Choosing Between Kanban vs Scrum: A Complete Guide (2025)

Stuck between Kanban vs Scrum? A framework that improves software development efficiency is crucial if you are an entrepreneur. With efficient software product development, your time-to-market is lower. In a competitive market, higher time-to-market can be detrimental. This is where a framework like Kanban or Scrum can help.

Kanban and Scrum are agile-based frameworks that offer software development efficiency. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Kanban is more fluid and helps visualize tasks. On the contrary, Scrum systems have set timelines and roles but offer sprint-based development cycles.

Deciding between Scrum and Kanban is crucial for your projects. It allows you to determine which framework suits your needs and whether to integrate it into the existing processes. This article focuses on the pros and cons of both frameworks, their differences, and which is best for your startup project.

But first, you need to understand Kanban and Scrum separately!

What is Kanban?

Startups prefer Kanban because the framework focuses on maximizing the efficiency of each task. It visualizes the team’s workflow through a Kanban board. This board allows the team to focus on minimizing the project’s timeline. Kanban is best for projects that need adaptive planning, early delivery, and frequent project improvements.

How does Kanban Work?

Teams organize their tasks using the Kanban board. Each work item is represented as a Kanban card and arranged according to different workflow stages.

The usual stages include

• To Do
• In Progress
• Review
• Blocked
• Completed

Kanban allows you to customize the names of these stages and arrange them according to your needs. Two key metrics, “Lead Time” and “Cycle Time,” measure the time it takes to complete a task. By understanding cycle times, your Kanban team can quickly finish projects without delays.

Your team can use a Cumulative Flow Diagram (CFD) tool to analyze the number of work items in each stage. This will help identify any bottlenecks that need to be fixed so that work can continue.

Another essential feature of Kanban is the work-in-progress (WIP) limit. In each workflow stage, you can set the maximum number of tasks allowed, helping the team focus on one task at a time.

Fundamental Principles of Kanban

• Visualize Workflow: Each task or item moves from one stage to the next, creating a transparent overview of the workload.
• Limit Work-in-Progress (WIP): By limiting the number of tasks that can be in progress simultaneously, These limits optimize resource allocation, prevent multitask bottlenecks, and improve productivity.
• Manage Flow: Continuous monitoring of the task flow allows teams to identify and eliminate inefficiencies.
• Continuous Improvement: Kanban encourages a culture of ongoing enhancement, allowing teams to optimize processes over time.

Let’s break down the key benefits and drawbacks of using Kanban for your startup.

Kanban Pros and Cons

Here are some key benefits and limitations of using Kanban for your startup projects,

Kanban Pros

• Easily understandable: Straightforward and understandable because of its visual workflow.
• Flexible workflows: This feature allows a significant margin of flexibility. Anyone can add, remove, or change cards in the column without disrupting the workflow.
• Higher Transparency: Shows if there is a disconnect between resource and demand.
• Fosters Collaborations: Offers multiple suggestions, encouraging collaboration among team members.
• Improves Efficiency: Limits in the “In Progress” column increase efficiency for specific tasks

Kanban Cons

• Distractions: A lack of discipline may lead to losing focus on the goals.
• Timeless workflow: It is impossible to tell if a task is one day or month away from the existing column and the next.
• No performance charts: Lacks performance tracking tools to determine specific bottlenecks.

What is Scrum?

Scrum is one of the most popular agile frameworks. Startups with strict deadlines widely use it. Unlike Kanban, it is structured around fixed-length iterations called sprints.

These sprints typically last two to four weeks, depending on the complexity of the task. A Scrum team commits the deliveries within a specific timeframe to create learning loops and integrate client feedback.

Scrum is based on analysis principles and focuses on delivering valuable increments. The team’s circular structure allows fewer errors and revisions.

How Does Scrum Work?

Scrum is an iterative approach to completing and delivering projects. It helps adapt to changes in software development requirements and set priorities. Scrum has pre-defined roles and events that guide the team through each sprint.

Moreover, Scrum uses a metric called velocity to track the amount of work completed. Velocity is based on the number of story points finished during a sprint. It helps evaluate the project’s progress and quality. Each story point represents the work or problems solved in a sprint.

For example, if you are using Scrum for your agile app development project, velocity can represent code pieces or test cases that teams need to complete during the sprint. A team member is assigned as the “Product Owner.” This individual tracks the backlogs and sets task priorities according to project needs. The “Scrum Master” implements each phase during the iterative cycle.

Critical Phases of Scrum

• Sprint Planning: The “Scrum Master” and team review the product backlog and select work to accomplish during the sprint.
• Daily stand-ups: Teams meet for 15 minutes daily to check progress and ensure the appropriate amount of work is assigned.
• Sprint Retrospective: When the Scrum is over, the “Scrum Master” hosts a sprint retrospective meeting to analyze the work done. The “Scrum Master”also analyzes unfinished work in the backlog and prepares for the next sprint.

Scrum Pros and Cons

Here are some advantages and disadvantages of using Scrum for your startup projects,

Scrum Pros

• Quality products: The team can review errors that can cause quality issues and make adjustments in the next sprint cycle.
• Encourages the teamwork culture: Daily Scrum ensures enhanced communication among team members to boost productivity
• Frequent feedback: Frequently getting feedback in sprints increases the team’s performance.
• Increased productivity and ROI: The feedback in scrum workflow significantly reduces errors, leading to faster production and increased ROI.

Scrum Cons

• Slow-paced Issue: If a team member delays completing a task, it can slow down the entire process.
• Constant pressure of sprints: Because sprints are short, teams experience constant pressure, leading to quality issues.

Kanban vs. Scrum: Similarities

• Focus on Continuous Improvement: Kanban and Scrum promote regular review and improvement. However, Kanban does this continuously, while Scrum does it at the end of each sprint.
• Transparency: Visual boards provide clear visibility into the work process, promoting accountability.
• Collaborative Culture: Both frameworks promote collaboration among team members, helping them work together towards common goals.
• Customer Focus: Kanban and Scrum focus on providing value to customers, allowing regular opportunities for feedback and change.

Both frameworks are used through different types of boards. Understanding the differences between the Kanban and Scrum boards will help you decide which is most suitable for your project.

Scrum Board vs. Kanban Board: What is The Difference in Task Visualization?

Both boards have limitations and advantages in visualizing team progress by categorizing tasks. Here are the differences between the two boards,

1. Board Owner

• Scrum: The team owns a scrum board, and a “Scrum Master” helps it complete its work. This allows the team to focus on the task and collaborate during the sprint.
• Kanban: The Kanban board isn’t owned by any team or person, as it is not fixed with a specific team. This helps teams or individuals contribute according to the project requirements.

2. Backlog Management

• Scrum: The scrum board workflow moves items from the “Product Backlog” to the “Sprint Backlog.” Product backlogs are prioritized lists of work for development, and Sprint Backlogs are a subset of the Product backlog.
• Kanban: The Kanban board workflow manages backlogs that are mostly linked with user stories and do not follow strict deadlines like the Scrum board.

3. Prioritization

• Scrum: The Scrum team frequently sorts & updates the product backlogs.
• Kanban: There is no strict prioritization in the Kanban board, and work on the real-time requirement.

4. Reports

• Scrum: The Scrum team adds charts called Epic Burndown & Sprint Burndown to show the team’s performance.
• Kanban: In the Kanban board, there are no charts, and the workflow is completely visualized.

Knowing the differences in visualization will help you decide which suits your project flow. However, you need to know about other differences first!

What is The Difference Between Scrum And Kanban?

Here are critical differences that you need to consider while comparing both methodologies,

Still, which framework is best for your startup? Here is the answer.

Kanban vs Scrum: Which One is Best for Your Startup?

In theory, no framework is better than the other. So, choosing a framework depends on specific project needs. For example, you can use Kanban if a project requires a continuous workflow. It works best when a project doesn’t need regular inspections and has many repetitive tasks.

On the contrary, you can use Scrum if you have a defined product. It works best if you need continuous improvements and feedback on startup projects. Choosing these frameworks is the first step; the most crucial is execution. Adopting these frameworks into your software development flow can be challenging.

You need an expert to customize your workflow according to the framework and ensure optimal software delivery. This is where aPurple can help. You can hire developers to customize software development projects using Kanban or Scrum. Contact us to learn more about our services.

FAQs

1. Which is better for large projects, Kanban or Scrum?

Scrum is usually better for big projects like MVP mobile app development because it is well-suited to complex projects that frequently improve.

2. Can startups switch from one framework to another?

Yes, you can switch from one framework to another. However, moving from Kanban to Scrum requires a plan and the willingness to learn new skills.

3. Which is more suitable for remote teams, Kanban or Scrum?

Both frameworks are effective for remote work. However, Kanban’s continuous, visual nature may make it easier for remote teams to track the workload, while Scrum’s structured meetings help keep them aligned.

4. How does Kanban handle prioritization compared to Scrum?

Kanban prioritizes tasks based on immediate needs and workflow limits. Scrum prioritizes tasks at the beginning of each sprint, aligning with sprint goals.

4. Does Kanban or Scrum require more training?

Scrum typically requires more training due to its structured roles and ceremonies, while Kanban is easier to implement with minimal training.