Backlog

Backlog suits software teams that want project planning, issue tracking and Git or Subversion repositories in one service. Its breadth is useful, but the free plan is tightly capped and the paid tiers differ substantially in storage and planning features.

It is a stronger fit for teams organizing development work than for those that depend on built-in automation or time tracking, which Backlog does not offer.

Overview

Backlog brings project management, issue tracking and team collaboration together, with Kanban-style boards, custom workflows, roadmaps and guest access. Built-in Git repositories and Subversion support make it possible to manage code alongside project work rather than treating Backlog solely as a tracker.

Its open API supports custom integrations, and its connections include Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jenkins, Google Drive, Dropbox, Cacoo and iCal Sync. Redmine and Jira importers may help teams move existing work into Backlog. The main functional omission is automation rules; time tracking is also absent, which may matter to teams that need either as part of their workflow.

Key features

Project and issue tracking

Boards handle day-to-day task flow, while subtasks add structure to larger pieces of work. Standard introduces issue templates, burndown charts and Gantt charts with a six-month view. Those additions give teams more ways to organize and follow progress than a board alone, though the Standard Gantt horizon may be restrictive for longer-range planning. Premium removes that view limit and adds third-level subtasks and custom fields.

Code management and integrations

Git repositories and Subversion support sit alongside issue tracking, a practical combination for teams that want their code and work planning in the same platform. The API and named integrations extend that setup, though teams requiring automation rules will need another solution for that part of their process.

AI and enterprise controls

Premium and Enterprise include an AI Assistant with 2,000 monthly credits each. Enterprise adds SAML single sign-on, SCIM provisioning, audit logs, centralized user and access management, and security integrations. It can also be installed on a private server, giving organizations control over data, users, security settings, updates and permissions. These controls make Enterprise the relevant tier for organizations with stronger hosting and identity requirements, rather than a straightforward extension of a small-team plan.

Pricing

Backlog is freemium. Paid plans have a 30-day free trial with no credit card required, but plans cannot be switched during the trial. Email support is provided across plans; Premium adds dedicated support, and Enterprise includes an Enterprise Customer Success Manager.

Free is a credible starting point for a small team, but one project and 100 MB of storage leave little room for multiple concurrent projects or substantial repository use. Starter raises the caps to 30 users and five projects, while retaining only 1 GB of storage and omitting the planning features introduced at Standard. Standard removes the user cap and expands storage to 30 GB, but still limits projects to 100 and Gantt viewing to six months. Premium is the tier for unlimited projects and Gantt view, higher storage, custom fields and dedicated support; its monthly price is a material step up from Standard. Enterprise has custom pricing, so teams needing its controls should weigh that separately against the published tiers.

Platforms

Backlog is accessible on the web and on iOS and Android devices. It also supports API access and self-hosted deployment, with private-server installation available on Enterprise.

Who it's for

Backlog is best suited to software teams that value project tracking and code management together, and can choose a tier around their project, user and storage needs. Free suits a team testing the fit within one project; Starter fits a modest team needing more projects and subtasks. Standard and Premium are more appropriate as project volume or planning requirements grow. Organizations that require centralized identity controls or private hosting should consider Enterprise. Teams for whom automation rules or time tracking are essential should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Git and Subversion support sit alongside project and issue tracking, keeping code management and work planning in one service.
• Pro: Plans scale from a free 10-user tier to unlimited users, with higher tiers adding planning tools, storage and project capacity.
• Pro: Enterprise offers private-server deployment and security controls including SAML SSO, SCIM and audit logs.
• Con: The free plan permits just one project and 100 MB of storage, limiting its usefulness beyond a small trial workload.
• Con: Automation rules and time tracking are not included, leaving gaps for teams that rely on either capability.
• Con: Standard limits Gantt charts to a six-month view, while unlimited Gantt viewing requires the more expensive Premium tier.

Alternatives

• Linear is worth considering if an unlimited-member free plan matters more than Backlog's stated repository support; its free plan is capped at two teams and 250 issues.
• YouTrack may suit teams that want a free plan for up to 10 users with 30 GB of storage, rather than Backlog's one-project, 100 MB free allowance.
• Bugzilla is a free alternative.
• MantisBT is a free, self-hosted alternative.
• Trac is free project software with self-hosted deployment.
• Launchpad offers a free plan for open-source projects.
• Buildtable has a free plan for one game and two team members, with Bug Center and Tasks.
• Shortcut is another option with a free plan for teams of up to 10 users.

Verdict

Choose Backlog if your development team wants project planning, issue tracking and Git or Subversion support together, and its tier limits match your workload. Its key advantage is that combination; its strongest reasons to look elsewhere are the absence of automation rules and time tracking, or the cost of reaching higher project, storage and planning limits.