Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about running agile estimation sessions on scrum-poker.dev. Can't find your answer? Contact us or read the full How-to Guide.
Is it free to use?
Yes — scrum-poker.dev is completely free for teams of any size, with no session limits and no sign-up required.
Do I need an account to join a room?
No. Share the room link, choose a display name, and you are in. Zero registration friction.
Which estimation scales are available?
Four built-in scales: Modified Fibonacci (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13… — the agile standard), T-Shirt Sizes (XS–XXL), Powers of 2, and a Linear 1–10 scale. The room creator picks a default at setup, and any participant can switch scales during the session from the room settings panel.
What is the Fibonacci scale and why is it recommended?
The Fibonacci sequence (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13…) is recommended because the increasing gaps between numbers naturally reflect the growing uncertainty in larger tasks. A 13-point story is not just "more work" than an 8-pointer — it carries significantly more unknown risk.
What is a Story Point and how do I define one?
A Story Point is a relative unit of effort, not a unit of time. Anchor on a simple, well-understood task (e.g. "fix login button label" = 1 point) and compare all other work against it, factoring in complexity, volume, and uncertainty.
What is the difference between time estimates and Story Points?
Time estimates measure how many hours a task takes (which varies by individual). Story Points measure relative effort and complexity — the same regardless of who does the work — making them far more consistent across sprints.
How does the auto-reveal timer work?
When enabled, a countdown timer starts as soon as the first vote is cast. When it reaches zero, all votes are revealed automatically. The default is 30 seconds, adjustable from 5 to 120 seconds. This is configured on the homepage when creating the room, and can be adjusted mid-session from the settings panel.
What is tie-breaking rounding?
After all votes are revealed, the app calculates the average and rounds it to the nearest value on the current deck. When the average falls exactly midway between two options, you choose: "Round Down" (conservative — default) or "Round Up" (optimistic). This is set in Advanced settings during room creation.
What is Spectator mode?
Participants who join as Spectators (e.g. product managers, designers, stakeholders) can observe the session and see revealed votes without casting votes themselves. Tick "Join as Spectator" on the room entry screen.
What estimation techniques are used in agile?
Scrum Poker (Planning Poker) is the most widely used because it prevents anchoring bias through simultaneous reveal. Other techniques include T-Shirt Sizing, Dot Voting, and Affinity Mapping. See our Planning Poker Guide for a deep dive.
What is Scrum and how does it compare to Kanban?
Scrum uses fixed-length sprints with defined ceremonies (planning, review, retrospective). Kanban uses a continuous flow model without iteration boundaries. Scrum Poker is most commonly used in Scrum but is equally applicable in Kanban when prioritising and sizing backlog items.
Can I use it on mobile?
Yes — the interface is fully responsive and tested on phones and tablets, making it ideal for hybrid teams where some members are at a desk and others are on-the-go.
Want a step-by-step walkthrough? Check out the full guide.
Read the How-to Guide →