Adaptability is essential in a business environment where projects evolve, customer needs shift, and market demands change rapidly. This is where the Agile methodology, particularly the Scrum methodology, has become the go-to approach for teams wanting to deliver value quickly and effectively. Scrum provides the structure for iterative progress, but it’s the right scrum tools that truly bring it to life.
Think of these tools as the central nervous system for your scrum team. They transform abstract concepts like backlogs and sprints into tangible, visual workflows that everyone can understand and interact with. From scrum project tracking to fostering seamless team collaboration, these platforms are essential for keeping everyone aligned, transparent, and productive.
However, with a sea of options available, choosing the best scrum software tools can feel overwhelming. How do you find a solution that not only fits your workflow but also empowers your team to do its best work? This guide will break down everything you need to know. We’ll explore what agile scrum tools are, what features to look for, and why they are a non-negotiable asset for modern businesses, before diving into our list of the top 10 scrum tools for 2025.
What are scrum tools?
At its core, a scrum tool is a software application designed to help a scrum team practice the Scrum framework. While a physical whiteboard with sticky notes can work for a co-located team, modern digital scrum tools offer the power, flexibility, and accessibility required for today’s dynamic work environments, especially for remote and hybrid teams. They are more than just digital to-do lists; they are comprehensive platforms built to support every facet of the scrum process.
So, what do these tools actually do? They facilitate the key components of the Scrum framework:
Scrum artifacts: Scrum management tools provide a centralized place for backlog management, including the product backlog (the master list of all desired features) and the sprint backlog (the set of tasks chosen for a specific sprint). This ensures priorities are clear and accessible to everyone on the scrum team.
Scrum events: These tools are indispensable for running scrum meetings. They act as scrum planning tools for sprint planning meetings, serve as the focal point during daily scrums for status updates, and help showcase completed work during sprint reviews.
Workflow visualization: The most recognizable feature is the scrum board, a visual representation of the workflow, typically with columns like "To Do," "In Progress," and "Done." This visual management approach provides instant clarity on who is working on what and where each task stands, making scrum project tracking effortless.
Team collaboration: Modern agile scrum tools are built to enhance communication and teamwork. They allow for comments on tasks, file attachments, @mentions, and integrations with communication platforms, keeping all conversations in context and reducing the need to switch between apps.
Ultimately, these platforms provide a single source of truth for the scrum team. They support the roles within a scrum team—from the scrum masters who facilitate the process to the product owner who manages the backlog and the development team that executes the work. By digitizing the framework, scrum software tools make the entire process more efficient, transparent, and scalable.
For teams seeking to elevate this process, an integrated agile project management tool like Lark combines scrum boards with real-time chat and video conferencing, ensuring every sprint planning session happens in one connected space.
What to look for in scrum tools for businesses?
Selecting the right scrum project management software is a critical decision that can significantly impact your team's productivity and success. While many tools claim to be "agile," the best scrum tools offer a specific set of features tailored to the Scrum framework. Here are the key criteria to consider when evaluating the best scrum options for your business.
Core scrum functionality
This is the baseline. The tool must natively support the core elements of Scrum. Look for dedicated features for backlog management, creating and prioritizing a product backlog, planning sprints, and crafting user stories with acceptance criteria. Without these foundational capabilities, you’ll spend more time fighting the tool than managing your project.
Intuitive visualization and user experience
As the heart of daily operations, the scrum board must be intuitive, flexible, and visually clear. A great tool will offer a drag-and-drop interface that makes moving tasks between columns seamless. It should also allow for customization, so you can tailor the board to your scrum team’s specific workflow, whether that means adding columns for "Code Review" or "Testing."
Robust collaboration features
Scrum is built on the agile value of "individuals and interactions over processes and tools." Your chosen software should enhance, not hinder, collaboration. Look for features like in-task comments, @mentions to notify team members, file attachments, and a clear activity log. These features keep communication contextual and transparent, preventing details from getting lost in emails or separate chat apps.
Integration and ecosystem
No team works in a vacuum. Your scrum management software needs to play well with the other tools in your tech stack. Essential integrations for agile development scrum tools often include version control systems (like Git), CI/CD pipelines, design platforms (like Figma), and communication hubs. A strong ecosystem saves time and reduces friction in your scrum workflows.
Reporting and analytics
To live by the agile principle of continuous improvement, you need data. The best scrum software provides automated, easy-to-understand reports. Look for essential analytics like burndown charts (to track sprint progress), velocity charts (to measure the amount of work a team can handle in a sprint), and cumulative flow diagrams. These insights help scrum masters and project managers identify bottlenecks and guide the team in making more accurate forecasts and facilitating data-driven sprint retrospectives.
Scalability and security
The tool you choose today should be able to support you as your scrum team and projects grow. Consider whether the platform can handle multiple teams, complex projects, and an increasing number of users without a drop in performance. Furthermore, ensure it meets your organization's security and compliance standards to protect sensitive project data.
For a truly streamlined process, look for scrum management tools like Lark Base, which offers customizable scrum boards and no-code automations to reduce manual, repetitive tasks and improve workflow management.
Why businesses should use scrum tools
Adopting the Scrum framework is one thing, but empowering it with the right technology is what unlocks its full potential. Scrum tools are a fundamental driver of agility, efficiency, and project success. By moving beyond physical boards and scattered documents, businesses create a more resilient and productive environment. Here’s why investing in scrum management tools is a game-changer.
Unprecedented transparency and visibility
Scrum tools make transparency a reality for everyone, not just those in the same room. A digital scrum board provides a single, real-time view of the entire project landscape. Stakeholders, project managers, and team members can see the status of every task at a glance. This eliminates ambiguity, reduces the need for constant status update meetings, and fosters a culture of accountability where progress and roadblocks are visible to all.
Enhanced team collaboration and communication
Effective teamwork is the engine of any successful scrum team. Agile scrum tools serve as a central hub for all project-related communication. Instead of conversations being siloed in email chains or separate messaging apps, discussions happen directly on task cards. This contextual communication ensures that all team members have access to the same information and are always in the loop, fostering a more cohesive dynamic.
Increased productivity and streamlined workflows
By visualizing the workflow, agile teams can easily identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Scrum project tracking features help the team understand their capacity, while automation can handle repetitive tasks. This frees up the development team to focus on high-value work. The clear structure of a sprint backlog within a scrum project management tool ensures that everyone knows their priorities, leading to focused effort and faster delivery cycles, especially in agile development.
Improved adaptability and flexibility
The business world is unpredictable, and a key benefit of Scrum is the ability to adapt. Scrum tools facilitate this by making it easy to re-prioritize the backlog and adjust tasks. When new information arises, the product owner can quickly update the backlog for backlog management, and the entire scrum team can see the shift in priorities in real time, ensuring the project stays aligned with current business goals.
To truly amplify these advantages, Lark brings communication and project management into a single platform, ensuring seamless team collaboration from sprint planning to retrospective analysis.
10 best scrum tools for teams in 2025
Navigating the crowded market of scrum software tools can be challenging. To help you find the perfect fit, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best scrum options for 2025, each with its unique strengths.
1. Lark
Overview:
Lark is more than just a scrum project management tool; it's an all-in-one, integrated workspace designed to be the central hub for agile teams. It seamlessly combines powerful project management features in Lark Base with a full suite of collaboration tools, including Messenger, Meetings, Calendar, Docs, and OKR tracking. This holistic approach eliminates the constant app-switching that plagues many teams, allowing them to plan, communicate, and execute their work within a single, unified environment. With Lark, scrum boards are not isolated artifacts but are deeply connected to real-time conversations, shared documents, and strategic company goals, making it one of the most comprehensive agile scrum tools available.
Why it stands out:
Unified workspace: Lark's greatest strength is its integrated nature. You can hold a daily scrum via Lark Meetings, instantly share your Lark Base scrum board, discuss blockers in a dedicated Lark Messenger chat, and link meeting notes from Lark Docs directly to a task card. This eliminates friction and keeps all context in one place.
Highly customizable with Lark Base: Lark Base is incredibly flexible. You can create a classic Kanban-style scrum board, but you can also switch to a Grid view for backlog management or a Gantt chart view for long-term release planning. Custom fields, color-coded tags, and filters allow you to tailor the board precisely to your scrum team's workflow and needs. 👉 Learn how to create a scrum board with Lark
Built-in automation and AI: You can set up no-code automation for automating repetitive tasks, such as sending a notification when a task is moved to "Done" or assigning a reviewer automatically. Lark's AI features can also help summarize documents and meeting minutes, further boosting productivity.
Integrated OKR tracking: Lark allows you to connect individual tasks and sprint goals directly to higher-level company objectives (OKRs). This provides unparalleled transparency, helping every team member understand how their daily work contributes to the bigger picture.
Pricing:
Starter: Free for up to 20 users.
Pro: Starts from $12/user/month.
Enterprise: Custom pricing for larger organizations.
Best for:
Teams of all sizes looking for a powerful, all-in-one platform to consolidate their tech stack, streamline communication, and directly connect their agile workflow with strategic business objectives.
2. Jira
Image source: atlassian.com
Overview:
Jira by Atlassian is the industry-standard scrum management software for software development. It's built for agile methodologies, offering powerful features for issue tracking, sprint planning, and managing complex projects. Its robust support for Scrum and Kanban makes it a versatile scrum development tool for technical teams.
Why it stands out:
Deep agile functionality: Features are purpose-built for agile development, including user stories, epics, and bug tracking. It's a top choice for scrum masters.
Powerful reporting: Offers burndown and velocity charts to help scrum masters track team progress.
Extensive integration: Integrates with the Atlassian ecosystem and a large app marketplace.
Pricing:
Free: Up to 10 users.
Standard: Starts from $8/user/month.
Premium: Starts from $14/user/month.
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Best for:
Software development teams that need a powerful, scrum-specific tool and are invested in the Atlassian ecosystem.
3. Trello
Image source: trello.com
Overview:
Trello is known for its simplicity and visual collaboration, using a Kanban board system of boards, lists, and cards. While not a dedicated scrum tool with native sprint features, its flexibility and ease of use make it a popular starting point for small teams new to agile development.
Why it stands out:
Extreme ease of use: Features a highly intuitive drag-and-drop interface with almost no learning curve.
Visual appeal: The card-based system is highly visual, making it easy to see the workflow at a glance.
Power-ups: Functionality is extendable with "Power-Ups," adding features like calendars and custom fields to better support a scrum team.
Pricing:
Free: Up to 10 collaborators/workspace.
Standard: Starts from $5/user/month.
Premium: Starts from $10/user/month.
Enterprise: Starts from $17.5/user/month.
Best for:
Small teams or users prioritizing simplicity and visual workflow management over deep, scrum-specific features.
4. Asana
Image source: asana.com
Overview:
Asana is a versatile project management tool supporting agile workflows across many industries. It offers multiple views like boards and timelines, excelling at task management, dependency tracking, and providing high-level visibility. It's a strong choice for managing multiple teams and complex scrum projects beyond just software development.
Why it stands out:
Multiple project views: Allows team members to switch between List, Board, and Timeline views to visualize work as needed.
Strong workflow automation: Its rule-based automation streamlines processes for agile teams, reducing manual work.
Goal tracking: Lets project managers link projects to company goals, clarifying strategic alignment.
Pricing:
Free: Up to 10 teammates
Starter: Starts from $10.99/user/month
Advanced: Starts from $24.99/user/month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Best for:
Cross-functional business teams (e.g., marketing) needing a flexible project management tool for multiple initiatives.
5. Monday.com
Image source: monday.com
Overview:
Monday.com is a highly visual "Work OS" for project management. Its customizable grid interface transforms into Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and more. The platform's colorful, building-block approach makes it an adaptable scrum management tool for various workflows and scrum teams, prioritizing customization and user experience.
Why it stands out:
High degree of customization: Enables bespoke scrum workflows with customizable boards, columns, and dashboards.
Visual and intuitive: The engaging interface simplifies complex task management.
Robust integrations and automations: Offers a large library of automations and integrations to connect with other tools.
Pricing:
Free: Up to 3 boards
Basic: Starts from $9/seat/month
Standard: Starts from $12/seat/month
Pro: Starts from $19/seat/month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Best for:
Teams wanting a highly visual and customizable platform adaptable to almost any workflow, not just Scrum.
6. ClickUp
Image source: clickup.com
Overview:
ClickUp aims to be an all-in-one productivity app. This scrum project software is incredibly feature-rich, combining tasks, docs, chat, and goals into one customizable workspace. Its hierarchical structure allows granular organization, making it a potential free scrum software choice for teams wanting a single, powerful platform for all their work.
Why it stands out:
All-in-one feature set: Includes a vast number of features like mind maps, whiteboards, and docs within the platform.
Customization at every level: Offers extensive customization of views, statuses, and fields to build the ideal scrum workflow.
Generous free plan: Its freeware scrum tools tier is one of the most generous, offering unlimited tasks and members.
Pricing:
Free: Best for personal use
Unlimited: Starts from $7/user/month
Business: Starts from $12/user/month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Best for:
Teams who want an all-encompassing tool with a vast feature set and are willing to navigate a steeper learning curve for full customization.
7. Wrike
Image source: wrike.com
Overview:
Wrike is an enterprise-grade project management tool known for robust security and features designed for large teams and complex projects. It provides high-level visibility and control, making it a strong choice for organizations managing cross-departmental initiatives. It supports agile teams with customizable boards and detailed reporting.
Why it stands out:
Enterprise-level security and scalability: Built to meet the stringent security and administrative needs of large corporations.
Customizable request forms: Streamlines work intake by creating dynamic forms that automatically create tasks and assignments.
Advanced analytics: Offers powerful reporting tools for project managers to gain deep insights into team performance and resource allocation.
Pricing:
Free: For teams getting started
Team: Starts from $10/user/month
Business: Starts from $25/user/month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Pinnacle: Custom pricing; for teams with complex work needs
Best for:
Large organizations and enterprise teams requiring advanced security, granular control, and powerful reporting for managing complex projects.
8. Azure DevOps
Image source: microsoft.com
Overview:
Microsoft's Azure DevOps is a comprehensive suite supporting the entire software development lifecycle. More than just a scrum tool, it includes Azure Boards for agile planning, Repos for Git, and Pipelines for CI/CD. It’s a powerful, integrated solution for teams building and deploying software projects.
Why it stands out:
End-to-end DevOps solution: Provides a tightly integrated toolchain for planning, coding, building, and deploying.
Deep integration with Microsoft ecosystem: Works seamlessly with Azure, Visual Studio Code, and Microsoft Teams.
Highly scalable: Built to support both small teams and massive enterprise development organizations.
Pricing:
No free plan; offers a free trail for 30 days
Basic plan: Free for the first 5 users, then $6/user/month.
Basic + Test plans: Starts from $52/user/month.
Best for:
Software development teams, especially those in the Microsoft tech stack, wanting a unified platform for the entire DevOps lifecycle.
9. Zoho Projects
Image source: zoho.com
Overview:
Part of the extensive Zoho suite, Zoho Projects is a comprehensive project management tool. It supports agile project management with dedicated modules for sprints, backlog management, and epics. It is a solid scrum project software that includes features like burndown charts and velocity tracking.
Why it stands out:
Integration with Zoho Suite: Its biggest advantage is seamless integration with other Zoho apps like CRM and Books.
Built-in time tracking and invoicing: Includes powerful time management and billing features, great for agencies.
Affordable pricing: Offers a very competitive price point, making it one of the best scrum tools for budget-conscious teams.
Pricing:
Free: Up to 5 users.
Premium: Starts from $4/user/month.
Enterprise: Starts from $9/user/month.
Project plus: Custom pricing.
Best for:
Businesses already using the Zoho ecosystem needing a cost-effective yet feature-rich project management solution.
10. Shortcut (formerly Clubhouse)
Image source: shortcut.com
Overview:
Shortcut is a project management tool designed specifically for software development teams. It aims to streamline collaboration between product, design, and engineering with a fast, developer-friendly interface. Its structure is built around stories, epics, and milestones, making it an intuitive scrum tool.
Why it stands out:
Developer-first mindset: Designed with developers in mind, offering keyboard shortcuts, a clean API, and deep Git integrations.
Clear hierarchical structure: The "Stories > Epics > Milestones" hierarchy helps organize work and link it to broader goals.
Team-based workflows: Allows different teams to create unique workflows while collaborating on the same platform.
Pricing:
Free: Best for teams getting started.
Team: Starts from $8.50/user/month.
Business: Starts from $12/user/month.
Enterprise: Custom pricing.
Best for:
Fast-moving software development teams who want a scrum tool that is powerful yet not as complex as Jira.
While specialized tools handle tasks well, Lark unifies the entire agile workflow. It combines scrum boards with integrated chat, docs, and meetings, eliminating tool silos and boosting genuine team collaboration.
Common challenges faced by businesses with scrum tools
Implementing scrum tools isn't always a smooth ride. Businesses often encounter common hurdles that prevent them from reaping the full benefits. Awareness of these challenges is the first step toward overcoming them and improving scrum implementation.
Resistance to change and low adoption
A sophisticated tool is useless if no one on the scrum team uses it properly. Team members accustomed to old ways of working may resist a new platform. This often stems from a lack of understanding of the tool's benefits or feeling the new process is forced upon them without adequate training.
Overcomplicating the process
It's tempting to use every feature a powerful scrum software tool offers, but this can lead to overly complex boards and cluttered scrum workflows. The goal of the Scrum framework is simplicity. When a tool is over-configured, it can overwhelm the team and obscure what’s important.
Lack of proper training and understanding
Simply giving a scrum team access to a new tool without training on both the software and the Scrum framework is a recipe for failure. Without a grasp of agile principles, the scrum team may use the tool as just a to-do list, missing the iterative power of Scrum.
Tool silos and poor integration
Many organizations use a patchwork of different project management tools. When the scrum tool doesn't integrate well with existing tools, it creates information silos. This forces team members to constantly switch apps and manually copy-paste information, defeating the purpose of a centralized platform.
These challenges often stem from a disconnected toolset. By choosing a platform like Lark, which unifies task management, team communication, and documentation, businesses can break down these silos and foster a more integrated and intuitive agile environment.
Conclusion
Choosing the right scrum tool is a pivotal step in building a high-performing scrum team. It’s about more than task management; it's about fostering transparency, team collaboration, and continuous improvement. As we've seen, the best scrum tool for your business depends on your team’s size, workflow complexity, and existing tech stack. Whether you need a developer-centric powerhouse or visual simplicity, there is a solution tailored to your needs.
Ultimately, the software is an enabler for the scrum framework. True agility comes from your team's commitment to the principles behind it. The right platform removes friction, automates the mundane, and provides the clear insights needed to adapt and grow. By making an informed choice from the best scrum tools available, you empower your scrum team to focus on doing their best work. For a truly seamless and integrated agile environment, explore how Lark can unify your team’s communication and project management.
Frequently asked questions
Are physical scrum boards still relevant?
Physical boards can be great for co-located teams to foster in-person collaboration. However, they lack the accessibility, real-time updates, and reporting capabilities of digital scrum tools. For remote/hybrid teams or any team that wants to track project progress, digital tools are indispensable.
Can scrum tools be used by non-software teams?
Absolutely. While Scrum originated in software development, its principles are universally applicable. Marketing teams use scrum tools to manage campaigns, and HR can track hiring pipelines. The scrum methodology's focus on iterative work is valuable for any scrum team tackling complex projects.
What is the main difference between Scrum and Kanban tools?
Scrum tools are structured for time-boxed iterations called sprints, focusing on delivering a set amount of work within a specific period. Kanban tools are designed for a continuous flow of work, using Work in Progress (WIP) limits to manage capacity. Many modern platforms, including Lark, support both project management methodologies.
Do you need a certified Scrum Master to use scrum software?
No, a certification isn't required to use scrum software tools. However, it is crucial to have someone on the scrum team (often a scrum master) who deeply understands the Scrum framework and scrum practices. This person guides the team in using the tool effectively.
How can you measure the ROI of a scrum tool?
Measure ROI through improved metrics. Use the tool's reporting features to track project progress, such as increased sprint velocity, shorter cycle times, and faster time-to-market. Also, consider qualitative benefits like improved team performance and stakeholder satisfaction.
What is the best way to use scrum tools with a remote team?
For remote teams, the scrum tool is the central hub. Ensure every scrum team member updates task statuses diligently. Effective team communication is key, so use integrated features for real-time collaboration. The board must be the single source of truth during all virtual scrum meetings.
