What is the difference between Agile and Kanban?

Agile is a broad methodology that encompasses various frameworks. Kanban is a specific approach within the Agile umbrella that emphasizes visualizing work and managing flow. The core difference: Agile is the philosophy and set of principles, while Kanban is one tactical tool you can use to implement those principles.

How Agile Works

Agile focuses on iterative development and customer feedback. Teams work in cycles, gather input, and adjust. It includes various frameworks like Scrum, Extreme Programming (XP), and Kanban itself. When you choose Scrum, you get defined roles (Product Owner, Scrum Master, Development Team), time-boxed sprints, and ceremonies like standups and retrospectives. That structure works well for complex projects where you need clear accountability and regular checkpoints.

How Kanban Works

Kanban uses visual boards to track work in progress. Instead of sprints, work flows continuously. You limit work in progress (WIP) to prevent bottlenecks and keep the team focused. Changes happen without waiting for a sprint boundary. A Scrum Master implementing Kanban boards often sees faster feedback loops and smoother handoffs between team members.

When to Use Each

Scrum works best when you have defined requirements upfront and need predictable delivery cycles. Kanban works best when work arrives unpredictably or when you want to optimize for speed and continuous delivery. Many teams actually blend them, running Scrum sprints with Kanban boards to visualize workflow and manage team capacity. Your mileage will vary depending on team size, project complexity, and organizational constraints.

For teams exploring these frameworks, our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course covers both approaches in depth and starts at $349. We've trained over 55,000 practitioners in Agile and Scrum methodologies. If you're curious about the foundational principles behind both, read our post on the four pillars of Agile methodology. And if you're deciding between the two, our guide on why Scrum instead of Kanban walks through the tradeoffs.