In this Jira review, we explore the key details of one of the tech industry’s most popular project management tools. Known for its robust Agile methodologies and extensive project management capabilities, Jira has carved a niche for itself, but it’s not without its complexities. From our experience navigating its dashboard and features, we provide an in-depth analysis of Jira’s functionality, pricing, and how it stands against competitors.
Jira Pricing
Jira offers various plans to suit different needs. From small teams after a cost-effective solution to large enterprises seeking comprehensive features, Jira’s pricing model accommodates all.
To start our Jira software review, here’s an overview of its pricing plans to help you decide which one is right for you:
Free | Standard | Premium | Enterprise | |
Starting Price | $0 | $8.15/user/month | $16/user/month | Custom |
User Limit | Up to 10 | Up to 35,000 | Up to 35,000 | Up to 35,000 |
Free Version | Free plan | 7-day trial | 7-day trial | ❌ |
Storage | 2 GB | 250 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Number of Sites | 1 | 1 | 1 | 150 |
Automations | 100/month | 1,700/month | 1,000/month | Unlimited |
Unlimited Project Boards | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Atlassian Intelligence (AI) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
User Roles and Permissions | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Email Notifications | 100 emails/day | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Support | Community Support | Local Business Hours | 24/7 Premium Support | 24/7 Enterprise Support |
Jira Features
Jira is undoubtedly a powerhouse and easily one of the best project management software solutions, offering a suite of features tailored to enhance productivity and streamline workflows.
This includes issue management, agile workflows, bug tracking, and powerful automations and roadmaps. Here are the key capabilities that stood out to us during our Jira software review.
Agile Development
Jira is built for Agile development principles, offering versatile Scrum, Kanban, and bug-tracking boards suitable for various projects, including software development, recruitment, and budgeting.
Its intuitive management of sprints and issues, complemented by multiple project views like user stories, places it a step ahead of competitors.
We really liked Jira’s Agile boards and found that they’re somewhat more adaptable than similar tools, offering seamless integration of Agile methodologies into project planning and execution.
Dashboards and Reports
Jira offers 15+ types of data-driven reports for every project stage. For example, sprint and resolution time reports offer actionable insights for project managers to make informed decisions.
This feature of generating visually rich reports for various stages, from planning to delivery, and their shareability with clients, enhances transparency in communication.
Compared to competitors, Jira’s dashboards and reports stand out for their comprehensiveness. We found the interface fairly navigational, but it does take some getting used to.
Unlike Trello, for example, Jira reviews do outline that there’s a slight learning curve with navigating the interface.
Roadmaps
Roadmaps in Jira offer a high-level, visual summary of project goals, timelines, and priorities, invaluable for stakeholder alignment and prioritizing tasks.
This feature provides a comprehensive overview, critical for managing complex projects. Jira’s roadmaps are notable in promoting transparent communication and accountability.
We found that they’re detailed and quite customizable, offering a clear overview of project progress and objectives. To add to their versatility, you can export them to PDF and CSV formats, too.
However, they may not share the same beauty as the roadmaps possible with platforms like Hygger, for example, but this does usually come down to personal preference.
Role Assignment
Jira facilitates efficient user access and permissions management. It lets you easily assign users to different roles and groups, which is crucial for organizations with multiple projects.
It enables precise control over project roles and permissions, enhancing project security and workflow efficiency, but is unfortunately only available on Jira’s paid plans.
We found Jira offers granular control of roles, which can make it challenging for new users to navigate when compared to tools like Asana, which offer less detailed role customization.
That said, it’s worth noting that, unlike most competitors, you can’t assign a task to multiple assignees. This may or may not be a dealbreaker for you, it all depends on your specific needs.
Jira Integrations
Jira offers many integrations, exceeding 3,000 in over 35 categories, ranging from project management and CRM tools to dependency management, security, and workflow software.
This extensive selection positions Jira as a highly adaptable tool for various business needs. Notably, Jira integrates with popular platforms like Slack, Microsoft, Google, and Zoom.
This enhances its utility for diverse team environments. Jira’s cloud family, including Jira Service Management and Jira Work Management, can all be used on the same site, too.
There’s no doubt that Jira’s integration capabilities are extensive, especially when compared to Monday.com and Trello, for example, which offer 200+ integrations.
So, Jira offers far more versatility than many competitors, and for the most part, the integration support and implementation have gotten good feedback. However, there have been some complaints.
Jira Customer Reviews
Jira, the prominent project management tool that it is, has garnered impressive scores of 4.3/5 on G2 and 4.4/5 on Software Advice, reflecting its strong reputation among users.
When looking into customer reviews from various platforms, we find a blend of praises and critiques that shape our understanding of Jira’s performance beyond our experience with it.
Jira is widely acclaimed for its kanban-style overview of projects, effective project management through task distribution into sprints, and reliable team-tracking capabilities.
Its comprehensive toolset, excellent for managing various project aspects, and remarkable live collaboration features make it a favorite in dynamic project environments.
Integrating popular tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Confluence further enhances its utility. However, it’s not without its challenges; some users report:
- Performance issues in large projects
- Find its myriad of features overwhelming initially
- Suggest improvements in the user interface less rigid
And, although most find connecting with the integration options easy, some have noted issues with specific plugins, suggesting there’s room for improvement in certain areas.
Overall, Jira reviews aligned with our experience when we tested it. The broad range of features and integrations make it a powerful tool, but this can also contribute to a steep learning curve for new users.
The noted performance issues and user interface challenges are areas Jira could definitely focus on for improvement, too, but for the most part, these aren’t a dealbreaker.
What is Jira Good for?
It boasts a significant amount of integrations, which are available with all plans–even the free one. Jira facilitates complex project management and team coordination, too.
This is achievable with features like customizable workflows, extensive integration options, and real-time collaboration tools. It’s a great choice for larger teams and complex projects.
That said, it’s not the go-to for smaller projects and teams, as it can be harder to navigate and set up than tools like Monday, for example.
Jira vs Top Competitors
Comparing tools can offer valuable insights that can help you decide which platform is best. Here’s a concise table that highlights key aspects, helping you compare it to the top Jira alternatives:
Jira | Monday | Wrike | ClickUp | Smartsheet | Teamwork | |
Best For | Large businesses and tech teams | New businesses | Marketing teams | Remote teams | Free project planning | Automation |
Starting Price | $8.15/user/month | $9/user/month | $9.80/user/month | $7/user/month | $7/user/month | $5.99/user/month |
Free Version | Free plan | Free plan | Free plan | Free plan | Free plan | Free plan |
Compatibility | iOS, Android, browser | iOS, Android, browser | iOS, Android, browser | iOS, Android, browser | iOS, Android, browser | iOS, Android, browser |
Top Features | Agile methodologies, Advanced reporting, Roadmaps | User-friendly, Workflow automation, Time tracking | Interactive Gantt charts, Collaborative editing, Analytics | Customizable views, Easy collaboration, 1,000+ integrations | Intuitive interface, Multiple view options, Data security | Client management, Budget tracking, Portfolio management |
Jira vs Trello
Jira and Trello, both from Atlassian, serve distinct roles. Jira, with its detailed Agile methodologies and extensive integrations, is ideal for large tech teams needing complex project management.
It offers structured environments, Scrum and Kanban boards, and robust reporting tools. Trello, on the other hand, shines in its simplicity and flexibility.
Trello’s intuitive Kanban board and user-friendly interface make it suitable for a variety of projects for small to mid-sized businesses.
The choice between Jira and Trello depends on project complexity and team size. As we’ve explored in this Jira review, we recommend it for detailed, large-scale projects and Trello for simpler, more flexible task management.
Recommended Read: Our Full Trello Review
Jira vs Asana
As most reviews state, like ours, Jira is a favorite among DevOps and software development teams, as it offers advanced features suited for complex project tracking.
With its superior design and user experience, Asana appeals to a broader audience, providing a more intuitive platform that’s ideal for general project management.
Asana’s dashboards and reporting are user-friendly and robust, though less customizable than Jira’s. If you’re looking for simplicity, then we recommend going for Asana.
Read More: An In-Depth Asana Review
Jira vs Confluence
Jira and Confluence, again two products from Atlassian, cater to distinct but different needs in project collaboration. Jira, ideal for technical teams, excels in project management and bug tracking.
Confluence, on the other hand, specializes in documentation, providing an intuitive platform for teams to create, manage, and share content such as meeting notes and strategy documents.
While Jira focuses on structured project workflows, Confluence is more about collaborative knowledge sharing. We recommend Confluence for content organization and team collaboration, but you should go for Jira for anything more technical than that.
Verdict – Is Jira Worth it?
Jira stands out as a robust solution for businesses, particularly larger, tech-centric teams seeking a comprehensive project management tool. Its strength undoubtedly lies in its Agile methodologies.
This includes Scrum and Kanban, making it highly effective for software development and complex project tracking. The platform’s range of integrations is another significant asset.
So, Jira is undoubtedly worth it if you require detailed project management with Agile features. However, as we explored in this Jira software review, its complexity can be daunting for some.
Moreover, while offering a free plan, its pricing will be a consideration for startups or smaller businesses. If you’re after simplicity, we recommend checking out Monday.
How We Test Project Management Tools
With over 13 years of being an authoritative voice in tech, our team at Techopedia brings extensive experience in testing and analyzing leading project management tools.
Our rigorous testing process involves a comprehensive 2-week evaluation, examining features for efficiency, assessing app usability across platforms, and evaluating the quality of support offered.
We dig into the specifics, such as testing automation capabilities and integration efficiency, to provide a detailed understanding of each tool’s strengths and weaknesses.
We also consider user reviews from reputable sites, ensuring our analysis is well-rounded and reflects diverse user experiences.
How to Choose the Best Project Management Solution
Choosing the best project management app requires carefully assessing various factors to ensure it aligns with your business needs. Here’s a list of factors you should consider:
You’ll want to set a budget to get a better idea of what tools are within your range. Beyond this, you’ll also want to take into account the feature-to-price value on offer with the provider to determine whether you’re getting good value for money for the functionality.
Verify that the essential features you require are available in the plan you’re considering. Some advanced features might be restricted to higher-tier plans. This can (and often does) include things like integrations and automations, for example.
Assess the cost of scaling up, and whether the provider offers the additional functionality you’ll need as your business grows. This is key to factor in before you commit – even to a free plan – as changing platforms can be a nightmare.
Determine the system’s ease of use to avoid extensive setup or training requirements. Free versions or trials can give you a hands-on experience of the tool’s usability.
Check if the necessary integrations are available and whether they are included in your chosen plan or only in higher-tier ones.
Consider the availability of support hours and the methods offered. It’s also essential to factor in user reviews regarding customer support quality.
FAQs
Why is Jira so popular?
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References
- The Principles Behind the Agile Manifesto (AgileManifesto)
- Scrum vs Kanban (Coursera)