What Backlog does

Backlog is a cloud-based project management and issue tracking platform developed by Nulab, headquartered in Fukuoka, Japan, and operated since 2004. The platform unifies project management, issue tracking, and team collaboration with built-in version control support for Git and SVN, allowing development teams to manage tasks, code, and bug resolution within a single tool rather than switching between systems. Core functionality includes Gantt charts, task management, and an AI Assistant add-on that automates knowledge retrieval, summarization, and daily to-do list generation.

The product serves a horizontal mix of customer segments including software development teams, UX and design teams, marketing teams, and small businesses. Named enterprise customers include Omron, SoftBank, BuzzFeed, DMM, and JPX, while the broader platform claims 4+ million users worldwide. The technical architecture integrates with a wide ecosystem of tools including Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Chat, Microsoft Copilot, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Cacoo, Jenkins, and LambdaTest, with API and webhook support for custom integrations.

Backlog operates a product-led, freemium go-to-market model with subscription-based tiered plans and no per-user pricing, enabling unlimited team members at a flat rate. Revenue is generated through recurring subscription tiers and an Enterprise bundle (Backlog + Nulab Pass) that adds SAML authentication, user provisioning, and dedicated training for larger organizations. As a privately held product brand under Nulab, no external funding or revenue figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Backlog

Website

https://backlog.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Backlog is a Nulab-owned cloud project management and issue tracking platform serving development, design, marketing, and small business teams globally. It combines Git/SVN-integrated task management with an AI Assistant add-on, sold via a freemium, no-per-user subscription model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Project Management Software

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Backup & Recovery Software (HDABAEAD)

Keywords

• Project management software
• Issue tracking platform
• Team collaboration tool
• Software development management
• Cloud project tracking

Headquarters

HQ city

Fukuoka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Subscription Plans: Backlog generates revenue through subscription-based pricing with tiered plans. The platform differentiates by not charging per-user pricing, allowing unlimited users on any plan, enabling scalability without additional costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Backlog is a cloud-based project management platform that combines project management, issue tracking, and team collaboration into a single product. It includes built-in Git and SVN version control integration, Gantt charts, and an AI Assistant add-on for automated summaries, context retrieval, and daily to-do list generation. The platform is sold via tiered subscriptions with no per-user pricing, plus an Enterprise bundle with Nulab Pass for SAML authentication and user provisioning.

Product overview

Backlog is a unified project management platform by Nulab that combines project management, issue tracking, and team collaboration into a single product. The core offering is the Backlog platform itself, which supports development teams with built-in Git/SVN integration and issue tracking. An AI-powered enhancement called the Backlog AI Assistant is available as an add-on module, providing knowledge retrieval and process automation capabilities including automated summaries, daily to-do lists, and intelligent context retrieval. The platform offers an Enterprise bundle that bundles Backlog with Nulab Pass for enhanced security and authentication features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Backlog

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CacoocoreTechnology or IntegrationCacoo is a diagramming and visual collaboration tool integrated with Backlog, allowing teams to embed diagrams directly into projects and track visual assets alongside tasks.
• SlackcoreTechnology or IntegrationSlack integration allows Backlog users to receive notifications and updates directly in Slack channels, enabling team communication alongside project tracking.
• Microsoft TeamscoreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft Teams integration enables Backlog notifications and updates within Teams channels, supporting organizations using Microsoft collaboration tools.
• Google DrivecoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle Drive integration allows linking files from third-party shared drives to Backlog issues and projects.
• JenkinscoreTechnology or IntegrationJenkins integration connects continuous integration/continuous deployment workflows with Backlog issue tracking, automating build and deployment notifications.
• Jira ImportercoreTechnology or IntegrationMigration tool allowing users to import Jira projects and issues into Backlog, facilitating team transitions.
• Redmine ImportercoreTechnology or IntegrationMigration tool allowing users to import Redmine projects and issues into Backlog, supporting team transitions from Redmine.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Jira (Atlassian): Jira is the dominant issue tracking and project management platform for software teams, offering Git integration, sprint planning, and enterprise scale. It is the primary direct competitor to Backlog's developer-focused PM offering, and Backlog even offers a Jira migration importer.
• Linear: Linear is a fast-growing, design-forward issue tracker and project management tool built specifically for software teams. It competes head-to-head with Backlog in the developer-focused PM niche with native Git integration, AI features, and modern UX.
• Asana: Asana is a horizontal work management platform serving development, design, marketing, and operations teams. It overlaps with Backlog across Backlog's UX, marketing, and small business segments, with similar task, project, and workflow collaboration capabilities.
• Monday.com: Monday.com is a horizontal work operating system with project tracking, automations, and integrations serving teams across functions. It overlaps with Backlog in its cross-functional PM use cases for development, design, marketing, and SMB teams.
• Trello (Atlassian): Trello is a lightweight Kanban-style project management tool popular with small teams and cross-functional collaborators. It directly overlaps with Backlog's small business and team collaboration segments.
• ClickUp: ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity platform combining project management, docs, whiteboards, and goals. It overlaps with Backlog in horizontal project management across dev, design, and marketing teams.
• Notion: Notion is a connected workspace combining docs, databases, and lightweight project management. It competes with Backlog in horizontal collaboration and lightweight PM for design, marketing, and small business teams.
• GitHub Projects: GitHub Projects is the integrated project management and issue tracking layer within GitHub, deeply tied to Git workflows. It is a direct competitor for Backlog's developer-team segment, leveraging GitHub's massive install base.
• Wrike: Wrike is a project management and work collaboration platform with strong enterprise and cross-department capabilities. It overlaps with Backlog's horizontal PM positioning across development, marketing, and SMB segments.
• Redmine: Redmine is a long-established open-source project management web application popular with engineering teams and self-hosted environments. Backlog positions itself as a modern alternative and offers a dedicated Redmine importer, signaling direct competitive overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/backlogtool
• Facebookfacebook.com/Backlogcom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Backlog