Best Agile Task Board Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 20 tools reviewed.
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Navigating project management can be as challenging as finding the right agile tool to simplify your workflow. Many organizations struggle to provide effective resources that enhance team collaboration and productivity, leading to missed deadlines and inefficiencies.
As a project management analyst, I’ve observed a growing demand for solutions that address these issues head-on. Using my knowledge of agile methodologies, I tested and reviewed several of the top agile task boards on the market to help teams source the best options for their projects.
Whether you’re looking to implement a new system or enhance your current offerings, my guide will help you make informed decisions that boost both team efficiency and project outcomes.
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Best Agile Task Board Summary
We’ve investigated the pricing and availability of free trials and demo versions so you can make a much simpler side-by-side comparison.
Tools | Price | |
---|---|---|
GitHub | From $4/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
Airtable | From $20/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
Taskworld | From $15/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
Basecamp | From $15/user/month | Website |
Businessmap | From $149/month (min 15 users, billed annually) | Website |
SpiraPlan | From $51.84/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
Yodiz | From $3/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
ClickUp | From $9/user/month | Website |
Trello | From $5/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
Pivotal Tracker | Pricing upon request | Website |
Compare Software Specs Side by Side
Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.
Compare SoftwareHow To Choose An Agile Task Board
As you work through your unique software selection process, remember the following points.
- Workflow Management: An agile task board helps efficiently manage workflow by organizing tasks and prioritizing work requests, preventing overwhelm and losing focus on essential tasks.
- Visibility: It clearly represents tasks, making it easier for teams to track progress and understand the overall project status.
- Flexibility: This ensures the board can adapt to changing priorities and workflows, allowing adjustments as needed. This is particularly important for teams that frequently pivot, such as startups that need to respond quickly to market changes.
- Collaboration: Choose a board that facilitates collaboration among team members. This will enhance communication and teamwork.
- Tools and Features: Look for features that suit your team's needs, such as task assignments, deadlines, and progress tracking. A project management team might benefit from a board that integrates with other tools like time-tracking software or customer relationship management (CRM) systems.
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Hub Planner
This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.2 -
ClickUp
This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.7 -
Miro
This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.8
Best Agile Task Board Reviews
Discover in-depth analysis and overviews of each agile task board. We’ll walk through the pros and cons, features, and best use cases.
GitHub offers an agile task board that integrates with GitHub repositories, making it ideal for development teams to manage their work directly alongside their codebase.
Why I Picked GitHub: GitHub allows teams to directly link issues and pull requests within the project board, ensuring developers can track the lifecycle of a feature or a bug. The platform provides visibility into development work with Kanban-style boards and real-time updates and offers automation based on code events. It integrates with GitHub’s collaboration and code review tools for developers to link discussions, code reviews, and releases directly into the project board.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include real-time task tracking and the ability to link issues and pull requests directly to tasks. It also includes custom workflows and automation with GitHub Actions.
Integrations include Slack, Dropbox, Google Sheets, Google Workspace, Mailchimp, and Salesforce.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Advanced task automation
- Tight integration with CI/CD pipelines
- Real-time code-driven task updates
Cons:
- Lacks advanced reporting and analytics features
- Limited to the GitHub ecosystem
Airtable is an agile task board that combines the simplicity of a spreadsheet with the power of a fully functional database. Its rich integration system and automation capabilities make it a great choice for teams looking for a task board that adapts to their operational needs.
Why I Picked Airtable: Airtable has a no-code, custom app-building capability, allowing users to create specific tools and workflows without technical skills. It becomes a dynamic platform that can adapt to any team’s needs in a structured, automated way that aligns with their agile methodology. Airtable can link data across multiple tables for interconnected workflows, making it an effective tool for cross-departmental collaboration and deeply integrated with popular tools for smooth operations.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include customizable task boards, no-code custom app building, linking records across multiple tables, automation capabilities, real-time collaboration, drag-and-drop task management, and advanced filtering and sorting. It also includes customizable fields, forms, and relational database functionality for interconnected workflows.
Integrations include ADP, Airbrake, Airtable, BambooHR, Box, Clearbit, Dropbox, HubSpot, IBM Watson, and Intercom.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable forms for agile inputs
- Advanced automation
- Relational database functionality
Cons:
- Limited advanced reporting
- Complex database structure setup
Taskworld is a user-friendly task management solution with timeline views, task tracking, integrated messaging, and performance analytics. It helps teams monitor productivity and improve workflow efficiency.
Why I Picked Taskworld: Taskworld includes a built-in messaging system, allowing team members to communicate directly within the platform, discuss tasks, share feedback, and provide updates. It automatically generates detailed performance analytics into workload distribution and visual insights on productivity. Additionally, it has a timeline and workload view for foreseeing potential delays and resource shortages.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features Kanban boards, integrated chat, customizable dashboards, task dependencies, and performance analytics.
Integrations include Microsoft Teams, Slack, GitHub, Google Drive, Dropbox, Zapier, Trello, Asana, Jira, and Salesforce.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Multiple project views
- Real-time performance analytics
- Integrated messaging system
Cons:
- Limited customization for boards
- No built-in time tracking feature
Basecamp provides a visual, easy-to-use interface for organizing tasks, assigning responsibilities, and monitoring progress across various projects. The platform focuses on reducing clutter and centralizing all project-related communication.
Why I Picked Basecamp: Basecamp centralizes communication through its message boards and “Campfire” real-time chat, keeping all discussions, feedback, and updates in one place. It has a simple to-do list for breaking down and assigning tasks, and tracking progress without complex workflows or configurations. Basecamp also has an integrated file storage system for keeping files organized and accessible and automatic check-ins that prompt members to share their progress at set intervals.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include to-do lists for task management, project calendars for scheduling and deadlines, milestone tracking for important project goals, team activity feeds for real-time progress monitoring, and a client portal for managing external stakeholder communication.
Integrations include Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, Zapier, Trello, Asana, Microsoft Teams, Evernote, and Toggl.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Minimalist interface design
- Real-time activity feeds and progress sharing
- Built-in client collaboration
Cons:
- Limited workflow customization
- Lacks advanced agile features and visualization
Businessmap provides a structured and visual approach to project management, helping teams organize tasks, and track progress, and offers tools for visualizing business processes.
Why I Picked Businessmap: Businessmap provides process mapping capabilities, allowing teams to create and visualize complex workflows. The platform can design detailed flowcharts, process diagrams, and customize workflows to fit various project methodologies. It offers real-time visualization of business processes for users to see the entire project lifecycle at a glance and supports task dependencies and automation rules for streamlining workflows.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include multi-layered Kanban boards for visualizing tasks and OKRs for strategic alignment. It also includes management dashboards for monitoring performance metrics, support project forecasting, dependency management, and workflow analytics.
Integrations include Jira, Slack, Trello, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Dropbox, Zapier, and Salesforce.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- High focus on process optimization
- Complete analytics integration
- Custom workflow flexibility and adjustments
Cons:
- Complex initial setup
- Insufficient resource management and timeline features
SpiraPlan supports the full lifecycle of projects from planning to execution. It’s a scalable solution for agile and hybrid methodologies that accommodates complex project structures and multi-team collaboration.
Why I Picked SpiraPlan: SpiraPlan integrates requirements, risk, and test management into its agile board, making it a complete end-to-end solution for managing tasks and project components. It interlinks and tracks different projects simultaneously. The tool also offers detailed reporting and real-time dashboards for insights into task completion and project health metrics like team velocity, resource allocation, and risk status.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include project and portfolio management, requirements management, release planning, quality assurance, software development, risk management, supporting various user roles with personalized views and workflows, and resource optimization.
Integrations include Jira, GitHub, Jenkins, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Azure DevOps, GitLab, and Confluence.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Compliance and audit trails
- Thorough testing capabilities
- Built-in risk and requirements management
Cons:
- Complex reporting features
- Reported lagging issues in agile project management
Yodiz offers task tracking, sprint management, and team collaboration, simplifying planning and effective delivery tracking. It combines powerful features like backlog management and visual boards, making it suitable for small teams and large organizations.
Why I Picked Yodiz: Yodiz provides a live activity feed and in-app notifications that keep team members updated on project progress, changes, and potential bottlenecks as they happen. It enables teams to manage user stories, tasks, and issues in one platform and allows easy workflow customization for Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid methods. Additionally, it offers real-time reporting for tracking KPIs and analytics for generating macro and micro-level insights.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include product backlog with smart analytics, epics management for feature prioritization, customizable sprint tracking, visual release management tools, and a planning board for side-by-side project data viewing.
Integrations include Box, Dropbox, Freshdesk, GitHub, Google Drive, Jenkins, and Slack.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time sprint metrics
- Built-in release management
- Issue tracking with sprint planning
Cons:
- Limited reporting customization
- No advanced automation for complex workflows
ClickUp is an all-in-one project management solution that combines task tracking, workflow customization, and collaboration tools. It offers powerful tools for streamlining workflows, boosting productivity, and maintaining real-time project visibility.
Why I Picked ClickUp: ClickUp supports multiple views, such as lists, agile boards, calendars, and Gantt charts, giving teams the flexibility to organize and visualize work in the way that best suits their needs. It allows users to customize task workflows with statuses, priorities, and tags and integrates additional work items like time tracking, goals, automation, and documents. Additionally, ClickUp has solid collaboration tools, including real-time commenting, file sharing, and in-task communication.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include automation tools, customizable dashboards, and collaborative documents, which help improve visibility and simplify workflows, support various methodologies, allowing teams to manage sprint backlogs, track dependencies, and visualize projects effectively.
Integrations include Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, GitHub, Zapier, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Evernote, and Trello.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Multiple view flexibility
- Document management integration
- Custom statuses for agile workflows
Cons:
- Limited resource management tools
- Some users report occasional bugs
Trello’s card-based system allows teams to organize projects through drag-and-drop Kanban-style boards. It consists of customizable lists and cards that suit the needs of agile workflows like sprint planning and backlog management.
Why I Picked Trello: Trello’s integrations, Power Ups, allow the platform to create a connected ecosystem where all project-related work and communication happens. It enables Trello to support agile methodologies by providing features such as reporting, task dependencies, and calendar views. The platform also has a built-in automation tool called Butler, allowing teams to automate repetitive tasks by setting up rules, triggers, and commands that simplify workflows.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include customizable Kanban-style boards, drag-and-drop task management, task cards with attachments, due dates, labels, and checklists, collaboration tools like comments and file sharing. It also includes team member assignments, real-time updates, and multiple physical board views including calendar and timeline options.
Integrations include Slack, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence, Evernote, GitHub, Salesforce, and Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time sync across devices
- User-friendly interface and simple onboarding
- Unlimited board flexibility
Cons:
- Calendar view makes project-viewing difficult
- Limited reporting capabilities
Pivotal Tracker is an agile task board for software development, offering a structured, collaborative environment. It has built-in support for agile best practices and tracking, allowing developing teams to maintain focus and deliver high-quality code.
Why I Picked Pivotal Tracker: Pivotal Tracker helps software teams manage the complexities of product development through user stories, sprints, and feature prioritization. It has a point-based system for estimated user stories, allowing teams to gauge the effort required for each task, and a built-in velocity tracking feature that provides data to help forecast future progress. The platform offers real-time updates, shared project views, and integrations with popular developer tools to link commits and enhance software development.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include a shared backlog that clarifies project priorities and guided iteration planning to break down projects into manageable tasks. It also includes real-time overviews of team activities and responsibilities.
Integrations include Slack, GitHub, Jira, Zendesk, Google Drive, Dropbox, Pivotal Cloud Foundry, New Relic, Bugzilla, and Bitbucket.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Release markers with clear milestones
- Velocity tracking with predictive insights
- Automatic backlog prioritization
Cons:
- Steep learning curve for non-developers
- Minimal visualization options
Other Agile Task Board Software
Below is a list of additional agile task boards that we shortlisted, but did not make it to the top list. It’s still worth checking them out!
- Asana
Best for connecting work across departments
- Teamwork
Best for client service businesses
- Wrike
Best for advanced project tracking and reporting
- Miro
Best for visual collaboration
- Smartsheet
Best for flexible project management
- monday.com
Best for customizable workflows
- Zoho Sprints
Best for small to medium teams
- GitLab
Best for integrated DevOps lifecycle
- Azure Boards
Best for Microsoft ecosystem users
- JIRA by Atlassian
Best for team progress visualization
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Agile Task Board Selection Criteria
The criteria for choosing agile task board software should address buyer needs and common pain points, ensuring the tool effectively serves its intended purpose. As an expert who has personally tried and researched this type of software, here are the requirements I use when evaluating these tools.
Core Functionality (25% of total score):
- Easily create, assign, and track tasks within projects
- Plan, prioritize, and track sprints to manage development cycles
- Organize and refine backlogs to simplify task prioritization
- Visualize project progress through customizable boards and workflows
- Facilitate team communication with comments, mentions, and real-time updates
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score):
- Connects with communication platforms for enhanced collaboration
- Tailors task management processes to fit team needs and methodologies
- Offers in-depth insights into project performance and team productivity
- simplifys workflows by automating repetitive and manual processes
- Provides full access to project management features on the go
Usability (10% of total score):
- Move tasks between columns for simplified project management
- Visually appealing layout for focus and usability
- Tailor views to track the most relevant metrics and workflows
- Quickly access key features and functions with a user-friendly layout
- Get started quickly with simple, straightforward functionality
Onboarding (10% of total score):
- Training videos to quickly learn best practices and features
- Pre-built templates for easy project setup and customization
- Interactive product tours for hands-on, guided learning
- Instant assistance with chatbots to resolve questions in real time
- Webinars for in-depth, expert-led training on advanced topics
Customer Support (10% of total score):
- Access support anytime with 24/7 availability
- Connect via multiple support channels like chat, email, or phone
- A help center to quickly find answers and simple troubleshooting
- Dedicated account managers for personalized guidance
Value for Price (10% of total score):
- Affordable pricing for budget-conscious teams
- Clear, transparent pricing plans for easy decision-making
- Free trial to explore full platform capabilities
- Save more with discounts on annual subscriptions
- The base price includes valuable features for maximum efficiency
Customer Reviews (10% of total score):
- High satisfaction ratings for overall experience
- Positive feedback highlighting ease of use
- Feedback highlights responsive and helpful customer support
- Testimonials on boosting team productivity
- Consistent updates ensure continuous improvement
Trends For Agile Task Boards
Agile task boards are changing remarkably to meet the demands of modern project management. Here are some of the most notable trends shaping the future of agile task boards.
- AI and Automation Integration: AI and automation are becoming integral to agile task boards. These technologies enhance efficiency by automating repetitive tasks and providing predictive analytics.
- Enhanced Remote Collaboration Tools: With the rise of remote work, agile task boards are incorporating advanced collaboration tools. These tools facilitate communication and coordination among distributed teams to maintain productivity and cohesion in remote settings.
- Hybrid Methodologies: Agile task boards increasingly support hybrid methodologies that blend agile with traditional project management. This approach leverages the strengths of both methods, providing flexibility and structure and allowing organizations to tailor their project management approach to specific needs.
- Continuous Feedback and Real-Time Analytics: There is a growing emphasis on continuous feedback loops and real-time data analytics in agile task boards. These features enable teams to make informed decisions quickly and adapt to changes.
- Visual Management Techniques: Visual management techniques are utilized more extensively in agile task boards. These techniques promote transparency and accountability by making project progress and bottlenecks visible.
Based on these trends, agile task boards will undoubtedly become more intelligent, collaborative, and adaptable in the near future.
What Is an Agile Task Board?
An agile task board is a visual tool for managing and tracking the progress of tasks within an agile project. It is commonly used by software development teams, project managers, and agile practitioners to organize work, prioritize tasks, and ensure transparency in the workflow.
The primary components of an agile task board include columns representing different stages of the workflow, such as "To Do," "In Progress," and "Done," and cards representing individual tasks or user stories. These elements help teams visualize task status, identify bottlenecks, and facilitate daily stand-up meetings.
Features Of Agile Task Boards
When choosing an agile task board, it's essential to understand key features to help your team manage tasks effectively. Here are the most essential features to look for.
- User-friendly Interface: A simple and intuitive interface ensures all team members can easily navigate and use the task board without extensive training.
- Customizable Workflows: Tailoring workflows to fit your team's specific processes helps maintain consistency and efficiency.
- Real-time Collaboration: Features that allow team members to update tasks and communicate in real-time keep everyone on the same page and reduce delays.
- Task Prioritization: The option to prioritize tasks helps the team focus on the most important tasks first, ensuring that deadlines are met.
- Progress Tracking: Visual indicators of task progress provide a clear view of what has been completed and is still pending, aiding in better project management.
- Integration with Other Tools: Seamless integration with other productivity tools ensures that all your project data is centralized, reducing the need to switch between different applications.
- Notifications and Alerts: Automated notifications keep team members informed about task updates and deadlines, helping to avoid missed tasks.
- Reporting and Analytics: Built-in reporting tools provide insights into team performance and project progress, enabling better decision-making.
- Access Control: The ability to set permissions ensures that sensitive information is only accessible to authorized team members, maintaining data security.
- Mobile Access: Mobile-friendly versions of the task board allow team members to update and check tasks on the go, ensuring flexibility and continuous productivity.
Choosing the right agile task board with these features will help your team stay organized, communicate effectively, and complete projects on time.
Benefits Of Agile Task Boards
Agile task boards are essential for teams and organizations looking to simplify their workflow and enhance productivity. These boards help teams stay organized, improve communication, and deliver better results by providing a visual representation of tasks and their progress. Below are five primary benefits of using an agile task board.
- Enhanced Visibility: Agile task boards clearly represent tasks, making it easier for teams to track progress and identify bottlenecks. This transparency ensures that everyone is aware of the current status of tasks and can quickly address any issues that arise.
- Improved Collaboration: Team members can easily communicate and collaborate on tasks, fostering a more cohesive work environment. Agile task boards serve as a central point for discussions, updates, and feedback, enhancing teamwork and ensuring everyone is on the same page.
- Increased Flexibility: Agile task boards allow quick adjustments to priorities and tasks, accommodating project scope or direction changes. This enables teams to respond to new information and evolving requirements without disrupting the workflow.
- Better Accountability: Agile task boards promote accountability and ownership of work by assigning tasks to specific team members. This clear delineation of responsibilities helps ensure that tasks are completed on time and that team members are aware of their contributions to the project.
- Simplified Workflow: The board helps organize tasks efficiently, leading to improved productivity and faster project completion. By visualizing the workflow, teams can identify and eliminate bottlenecks, optimize processes, and maintain a steady pace of work.
By adopting these boards, organizations can improve their project management processes, foster teamwork, and deliver higher-quality results.
Costs & Pricing Of Agile Task Boards
This section provides an estimate of average agile task board plans and costs. The data is derived from an analysis of standard pricing tiers and the features they offer. By understanding these pricing structures, users can better assess their needs and budget considerations when choosing an agile task board.
Plan Comparison Table for Agile Task Boards
Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
Free Plan | $0 | Basic task management, limited boards, limited users |
Personal Plan | $3.50/ month | Task tracking, basic reporting, integration with Microsoft Teams and SharePoint |
Business Plan | $10/month | Advanced reporting, multiple project support, enhanced collaboration tools |
Enterprise Plan | Custom | Custom features, dedicated support, advanced security, unlimited users |
FAQs About Agile Task Boards
How can I effectively manage dependencies on an agile task board?
Managing dependencies on an agile task board requires clear visualization and communication. One effective method is to use dependency lines or links between tasks to show relationships. Regular stand-up meetings also help identify and address dependencies early. It’s also beneficial to prioritize tasks with dependencies to ensure they are completed in a timely manner, reducing bottlenecks.
What are some best practices for customizing an agile task board for my team?
Customizing an agile task board involves tailoring it to fit your team’s workflow and project requirements. Start by defining the stages of your workflow and creating corresponding columns on the board. Use color-coded labels or tags to categorize tasks by priority, type, or team member and regularly review and adjust the board based on feedback from the team to ensure it remains effective.
How do I handle large projects with multiple teams on a single agile task board?
For large projects involving multiple teams, it’s important to maintain clarity and avoid clutter. One approach is to use swimlanes to separate tasks by team or project phase. Alternatively, you can create separate boards for each team and use a master board to track overall progress.
What strategies can I use to keep my agile task board up-to-date?
Keeping an agile task board up-to-date requires regular maintenance and team discipline. Schedule daily or weekly updates where team members review and update their tasks and encourage the use of task status updates during stand-up meetings. Additionally, appointing a board manager to oversee and ensure the board’s accuracy can be beneficial.
How can I use metrics to improve the effectiveness of my agile task board?
Metrics such as cycle time, lead time, and work-in-progress (WIP) limits can provide valuable insights into your team’s performance. Use these metrics to identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement and review these metrics in retrospectives to make data-driven decisions and continuously improve your workflow.
What are the common pitfalls to avoid when using an agile task board?
Common pitfalls include overcomplicating the board with too many columns or categories, failing to update tasks regularly, and not involving the entire team in the board’s maintenance. Avoid using the board as a mere task list; instead, use it as a tool for collaboration and communication. Ensure that the board reflects the current state of the project and that all team members are engaged in keeping it up-to-date.
How do I integrate an agile task board with other project management tools?
Integrating an agile task board with other project management tools can simplify workflows and improve efficiency. These integrations automate task updates, synchronize data across platforms, and enhance collaboration.
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