How Agile Project Management Software Helps Track Developer Performance: 5 Tools to Know

Measuring developer performance in Agile teams can feel like trying to pin down fog. Traditional KPIs like hours logged or lines of code tell you little about real progress. And over-indexing on numbers can erode trust fast.

But performance tracking isn’t the enemy of Agile, it’s how you do it that matters. The right Agile project management software helps surface actionable data without micromanaging. Here’s how to do it right, and five tools that make it possible.

What Is Agile Project Management?

Agile project management is a flexible, collaborative approach to managing work, especially in fast-paced industries like software development, marketing, and product design. Rather than following a rigid, step-by-step process, Agile breaks projects into smaller, manageable iterations (called sprints) that allow teams to adapt quickly to change and deliver continuous value.

At its core, Agile promotes transparency, cross-functional teamwork, and constant feedback. It helps teams stay aligned with business goals while improving efficiency and responsiveness.

Why Tracking Developer Performance Fails in Most Agile Teams

Despite the best intentions, many Agile teams struggle to effectively measure developer performance. The issue isn’t just about the data, it’s about the mindset behind it.

There are two common pitfalls:

1. Tracking the wrong metrics Metrics like story points completed, pull requests merged, or lines of code written offer a surface-level view of activity, not impact. These numbers can be misleading, often rewarding quantity over quality and failing to reflect collaboration, problem-solving, or technical debt management.
2. Avoiding tracking altogether On the flip side, some teams avoid performance tracking out of fear it will turn into micromanagement. While this protects team autonomy, it also removes opportunities to spot early delivery risks, identify process gaps, or support underperforming team members.

Agile was never meant to mean “no accountability.” True performance in Agile is about consistency, adaptability, ownership, and the ability to contribute to high-value outcomes over time, not simply checking tasks off a list.

What Agile Project Management Software Gets Right

Modern Agile project management software bridges this gap. The best tools provide transparent, objective insights without straying into team surveillance. They focus on team health and delivery effectiveness, helping leaders guide with data, not pressure.

Here’s what the most effective Agile platforms bring to the table:

• Sprint visibility at a glance Features like burndown charts, velocity trends, and scope change tracking help spot sprint-level patterns, overcommitment, scope creep, or slowdowns, before they turn into delivery failures.
• Effort tracking tied to timelines Instead of focusing on hours logged, quality tools offer light-touch task tracking that supports planning and resourcing decisions without policing developers.
• Blocker and delay detection Agile software that highlights in-progress items, stalled tasks, or frequent reassignments gives teams the clarity to address issues early and stay on course.
• Collaboration and contribution signals It’s not just about code. Agile tools now surface how team members are participating in planning, reviews, and discussions, making invisible work visible.
• Built-in feedback and retrospectives Continuous improvement is core to Agile. Tools that log retro action items, feedback loops, and team sentiment over time enable growth without needing external audits.

The goal isn’t to track who is working the most, it’s to understand how the team is functioning and whether it’s moving toward its goals in a healthy, sustainable way.

Learn more: How to Build an Effective Agile Project Management Plan

5 Agile Project Management Software to Track Developer Performance in 2025

1. TaskFord

Overview: TaskFord, developed by DevSamurai Inc., is a modern Agile project management tool designed to simplify task, project, and resource management for software development teams. Its intuitive interface and robust features support Scrum and Kanban workflows, making it ideal for teams seeking to track progress and developer performance across multiple projects.

How It Helps Track Performance:

• Kanban boards are used to visualize task progress and identify individual contributions to sprint goals.
• Workload insights to monitor task allocation and time spent, ensuring balanced developer workloads.
• Real-time progress tracking across projects, highlighting bottlenecks and delays for timely interventions.
• Visualizes project schedules and dependencies, helping track sprint progress and identify delays or blockers.

Why I Recommend It: TaskFord’s all-in-one approach simplifies project management for Agile teams, with features that directly support tracking developer performance through time tracking, workload insights, and visual project management tools. Offering features like Gantt Charts and budget management in development, TaskFord’s responsive support and regular updates make it a promising option for teams of all sizes. 

2. Jira

Overview: Jira, developed by Atlassian, is a powerhouse for Agile software development teams, particularly those using Scrum or Kanban. Its robust issue tracking and reporting capabilities make it a go-to for tracking developer performance.

How It Helps Track Performance:

• Customizable workflows to track tasks from backlog to completion.
• Burndown charts, velocity reports, and cycle time analytics for individual and team progress.
• Backlog management to monitor high-priority task assignments.
• GitHub and Bitbucket integrations for real-time code commit tracking.

Why I Recommend It: Jira’s detailed reporting and customization make it ideal for complex projects. However, its learning curve can be steep for new users, so it’s best for teams familiar with Agile practices. Pricing starts at $7.50 per user/month for the Standard plan.

3. Trello

Overview: Trello is a lightweight, Kanban-based tool that’s simple yet effective for Agile teams, especially those prioritizing ease of use and visual task management.

How It Helps Track Performance:

• Kanban boards are used to track task status and identify bottlenecks.
• Power-Ups (e.g., Planyway, Everhour) for time tracking and reporting.
• Labels and filters to categorize tasks by developer or priority.
• Butler automation for consistent task movement and reminders.

Why I Recommend It: Trello’s simplicity makes it perfect for small teams or those new to Agile. Its free plan is robust, with premium plans starting at $5 per user/month.

4. Zoho Sprints

Overview: Zoho Sprints is a cloud-based Agile project management tool designed for software development teams, offering a streamlined interface for Scrum and Kanban workflows. Its focus on simplicity and integration within the Zoho ecosystem makes it a strong choice for teams seeking efficient sprint planning and performance tracking.

How It Helps Track Performance:

• Scrum boards are used to visualize task progress and monitor individual contributions to sprint goals.
• Velocity charts, burndown charts, and cumulative flow diagrams to analyze team and developer productivity.
• Timesheets to log hours spent on tasks, enabling precise tracking of effort and efficiency.
• Epic and release reports to track progress on larger deliverables, highlighting developer contributions to key milestones.

Why I Recommend It: Zoho Sprints’ intuitive design and robust reporting make it ideal for teams seeking a budget-friendly, user-friendly tool for Agile performance tracking. Its seamless integration with Zoho CRM, GitHub, and Slack enhances workflow cohesion. The learning curve is minimal, making it suitable for both new and experienced Agile teams. Pricing starts at $1 per user/month for the Elite plan, with a free trial available.

5. monday.com Pricing Plans

Overview: monday.com is a versatile, cloud-based Agile project management tool that supports Scrum and Kanban workflows, offering a visually intuitive platform for software development teams. Its customizable boards and automation capabilities make it a powerful choice for tracking developer performance and streamlining project workflows.

How It Helps Track Performance:

• Pulse boards (Kanban/Scrum-style) to visualize task progress and monitor individual developer contributions in real-time.
• Time tracking widget to log hours spent on tasks, enabling analysis of developer efficiency and workload balance.
• Automation for task status updates and stalled task alerts to ensure accountability and timely progress.
• Dashboards with customizable charts to display individual and team performance metrics, including sprint progress and task completion rates.

Why I Recommend It: monday.com’s user-friendly interface and robust automation make it ideal for Agile teams seeking to track developer performance without complexity. Pricing starts at $9 per user/month for the Basic plan, with a free plan for up to 2 users and a 14-day free trial available.

Conclusion

Tracking developer performance in Agile isn’t about surveillance, it’s about enabling better outcomes through visibility, balance, and continuous improvement. The right Agile project management software makes this possible by providing context-rich insights without compromising team autonomy. Whether you're looking for a powerful enterprise solution like Jira, a flexible visual platform like monday.com, or an all-in-one tool like TaskFord, these tools help transform raw activity into meaningful progress. Choose the one that aligns with your team’s workflow, and you'll not only track performance, you’ll elevate it.

If you’re new to Agile or project management, we recommend taking time to understand the fundamentals first. Learning what is project management, how Agile works, and why iterative delivery matters will give you the context needed to choose the right tool and apply it effectively.