RetroTool Alternative — Free Forever, Not Just 90 Days
RetroTool.io offers free anonymous retros with solid basics — but its paid plans start at $10/team/month and the 90-day trial eventually expires. Planning Poker Hero gives you the same instant-start experience with no trial clock and no feature gates.
What is RetroTool and why look for an alternative?
RetroTool.io is a retrospective platform built by the Polish software company u2i. With over 958,000 retrospectives created, it has a proven track record. Its free 'Anonymous' tier lets anyone create a retro without an account — unlimited cards, columns, participants, and basic facilitation tools included.
The catch: anonymous retros are stored for only 12 months. For features like an infinite archive, private invite-only boards, advanced facilitation, and team management, you need a paid plan ($10–$20/team/month) — with a generous 90-day free trial that eventually runs out.
If you want the same instant-start, no-signup experience but without the trial clock or feature segmentation, Planning Poker Hero is the simpler RetroTool alternative.
Where RetroTool falls short
Anonymous boards expire after 12 months
Free anonymous retros are deleted after 12 months. If you want an infinite archive, you need a paid plan.
Advanced facilitation locked to paid tiers
Features like extended customization, private invite-only boards, and data retention controls require the $10/month Individual plan or higher.
90-day trial eventually ends
RetroTool offers a generous 90-day trial for paid features — but it still expires. Planning Poker Hero has no trial because everything is free.
No planning poker integration
RetroTool is retro-only. If your team also needs estimation sessions, you need a separate tool.
RetroTool vs Planning Poker Hero
| Feature | Planning Poker Hero | RetroTool.io |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 100 % free — always | Free anonymous tier · Paid from $10/team/month |
| Signup required | No | No (anonymous) · Yes (paid plans) |
| Board storage | Persistent | Anonymous: 12 months · Paid: infinite |
| Participants | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Setup time | Under 5 seconds | Fast (anonymous) · Moderate (account) |
| Private / invite-only boards | All boards are link-private | Paid plans only ($10+/month) |
| Advanced facilitation | Core facilitation tools | Paid plans only |
| Data export | Yes | Markdown (free) · More on paid |
| Planning poker included | Yes | No |
| GDPR-compliant hosting | Yes — EU servers | EU-based company (Poland) |
| Best for | Teams wanting permanent free retros + poker | Teams wanting advanced facilitation & team management |
Comparison updated 2026.
When to pick RetroTool
- You need advanced facilitation tools and are willing to pay $10–20/team/month
- You want an infinite archive with team management features
- You need zero-knowledge encryption with custom passwords (Company plan)
- You run retros infrequently and the 12-month anonymous storage is sufficient
When to pick Planning Poker Hero
- You want a truly free retro tool — no trial, no expiry, no feature gates
- You need both planning poker and retros in one tool
- You want zero-friction onboarding — no signup for anyone
- You run retros every sprint and do not want subscription overhead
- You want GDPR-compliant EU hosting with no data retention concerns
The best RetroTool alternative for Scrum teams
RetroTool deserves credit for its anonymous free tier — it is one of the few tools that lets you run a retro without any account at all. But the 12-month storage limit on anonymous boards and the paywall for advanced facilitation tools mean teams with recurring retros eventually outgrow it.
Planning Poker Hero takes a similar philosophy — instant start, no friction — and extends it permanently. No trial countdown, no feature tiers, no storage expiry. If your team runs retros every sprint and does not want to manage yet another subscription, this is the RetroTool alternative to try.
Planning poker + retros in one tool
Unlike RetroTool, which focuses solely on retrospectives, Planning Poker Hero also includes a full planning poker experience on the same platform. That means one tool for both estimation and team reflection — reducing tool sprawl and keeping your Scrum workflow in one place.
FAQ — RetroTool alternative
Is RetroTool.io free?
RetroTool offers a free anonymous tier with unlimited cards, columns, and participants. However, anonymous boards are deleted after 12 months, and features like private boards, advanced facilitation, and team management require paid plans starting at $10/team/month. Planning Poker Hero is fully free with no such limits.
What is the difference between RetroTool and Planning Poker Hero?
RetroTool is a dedicated retrospective platform with a free anonymous tier and paid plans for advanced features. Planning Poker Hero offers both retros and planning poker on a single platform, completely free, with no signup and no feature gates.
Does RetroTool require signup?
For anonymous retros, no signup is needed — similar to Planning Poker Hero. But to access paid features like private boards, team management, and an infinite archive, you need a RetroTool account and a paid plan.
Can I use Planning Poker Hero for sprint retrospectives?
Yes. The retro tool supports standard formats (Went Well / To Improve / Actions, Mad Sad Glad) and custom layouts. Share the link during your sprint ceremony and the whole team can participate instantly.
Does Planning Poker Hero also do planning poker?
Yes. Unlike RetroTool which is retro-only, Planning Poker Hero includes both retrospectives and planning poker on the same free platform.
How long are retro boards stored?
Planning Poker Hero boards persist without a 12-month deletion window. RetroTool's anonymous boards are automatically removed after 12 months.
Try the best free RetroTool alternative
No signup. No trial. Unlimited boards. Start your retro in seconds.