Backlog combines task tracking, Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and Git/SVN hosting. See 2026 pricing, features, pros, cons, and who it fits best.
Backlog is a project management and bug-tracking application made by Nulab Inc., a Japanese software company founded in 2004 in Fukuoka, Japan. The product was first launched domestically in Japan in 2005 and released in English for international users in 2011, and it has since grown into one of Nulab's flagship products alongside the diagramming tool Cacoo and the team chat app Typetalk.
The core idea behind Backlog is to combine task and project management with source code hosting in a single application, so that developers, designers, marketers, and project managers can track work items, discuss issues, and manage Git or Subversion repositories without switching between separate tools like Jira and GitHub.
Backlog is used by both technical and non-technical teams. Software teams use it for sprint planning, bug tracking, and code review, while marketing, HR, and operations teams use its boards and Gantt charts for general project coordination, which is part of why Nulab markets it as suitable for 'virtual teams' beyond pure software development.
Backlog centers on issues, which can represent tasks, bugs, or requests and can be organized on Kanban-style boards, in list views, or on Gantt charts that show dependencies and timelines. Burndown charts and milestone tracking help teams monitor sprint or release progress at a glance.
A distinguishing feature is native Git and Subversion repository hosting built directly into each project, complete with pull requests, inline code review comments, and commit-to-issue linking, so code changes and the tasks that drove them stay connected without a third-party integration.
Beyond issue tracking, Backlog includes project wikis for documentation, file storage and attachments, custom issue types and workflows, subtasking, watch and notification settings, and mobile apps for iOS and Android, plus (on paid tiers) an AI Assistant intended to help draft issue text and summarize activity.
Backlog offers a genuinely usable Free plan (1 project, 10 users, 100MB storage) alongside four paid tiers: Starter at $35/month (30 users, 5 projects, 1GB storage), Standard at $100/month (unlimited users, 100 projects, 30GB storage, Gantt and burndown charts), Premium at $175/month (unlimited projects, 100GB storage, custom fields, bundled AI Assistant credits), and a custom-quoted Enterprise plan with SAML SSO, SCIM provisioning, and audit logging.
Unlike many competitors, Backlog's paid plans (Standard and above) do not cap or charge per user, which can make it noticeably cheaper than seat-based tools like Jira for larger teams.
Nulab offers a 30-day free trial of paid plans and roughly 17 percent savings for annual billing versus monthly billing. Additional AI credit packages can be purchased on top of the Premium and Enterprise plans.
Yes. Backlog offers a permanently free plan for up to 10 users, 1 project, and 100MB of storage. Paid plans start at $35/month for teams that need more projects, users, or storage.
Yes. Every Backlog project can include a built-in Git or Subversion repository with pull requests and code review, so teams do not need a separate code hosting service for basic use.
Backlog is made by Nulab Inc., a Japanese software company founded in 2004 and headquartered in Fukuoka, Japan, which also makes the diagramming tool Cacoo and the chat app Typetalk.
No, on the Standard, Premium, and Enterprise tiers. Only the Starter plan has a hard user cap (30 users); higher tiers support unlimited users at a flat monthly price.
Yes. While it includes developer-oriented features like code repositories, Backlog's boards, Gantt charts, and wikis are commonly used by marketing, design, and operations teams as a general project management tool.
The AI Assistant is bundled with the Premium and Enterprise plans and includes a monthly credit allowance (2,000 credits by default); additional credit packages can be purchased separately.
Backlog aims for a simpler setup and flatter learning curve than Jira, bundles code hosting natively, and does not charge per user on its higher tiers, though it offers less deep customization and a smaller integration ecosystem than Jira.
Yes, Nulab offers roughly a 17 percent discount for annual billing compared to paying monthly.