Brolly Academy | Scrum Master
Scrum Master Tools
Jira, Confluence, Miro and 20+ More by Use (2026)
The complete, practical list of Scrum Master tools for 2026, grouped by what you use them for: backlogs and boards, documentation, retrospectives and collaboration, metrics, communication and AI assistants, with free plans checked on official pricing pages, a starter stack and a simple way to learn each one.
Scrum Master tools for 2026 by use: boards, docs, retrospectives, metrics and communication, including Jira, Confluence, Miro and Azure DevOps free plans.
By Brolly Academy Team · Brolly Academy · Updated 22 October 2026
Table of Contents
Quick answer
The core Scrum Master tools are a backlog and board tool such as Jira or Azure Boards, a documentation tool such as Confluence, a whiteboard tool such as Miro for retrospectives, the built-in reports of your board tool for metrics, and a chat and video tool such as Microsoft Teams or Slack. In India, Jira and Confluence appear in most Scrum Master job descriptions, so learn them first. Many of these tools have free plans that are enough for practice: for example, Jira's Free plan is free for up to 10 users (Atlassian, October 2026).
- Backlogs and boards: Jira, Azure Boards, Trello
- Documentation: Confluence
- Retros and collaboration: Miro, MURAL, dedicated retro tools
- Metrics: Jira and Azure DevOps reports, plus Excel or Power BI
- Communication and AI: Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom, and AI assistants used with care
Key takeaways
- Tools support Scrum; they do not replace it. The Scrum Guide does not require any specific tool.
- Jira is the tool most Indian employers expect, and Azure Boards is common in Microsoft-focused companies.
- Free plans from Jira, Confluence, Trello, Miro and Azure DevOps let you practise without paying (official pricing pages, October 2026).
- A Scrum Master should be able to set up a board, run a Sprint and read burndown and velocity charts in their team's tool.
- AI assistants can save time on summaries and drafts, but you must check their output and protect company data.
1. Why tools matter for a Scrum Master
Short answer: Tools make the team's work visible, keep the backlog organised, support Scrum events and give you data to help the team improve. They matter because transparency is a pillar of Scrum.
A Scrum Master does not own the backlog or the work. But you are accountable for the Scrum Team's effectiveness, which means helping everyone use Scrum well. Good tools help you:
- Make the Product Backlog and Sprint Backlog visible to everyone
- Run Sprint Planning, Reviews and Retrospectives smoothly, in person or remote
- Spot impediments early through boards and flow data
- Share working agreements, the Definition of Done and team notes
- Coach the team using data rather than opinions
Remember the agile value of "individuals and interactions over processes and tools". A tool should serve the team, not the other way round. If the team spends more time updating Jira than talking to each other, something is wrong. For the bigger picture of what you are using these tools for, read our guide on Scrum Master roles and responsibilities.
2. Scrum Master tools at a glance
Short answer: You need one tool from each of five categories. Most teams already have a company standard, so you adapt to what they use.
3. Backlog and board tools
Short answer: Jira is the most widely used backlog tool in Indian IT teams. Azure Boards is the main choice in Microsoft-centric companies. Trello is simple and good for small teams or for learning.
Jira
Jira, from Atlassian, is the standard tool for Scrum and Kanban teams in many companies. As a Scrum Master you will use it to:
- Set up Scrum boards with columns that match the team's workflow
- Help the Product Owner keep the backlog ordered, with epics, stories and sub-tasks
- Start and complete Sprints, and set the Sprint Goal
- Read Sprint reports, burndown charts and velocity charts
- Create filters and dashboards for the team and stakeholders
Free plan: Jira's pricing page lists Free, Standard, Premium and Enterprise plans. The Free plan is "free forever for 10 users" and includes 2 GB of storage with community support (Atlassian Jira pricing, October 2026). That is enough to build a practice project at home.
Azure Boards (Azure DevOps)
Azure Boards is part of Microsoft's Azure DevOps Services. It is common in companies that build on Microsoft technology. It supports Scrum and Kanban boards, backlogs, Sprints, work item tracking and queries.
Free plan: The Azure DevOps Basic plan gives the "first 5 users free, then $6 per user per month", and includes Azure Boards with work item tracking and Kanban boards. A free Stakeholder access level lets people view backlogs and boards and create and edit work items (Microsoft Azure DevOps pricing, October 2026).
Trello
Trello, also from Atlassian, uses simple boards, lists and cards. It is easy for beginners and works well for small teams, non-IT teams, or personal practice. It has fewer built-in Scrum features than Jira, so large software teams usually prefer Jira.
Free plan: Trello's Free plan is "free for up to 10 collaborators per Workspace" and allows up to 10 boards per Workspace (Trello pricing, October 2026).
Other board tools you may meet
- ClickUp, Asana and monday.com: general work management tools that some teams use for agile work, especially outside software.
- Linear and YouTrack: used by some product companies and startups.
- Physical boards: sticky notes on a wall still work well for co-located teams.
Jira vs Azure Boards vs Trello
4. Documentation tools
Short answer: Confluence is the most common documentation tool for Scrum teams, especially when the team already uses Jira. SharePoint and Notion are alternatives.
Confluence
Confluence is Atlassian's team wiki. Scrum Masters use it to:
- Publish the team's working agreements and Definition of Done
- Record Sprint Review notes and Retrospective action items
- Keep onboarding pages for new team members
- Link documents to Jira issues so that context stays with the work
Free plan: Confluence's Free plan is also "free forever for 10 users", with 2 GB of storage, and includes up to 3 active whiteboards per user (Atlassian Confluence pricing, October 2026).
Alternatives
- SharePoint and OneNote: common in companies that use Microsoft 365 and Teams.
- Notion: popular with startups for flexible docs and simple databases.
- Google Docs: fine for small teams, though harder to keep organised at scale.
Whatever tool you use, keep pages short and current. Old documentation that nobody trusts is worse than none.
5. Collaboration and retrospective tools
Short answer: Miro and MURAL are the most popular online whiteboards for retrospectives, story mapping and workshops. Dedicated retro tools add ready-made formats, anonymous input and voting.
Miro
Miro is an online whiteboard used for retrospectives, story mapping, PI planning boards and brainstorming. It has many ready-made Retrospective templates such as Start, Stop, Continue and Mad, Sad, Glad.
Free plan: Miro's Free plan includes 3 editable boards and unlimited team members. The pricing page says you can create and share unlimited boards, but only the three most recent remain editable (Miro pricing, October 2026).
MURAL
MURAL is another online whiteboard with strong facilitation features such as timers, voting and private mode. It is popular with agile coaches who run large workshops. MURAL offers plans for individuals and teams, so check its pricing page for current limits before you choose.
Dedicated retrospective tools
Some teams prefer tools built only for retrospectives, such as EasyRetro, Retrium, TeamRetro and Parabol. They usually offer:
- Ready-made retro formats
- Anonymous cards so quieter people speak up
- Voting to pick the top issues
- Action item tracking from one Retrospective to the next
Jira and Confluence also have retrospective templates and marketplace apps, which keep everything in one place.
Estimation and planning poker tools
For estimation, teams use planning poker apps, Jira marketplace add-ons or simple online tools. The tool matters less than the conversation. Use estimation to build shared understanding, not to measure individuals.
6. Metrics and reporting tools
Short answer: Start with the reports built into Jira or Azure Boards: burndown, velocity, cumulative flow and cycle time. Use Excel or Power BI when you need custom views for stakeholders.
How to use metrics well
- Use metrics for learning, not for judging. Velocity helps a team forecast its own work. Comparing velocity between teams causes gaming.
- Look at trends, not single points. One bad Sprint is a story to explore, not a failure.
- Bring data to the Retrospective. Show the cumulative flow diagram and ask the team what they see.
- Keep stakeholder reports simple. A clear release burnup often answers "when will it be done?" better than a long status deck.
Excel and Power BI
When the built-in reports are not enough, export data to Excel or connect it to Power BI. Scrum Masters in larger organisations often build simple dashboards that combine several teams' data for leadership. Basic Excel skills such as pivot tables and charts go a long way.
7. Communication tools
Short answer: Microsoft Teams and Slack are the main chat tools, and Teams, Zoom and Google Meet host most remote Scrum events. Use whatever your company has standardised on.
Most Indian IT teams work in hybrid or distributed setups, often with clients in other time zones. Your communication tools support:
- Daily Scrum: a short video call with the board shared on screen.
- Remote Sprint Reviews: screen-share the Increment and invite stakeholders.
- Team chat: quick questions, impediment alerts and decisions, ideally in one team channel.
- Integrations: Jira and Azure Boards can post updates into Teams or Slack, so the team sees changes without switching tools.
Tips for remote events:
- Keep cameras on where the team is comfortable with it, and use a shared board.
- Rotate meeting times fairly when the team spans time zones.
- Record decisions in Confluence or the tool of record, not only in chat.
8. AI assistants for Scrum Masters
Short answer: AI assistants help Scrum Masters summarise meetings, draft notes and stories, suggest Retrospective formats and spot patterns in data. Always check their output and follow your company's data rules.
AI tools have become part of many Scrum teams' daily work. Common ways Scrum Masters use them:
- Meeting summaries: AI features in video and chat tools can produce notes and action items from Sprint Reviews and Retrospectives.
- Drafting: first drafts of working agreements, Sprint Review summaries, stakeholder updates and onboarding pages.
- Backlog support: ideas for splitting large stories or writing acceptance criteria, which the Product Owner and Developers then review.
- Retro ideas: fresh Retrospective formats and questions for a team that feels stuck.
- Data questions: summarising trends in exported Jira data.
Atlassian, Microsoft and other vendors build AI features into their products, and general chat assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are also widely used. Features and plan limits change often, so check the vendor's current documentation before you rely on one.
Rules for using AI safely
- Protect data. Do not paste client names, code or confidential details into tools your company has not approved.
- Check everything. AI can be confident and wrong. You are responsible for what you share.
- Keep the human part human. AI can summarise a Retrospective, but it cannot build trust or coach a team through conflict.
9. A starter stack for new Scrum Masters
Short answer: Learn Jira, Confluence, Miro and Microsoft Teams first. Add Azure Boards if you target Microsoft-focused companies, and Excel for reporting.
If you are not sure what an interviewer will ask, practise explaining how you used each tool to solve a team problem. Our Scrum Master interview questions guide includes tool-based questions you can prepare for.
10. How to learn each tool
Short answer: Use the free plans to build a small practice project. Set up a board, run two or three practice Sprints, hold a Retrospective on a whiteboard, and build a simple dashboard.
A 4-week practice plan
Tips for faster learning
- Use real scenarios. Plan a college fest, a family event or a small app as your practice product.
- Learn the admin basics. Know how to create a board, change a workflow and add a filter, because small teams often expect the Scrum Master to do this.
- Use vendor learning resources. Atlassian, Microsoft and Miro all publish free tutorials and documentation.
- Take structured training if you need it. A course with hands-on labs can speed things up, especially for Jira, where guided practice with workflows, filters and dashboards saves a lot of trial and error.
If you are still learning what the role involves, start with our guide on what a Scrum Master is.
11. Common mistakes with Scrum tools
Short answer: Do not let the tool drive the process, do not track too much, and do not use metrics to judge individuals.
- Over-customising Jira. Too many fields, statuses and rules slow the team down. Keep the workflow simple.
- Using the board as a status report. The board is for the team to plan and inspect its work, not for managers to watch people.
- Tracking hours instead of outcomes. Focus on the Sprint Goal and value, not on time logged.
- Comparing teams by velocity. Every team estimates differently. Comparisons cause gaming.
- Ignoring tool hygiene. Old tickets and stale pages hide the real picture. Clean up with the team regularly.
- Choosing tools for the team. Involve the team when picking or changing tools.
12. How Brolly Academy helps
Short answer: Brolly Academy's 1-week Scrum Master course in Hyderabad includes a full day on Jira and team leadership, and gives you practice with the tools Scrum teams use every day.
The Scrum Master training in Hyderabad runs in the classroom and live online. According to the course page (October 2026):
- Tools covered: Jira, Confluence, Trello, Miro, Asana, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Kanban boards.
- A 1-week plan: Agile and Scrum foundations and roles, Scrum events and backlog with a simple capstone project, a day on Jira and team leadership, then CSM and PSM exam preparation with role plays and mock interviews.
- Metrics in the syllabus: modules on the Sprint burndown chart, the release burnup chart and agile estimation.
- Fees: ₹5,000 for video recordings, ₹10,500 for the live online course and ₹15,000 for classroom training, with EMI available. Certification exam fees are separate.
- Career support: resume building, mock interviews and placement guidance.
If you only want to master Jira, Brolly Academy also runs separate Jira training in Hyderabad. You can attend a free demo class before you join either course.
Get hands-on with Jira, Confluence and Miro
Learn Scrum and the tools real teams use, from Jira boards and burndown charts to online retrospectives, in a 1-week course with role plays and mock interviews. Join a classroom batch in Hyderabad or a live online batch. Book your free demo class with Brolly Academy today.
Frequently asked questions
What tools does a Scrum Master use?
A Scrum Master typically uses a backlog and board tool such as Jira or Azure Boards, a documentation tool such as Confluence, a whiteboard tool such as Miro or MURAL for retrospectives, built-in reports for metrics, and communication tools such as Microsoft Teams, Slack or Zoom. Many also use AI assistants for summaries and drafts.
Which is the most important tool for a Scrum Master?
In India, Jira is the most important tool to learn because it appears in most Scrum Master job descriptions. It handles the backlog, Sprints, boards and reports such as burndown and velocity. If your target companies use Microsoft technology, learn Azure Boards as well.
Is Jira free to use?
Yes, for small teams. Jira's Free plan is free forever for up to 10 users and includes 2 GB of storage with community support, according to Atlassian's pricing page in October 2026. That is enough to build a practice Scrum project and learn boards, Sprints and reports.
Is Confluence free?
Confluence has a Free plan for up to 10 users with 2 GB of storage, according to Atlassian's pricing page in October 2026. It also includes up to 3 active whiteboards per user. This is enough to practise writing team pages, working agreements and meeting notes linked to Jira.
Is Trello good for Scrum?
Trello works for small teams, non-IT teams and beginners because it is simple to learn. It has fewer built-in Scrum features than Jira, so large software teams usually prefer Jira. Trello's Free plan allows up to 10 collaborators and 10 boards per Workspace, according to its pricing page in October 2026.
What is the difference between Jira and Azure Boards?
Both support Scrum and Kanban boards, backlogs, Sprints and reports. Jira, from Atlassian, is the most common choice across Indian IT teams. Azure Boards is part of Microsoft's Azure DevOps and is common in Microsoft-focused companies. Jira's Free plan covers up to 10 users, while Azure DevOps Basic gives the first 5 users free.
Is Azure DevOps free?
Azure DevOps Basic gives the first 5 users free, then charges $6 per user per month, according to Microsoft's pricing page in October 2026. The Basic plan includes Azure Boards. A free Stakeholder access level also lets people view backlogs and boards and create and edit work items.
Is Miro free for retrospectives?
Miro has a Free plan with 3 editable boards and unlimited team members, according to its pricing page in October 2026. You can create and share unlimited boards, but only the three most recent stay editable. That is enough for practice retrospectives and small team workshops.
What is the best retrospective tool?
There is no single best tool. Miro and MURAL are popular online whiteboards with retro templates. Dedicated tools such as EasyRetro, Retrium, TeamRetro and Parabol add anonymous cards, voting and action tracking. Choose based on what your company allows and what helps your team speak openly.
Which tools are used for Scrum metrics?
Most Scrum Masters start with the reports built into Jira or Azure Boards, such as Sprint burndown, velocity, cumulative flow and cycle time or control charts. For custom views or multi-team dashboards, they export data to Excel or connect it to Power BI.
What is a burndown chart?
A Sprint burndown chart shows the work remaining in a Sprint over time. It helps the team see whether they are on track to meet the Sprint Goal. Jira and Azure Boards produce burndown charts automatically. A Scrum Master uses it to start conversations, not to judge the team.
What is a velocity chart?
A velocity chart shows how much work a team completed in each Sprint. It helps the team forecast how much it can take on in future Sprints. It should not be used to compare teams, because each team estimates differently. Jira and Azure Boards both offer velocity reports.
Are Jira and Confluence agile tools?
Yes. Jira is a work management tool built for agile teams, with Scrum and Kanban boards, backlogs, Sprints and reports. Confluence is a team wiki used for documentation, meeting notes and working agreements. Both come from Atlassian and are widely used together by Scrum teams in India.
Does the Scrum Guide require any tools?
No. The Scrum Guide does not require any specific tool. Scrum can be run with sticky notes on a wall. Tools help with transparency, remote work and reporting, but they should serve the team. The agile value of individuals and interactions over processes and tools still applies.
Can AI tools help a Scrum Master?
Yes. AI assistants can summarise meetings, draft notes and stakeholder updates, suggest ways to split large stories and offer new Retrospective formats. Always check the output, follow your company's data rules and never paste confidential client details into unapproved tools. AI cannot replace coaching or building trust.
Will AI replace Scrum Masters?
AI can take over routine work such as summaries and drafts, but it cannot coach a team through conflict, build trust or help an organisation change how it works. Those human skills are the core of the Scrum Master role. Scrum Masters who use AI well will likely have more time for coaching.
What communication tools do Scrum teams use?
Microsoft Teams and Slack are the most common chat tools, and Teams, Zoom and Google Meet host most remote Scrum events. Jira and Azure Boards can post updates into Teams or Slack. Use whatever your company has standardised on, and record decisions in a tool of record.
Which free tools can I use to practise Scrum?
You can practise with the free plans of Jira and Confluence, each for up to 10 users, Trello for up to 10 collaborators per Workspace, Miro with 3 editable boards, and Azure DevOps Basic with the first 5 users free. These limits come from each vendor's pricing page in October 2026.
What is a good starter tool stack for a new Scrum Master?
Start with Jira, Confluence, Miro and Microsoft Teams or Slack, then add Excel for reporting. Learn Azure Boards if you target Microsoft-focused companies. This stack covers backlogs, documentation, retrospectives, communication and metrics, which are the main areas employers ask about.
How long does it take to learn Jira for a Scrum Master role?
You can learn the Jira basics a Scrum Master needs in about one to two weeks of regular practice: creating a Scrum board, managing a backlog, running Sprints and reading reports. Building confidence with filters, dashboards and workflows takes longer and comes with real project use.
Do Scrum Masters need to be Jira administrators?
Not usually in large companies, where a tools team handles administration. But in smaller teams, Scrum Masters are often expected to create boards, adjust workflows and build filters and dashboards. Learning these admin basics makes you more useful and helps you in interviews.
What tools do interviewers ask Scrum Masters about?
Interviewers most often ask about Jira, including boards, Sprints, burndown and velocity charts, filters and dashboards. They may also ask about Confluence, retrospective tools and how you use metrics. Prepare real examples of how you used a tool to solve a team problem, not just a list of features.
Should I mention tools on my Scrum Master resume?
Yes. List the tools you have used, such as Jira, Confluence, Azure Boards and Miro, in a skills section. Then show impact in your experience bullets, for example how you used Jira dashboards to make impediments visible. Recruiters and applicant tracking systems often search for tool names.
Which tools does Brolly Academy's Scrum Master course cover?
According to the course page in October 2026, Brolly Academy's Scrum Master course covers Jira, Confluence, Trello, Miro, Asana, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Kanban boards. It includes a full day on Jira and team leadership, plus modules on burndown and burnup charts and agile estimation.
Does Brolly Academy offer separate Jira training?
Yes. Brolly Academy offers Jira training in Hyderabad for people who want to focus on Jira on its own. If you want Jira along with Scrum roles, events, artifacts and CSM and PSM exam preparation, the 1-week Scrum Master course covers Jira as part of a wider programme.
Learn with Brolly Academy
Review the syllabus, practical projects and batch timings, and book a free demo before you enrol.
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