customization.
Trello Premium: $12.50/user/month, with advanced features like priority support and custom backgrounds.
Trello Enterprise: Tailored solutions for large organizations.

Customer Ratings:

G2: 4.3/5 based on user reviews.
Capterra: 4.4/5 based on user feedback.

Our Review:

Trello’s strength lies in its simplicity and visual approach to project management. It’s an excellent choice for teams looking for a user-friendly tool that doesn’t overwhelm with complexity.

However, for advanced project management needs or larger enterprises, dedicated Scrum tools with more robust features may be a better fit. Trello’s popularity among users and its wide range of integrations make it a solid choice for Agile teams seeking an accessible and versatile solution.

Interested in how Trello measures up against other project management tools? Delve into our comprehensive comparisons of Trello versus Jira.

#3. Asana

Asana is a practical work management and project collaboration platform. It simplifies teamwork and enhances productivity for various organizations. With Asana, you can efficiently create, assign, and track tasks. You can set deadlines, priorities, and responsibilities, reducing the need for emails and spreadsheets.

Asana provides visual project timelines and boards for clear insights into progress. It seamlessly integrates with popular tools, improving productivity. Real-time updates and notifications keep teams informed.

Asana is accessible on desktop and mobile, accommodating various workstyles. It empowers efficient work management and collaboration for teams of all sizes.

Asana: A Snapshot

Company Valuation: Asana was valued at $4.45 billion dollars.
Employee Numbers: In 2023, Asana had over 1,000+ employees.
Founding Team:
- Dustin Moskovitz: Co-founder of Facebook, moved on to establish Asana with a focus on enhancing workplace productivity.
- Justin Rosenstein: Former Google and Facebook engineer, passionate about improving team collaboration.

Features:

Asana is a prominent Scrum tool celebrated for its comprehensive project management capabilities. In this detailed exploration, we highlight its key features, customer ratings, and offer an impartial review.

Task and Project Management:

Asana excels in task and project management, allowing teams to create and organize tasks within projects. It offers a clear visual representation of projects and their associated tasks.

Timeline View for Sprint Planning:

Asana’s Timeline view provides a structured timeline for sprints, enabling Scrum Masters to plan and visualize project timelines effectively.

Custom Fields and Workflows:

Teams can customize their workflows with custom fields, ensuring that Asana adapts to the unique needs of Scrum projects.

Team Collaboration and Communication:

Asana offers built-in team communication features, including task comments and mentions, fostering seamless collaboration without the need for external messaging tools.

Integrations and Automations:

Its extensive integration options and automation capabilities allow for the synchronization of Asana with other tools and the automation of repetitive tasks.