How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Jira remains the enterprise standard for Scrum teams, with a free plan for up to 10 users.
- Linear is the favorite of modern dev teams that want speed over configuration.
- ClickUp, Asana, monday.com, and Trello cover agile workflows for cross-functional teams.
- Azure DevOps pairs agile planning with repos and pipelines for Microsoft shops.
- Zoho Sprints is the budget pick with a genuinely useful free plan.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Jira | enterprise Scrum teams | See website | Yes |
 ClickUp | all-in-one work management | $7 per user/month (billed annually) | Yes |
 Linear | fast-moving dev teams | $10 per user/month (billed annually) | Yes |
 Azure DevOps | Microsoft-centric teams | $6 per user/month | Yes |
 Trello | lightweight Kanban | $5 per user/month (billed annually) | Yes |
 Zoho Sprints | budget agile teams | See website | Yes |
 Asana | cross-functional projects | $10.99 per user/month (billed annually) | Yes |
 monday.com | visual workflow teams | $9 per seat/month (billed annually) | Yes |
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The best agile software
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Jira is the default answer for agile software development, and for good reason. Scrum boards, backlogs, sprint planning, burndown charts, and release management are all first-class, and the Atlassian Marketplace offers thousands of integrations. For enterprises running SAFe or multi-team programs, Advanced Roadmaps ties team execution to portfolio planning.
The free plan covers up to 10 users, which makes Jira viable for small teams too. But the honest catch is complexity: Jira's power comes from configuration, and configuration takes administration. Teams that don't invest in a Jira admin end up with messy workflows. If your team lives in sprints and needs the industry standard, start here.
What we like- Deepest Scrum and Kanban functionality
- Massive integration marketplace
- Scales to thousands of users
Watch out for- Configuration complexity overwhelms small teams
- Can feel slow and heavy
Starting price$7 per user/month (billed annually)
Free planYes
ClickUp pitches itself as the app to replace them all, and for agile teams it covers the essentials: sprints, Kanban boards, Gantt charts, goals, and workload views, plus docs and chat in the same workspace. The free-forever plan is genuinely useful, and the $7-per-user Unlimited plan is among the cheapest paid tiers in the category.
For teams that want agile plus everything else in one subscription, ClickUp is the value play. Sprint management works well for most teams, though hardcore Scrum purists will miss some of Jira's depth. The catch is bloat: there is so much here that new users need guidance. Teams that commit to learning it get a lot for the money.
What we like- Huge feature set including docs, goals, and chat
- Generous free plan
- Sprint management built in
Watch out for- Feature density can overwhelm
- Performance dips in very large workspaces
Starting price$10 per user/month (billed annually)
Free planYes
Linear is what Jira would be if it were designed in the last decade. Cycles (their word for sprints), triage, roadmaps, and issue tracking are fast, keyboard-driven, and opinionated in the best way. Dev teams at startups and scale-ups consistently rate it the most enjoyable agile tool to use.
For engineering teams that want to move fast without a Jira admin, Linear is the pick. The GitHub and GitLab integrations are excellent, and the API is a joy for automation. The limitation is scope: Linear is built for product and engineering, not for marketing or HR running agile-ish workflows. Cross-functional organizations may need a second tool.
What we like- Blazing speed and keyboard-first design
- Opinionated workflows that just work
- Excellent GitHub integration
Watch out for- Less suited to non-engineering teams
- Fewer customization options than Jira
Starting price$6 per user/month
Free planYes
Azure DevOps (formerly Visual Studio Team Services) bundles agile planning with source control, CI/CD pipelines, and test management. Azure Boards supports Scrum, Kanban, and custom processes, and the traceability from work item to commit to deployment is the strongest in the business.
For teams already on Microsoft 365 and Azure, this is the natural choice: the first five users are free, and stakeholder licenses are free too. The honest catch is the interface, which feels a generation behind Linear or monday.com. But if your compliance team requires Microsoft-native tooling, Azure DevOps delivers the full lifecycle.
What we like- Boards, repos, pipelines, and test plans in one suite
- Free for the first 5 users
- Strong enterprise governance
Watch out for- Dated UI
- Best value requires buying into the Microsoft ecosystem
Starting price$5 per user/month (billed annually)
Free planYes
Trello invented the visual Kanban board for the masses, and it remains the easiest agile tool to adopt. Cards, lists, labels, and checklists cover lightweight agile workflows, and Power-Ups add calendar, timeline, and automation. The free plan is generous, and Standard at $5 per user per month is cheap.
For teams practicing Kanban or just getting started with agile, Trello is the lowest-friction option. Marketing teams, agencies, and small dev teams run effective Kanban on it. The limitation is Scrum depth: there are no native sprints, story points, or velocity charts. Teams that outgrow Kanban usually graduate to Jira, ClickUp, or Linear.
What we like- Simplest Kanban experience
- Excellent free plan
- Huge template gallery
Watch out for- Weak for true Scrum (no native sprints)
- Limited reporting
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Zoho Sprints is a purpose-built agile tool with backlogs, Scrum boards, epics, timesheets, and velocity charts, priced far below Jira. The free plan covers small teams, and paid plans start at some of the lowest prices in the category. Integration with the rest of Zoho (CRM, Desk, Projects) is a bonus for Zoho shops.
For cost-conscious teams that want real Scrum without enterprise pricing, Zoho Sprints is the standout. The interface is cleaner than Jira's, and setup takes minutes. The trade-off is ecosystem: fewer third-party integrations and a smaller community. Teams already in the Zoho world should not look further.
What we like- Purpose-built for Scrum at a low price
- Clean, uncluttered interface
- Strong Zoho ecosystem integration
Watch out for- Smaller third-party integration library
- Less brand recognition for hiring
Starting price$10.99 per user/month (billed annually)
Free planYes
Asana brings agile workflows to the whole company, not just engineering. Boards, timelines, sprints, and goals work well for product, marketing, and operations teams running iterative work. The $10.99 Starter plan includes timeline views, custom fields, and unlimited automations, with Asana's AI features bundled in.
For organizations where agile extends beyond the dev team, Asana's breadth wins. Portfolios and goals connect sprint work to company objectives better than most tools here. The catch is depth: Scrum ceremonies and dev-centric workflows are lighter than Jira or Linear. Engineering-led teams should compare carefully; business-led teams will feel at home.
What we like- Polished and intuitive
- Strong timeline and portfolio views
- AI features included on paid plans
Watch out for- Agile features less deep than Jira or Linear
- Pricing climbs on higher tiers
Starting price$9 per seat/month (billed annually)
Free planYes
monday.com's colorful, visual boards make agile work accessible to non-technical stakeholders. The platform supports sprints, backlogs, and dashboards, and monday dev offers a dedicated product for engineering teams with GitHub integration and sprint planning. Automations handle the repetitive parts of agile ceremonies.
For teams where executives and clients need to see progress without learning Jira, monday.com is the friendliest option. The visual dashboards are genuinely good for sprint reviews. The honest catch is pricing: $9 per seat adds up fast, and the most useful features sit on higher tiers. Budget for growth before committing.
What we like- Highly visual and customizable boards
- Strong automations
- Monday dev product for engineering teams
Watch out for- Per-seat pricing adds up
- Can get expensive with add-ons
How we chose
We compared the leading agile tools across Scrum support, Kanban support, reporting, integrations, and pricing, verifying each vendor's homepage and current pricing page directly. We favored tools with real agile depth (sprints, backlogs, velocity) over generic project managers with a board view, while including options for cross-functional teams. Every price above comes from the vendor's own pricing page as of October 2026. We never claim hands-on testing.
Scrum vs. Kanban: picking your framework
Your agile framework should drive your tool choice, not the other way around.
Choose Scrum tools when
You run fixed-length sprints with planning, reviews, and retrospectives. Jira, Linear, Azure DevOps, ClickUp, and Zoho Sprints all offer native sprint support with backlogs and velocity tracking.
Choose Kanban tools when
Work flows continuously without fixed sprints. Trello is the purest Kanban option; Asana and monday.com handle Kanban-style workflows for broader teams.
Either way
Make sure the tool supports your estimation method, your reporting needs, and the integrations your team already uses. A tool that fights your process will be abandoned within a quarter.
The subscription is the smallest part of agile tooling cost. Administration, training, and process design determine whether the tool succeeds. Jira needs an admin; Linear needs almost none. Factor in the hours your team will spend configuring workflows, building dashboards, and learning the tool. The cheapest tool that your team actually uses beats the most powerful tool that they avoid.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best agile software?
Jira is the most capable for enterprise Scrum teams, Linear is the favorite of modern dev teams, and ClickUp offers the best value for teams wanting everything in one app. The best choice depends on team size, technical level, and whether agile extends beyond engineering.
What is agile software?
Agile software helps teams plan and track work in short iterations. It typically includes backlogs, Scrum or Kanban boards, sprint planning, and reports like burndown charts and velocity, supporting frameworks like Scrum, Kanban, and SAFe.
Is there free agile software?
Yes. Jira, ClickUp, Linear, Trello, Asana, monday.com, Zoho Sprints, and Azure DevOps all offer free plans or free tiers, though most limit users or features. Small teams can run real agile workflows without paying.
What is the difference between Jira and Linear?
Jira is the more powerful and configurable enterprise standard with a vast integration marketplace. Linear is faster, simpler, and more opinionated, favored by dev teams that want speed over customization.
Can non-developers use agile software?
Yes. Tools like Asana, monday.com, Trello, and ClickUp are designed for cross-functional teams. Marketing, operations, and product teams run sprints and Kanban boards alongside engineering.
How much does agile software cost?
Paid plans in this comparison range from $5 to $10.99 per user per month billed annually. Enterprise tiers and per-seat minimums can raise costs, so check the vendor's pricing page for your team size.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira
- https://clickup.com/pricing
- https://linear.app/pricing
- https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/devops/azure-devops-services/
- https://trello.com/pricing
- https://www.zoho.com/sprints/pricing.html
- https://asana.com/pricing
- https://monday.com/pricing
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.