Scrum vs. Agile: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve ever dipped your toes into the world of software development or project management, chances are you’ve come across the terms Agile and Scrum. They’re often used interchangeably, which leads to a lot of confusion—especially for teams transitioning from traditional project management approaches.

But here’s the catch: Agile and Scrum are not the same. While they share many values and goals, understanding their differences is essential for choosing the right approach for your team.

Whether you’re a Scrum Master, Product Owner, or part of a growing team exploring modern workflows, this article will help you decode Agile vs. Scrum—and offer practical insights into which methodology suits your project best.

Bonus tip: Tools like Baserow can support both Agile and Scrum practices by giving teams the flexibility to structure workflows in a way that matches their chosen methodology.

What is Agile?

Agile is a Philosophy, Not a Process

At its core, Agile is a philosophy—a mindset that guides how teams work, communicate, and deliver value. It first emerged as a response to the rigid, plan-heavy methods of traditional software development and was formally introduced through the Agile Manifesto in 2001.

The Agile Manifesto highlights four key values:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan

From these values, a set of 12 Agile principles was born. These principles emphasize trust in team members, early delivery of valuable software, adaptability, and continuous feedback.

Agile isn’t a one-size-fits-all project management methodology—it’s a flexible framework that informs various approaches to getting work done.

Core Features of Agile Project Management

Agile prioritizes iteration, rapid feedback, and continuous improvement. Rather than planning everything upfront, Agile teams work in small, manageable chunks of time—adapting their direction based on new input.

Some key features of Agile include:

• Iterative development cycles
• Empowered, cross-functional teams
• Constant customer feedback and collaboration
• Transparent communication across all stakeholders
• Emphasis on delivering working software frequently

Many teams also embrace agile project management tools that allow them to track their backlog, visualize tasks, and communicate progress asynchronously.

➡️ Baserow, for instance, offers a highly customizable platform where Agile teams can build shared views, track priorities, and adapt their structure over time—without writing a single line of code.

Agile Methodologies Overview

Agile is an umbrella term that includes several agile methodologies, each offering a different structure and flavor. Some of the most popular ones include:

• Scrum
• Extreme Programming (XP)
• Kanban
• Lean
• Crystal

Each of these methods brings Agile principles to life in slightly different ways. While Scrum is the most widely adopted, others like Extreme Programming focus more on technical practices such as pair programming and test-driven development.

It’s important to remember that choosing an Agile methodology doesn’t mean discarding others entirely. Teams often mix and match to suit their needs.

🧠 Because Baserow is flexible by design, it’s easy to adapt it to support multiple Agile methods at once—for example, using one table for your Kanban board and another for managing your product backlog.

What is Scrum?

Scrum as a Framework within Agile

Scrum is one of the most popular Agile methodologies. It provides a lightweight, repeatable framework to manage and complete complex projects—especially in software development.

Scrum divides work into short, time-boxed cycles called sprints (typically 2–4 weeks). Each sprint starts with a sprint planning session and ends with a retrospective, where the team reflects on what went well and what could be improved.

Scrum helps teams tackle big goals in small, focused increments. Its emphasis on team roles, events, and artifacts makes it both structured and iterative.

Scrum Roles and Responsibilities

One of Scrum’s defining features is its clearly defined team roles:

• Scrum Master – The facilitator who ensures Scrum practices are followed, removes blockers, and fosters continuous improvement.
• Product Owner – Responsible for the product backlog and ensuring the team is always working on the highest-value tasks.
• Scrum Team Members – Cross-functional individuals who execute the work in each sprint.

Unlike traditional hierarchies, Scrum encourages self-organizing teams. Each team member is empowered to contribute beyond their “official” role.

In Baserow, you can set up team views and permissions to reflect each Scrum role, helping everyone stay aligned without micromanagement.

Scrum Ceremonies and Artifacts

Scrum revolves around key rituals that create a consistent rhythm of work:

• Sprint Planning – The team selects tasks from the sprints backlog to complete during the sprint.
• Daily Standups – Short check-ins to discuss progress and blockers.
• Sprint Review – A demo of completed work.
• Retrospective – A reflection session on what worked and what didn’t.
• Backlog Grooming – The ongoing refinement of the product backlog.

Scrum also includes important artifacts, like the Definition of Done, which helps ensure consistency and quality in deliverables.

Teams using Baserow can set up views for each ceremony—for instance, tracking action items from retrospectives or prioritizing backlog items for planning sessions.

Agile vs Scrum: Key Differences

Philosophy vs. Framework

The most important distinction is that Agile is a philosophy, while Scrum is a framework that implements that philosophy. Agile offers a broad set of values and principles. Scrum takes those principles and creates a structured way to apply them in practice.

Think of Agile as the mindset—and Scrum as one possible route to embody that mindset in your day-to-day workflow.

Flexibility vs. Structure

Agile emphasizes adaptability. Teams can experiment, shift strategies, and even blend methodologies. Scrum, while still iterative and flexible, is more prescriptive. It defines roles, rituals, and timeframes to bring rhythm to a project.

For instance, in Agile you might decide how often to release features based on customer feedback. In Scrum, you’d do that in two-week sprints with a defined backlog and set goals.

With Baserow, you can start with a flexible Agile template, then evolve into a more structured Scrum workflow as your team matures—without needing to migrate to a new tool.

Application Scope

Agile is used across industries—from healthcare and education to finance and marketing. Scrum, however, tends to shine in software development or other environments where deliverables can be broken into clear, incremental steps.

Still, many non-technical teams now embrace Scrum principles. Marketing teams, for example, run content sprints; operations teams organize initiatives around product backlogs and sprint planning.

Using Baserow, non-dev teams can easily replicate these structures, using custom fields and filters tailored to their unique deliverables.

Explore top productivity tools, including those that support Agile and Scrum methodologies, helping teams enhance collaboration and efficiency.

When to Use Agile vs. Scrum

Best Scenarios for Agile

Agile shines in dynamic environments where change is constant and innovation is key. Here are examples of when Agile may be the better fit:

• Startups building MVPs
• R&D departments
• Distributed or remote teams
• Projects requiring constant customer feedback
• Teams that value autonomy and decision-making

In these cases, Agile’s focus on individuals and interactions over processes and tools enables faster learning and course correction.

Baserow enables Agile teams to build custom workflows for rapid iteration—whether that’s managing a Kanban board, running user interviews, or logging experiments.

Best Scenarios for Scrum

Scrum is ideal for teams that benefit from more structure and clearly defined milestones. Use Scrum when:

• You have a repeatable development cycle
• Stakeholders need regular progress updates
• Deliverables are complex but can be broken into small parts
• The team is comfortable with defined roles (Scrum Master, Product Owner)
• You’re managing a product roadmap with clear, evolving priorities

Scrum is especially useful when you want to establish discipline and cadence without sacrificing agility.

Teams using Baserow for Scrum often set up sprint dashboards, assign roles through permission levels, and track progress with formulas and filters.

Common Misconceptions

Despite their popularity, Agile and Scrum are often misunderstood. Here are a few myths to clear up:

“Agile and Scrum are the same.”

They’re not. Scrum is one of several agile methodologies—others include Extreme Programming, Kanban, and Lean.

“Scrum is the only way to do Agile.”

Far from it. Scrum is just the most widely adopted. Teams can be Agile without using Scrum at all.

“Scrum only works for software teams.”

While Scrum originated in tech, it’s now widely used in HR, design, education, and more. The roles and ceremonies may be adapted, but the core concepts—iteration, feedback, empowerment—apply anywhere.

📌 Baserow’s no-code flexibility makes it easy for non-technical teams to test and adopt Scrum practices without needing heavy setup or developer involvement.

Transitioning from Traditional Project Management

If your team is used to traditional project management (like Waterfall), moving to Agile or Scrum can feel like a cultural shift. Instead of long planning cycles, rigid Gantt charts, and delayed feedback, Agile promotes:

• Continuous improvement
• Short planning cycles
• Empowered teams
• Regular delivery of value
• Responding to change over following a strict plan

This transition may take time, but it’s worth it—especially in fast-moving industries.

Start small. In Baserow, you can create a basic backlog table, add a column for status, and start tracking work in sprints with a simple view filter. No steep learning curve required.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Approach

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right choice depends on:

• Your team’s experience and size
• The complexity of your project
• The need for structure vs. flexibility
• Your organizational culture

If you’re just starting out and need flexibility, Agile project management might be the way to go. If you’re looking for a more structured, role-based process with built-in accountability, Scrum teams offer a well-tested approach.

✅ With a tool like Baserow, you don’t have to choose upfront. You can build an Agile base today and introduce more Scrum rituals over time. Your workflow can evolve as your team evolves.

👉 Explore how to build your agile product roadmap.

Try Agile or Scrum with Baserow

Whether you’re leaning toward Agile, Scrum, or blending the two, one thing’s for sure: you’ll need the right tools to bring your methodology to life.

Baserow helps teams:

• Collaborate in real time
• Manage product backlogs
• Run structured sprints
• Assign roles and track accountability
• Customize views for reviews, standups, or retrospectives
• Build Agile workflows that truly fit your team

Ready to see how Baserow can support your next sprint?

👉 Try Baserow for free and take your Agile or Scrum practice to the next level.

Try Baserow today