Question 1

What is planning poker?

Accepted Answer

Planning poker is a consensus-based agile estimation technique where team members use numbered cards to estimate the effort required for user stories or tasks. It helps teams create more accurate estimates through collaborative discussion and reduces individual bias by having everyone reveal their estimates simultaneously.

Question 2

How does planning poker work?

Accepted Answer

The process involves presenting a user story, having team members discuss and ask questions, then privately selecting cards representing their estimate. Everyone reveals their cards simultaneously, and if estimates differ significantly, the team discusses the differences and re-estimates until reaching consensus. This collaborative approach improves accuracy and team understanding.

Question 3

Is planning poker free?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our planning poker tool offers a free tier that allows unlimited sessions with up to 6 participants. You can create sessions, estimate stories, and collaborate with your team without any cost. We also offer Team and Enterprise plans with additional features like session history, Linear integration, and advanced analytics.

Question 4

Can I use planning poker for remote teams?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Our planning poker tool is designed specifically for remote and distributed teams. It provides real-time collaboration, synchronized voting, and integrated video conferencing capabilities. Remote teams often find planning poker even more valuable as it ensures everyone participates equally in estimation discussions.

Question 5

Do participants need to sign up?

Accepted Answer

No! Participants can join planning poker sessions as anonymous users without creating an account. Simply share the session link, and team members can enter their name and start participating immediately. Account creation is only required for session facilitators who want to save session history or access premium features.

Question 6

What card decks are available?

Accepted Answer

We support multiple estimation scales including Fibonacci sequence (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21), T-shirt sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL), Powers of 2 (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32), and custom scales. You can choose the deck that best fits your team's estimation approach and switch between different scales as needed.

Question 7

Can I integrate with Linear?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our Team and Enterprise plans include Linear integration, allowing you to import unestimated issues directly into your planning poker sessions. After estimation, story points are automatically synced back to Linear, streamlining your workflow and keeping your project management tools up to date.

Question 8

How is planning poker different from other estimation methods?

Accepted Answer

Unlike traditional estimation methods that rely on individual experts or simple averaging, planning poker leverages team collaboration and discussion. It reduces anchoring bias through simultaneous reveals, encourages knowledge sharing, and produces more accurate estimates through collective wisdom. Studies show 40-80% improvement in estimation accuracy compared to individual estimation.

Question 9

Can I export estimation results?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Team and Enterprise plans allow you to export session results in CSV and JSON formats. You can export estimated stories with their point values, participant votes, comments, and session metadata. This helps with sprint planning, velocity tracking, and reporting to stakeholders.

Question 10

How many team members can join a session?

Accepted Answer

Our free plan supports up to 6 participants per session, which covers most small to medium agile teams. Team plans support up to 25 participants, and Enterprise plans support unlimited participants. All plans include real-time collaboration and voting features regardless of team size.

Question 11

Should I estimate in story points or hours?

Accepted Answer

We recommend using story points for planning poker as they focus on relative complexity rather than absolute time. Story points account for uncertainty, complexity, and effort more effectively than hour-based estimates. They also remain stable as team velocity changes, making long-term planning more reliable.

Question 12

How secure are planning poker sessions?

Accepted Answer

All sessions use secure HTTPS connections with end-to-end encryption. Session URLs are randomly generated and difficult to guess. Anonymous participants can't access session history, and only authenticated facilitators can modify session settings. We follow security best practices and regularly audit our systems.

Question 13

Does planning poker work on mobile devices?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our planning poker tool is fully responsive and works seamlessly on smartphones and tablets. The mobile interface is optimized for touch interactions, making it easy to select cards and participate in discussions whether you're in the office or on the go.

Question 14

How long are session results stored?

Accepted Answer

Free plan sessions are stored for 30 days, while Team and Enterprise plans include unlimited session history. You can always export your data before it expires on the free plan. Deleted sessions are permanently removed and cannot be recovered, so we recommend regular exports for important estimation data.

Question 15

Do you provide training or onboarding?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We offer comprehensive resources including video tutorials, best practice guides, and our detailed blog articles. Enterprise customers receive personalized onboarding sessions and training workshops. Our support team is also available to help teams get started with planning poker best practices.

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