Choosing the right task management software for your development team isn't just about features. It's about finding something that actually fits how your team works. Some tools feel natural from day one, while others require weeks of training before anyone uses them consistently.
The best task management software for development teams reduces friction, not adds it. When developers have to constantly switch between their code editor and a project board, productivity drops. According to a study by the University of California, Irvine, it takes an average of 23 minutes to fully refocus after an interruption. That's why tools that integrate directly into developer workflows tend to see better adoption rates.
Let's look at five solid options for development teams in 2025, from developer-first tools to broader project management platforms.
Highfly
Highfly is a developer-first project and issue management tool currently in beta. What makes it different is where it lives: right in your codebase and editor. Instead of forcing developers to jump between tabs, Highfly integrates deeply with GitHub and offers a VSCode extension that brings project management into the coding environment, compatible with VSCode, Cursor, and Windsurf.
The goal is simple: reduce context switching. When you can create issues, link pull requests, and move tasks on a board without leaving your editor, you stay in flow longer. That's the core value proposition here.
Core Features
Highfly combines issue tracking with a rich text editor that supports @mentions, Markdown, images, and auto-save. The built-in GitHub integration handles pull request management and synchronization automatically.
GitHub issues sync lets you update GitHub issues and convert them to Highfly issues when you're ready to work on them, keeping your board focused. Converted issues link back to the original GitHub issue, so you can have internal discussions in Highfly while still participating in public GitHub discussions, all from one place.
Visual task boards with drag-and-drop update in real time, so everyone sees changes instantly.
Role-based workspaces support owners, admins, and members, making it easy to scale access control as your team grows. The VSCode extension means actionable tasks appear right in your coding environment, which reduces manual handoffs and keeps work moving.
Pros
- Seamless GitHub and VSCode integration: Highfly synchronizes issues and pull requests with GitHub and embeds into VSCode, so developers spend less time switching tools.
- GitHub issues sync: Convert GitHub issues to Highfly issues when ready, keeping your board clean while maintaining links to public discussions.
- Rich issue editor: The editor supports multimedia and formatting, enabling clear, context-rich issues that reduce back-and-forth clarification.
- Real-time synchronization: Tasks and boards update instantly, keeping everyone aligned on status without manual refreshes.
- Role-based access control: Workspace roles for owners, admins, and members make it straightforward to scale permissioning from solo projects to large teams.
- Generous free option: Highfly offers a free solo plan and a free 14-day trial with no credit card required, making it easy to evaluate. Highfly offers a 30 day money back guarantee if you aren't satisfied.
Who It's For
Highfly targets developers and software teams that want project and issue management embedded in their existing workflows. If you're an individual developer managing personal projects, a small team collaborating on feature work, or a larger engineering organization that needs secure, scalable project controls, Highfly fits naturally. It's especially strong for teams that prioritize reducing context switching and increasing tool adoption among engineers.
Highfly is particularly well-suited for open source teams. The GitHub issues sync lets maintainers keep public discussions on GitHub while using Highfly for internal planning. Convert issues only when you're ready to work on them, keeping your board focused on active work. This separation allows maintainers to engage with the community on GitHub while having private team discussions in Highfly, all without leaving their editor.
It's also ideal for developers who prefer working in GitHub issues but need to collaborate with non-technical team members. Highfly's interface is accessible enough for product managers, designers, and other stakeholders to participate, while developers can continue working with GitHub issues that sync automatically.
Real World Use Case
A software team uses Highfly to track issues directly from their codebase, open and link pull requests from the same interface, and move tasks across visual boards in real time during stand-ups. The result: fewer tool handoffs, clearer issue context, and faster delivery cycles because developers can act on tasks without leaving their editor.
Pricing
Highfly starts with a free forever solo plan. Paid plans are $10 per user per month for small teams and $15 per user per month for growing teams, with custom enterprise solutions available.
Website: https://highfly.app
Jira by Atlassian
Jira is a robust project and task tracking platform built to help teams plan, execute, and measure work with AI-assisted features. It's been around for years and has become a standard in many organizations. The platform emphasizes integrations, automation, and strategic alignment of work to company goals.
If you need a central hub that connects planning, execution, and insights, Jira is designed for that. It's powerful, but that power comes with complexity. Teams often need dedicated admins to configure it properly.
Core Features
Jira bundles AI-powered project management designed to remove busywork, along with work item creation and management from your favorite tools. It supports strategic alignment of projects to business goals, automations for updating status and assigning work, and real-time status tracking with AI-driven risk signals. The platform also offers broad integrations and emerging-trend insights from project data, plus tools for planning, execution, and cross-team collaboration.
Pros
- Industry-recognized leadership: Jira is identified as a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant, which indicates strong vendor credibility and market presence.
- Broad integration capabilities: The product connects with many tools to create a unified workspace, making it easier to pull work into a single system.
- AI features that reduce manual work: Built-in AI automations can streamline repetitive tasks and surface decision-ready insights.
- Strategic alignment focus: Jira is designed to tie projects and tasks back to company objectives, helping teams stay aligned with higher-level goals.
- Cross-team collaboration: The platform supports collaboration across departments, which is useful for organizations that need shared visibility and handoffs.
Cons
- Complex setup: The product requires significant configuration and integration work to get optimal value, which can demand time and technical resources.
- Pricing complexity: While Jira lists base pricing on their website, the total cost can be unclear because many teams need add-ons and marketplace apps that add to the monthly bill, making accurate budgeting difficult.
- Steep learning curve: New users often need training to navigate the interface and understand all available features.
Who It's For
Jira is best for teams and organizations seeking a highly customizable project management solution, especially those already using or planning to integrate Atlassian tools. It suits software development teams, cross-functional groups, and managers who need extensive customization options, automation, risk visibility, and alignment between work and business objectives.
Real World Use Case
A software development team uses Jira to plan sprints, track velocity, automate status updates, and analyze project trends so they can surface risks earlier and improve delivery efficiency.
Pricing
Jira lists base pricing on their website but as your team grows past 100 members, the cheaper the base price gets. However, in addition to tier and team size, total cost also depends on and any add-ons or marketplace apps your team needs. You'll need to consult the vendor site for current plans and factor in additional costs for extensions.
Linear
Linear is a purpose-built task and issue management tool tailored for product development teams that need speed without sacrificing quality. It combines issue tracking, roadmap planning, and AI-assisted automation to reduce busywork and keep engineers focused on code.
The interface emphasizes fast execution and clear progress insights, making it a strong candidate for teams that prioritize velocity and concise workflows. However, pricing and the learning curve for advanced features can be blockers for smaller teams.
Core Features
Linear centers on streamlined issue tracking and project planning with features designed for developer workflows: issue management, milestone and goal setting, and roadmap planning. It offers progress insights and real-time analytics to measure velocity and status, plus workflow customization through filters, swimlanes, and deadlines. Automation tools and AI agents help triage and automate routine tasks, and integrations connect Linear to code, design, and support systems.
Pros
- Built for product development teams: Linear focuses on the needs of product and engineering teams, which helps teams move faster and maintain higher quality.
- Extensive integrations: It supports integrations with over 100 tools, allowing you to sync issues and status with Slack, GitHub, Figma, and customer support platforms.
- Comprehensive planning and visualization: Roadmaps, milestones, and visual interfaces make it easier to plan releases and track progress across cycles.
- Fast interface with keyboard shortcuts: Linear is built for speed with extensive keyboard shortcuts and a snappy interface that lets power users navigate and update issues quickly without reaching for the mouse.
Cons
- Shallow integrations: While Linear supports many integrations, some connections are basic and may not offer the depth that teams need for complex workflows.
- Learning curve for advanced functionality: The platform's breadth of features and integrations can be daunting for new users, which requires onboarding time.
- Less granular customization than some competitors: Teams that need deep, per-field customization or unconventional workflows may find Linear's customization options limited compared to other tools.
Who It's For
Linear is ideal for product teams, developers, engineering managers, and project leads who want a fast, focused tool that integrates tightly with development and design workflows. If your team values velocity, clear roadmaps, and actionable analytics, and you integrate closely with code and design tools, Linear fits naturally into that stack.
Real World Use Case
A startup product team uses Linear to plan quarterly releases, assign and triage bugs, and sync status with GitHub and Figma. AI agents automate repetitive triage tasks, while milestones and cycle planning keep the team aligned on release scope and timelines, helping the team hit scheduled launches and reduce cross-team friction.
Pricing
Linear offers a free plan with basic features for unlimited members and issues. Paid plans include Basic at $12 per user/month, Business at $18 per user/month, and custom enterprise plans.
Asana
Asana is a popular project management tool that balances simplicity with powerful features. It's designed for teams that want structure without overwhelming complexity. The interface is clean and intuitive, which helps with adoption across non-technical team members.
What makes Asana stand out is its flexibility. You can use it for simple task lists or complex project portfolios, depending on your needs. It works well for cross-functional teams where not everyone is technical.
Core Features
Asana offers task and project management with multiple view options: list, board, timeline, and calendar. It includes automation rules to reduce manual work, portfolio management for tracking multiple projects, and goal tracking to align work with objectives. The platform supports team collaboration through comments, file attachments, and status updates, plus integrations with popular tools like Slack, Google Drive, and GitHub.
Pros
- User-friendly interface: Asana's clean design makes it easy for team members to get started without extensive training.
- Flexible project views: Multiple view options let teams work the way they prefer, whether that's boards, lists, or timelines.
- Strong collaboration features: Built-in commenting, file sharing, and status updates keep communication centralized.
- Good free tier: The free plan supports up to 15 team members with essential features.
- Wide range of integrations: Asana connects with many popular tools teams already use.
Cons
- Limited developer-specific features: Asana isn't built specifically for software development workflows, so some developer teams may find it lacks depth in areas like code integration.
- Can get expensive at scale: Pricing increases significantly as teams grow, especially for premium features.
- Less real-time than some alternatives: Updates aren't always instant, which can be frustrating for fast-moving development teams.
Who It's For
Asana works well for cross-functional teams that include developers, designers, product managers, and other stakeholders. It's a good fit if you need a tool that non-technical team members can easily adopt, and if your projects involve coordination beyond just code.
Real World Use Case
A product team uses Asana to coordinate feature launches across engineering, design, and marketing. Developers track their tasks in Asana while product managers use the timeline view to plan releases and marketing uses boards to manage campaign tasks. The shared workspace keeps everyone aligned without requiring everyone to learn complex developer tools.
Pricing
Asana offers a free plan for up to 15 team members. Paid plans start at $13.49 per user/month for Premium and $30.49 per user/month for Business, with custom enterprise pricing available.
Monday.com
Monday.com positions itself as a work operating system that helps teams manage projects, workflows, and processes. It's highly customizable, which is both its strength and weakness. Teams can build exactly what they need, but that requires time and effort to set up properly.
The platform uses a board-based interface where you can create custom columns, automations, and integrations. It's visual and flexible, making it appealing to teams that want to mold their tool to their specific processes.
Core Features
Monday.com offers customizable boards with various column types for tracking different data. It includes automation recipes to streamline repetitive tasks, timeline and Gantt chart views for project planning, and dashboard views that aggregate data across multiple boards. The platform supports integrations with development tools, communication platforms, and business apps, plus templates for common workflows like sprint planning and bug tracking.
Pros
- Highly customizable: Teams can build boards and workflows that match their exact processes.
- Visual and intuitive: The board-based interface makes it easy to see project status at a glance.
- Strong automation capabilities: Automation recipes can handle complex workflows without coding.
- Good for non-technical team members: The visual interface is accessible to stakeholders who aren't developers.
- Comprehensive integrations: Monday.com connects with a wide range of tools across different categories.
Cons
- Setup complexity: The flexibility means teams need to invest time in configuration to get value.
- Pricing can add up: Costs increase quickly as you add more team members and features.
- May be overkill for simple needs: Teams that just need basic task tracking might find Monday.com too complex.
- Learning curve: While the interface is visual, understanding all the customization options takes time.
Who It's For
Monday.com suits teams that need a highly customizable project management solution and are willing to invest in setup. It works well for organizations managing multiple types of projects and workflows, especially when you need to coordinate across different departments or teams.
Real World Use Case
A development team uses Monday.com to manage their sprint planning, with custom boards for backlog, active sprints, and completed work. They've set up automations that move tasks between boards based on status changes and send notifications to Slack when blockers occur. The dashboard view gives managers visibility into team velocity and project health across multiple initiatives.
Pricing
Monday.com offers a free plan for up to 2 seats. Paid plans start at $14 per user/month for Standard and $24 per user/month for Pro with custom enterprise pricing available. MondayDev is a newer product with its own pricing. No free tier and starts off with Basic: $12/user/month, Standard: $14.5/user/month, and Pro: $25/user/month.
How to Choose the Right Tool
Picking the best task management software for development teams comes down to understanding your team's specific needs. Here are the key factors to consider:
Integration depth: How well does the tool connect with your existing workflow? Developer teams often benefit most from tools that integrate directly with GitHub, VSCode, or other coding environments. Research from GitHub shows that teams using integrated development tools report 40% faster issue resolution times.
Adoption ease: The best tool in the world is useless if your team won't use it. Look for tools that feel natural to your team's workflow rather than requiring significant behavior changes. Tools that reduce context switching tend to see better adoption rates.
Scalability: Will the tool grow with your team? Consider not just current needs but where you'll be in a year or two. Role-based access, team management features, and pricing that scales reasonably are all important.
Feature fit: More features aren't always better. Sometimes a focused tool that does a few things well beats a comprehensive platform that requires extensive configuration. Match the tool's strengths to your team's actual pain points.
Budget reality: Be honest about what you can afford long-term, not just for a trial period. Factor in per-user costs, feature tiers, and potential enterprise needs. Free tiers are great for evaluation, but make sure the paid path makes sense for your team size.
Making the Decision
The best task management software for development teams is the one your team actually uses. That might sound obvious, but it's the most important factor. A simple tool that integrates well with your workflow will beat a powerful platform that requires constant context switching.
If your team prioritizes staying in flow and reducing tool switching, developer-first tools like Highfly make sense. If you need to coordinate across many departments and stakeholders, broader platforms like Asana or Monday.com might fit better. For teams that want speed and modern features with strong integrations, Linear is worth considering. And if you need enterprise-grade features and don't mind the complexity, Jira remains a solid option.
The key is to start with your team's actual workflow, not a feature checklist. Try a few options, see what feels natural, and choose based on what helps your team ship faster, not what looks impressive in a demo.
Ready to see how developer-first project management can transform your team's workflow? Highfly integrates directly with GitHub and VSCode, bringing project management into your coding environment. Start with the free solo plan and see how reducing context switching can boost your team's productivity.