A free planningpoker.com alternative
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planningpoker.com is the original online version of Planning Poker®, from Mike Cohn's Mountain Goat Software. Its free Basic plan allows 5 players, the host has to register, and connecting Jira needs a Jira admin to set up an Application Link. If your team is bigger than 5, or you want Jira sync without admin setup or a subscription, Pointwalk is a free alternative.
Pointwalk vs planningpoker.com at a glance
| Pointwalk | planningpoker.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, every feature | Yes (Basic) |
| Paid plans | Optional A$1.99 per session to remove ads | $14.95/month (Standard, 10 players) |
| Accounts | None for players; the host gives an email for the summary | The host registers; players can join as guests |
| Jira | Two-way on the free plan (Jira Cloud only) | Sync back via an Application Link a Jira admin sets up; XML import is Pro-only |
| Ads | Yes, ad-supported (A$1.99 removes them for a session) | Sponsored banner on free games |
| Free player limit | 30 per session | 5 players |
| Decks | Fibonacci, modified Fibonacci, T-shirt | Fibonacci, modified Fibonacci, powers of 2, T-shirt; custom decks on paid plans |
We took planningpoker.com's details from its own website on 24 October 2026. Prices and limits change, so check there before you decide. "None seen" means the vendor doesn't say and we didn't find any.
Connecting Jira without a Jira admin
planningpoker.com syncs with Jira through an Application Link, which a Jira admin has to set up, and its XML import is on the Pro plan. In many companies that means a request to IT before the team can estimate a single ticket.
Pointwalk uses Atlassian's standard OAuth sign-in instead. The host signs in with their own Atlassian account, approves access and picks a board, sprint or JQL query. Estimates are written back with that account's permissions, so there's nothing for an admin to install.
Team size is the other difference. Basic allows 5 players and Standard ($14.95 a month) allows 10. Pointwalk's free sessions take 30.
When Pointwalk is the better fit
- Your team has more than 5 people. Pointwalk is free for up to 30 people per session.
- You want Jira Cloud sync without asking a Jira admin. The host signs in with Atlassian and picks a board, sprint or JQL.
- Nobody wants to register. Pointwalk players join with a code and a name, and the host only gives an email for the summary.
- You want a modern, playful reveal: everyone's walk to their estimate replays at once.
When planningpoker.com is the better fit
- You need more than 30 people in one game. planningpoker.com Pro goes up to 50.
- You want velocity tracking across many games, or imports from Rally, VersionOne or TFS.
- You use Jira Server or Data Center. Pointwalk supports Jira Cloud only.
- The Planning Poker® name and Mike Cohn's methodology matter to your organisation.
Moving from planningpoker.com
- Nobody registers. The host enters a name, a session name and the email the summary should go to. Players join with the six-letter code and a name, much like guests do on planningpoker.com.
- Velocity history stays behind. Pointwalk doesn't track velocity across games, so keep any reports you need from planningpoker.com.
- Rally, VersionOne and TFS users: Pointwalk doesn't import from those tools. Type the ticket numbers and titles in by hand, and the summary email keeps the results.
The Jira guide covers connecting Jira step by step, and the example session shows what a meeting looks like from start to summary. Comparing more than two tools? See our comparison of the best free planning poker tools, which also lists what planningpoker.com does well beyond planning poker.
Questions
Is Pointwalk the same game as Planning Poker®?
It follows the same rules: everyone estimates in private, reveals together, and the furthest-apart voters explain their thinking. Planning Poker® is a registered trademark of Mountain Goat Software; Pointwalk is an independent product.
How many players does Pointwalk allow for free?
Up to 30 per session. planningpoker.com's free Basic plan allows 5.
Does Pointwalk need a Jira admin to connect?
No. The host signs in to Jira Cloud with their own Atlassian account and approves access. Writing estimates back uses that account's permissions.
