Backlog

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Introduction

Backlog is a project management and issue tracking tool from Nulab,, the Japanese company that also makes Cacoo. Its homepage describes one platform for project management, issue tracking and team collaboration, powered by AI, “without per-user pricing, so you can scale without the extra cost”, and claims more than 4 million users worldwide.

For development teams, Backlog combines issues, Kanban boards, Gantt charts and wikis with built-in Git and Subversion repositories, so code, pull requests and bugs live in one place. Backlog also targets design, marketing and small business teams, and offers an AI teammate for project management, integrations with common tools and enterprise security features.

Its flat, non-per-user pricing is the main differentiator against Jira and other per-seat tools, which makes it attractive for teams that want to include clients, designers and occasional testers.

In the quality loop Backlog serves as the tracker where testers report bugs and developers resolve them.

Features

1. Issue tracking: Issues with types, priorities, statuses and custom fields.
2. Boards and Gantt charts: Kanban boards and Gantt timelines.
3. Built-in Git and SVN: Host repositories with pull requests.
4. Wikis: Project documentation alongside issues.
5. AI teammate: AI assistance for project management.
6. Integrations: Connect to tools teams already use.

Pros

1. No per-user pricing: Plans are not priced per seat.
2. Free plan: A free tier to get started.
3. Code plus issues: Repositories and issues in one product.

Cons

1. Less known outside Asia: Smaller Western community than Jira.
2. Fewer test-management integrations: Test tool ecosystems focus on Jira.

Usage and Links (Example)

Sign up for the free plan, create a project with issue types for bugs and tasks, set up a Kanban board, and connect or create a Git repository. Testers file bugs with attachments, and developers link commits and pull requests to issues.

For QA teams, the practical test of any tracker is the bug lifecycle: can testers file a reproducible bug with environment details and attachments in under a minute, can developers see it in their normal workflow, and can a test management or automation tool link failed tests to it automatically? Trial it with a real sprint’s bugs before standardising.

Pricing

Backlog offers a free plan and paid plans without per-user pricing. The pricing page could not be loaded during review; see site.

Recommended for?

• Small and mid-size teams wanting flat pricing
• Teams that want Git hosting and issue tracking together
• Cross-functional teams including clients and designers

Conclusion

Backlog is a friendly, flat-priced project and issue tracker with built-in Git. It suits teams that want to include many collaborators without per-seat costs.