Agile methods, compared
Kanban vs Scrum
Both make work visible on a board. Kanban optimizes for continuous flow; scrum optimizes for predictable iterations. Here is how they differ, and how to pick.
What is kanban?
Kanban is a flow-based method. All work lives on one persistent board with columns like Backlog, In Progress, and Done. Each column has a work-in-progress (WIP) limit, and you pull a new task only when capacity frees up. There are no required roles, no sprints, and no ceremonies: the board and its limits do the coordination. Read the full kanban guide.
What is scrum?
Scrum is an iteration-based framework. Work is planned into fixed-length sprints, usually two weeks. A Product Owner prioritizes the backlog, the team commits to a sprint scope, and a Scrum Master keeps the process running through ceremonies: sprint planning, daily standups, sprint review, and retrospective. The sprint board resets each cycle.
Kanban vs scrum at a glance
| Kanban | Scrum | |
|---|---|---|
| Cadence | Continuous flow | Fixed sprints (1-4 weeks) |
| Roles | None required | Scrum Master, Product Owner, Developers |
| Ceremonies | Optional | Sprint planning, daily standup, review, retrospective |
| Board | Persistent, always on | Reset at the end of each sprint |
| Work limits | WIP limits per column | Sprint commitment (scope per sprint) |
| Changes mid-flight | Any time | Discouraged during a sprint |
| Key metrics | Cycle time, throughput | Velocity, burndown |
| Best for | Ongoing work, support, solo devs | Feature teams with fixed planning cycles |
When to use each
Choose kanban when
- Work arrives continuously: bug fixes, support requests, maintenance, or a steady stream of features.
- You are a solo developer or a small team without the people to fill scrum roles.
- Priorities change often and you need to re-order the backlog at any time.
- AI coding agents work alongside you: agents pull tasks as they become free, which is a pull-based kanban flow by nature.
Choose scrum when
- Stakeholders need predictable delivery dates and a regular demo rhythm.
- The team is large enough that planning and coordination ceremonies pay for themselves.
- You estimate work and track velocity to plan quarters ahead.
Or combine them: scrumban
Many teams keep the sprint cadence and retrospectives from scrum but run the board with kanban rules: WIP limits, pull-based work, and cycle-time metrics. If your scrum ceremonies feel like overhead, dropping them one at a time toward kanban is a common and low-risk path.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between kanban and scrum?+
Kanban is a continuous flow method: tasks move across a board whenever capacity frees up, and work in progress is limited per column. Scrum is an iteration method: work is planned into fixed-length sprints (usually two weeks) with defined roles like Scrum Master and Product Owner, plus ceremonies like sprint planning and retrospectives.
Is a kanban board the same as a scrum board?+
They look similar, but they behave differently. A kanban board is persistent: columns and WIP limits stay the same while tasks flow through continuously. A scrum board resets every sprint: it shows only the tasks committed for the current sprint and is cleared when the sprint ends.
Which is better for small teams and solo developers?+
Kanban, in most cases. Scrum's roles and ceremonies assume a team large enough to fill them. A solo developer or a two-person team gets the visibility benefits from a kanban board without spending time on sprint planning, standups, and retrospectives.
Can you combine kanban and scrum?+
Yes. The combination is called scrumban: teams keep sprint cadences and retrospectives from scrum but manage the board with kanban rules, such as WIP limits and pull-based work. Many teams also start with scrum and gradually drop ceremonies until they run pure kanban.
Does kanban have sprints?+
No. Kanban has no fixed iterations. Work is pulled continuously, and delivery happens whenever a task reaches Done. If your stakeholders need a regular release rhythm, you can add a delivery cadence (for example, release every two weeks) without adopting full scrum.
Try kanban on a real board
Kanboard is a keyboard-first kanban board for developers and their AI agents. Set up your columns in seconds.