Kanban vs Scrum: Key Differences and When to Use Each

Kanban vs Scrum

Both Kanban and Scrum are popular agile frameworks, but they take fundamentally different approaches to managing work.

Core Differences

Aspect	Kanban	Scrum
Cadence	Continuous flow	Fixed-length sprints (1-4 weeks)
Roles	No prescribed roles	Product Owner, Scrum Master, Dev Team
Planning	On-demand, pull-based	Sprint Planning at start of each sprint
WIP Limits	Explicit per column	Implicit (sprint capacity)
Changes	Can add items anytime	Changes discouraged mid-sprint
Metrics	Lead time, cycle time	Velocity, burndown

When to Choose Kanban

• Work arrives unpredictably (e.g., support tickets, ops tasks)
• You want to start improving without changing existing roles
• The team handles multiple priorities simultaneously
• You need continuous delivery without waiting for sprint boundaries

When to Choose Scrum

• The team can commit to fixed-duration iterations
• Work items are well-defined before the sprint begins
• You need clear sprint goals and ceremonies for alignment
• Stakeholders expect regular, predictable demo cadences

Scrumban: The Hybrid

Many teams combine elements of both. Scrumban uses Scrum's sprint cadence for planning and retrospectives but applies Kanban's WIP limits and pull-based flow within each sprint. This hybrid often works well for teams transitioning from Scrum to a more flow-based approach.