Updated Date: Jul 11, 2025
This article covers the difference between Agile and Waterfall and when to use them to build scalable software solutions for startups. It also covers advantages, disadvantages, comparisons, examples, and more. This will help startups choose the most suitable methodologies to start their development journey.
Choosing the proper development methodology for your startup can be challenging. Agile vs Waterfall are two popular approaches with unique benefits and challenges. Here’s a simple breakdown:
Waterfall is a step-by-step, linear process. It’s great for development with precise requirements and minimal changes. However, it struggles to adapt to fast-evolving needs or trends.
Agile, on the other hand, is flexible and iterative. It allows teams to adapt, making it ideal for projects with changing requirements. The downside? Agile’s lack of detailed documentation can make tracking bugs or changes harder.
Understanding these differences can help you decide which approach best suits your project. If your startup needs structure and predictability, waterfall might be the best option. If adaptability and collaboration are key, Agile could be your best bet.
What is the Agile Model?
Agile breaks work into 1–4 week sprints, each ending with a demo and feedback session. This cycle enables quick course-corrections—great for startups validating ideas with real users. Popular agile frameworks include Scrum, Kanban, and Lean, each offering unique workflows and roles.
As of 2025, over 73% of organizations use Agile practices, with Scrum (58%) and Kanban (56%) being the most popular frameworks. Agile is now widely adopted not only in software development but also in marketing, product design, and even construction, reflecting its flexibility and value-driven approach.
Pros And Cons Of Agile Methodology
| Pros of Agile Methodology | Cons of Agile Methodology |
|---|---|
| Rapid delivery of features and faster time-to-market | Can be challenging to predict timelines and budgets |
| Continuous stakeholder involvement and feedback | Less documentation may cause knowledge gaps |
| High adaptability to changing requirements | Requires strong team collaboration & communication |
| Early detection and resolution of issues | Not ideal for projects with fixed scope and strict compliance needs |
| Proven higher success rates (up to 88% in recent studies) | May lead to scope creep if not managed well |
An Iterative Agile Software Development Process For Your Projects!
1. Gather Requirements: Requirements of the software need to be gathered and prioritized.
2. Sprint Planning: Define sprint goals and select backlog items for the next iteration.
3. Development: Develop the agile application using rapid iterations. You can follow various Agile software development practices.
- Scrum
- Kanban
- Test-Driven Development
- Continuous Integration
- Pair Programming
4. Testing: A team of testers ensures that the software works fine and meets all the requirements. You can apply a few principles for agile testing.
- Early and continuous testing
- Whole team approach
- Close collaboration
- Customer Involvement
5. Deployment: Release updates frequently using automated pipelines and continuous deployment strategies.
6. Maintenance: Monitor performance, fix bugs, and iterate based on user feedback for continuous improvement.
What Is a Waterfall Model?
Waterfall methodology is a linear, phase-driven approach to project management. Each stage—requirements, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance—must be completed before moving to the next. Waterfall is ideal for projects with a well-defined scope, strict regulatory requirements, or when changes are unlikely.
Waterfall is still widely used in industries like construction, healthcare, and manufacturing, where predictability and documentation are paramount.
Pros And Cons Of Waterfall Methodology
| Pros of Waterfall Methodology | Cons of Waterfall Methodology |
|---|---|
| Clear structure and documentation at every phase | Inflexible to changes after project start |
| Predictable timelines and budgets | Delays can be costly if requirements change |
| Well-suited for regulated industries and fixed-scope projects | Late testing may lead to expensive fixes |
| Easier onboarding with detailed documentation | Less stakeholder involvement during development |
| High-quality output when requirements are stable | Lower success rates compared to Agile (47–49%) |
A Sequential Waterfall Software Development Process: How Does It Work?
1. Requirement: The waterfall model has a well-defined scope, so you must analyze the requirements to understand them. Now, requirements must be documented in the SRS (Software Requirement Specification) document.
2. Design: In this phase, you have to convert SRS into a design that can be coded. Also, you have to maintain an SDD (Software Design Document) for future updates.
3. Development: In this phase, you must develop an app for your startup using SDD. The design must be produced according to the platform using the respective tech stack; for example, a single SDD can be created for a native, web, or hybrid app.
4. Testing: After completing development, you must test the complete system to ensure it fulfills the user’s expectations. You can perform these three activities for testing.
- Alpha Testing
- Beta Testing
- Acceptance testing
5. Deployment: Once the testing phase is completed and the software performs according to expectations, it must be deployed to the production environment.
6. Maintenance: This is the last phase of the software life cycle, which fixes the bugs after deployment.
Agile vs Waterfall: Key Differences You Need To Know!
While comparing Agile vs Waterfall, you must consider all the possibilities of using both models. Let’s consider different aspects of the software development lifecycle and compare agile and waterfall methodologies,
1. Flexibility vs. Stability
Agile app development offers the ability to change in every sprint, even in the last stages, which gives it good flexibility. Meanwhile, waterfall development provides more stability and a defined scope and timeline.
2. Client involvement
Agile models involve clients or stakeholders for feedback. At the same time, waterfall restricts the stakeholder’s involvement, directly affecting client satisfaction.
3. Software Testing
The agile model tests immediately with development, while the waterfall model tests after completing the phase.
4. Speed of Development
Waterfall takes longer because everything needs to be planned out before starting. If changes are required, it can slow things down. Conversely, Agile breaks development into smaller chunks, allowing for quick adjustments and faster delivery.
5. Risk Management
Agile models identify issues early because of the iterative approach, while waterfall models identify problems in the testing phase.
6. Communication Efficiency
Agile is casual and happens often, usually between a few people. It’s like having regular check-ins with your team. At the same time, waterfall communication is more formal, with detailed plans and reports shared with many people.
7. Timelines For Projects
Waterfall is best for long projects with set timelines. Each step must be completed before proceeding, which can take a while. On the other hand, Agile uses short cycles to deliver results quickly. Teams can adjust plans as they go.
Agile vs Waterfall – Side-By-Side Comparison!
| Differentiators | Agile | Waterfall |
|---|---|---|
| Stakeholder Involvement | Stakeholders involved throughout the development | Stakeholders are involved after completing the phase |
| Collaboration | Collaborate with the development team frequently | The team starts work after the completion of another team |
| Flexibility | Flexible with the changes at any point | Not able to change after completion of a phase |
| Use Case | Works best with a large project | Usually implemented in small projects |
| Team Size | Required a small team in comparison to a waterfall | Required a large team |
| Test Planning | Test plan after every sprint | No test plan in between the development cycle |
| Time to Develop | Agile takes less time to develop | Take more time to establish a rigid product |
| Cost | Low development cost | High development cost |
| Communication | Informal frequent communication | Formal and detailed communication |
| Adaptability | Discourages changes as they can be costly and time-consuming once the project is underway. | Adaptable to changes in scope, allowing the development team to adjust quickly as requirements evolve. |
Agile vs Waterfall: When To Use?
Agile and Waterfall each offer unique approaches to project success, making the choice between them challenging. Here are elements you should consider when selecting the correct methodology for your startup.
When To Use Agile?
- If you don’t have a defined scope for project
- Your project will need frequent iterations
- Your app needs rapid delivery
- If you have multiple stakeholders for the project
When To Use Waterfall?
- Your project scope is fixed.
- Your project follows a sequential flow.
- You have high standards set for the app quality required
- If the timeline for the entire project is already decided
Apart from these use cases if you have industry-specific needs, these methodologies do have specific usages.
Agile vs. Waterfall: Industrial Use Cases
Agile: Ideal for industries requiring flexibility and frequent updates.
Examples include:
- Software Development: Perfect for evolving projects in IT and modern software.
- Advertising & Marketing: Adapts well to trends and frequent updates.
- Aerospace: Streamlines processes, reduces costs, and improves time-to-market.
Waterfall: Best suited for industries with strict regulations or sequential phases.
Examples include:
- Construction: Requires completing one phase before starting the next.
- Healthcare: Ensures compliance with strict regulations, especially in pharmaceuticals.
- Manufacturing: Relies on structured planning for sequential production lines.
Agile has multiple models that you can follow. Some popular models are Kanban and Scrum. Let’s explore the differences between Agile Kanban, Agile Scrum, and the waterfall model.
Kanban vs. Scrum vs. Waterfall: Which Is The Best Approach?
You must consider critical differences while comparing Kanban vs Scrum vs Waterfall.
| Differentiators | Scrum | Kanban | Waterfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roles & responsibilities | Predefined roles for individuals in the team, e.g., Scrum master, product owner, and development team | There are no roles defined for individuals | Pre-defined roles (Project Manager, Developers, Testers) |
| Iteration length | Fixed-length sprint (two to four weeks) | Follow a continuous flow approach | Sequential top to bottom (no iterations) |
| Working method | Solve problems through sub-tasks | There is no sub-task to solve problems | Each phase must be completed before the next |
| Task ownership | The team owns the sprint backlog | Multiple teams share the Kanban board | Tasks are assigned upfront with individual ownership |
| Transparency | Transparent and inspectable | Predictable and Efficient | High predictability but low flexibility |
| Process Flow | The process is smooth when a team member leaves between sprints. | The flow is interrupted if a team member leaves in between. | Rigid; difficult to reassign work mid-project |
| Project type | Works perfectly for projects with changing priorities. | Works perfectly for projects with stability priorities. | Works perfectly with well-defined requirements and minimal changes |
| Problem-solving | Only the Scrum Master solves the problem. | All the members are allowed. | Issues are escalated or addressed at specific review points |
| Resources | It is not recommended if resources are limited. | Recommended if tasks and resources are limited. | Recommended that resources be planned upfront and fixed |
| Tools & Software |
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How Can aPurple Help You With Development Implementing Agile and Waterfall?
We hope this article has offered profound insights into the Agile vs Waterfall development methodology your startup should consider. Companies can save time and resources by using these methodologies that work for development, ensuring faster and higher quality delivery. The ability to implement both Agile and Waterfall models in development required experience to enhance the appeal of apps.
Our team works closely with you to understand your unique requirements, offering customized consulting and development services tailored to your needs. aPurple is your trusted partner for mobile app development, from designing intuitive user interfaces to integrating essential features that engage your target audience.
If you need help, especially with educational, car rental, healthcare, eCommerce, or logistics businesses, aPurple is here to assist you. With more than ten years of experience and 300+ successful projects delivered, our experts are adept at Software Product Development Services. Get customized app consulting services from our experts.
We design solutions that meet your business-specific requirements and guarantee improved business. Contact one of the top development companies to build a custom mobile app.
FAQs
Use Waterfall if you have well-defined requirements and a predictable timeline, while agile is better if you need evolution through an iterative flow.
Agile is a flexible, iterative approach to developing software, while Waterfall is a top-to-bottom sequential approach.
Although agile may seem more expensive at first, if you analyze it closely compared to Waterfall, it is more cost-effective in the long run, as its flexibility lowers the cost over time.
SDLC outlines the phases of software development, from planning to support. Conversely, Waterfall is an SDLC approach involving sequential stages of development.
