Which tools do product managers use?
A selection of tools for different use cases makes the product development process easier
Last updated: October 2025
To do their jobs efficiently, product managers rely on a variety of tools for every stage of product development — from establishing a clear vision to analyzing the results of the team's efforts. Get insights on the best tools for product development, plus advice on selecting the right ones for your workflows. |
Leading a product from conception to completion is no simple feat, and having the right tools for product managers can make all the difference. This includes setting strategy, exploring ideas, creating and sharing plans, helping with customer onboarding, analyzing user behavior, and gathering customer feedback.
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In the past, you had limited resources to help you do this: Many folks resorted to spreadsheets, presentation decks, and general project management software. These tools are not built with product managers in mind and add extra time to an already demanding role. Today, however, an array of tools are available that streamline product management. This includes everything from exploring early-stage product plans to building your roadmap and defining features to documenting team processes in a knowledge base.
When it comes to evaluating tools (or even getting a sense of what is available), it is hard to know where to start. So we did the heavy lifting for you. Let's dig into a comprehensive list of tools commonly used in product management, grouped by category. We will also provide some insights into how your team can benefit from full-fledged collaboration software.
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A list of popular tools for product managers
Tools used by product managers touch every stage of product development. Some are built for one specific purpose, such as drafting wireframes or accelerating collaboration. Other tools span a product's lifecycle, forming a complete product management platform. Aha! software is a great example of this, which is why you will see our offerings included in several categories below.
In this tutorial, Aha! product experts talk about the tools and workflows we use to build lovable products.
Product strategy and roadmapping tools
Aha! Roadmaps is a complete product management suite — it includes everything product teams need to set strategy, gather feedback, and create visual roadmaps. You can use Aha! Roadmaps to:
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Even though it is good to have a solid understanding surrounding all of the product management tools available, you also have to be selective. After all, searching for new tools and learning how to use them can be time-consuming and expensive. By adopting only the tools that best serve your team's needs, you simplify workflows and stay focused on delivering what you promised.
As you start evaluating new product management software, consider completing a fit gap analysis. It can help you determine how well different tools meet your needs (by weighing factors such as performance, scalability, and integrations) while highlighting anything that might be missing. Try it with this whiteboard template in Aha! software.
Want the most benefits? Seek out collaboration software.
The best way to avoid a bloated tech stack is to choose a product management platform that serves as a single suite for product teams. Because the Aha! suite functions as collaboration software, teams can centralize all their product-related work and align on plans and progress. We think it is a great choice!
Related:
Bias aside, we do take a unified approach to product development — empowering product teams to set strategy, visualize concepts on whiteboards, prioritize features, plan for launches, and build and share roadmaps. These activities are all codified in our method called The Aha! Framework that has powered our success for more than a decade.
We also release fresh functionality every week. To hear more about our latest features, subscribe for updates.
FAQs about tools for product managers
Product teams benefit from selecting a core set of tools for their management needs. This enhances efficiency, collaboration, and cost-effectiveness. Although additional specialized tools might be useful for specific tasks, minimizing the overall number of tools in use streamlines processes and fosters productivity.
Basic collaboration software helps teammates work together on daily tasks. But the best collaboration software also provides the functionality your team needs to carry out its efforts in one centralized spot. When evaluating a tool, make sure you are able to do many types of work and communicate with teammates within one platform. For example, you might want the ability to map out team workflows, create agendas for daily standups, and link every effort to your overarching strategy. You will also want to find software with a good UI: one that is easy to use and helps spark the team's creativity.
Aha! software offers more than 30 tool integrations, including Jira, Slack, Azure DevOps, Salesforce, Zendesk, and more. Whether you are looking to integrate development work, enhance communication, or tie together your idea management and CRM tools, it is all possible.
Finding the right balance of product tools comes down to assessing your team's efficiency and collaboration. If you are struggling to accomplish tasks or information is scattered, you might be using too few tools. Conversely, if team members are overwhelmed or collaboration feels disjointed, you could be relying on too many. Aim for a sweet spot where tools streamline workflows without overwhelming your team — ensuring everyone can easily access what they need to succeed.
