The Best Free Planning Poker Tools in 2025
Agile team using planning poker for estimation
Planning poker has evolved from simple card games into sophisticated digital platforms that power estimation for 97% of organizations using agile methodologies. These collaborative estimation sessions help teams reach consensus on effort required for user stories, fostering team alignment and improving sprint planning accuracy. As we enter 2025, free planning poker tools have transformed with AI-powered insights, asynchronous capabilities, and seamless integrations. Below, we compare the top 5 free tools, highlight their strengths, and give you everything you need to pick the best solution for your team.
What Is Planning Poker?
Planning poker is an agile estimation technique where team members use cards (physical or digital) to vote on the effort required for user stories. By revealing votes simultaneously, teams avoid anchoring bias and encourage honest estimates. This results in more accurate sprint planning, better team alignment, and improved project predictability.
What Makes a Great Planning Poker Tool in 2025?
High-quality planning poker tools have three key pillars:
🎯 Core Functionality
- Instant setup and joining
- Multiple voting scales (Fibonacci, T-shirt, custom)
- Anonymous voting options
- Real-time vote reveals
💫 Engagement Features
- Asynchronous voting support
- Interactive discussions
- Mobile-optimized experience
- Team engagement elements
📊 Analytics & Insights
- Estimation accuracy tracking
- Velocity trends
- Session analytics
- AI-powered suggestions
Keeping these factors in mind will help you choose a solution that not only facilitates estimation but also improves your team's estimation accuracy over time.
Top 5 Free Planning Poker Tools Compared
Below are our picks for the best free planning poker tools in 2025, each with a short overview, feature breakdown, and "pros & cons" to help you decide.
🏆 1. Kollabe
The Future of Agile Estimation
Free Online Planning Poker with Kollabe
Kollabe revolutionizes planning poker with zero-friction setup and powerful features that scale from startup to enterprise. Serving 217,637+ active users across 162,072+ sessions, it leads the market in 2025 for its innovative approach and extensive free plan.
✨ Standout Features
| Key Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| ⚡ 10-Second Setup | Create and share a room instantly, no registration |
| 🎯 Multiple Scales | Fibonacci, T-shirt sizing, and custom sequences |
| ⚖️ Custom Scales | Custom scales with descriptions, keeping everyone aligned |
| 🔒 Anonymous Voting | Eliminate bias with optional anonymous mode |
| ⏰ Async Support | Time-shifted participation for distributed teams |
| 💬 Real-time Chat | Built-in discussions with emoji reactions and GIFs |
| 🔄 Jira Integration | Bi-directional sync with automatic story point updates |
| 📊 Session Analytics | Track estimation patterns and team velocity |
| 📱 Mobile Optimized | Full functionality on all devices |
Innovation Spotlight
Kollabe's zero-registration approach is ideal. Teams can go from decision to estimation in 10 seconds. Just create a room, share the link, and start voting. This instant accessibility has proven invaluable for distributed teams where setup friction often derails planning sessions.
Teams that appreciate additional customization will love Kollabe's flexible voting scales. You can create descriptions for each scale, ensuring everyone understands the context behind each estimate.
Planning poker session in Kollabe
Getting Started with Kollabe
- Visit kollabe
- Click 'Create Room' - no registration required
- Share the link with your team
- Import stories from Jira or add them manually ( If needed )
- Start estimating immediately
Pros & Cons
| ✅ Pros | ⚠️ Cons |
|---|---|
| Instant setup with no registration | Premium features require paid plan |
| Comprehensive free tier (10 users) | 7-day session history on free plan |
| Engaging interface with emojis/GIFs | Advanced analytics only in premium |
| Excellent Jira and Azure DevOps integration | API access not yet available |
Free Plan Value
- Team Size: Up to 10 users
- Sessions: 4 planning poker sessions per month
- History: 7-day session retention
- Features: Full core functionality
- Integrations: Jira, Azure DevOps, CSV
Why Teams Love It
"The 10 second setup changed everything. We can jump into estimation without the usual technical delays."
"Kollabe's flat-rate pricing saved us thousands compared to per-user models. Essential for our 50+ person team."
Try Kollabe Free and experience frictionless planning poker.
🥈 2. Planning Poker Online
Enterprise-Grade Security Focus
Planning Poker Online interface
Planning Poker Online positions itself as the enterprise-grade solution with ISO 27001 compliance—unique in the planning poker market. It emphasizes security and professional features for organizations with strict compliance requirements.
Feature Comparison
| Category | Available Features |
|---|---|
| Core | - Multi-facilitator licenses - Permanent game URLs - Standard voting scales |
| Security | - ISO 27001 certified - Enterprise SSO options - Audit trails |
| Management | - Session moderation - Export capabilities - Basic analytics |
Pros & Cons
| ✅ Pros | ⚠️ Cons |
|---|---|
| ISO 27001 compliance certification | Expensive at $30/facilitator/month |
| Clean, professional interface | Free tier limited to 9 votes |
| 4.4/5 TrustPilot rating | Basic integration options |
Free Plan Details
- Voting Limit: 9 votes per session
- Sessions: Unlimited sessions
- Features: Basic voting only
- Support: Community only
- Compliance: Full security features
Planning Poker Online suits enterprises requiring compliance certifications, though the limited free tier makes evaluation challenging.
The $30/month per facilitator pricing can become costly for larger teams, especially compared to flat-rate alternatives like Kollabe.
🥉 3. PlanITpoker
The Ad-Supported Free Option
PlanITpoker tool
PlanITpoker maintains free access through an ad-supported model. It provides essential planning poker features without any payment requirements. The user interface can feel dated compared to its competitors, but it remains functional for teams on a strict budget.
Feature Breakdown
| Category | Capabilities |
|---|---|
| Voting | - Standard scales - Basic statistics - Vote history |
| Import | - Jira XML import - Manual story entry - Bulk operations |
| Access | - No registration option - Mobile compatible - Unlimited use |
Standout Elements
- Completely free with no user limits or session restrictions
- No registration required for quick session starts
- Mobile-friendly responsive design
Pros & Cons
| ✅ Pros | ⚠️ Cons |
|---|---|
| 100% free with no limitations | Persistent ads can be distracting |
| Simple, intuitive interface | No option to remove ads |
| 4.5/5 user rating | Limited integration capabilities |
Free Plan Overview
- Cost: Almost completely free
- Users: 7 users per room
- Sessions: Unlimited
- Features: All features available
- Ads: Always present
PlanITpoker works well for teams comfortable with advertisements in exchange for free, unlimited access.
4. Parabol
Open-Source Innovation
Parabol planning poker
Parabol brings open-source transparency to planning poker with deep integration capabilities and AI-powered features. The MIT-licensed platform extends beyond estimation into comprehensive meeting facilitation.
Core Capabilities
| Category | Features Provided |
|---|---|
| Integrations | - Jira, GitHub, GitLab sync - Azure DevOps - Slack |
| AI Features | - Automated summaries - Pattern detection - Insights |
| Compliance | - SOC2 Type II - Self-hosting option - Open source |
Pros & Cons
| ✅ Pros | ⚠️ Cons |
|---|---|
| Open-source with self-hosting | $8/user/month becomes expensive for large teams |
| Comprehensive integration ecosystem | Account required for all participants |
| AI-powered summaries | Steeper learning curve |
Free Plan Specifics
- Teams: Up to 2 teams
- Users: Unlimited per team
- Features: Core functionality
- Integrations: Limited
- AI: Basic features only
Parabol appeals to teams valuing transparency and deep integrations, though per-user pricing limits scalability.
5. Zenhub
GitHub-Native Excellence
Zenhub planning poker
Zenhub lives directly within GitHub, eliminating context switching for development teams. Its AI-powered Pulse feature uses GPT to analyze sprint patterns and improve estimation accuracy.
Feature Analysis
| Category | Tool Offerings |
|---|---|
| GitHub Integration | - Native GitHub UI - Automatic sync - Issue tracking |
| AI Capabilities | - GPT-powered analytics - Sprint insights - Estimation suggestions |
| Enterprise | - SOC2 compliance - Advanced reporting - Custom workflows |
Unique Approach
- Lives inside GitHub - no separate tool needed
- AI-powered Pulse for sprint analysis
- Automated velocity tracking across sprints
Pros & Cons
| ✅ Pros | ⚠️ Cons |
|---|---|
| Perfect GitHub integration | Only works with GitHub |
| Advanced AI analytics | $8.33/user/month adds up quickly |
| No context switching needed | Complex for non-technical team members |
Free Plan Limitations
- Users: Limited free seats
- Features: Basic planning poker
- AI: Not included
- Reports: Basic only
- Support: Community only
Zenhub excels for GitHub-centric teams but lacks value for organizations using other platforms.
Making the Right Choice
When selecting a tool, consider:
- Team Distribution
- Do you need asynchronous voting capabilities?
- Is mobile access critical for your team?
- Integration Needs
- Which project management tools do you use?
- Do you need bi-directional sync?
- Scaling Requirements
- Will your team grow beyond free tier limits?
- How does pricing scale with team size?
- Engagement Priority
- Do you struggle with remote participation?
- Would interactive features improve your sessions?
Best for Different Scenarios
| Use Case | Best Tool | Main Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Setup | Kollabe | 10-second setup with no registration |
| Enterprise Compliance | Planning Poker Online | ISO 27001 certification |
| Zero Budget | PlanITpoker | Completely free with ads |
| Open Source | Parabol | MIT license with self-hosting |
| GitHub Teams | Zenhub | Native GitHub integration |
The Future of Planning Poker
Planning poker continues to evolve in 2025, with key trends shaping the landscape:
- AI-Powered Estimation
- Historical pattern analysis for better accuracy
- Bias detection and correction
- Automated estimation suggestions
- Asynchronous Collaboration
- Time-shifted voting for distributed teams
- Hybrid sync/async workflows
- 24/7 estimation capabilities
- Mobile-First Design
- 70% of sessions now include mobile participants
- Touch-optimized interfaces
- Offline capability with sync
Conclusion
All five tools—Kollabe, Planning Poker Online, PlanITpoker, Parabol, and Zenhub—serve different needs in the planning poker ecosystem. Each brings unique strengths, from compliance certifications to open-source transparency to native integrations.
However, Kollabe stands out as the #1 choice for most agile teams in 2025. Its revolutionary 10-second setup, generous free tier, comprehensive features, and flat-rate pricing model address the core challenges teams face with estimation ceremonies. The platform democratizes professional planning poker, making enterprise-grade capabilities accessible without enterprise-grade costs.
Ready to transform your estimation sessions? Try Kollabe free today and join 217,637+ users who've discovered frictionless planning poker.
Note: Features and pricing are accurate as of September 2025. Check official websites for the most up-to-date information.