Agile vs Waterfall: Complete Comparison Guide
Compare Agile and Waterfall on flexibility, planning, risk management, and team structure. Discover which project methodology best fits your software project.
Agile
An iterative software development methodology that prioritizes flexibility, collaboration, and continuous delivery. Agile works in short sprints of 1-4 weeks, with the team regularly delivering working software and incorporating feedback. Scrum and Kanban are the most widely used Agile frameworks.
Waterfall
A linear, sequential project methodology where each phase is fully completed before the next begins. Waterfall follows a fixed path of requirements, design, implementation, testing, and delivery. It is predictable and well-documented.
Comparison table
| Feature | Agile | Waterfall |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | High — changes are welcomed even late in the process | Low — changes after the planning phase are costly and difficult |
| Planning | Adaptive — high-level roadmap with detailed sprint planning | Upfront — detailed project plan with fixed milestones and deadlines |
| Feedback | Continuous — stakeholders see working software every sprint | Late — the client only sees the final result after delivery |
| Risk management | Low risk — problems are detected early through iterations | Higher risk — problems only become visible late in the process |
| Documentation | Minimal necessary — focus on working software | Extensive — each phase produces detailed documentation |
Verdict
Agile and Waterfall represent fundamentally different approaches to software development. Agile is superior for projects with changing requirements where rapid feedback and iteration are essential. Most modern software teams work successfully with Agile methods. Waterfall remains valuable in contexts with fixed requirements, strict compliance needs, or when a detailed upfront plan is required. In practice, many organizations use a hybrid approach combining elements of both. The best methodology is the one that fits your team, project, and organizational culture.
Our recommendation
MG Software works exclusively with Agile methods, specifically a lightweight Scrum approach with two-week sprints. We believe iterative development with regular client feedback leads to better end products and less waste. Every sprint delivers working software the client can evaluate. For clients accustomed to a Waterfall approach, we help with the transition to Agile and demonstrate its benefits with a successful first sprint. We combine Agile with solid technical documentation where it adds value.
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