RetroPop vs Parabol
By the RetroPop team · Prices and features checked on each vendor's own website in . Prices change; check the vendor's site before buying.
Parabol is an open-source meeting tool for retros, standups, check-ins and sprint poker. It's free for two teams and ten meetings a month, then US$8 per active user per month. RetroPop costs €6 a month per team for unlimited boards, and every feature is free for 3 boards. With per-team pricing, RetroPop costs less as teams grow.
At a glance
| Feature | RetroPop | Parabol |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat price per team | Per active user |
| Paid plan | €6/month per team for unlimited boards | US$8 per active user per month (Team plan) |
| Free option | Free plan: 3 boards per team with every feature | Free for up to 2 teams and 10 meetings a month, with 30 days of history |
| People included | Unlimited; guests join a board with just a name | Unlimited users |
| What it covers | Retrospectives (14 formats, including a Squad Health Check, a Scrum checklist and a Product Team Maturity Assessment) | Retrospectives, standups, check-ins, sprint poker and team health checks |
| AI features | None | Yes: discussion prompts, meeting summaries and grouping |
| Single sign-on (SAML) | No (email or Google sign-in) | Enterprise plan |
| Integrations | None yet | Yes, 7 on every plan (more on Enterprise) |
The main differences
- Pricing: Parabol charges US$8 per active user per month, so a team of eight pays about US$64. RetroPop charges €6 per team, whatever its size.
- Free plan: Parabol is free for up to 2 teams and 10 meetings a month, with 30 days of history. RetroPop is free for 3 boards per team, with history kept.
- Scope: Parabol also runs standups, check-ins and sprint poker, with 7 integrations. RetroPop focuses on retrospectives and has no integrations yet.
- Openness: Parabol is open source and SOC 2 Type II compliant. RetroPop is not open source.
What each does well
RetroPop
- Guided stages with facilitator and participant instructions and a shared timer for every format.
- Guests join with a link and a name, no account needed.
- One flat price per team, so adding people never changes the bill. Every feature is free for 3 boards.
- A Product Team Maturity Assessment that turns its weakest area into a focused retrospective.
- Hosted in the EU (Amsterdam).
Parabol
- A genuinely free plan for small setups: two teams and ten meetings a month.
- Open-source, auditable code and SOC 2 Type II compliance.
- Standups, check-ins and sprint poker alongside retrospectives.
Which should you choose?
Choose Parabol if you want standups and sprint poker in the same tool, need integrations, or value open-source code.
Choose RetroPop if you mostly run retrospectives and want a flat team price that doesn't grow with headcount.
Switching from Parabol to RetroPop
- Create a free RetroPop account.
- Choose a format, or try the Squad Health Check for a team-health retro.
- Share the board link; teammates join with their name.
- Copy open action items into the Actions view of your first board.
Frequently asked questions
- Is RetroPop cheaper than Parabol?
- For a team of two or more paying users, yes: RetroPop is €6 a month per team, while Parabol's Team plan is US$8 per active user per month (checked October 2026). Parabol's free plan may be enough for very small use.
- Does RetroPop do standups or sprint poker?
- No. RetroPop runs retrospectives (including team-health and maturity formats). Parabol also covers standups, check-ins and sprint poker.
- Is RetroPop open source?
- No. Parabol is open source.
Sources
- RetroPop pricing · checked October 2026
- Parabol pricing · checked October 2026
Try RetroPop free
Guided stages, silent writing, voting, timers and action items. Free for up to 3 boards, no card needed.
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