Jira is a solid tool for DevOps — however, plenty of other platforms in the market might be a better fit for your development cycles. Whether you’re swayed by budget, Agile features, or exciting integrations, there are a variety of Jira alternatives to consider.
In this article, we’ll explore 15 popular Jira alternatives, and put them head to head. With a breakdown of their pros and cons, and different pricing options, we’ll help you find the best platform for your product development needs.
For more information about Jira, see our monday.com vs jira, Jira vs Clickup, Aha! vs Jira
What is Jira and why consider alternatives?
Jira software is an Agile development and issue-tracking platform created by Atlassian in 2002. Software development teams use Jira to manage the entire dev lifecycle, by project planning sprints, tracking software bug issues, and collaborating seamlessly with team members and stakeholders.
Jira offers several key features, such as advanced reporting, Agile boards, sprint planning, and a range of integrations with 3,000+ apps through the Atlassian marketplace. It also offers work views such as Kanban, Scrum, timeline, and more.
While it is often a go-to platform for DevOps teams, it may not be the best fit for every team. Other product development tools on the market have their own spin on things that may work better with your specific DevOps project. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the best alternatives.
How to choose the right Jira alternative
Selecting the right Jira alternative for your team requires careful consideration of your specific needs and workflows. Follow these steps to evaluate your options:
- Assess your team’s requirements: Identify key features your team relies on, such as sprint planning, roadmaps, or integrations with existing tools. Then, determine whether you need advanced features like AI-powered workflows or scalability for large teams.
- Consider your budget: Evaluate the pricing models of each alternative and how they fit within your budget. Check for hidden costs, such as additional fees for advanced features or integrations.
- Test the usability: Take advantage of free trials or demo versions to understand the user interface and ease of use. This will ensure the tool supports your team’s preferred workflows and processes.
- Review integration options: Ensure the platform integrates seamlessly with your existing tools, such as GitHub, Slack, or Google Drive.Check for automation capabilities to reduce manual tasks.
- Read reviews and get feedback: Read user reviews on platforms like G2 or Capterra and seek recommendations and insights from peers in your industry.
- Start small and scale: Begin with a small team or project to test the tool before rolling it out across your entire organization. Monitor performance and gather feedback from your team to ensure the tool meets expectations.
By following these steps, you can confidently choose a Jira alternative that aligns with your team’s needs and enhances your project management workflows.
The Top 15 Jira alternatives for Agile teams
Here’s a quick look at some of the top popular tools ranked as Jira alternatives, complete with star ratings, key basic features, pros, and cons to help you find the best replacement for your team.
1. monday dev: best for customizable development workflows
monday dev is an open platform that allows teams to create unlimited projects and workflows. It’s ideal for product and development teams seeking a fully customizable platform to launch products faster.
monday dev is an open platform that people use to create unlimited projects, workflow, or system they need to perform absolutely any aspect of their work. For developers, we’ve given you a head-start, with monday dev—a ready-made, yet customizable product built to manage your entire development cycles from ideation to launch.
Pros:
- Lightning-speed product development and time to market
- Enhanced product quality
- Strong focus on customer satisfaction
Key features:
- Sprint management, ideal for Agile developers
- Seamless integrations with essential development tools like Figma, GitHub, and GitLab
- Intuitive roadmap planning and management
- 27+ different work views like Kanban and Calendar to visualize work any way you like
- Analytics and reporting features including velocity and burnup or burndown charts allow you to track the progress of your projects
- Custom automations allow you to save time on otherwise manual tasks
Pricing:
monday dev offers a free 14-day trial, with no credit card required. The following premium plans give you access to a wide range of functionality:
- Basic dev: $9/user/mo
- Standard dev: $12/user/mo
- Pro dev: $20/user/mo
- Enterprise dev: Custom pricing is available on request
Learn more about monday dev pricing in our comprehensive guide.
The best part about monday dev is its highly customizable workflows and intuitive user interface. The ability to tailor boards to fit our specific project needs helps us stay organized and efficient. The integration with other tools like Slack and Google Workspace makes it a central hub for our team’s activities — G2 review
Try monday dev2. ClickUp: ideal for tech-savvy teams needing deep customization
ClickUp offers an all-in-one productivity platform for managing development tasks, making it a great choice for tech-savvy teams looking for deep customization.
ClickUp offers an all-in-one productivity platform for managing development tasks, documenting product requirements, and tracking progress. As a highly customizable platform, it enables developers to tailor workflows precisely.
Pros:
- Built-in wikis and docs
- Robust free plan
- 24/7 customer support
Cons:
- Steep learning curve
- Workflow configurations take time to set up
- Performance may be slow
Key features:
- 20+ real-time custom views for sprint planning and backlog prioritization
- Integrated document management for logging specs and requirements
- Goal setting and tracking for product milestones
Pricing:
- Free: ClickUp’s free forever package is best suited for individuals
- Unlimited: From $7/member/mo
- Business: From $12/member/mo
- Enterprise: Custom pricing is available from the vendor
ClickUp allows me to do things that can’t otherwise be done due to their complexity and breadth of team members involved. I use it to store, manage and plan every single area of my life and business and the beautiful UI delights me to do so! — G2 review
Check out our ClickUp pricing guide to choose the right package for your team. Not happy with ClickUp’s features? Check out our list of the top ClickUp alternatives to learn more.
3. Aha!: perfect for product strategists focused on road mapping
Aha! is a development platform focused on product strategy, roadmap creation, and feature prioritization, making it ideal for product strategists.
Aha! is a development platform focused on product strategy, roadmap creation, and feature prioritization. It aims to bridge the gap between strategic planning and development execution.
Pros:
- Deep focus on product strategy and vision alignment
- Robust tools for prioritizing features based on value and effort
- Easy to share roadmaps with stakeholders for feedback and alignment
Cons:
- Relatively high cost, especially for smaller teams
- Primarily suited for product planning rather than task-level management
- Steep learning curve
Key features:
- Product roadmaps with milestones and timelines
- Idea management tools for capturing and prioritizing new product concepts
- Integration with development tools
Pricing:
Aha! offers a range of product management tools priced as follows:
- Aha! Develop: $9/user/mo
- Aha! Whiteboards: $9/user/mo
- Aha! Knowledge: $39/user/mo
- Aha! Ideas: $39/user/mo
- Aha! Roadmaps: $59/user/mo
The Aha platform is fantastic because it enables our product teams to manage the entire workflow within a single tool. From gathering ideas in the ideas portal to constructing releases and monitoring the go-to-market strategy, Aha provides a unified workspace for all our teams, ensuring transparency in both current and upcoming projects. — G2 review
4. Productboard: best for R&D teams prioritizing user feedback
Productboard allows for cross-team collaboration between research and development teams, focusing on product roadmaps and user feedback.
Productboard allows for cross-team collaboration between research and development teams focusing on their product roadmaps. The platform collects feedback from multiple sources to prioritize features and make better decisions.
Pros:
- Roadmap automatically updates to reflect changing plans
- Aligns product strategy to customer insights
- Integrates with other key tools, including Jira
Cons:
- Real-time support is only available on some Premium plans
- No free forever plan
- Focuses more on planning than execution
Key features:
- AI automated workflows
- Customizable views to present to stakeholders
- Interactive roadmaps with self-service access to key information
Pricing:
Productboard offers a limited 15-day free trial before the following business plans kick in:
- Essentials: From $19/user/mo
- Pro: From $59/user/mo
- Enterprise: Contact the vendor for customized pricing available for 5+ user
- Product Board AI: From $20/user/mo
I’m really into how Productboard fosters collaboration. It’s like a melting pot of ideas and feedback. When we all join forces and see how seamlessly it connects to our project tools it’s like adding fuel to the fire of our product’s performance. Also having all customer comments and market info in one place helps us get inside the minds of our users ultimately paving the way for our product innovation. — G2 review
For more, read our piece all about Productboard alternatives.
5. Azure DevOps: top choice for Microsoft users
Azure DevOps provides integrated development tools, making it a strong choice for developers within the Microsoft ecosystem.
Azure DevOps provides development tools, from Agile planning to CI/CD pipelines. Software developers can use them as a pick and mix to build or complement their existing development workflows.
Pros:
- An integrated set of tools covering the entire development lifecycle
- Strong support for automated builds, testing, and deployments
- Scalable from small projects to enterprise-level solutions
Cons:
- Complex configuration and customization
- Primarily tailored for users within the Microsoft ecosystem
- Limited support available
Key features:
- Repositories for version control
- Boards for agile project management and sprint planning
- Pipelines for continuous integration and delivery
Pricing
Custom pricing is available from the vendor.
As a devops engineer this software is great to manage our pipelines and scrum boards.” — G2 review
6. Linear: best project management tool for small team
Linear streamlines issue tracking and sprint planning, making it ideal for small, fast-paced development teams.
Linear streamlines the process of issue tracking and sprint planning with a clean, efficient interface. It’s built for product developers needing quick issue resolution and smooth workflows.
Pros:
- Sleek interface designed for speed and efficiency
- Clear per-user pricing
- Easy to set up
Cons:
- Better suited for small rather than large-scale development projects
- Low number of features
- Harder to customize than other Jira alternatives
Key features:
- Fast issue creation and prioritization
- Cycle and roadmap planning
- Keyboard shortcuts and commands
Pricing:
- Free: Linear’s free plan is for unlimited members
- Standard: From $8/user/mo
- Plus: From $14/user/mo
It’s very well designed and allows you to customize the tool based on your business needs by providing essential features and configurations like Cycles, Cool-down periods, Integrations, Issues management, and more. — G2 review
For more information about Linear, read our Linear vs Jira review.
7. Basecamp: simplified project management and communication
Basecamp is a collaboration software that simplifies communication and project management, making it perfect for teams seeking simplicity.
Basecamp is a collaboration software that DevOps teams can use to simplify communication from a single location.
Pros:
- Simple and intuitive interface
- Easy to prioritize task assignments
- Customizable notifications keep everyone on the same page
Cons:
- Lacks Agile features such as burndown charts or sprint planning boards
- Limited customizability for unique workflows
- No free plan
Key features:
- To-do lists, Campfire message boards, and file storage to better centralize your workflow
- Automated check-ins to remind teams to regularly share updates
- Centralized documentation makes it easy to store, share, and collaborate on files
Pricing:
Basecamp uses a flat-rate pricing model as follows:
- Basic plan: From $15/user/mo
- Pro plan: $299 for unlimited users
Basecamp has been a lifesaver for me because of its ease of use, intuitive design, and ability to monitor and prioritize projects. Content development and campaign management are two areas where it really shines. Time and effort can be saved and productivity increased by using the platform to efficiently create to-do lists and delegate tasks to teams. Its easy-to-use interface and customizable template-building capabilities save me time and effort when working on similar projects — G2 review
Learn more about Basecamp’s pricing model in our detailed guide.
8. GitHub: essential for development teams needing version control
GitHub is a platform for managing code repositories and collaborating on DevOps projects, which is essential for teams needing robust version control.
GitHub is a platform that developers use to manage code repositories, track issues and bugs, share knowledge among developers, and collaborate on DevOps projects.
Pros:
- Great for version control with complete access to coding history
- Work with unlimited collaborators
- Robust documentation and support
Cons:
- Advanced features require technical knowledge
- Customer support challenging for non-tech users
- Some useful features are charged as additional components
Key features:
- AI-powered code writing Copilot
- Fully configured cloud-based dev environment
- Native security testing
Pricing:
The following plans are available, with add-on pricing for extra file storage and security features:
- Free forever for unlimited public and private repositories
- Team: From $4 per user/mo
- Enterprise: From $21 per user/mo
What I love most about GitHub is how easy it is to collaborate on code. The version control with Git is super reliable, and features like pull requests, code reviews, and branch management help teams work smoothly, no matter where they are. — G2 review
9. Asana: versatile task management for any team size
Asana offers a user-friendly interface for organizing and tracking product development tasks, making it suitable for teams of any size.
Asana is a task management tool that helps teams organize and track work. It offers a user-friendly and simple interface, making it easy to manage, assign, and track product development tasks and timelines efficiently.
Pros:
- Task prioritization is available
- Simple to monitor connected sprints
- Automatic notifications keep stakeholders in the loop
Cons:
- Fewer integrations are available than Jira
- More expensive than other competitors to Jira
- Geared for task rather than product management
Key features:
- Task and project tracking with multiple views, including Kanban, Gantt, list, and calendar
- Create custom task dependencies and automations
- Track team workloads and project progress for better planning
Pricing:
- Personal: Asana’s free plan is for individuals or small teams
- Starter: From $10.99/user/mo
- Advanced: From $24.99/user/mo
- Enterprise and Enterprise +: Custom pricing is available for companies requiring advanced automation and compliance requirements.
Asana has revolutionized the way I manage projects. Its intuitive interface and customizable workflows allow me to stay organized and keep track of all my tasks in one place. I love the integration options with other tools I use daily, like Google Drive and Slack. The collaborative features make it easy to communicate with my team, and the calendar view is perfect for visualizing what I need to get done each day. — G2 review
Check out our guide to Asana pricing to learn more.
10. Redmine: customizable solution for advanced tracking
Redmine is an open-source tool ideal for software developers needing advanced bug-tracking features.
Redmine is an open-source tool ideal for software developers needing advanced bug-tracking features. Its customizable platform appeals to teams who want the flexibility to adjust a product management tool to their liking.
Pros:
- Supports multiple projects
- Offers role-based access control
- Provides a dynamic issue-tracking system
Cons:
- Customer service is forum-based
- Steep learning curve for non-developers on your team
- Lower G2 review score than Jira (4.0 out of 5, compared to Jira’s 4.3)
Key features:
- Project wikis and forums to keep essential DevOps data streamlined
- Time tracking and Gantt charts for DevOps planning
- Role-based access control for team collaboration
Pricing:
Redmine is open-source and free to use, but costs apply for various plugins and third-party hosting services.
It’s one of the most simple and flexible tools to manage the project management activities like tasks, bugs, deliverables or others. It’s an open source tool with a stack version and it works across the platform and databases. We liked its integration with internal applications through different databases. — G2 review
11. Wrike: teams looking for cross-functional collaboration
Wrike provides robust project management features tailored for cross-functional teams looking for collaboration. With customizable workflows, shared dashboards, and real-time updates, Wrike is a strong choice for teams looking to improve productivity and communication.
Pros:
- Highly customizable workflows
- Real-time cross-functional collaboration and updates
- Detailed time tracking and reporting tools
Cons:
- Limited integrations with some tools
- Pricing can be steep as you scale
Pricing:
- Free: Basic package for up to 5 users
- Professional: From $9.80/user/mo
- Business: From $24.80/user/mo
- Enterprise: Custom pricing available
The flexibility that Wrike allows has enabled us to fit various workflows into Wrike. Whether that be tracking a project, implementing a ticket request system, setting up notifications based on internal data systems, or keeping track of inventory! — G2 review
12. Confluence: top knowledge management tool integrated with Jira
Confluence is a collaboration tool from Atlassian that helps teams manage project knowledge, document processes, and create a single source of truth for information. It integrates seamlessly with Jira, making it a great companion tool for teams already using Jira.
Pros:
- Strong integration with Jira
- Excellent for team collaboration and documentation
- Easy to create and manage content spaces
Cons:
- Limited project management and task-tracking capabilities
- May not be suitable as a standalone project management tool
Pricing:
- Free: For small teams
- Standard: From $5.75/user/mo
- Premium: From $11/user/mo
- Enterprise: Custom pricing available
Confluence is an excellent application for document sharing within organizations, and its user-friendly interface makes it easy to use. We utilize it for information sharing, and the version control feature is particularly useful, allowing us to track changes effectively. — G2 review
13. Rally Software: advanced Agile project management for enterprises
Rally Software (formerly CA Agile Central) is a robust Agile project management tool designed for large enterprises. It offers powerful features for Agile planning, tracking, and scaling across teams.
Pros:
- Advanced Agile project management tools
- Customizable dashboards and reporting
- Strong support for scaling Agile across large organizations
Cons:
- High cost, especially for smaller teams
- Complex setup and configuration
Pricing:
- Free: Not available
- Professional: From $30/user/mo
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
I really like how rally expands on users’ stories and tasks. The tool is designed for software related projects, or anything that can be run in iterations or sprints. — G2 review
14. Zoho Projects: affordable project management for small to medium teams
Zoho Projects is a cost-effective project management tool that offers task management features, Gantt charts, time tracking, and collaboration. It’s ideal for small to medium-sized teams looking for budget-friendly software.
Pros:
- Very affordable with strong feature set
- Easy-to-use interface with a low learning curve
- Integrates well with other Zoho applications
Cons:
- Limited advanced project management features
- Customer support can be slow at times
Pricing:
- Free: Up to 3 users
- Premium: From $4/user/mo
- Enterprise: From $9/user/mo
Zoho project helps our team to keep track of all the projects with its multiple features such as task management , collaboration, time management, user admin, analytics customization & it is super easy to use and implement on the office works as well the setup part of integration is also very simple and all this features allows us to use this platform as frequently as possible. — G2 review
15. Airtable: flexible database tool for custom workflows
Airtable combines the simplicity of a spreadsheet with the power of a database, allowing teams to customize their workflows to fit their needs. It is highly flexible and easy to use for managing projects, tracking tasks, and more.
Pros:
- Highly customizable and flexible
- Intuitive, user-friendly interface
- Great for teams that need custom workflows and databases
Cons:
- Lacks some advanced project management features
- Can become expensive with additional users and features
Pricing:
- Free: For individuals and small teams
- Plus: From $12/user/mo
- Pro: From $24/user/mo
- Enterprise: Custom pricing available
Airtable is a very easy-to-learn tool that has allowed our corporate communications team to create a fully customized project management interface for task and project tracking, editorial teams and calendars, a repository of team resources, a host for content analytics and so much more. — G2 review
Weaknesses of alternatives compared to Jira
Although many alternatives to Jira offer unique features and benefits, it’s important to recognize the areas where they may fall short compared to Jira’s capabilities. Here’s a look at some key features where Jira often excels and how alternatives might compare:
Integration strength
- Jira: Offering a vast integration marketplace with over 3,000 apps, Jira offers seamless connectivity with a wide range of development, communication, and productivity tools.
- Alternatives: Although many alternatives support popular integrations, they may not match the breadth and depth of Jira’s integration capabilities. This can be a limitation for teams relying on a diverse software ecosystem.
Agile tools and methodologies
- Jira: With Scrum and Kanban boards, backlog management, and sprint planning, Jira provides robust support for Agile methodologies.
- Alternatives: Some alternatives may offer Agile features, but they might not be as comprehensive or flexible as those in Jira, potentially limiting their effectiveness for Agile teams.
Scalability for large teams
- Jira: Designed to handle large-scale projects and teams, Jira has features that support complex project management needs.
- Alternatives: Some tools may be better suited for smaller teams or simpler projects, potentially struggling with the demands of larger, more complex environments.
By understanding these potential weaknesses, teams can make a more informed decision when considering Jira alternatives, ensuring they choose a tool that aligns with their specific needs and priorities.
Next steps: how to evaluate and choose the right development tool
Choosing the right development tool is a critical decision that can impact your team’s productivity and project success. Here are some actionable steps to help you evaluate and select the best Jira alternative for your needs:
1 . Leverage free trials
Most project management tools offer free trials. Use this opportunity to explore the features and functionalities of each tool. Set up a test project to see how well the tool fits your workflow and team dynamics.
2. Create test projects
Simulate real-world scenarios by creating test projects. This will help you understand how the tool handles task management, collaboration, and reporting. Pay attention to how intuitive the interface is and how quickly your team can adapt to it.
3. Evaluate your integration needs
List the tools and software your team currently uses. Ensure the project management tool you choose integrates seamlessly with these applications. This will help maintain a smooth workflow and prevent disruptions.
4. Involve key stakeholders
Engage team members and stakeholders in the evaluation process. Gather feedback from those who will be using the tool daily to ensure it meets their needs and preferences. This collaborative approach can lead to better adoption and satisfaction.
5. Consider long-term scalability
Think about your team’s future needs. Choose a tool that can scale with your team as it grows and evolves. Consider features that might become important as your projects become more complex.
6. Assess support and resources
Evaluate the level of customer support and resources available for each tool. Access to comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and responsive support can be crucial for a smooth onboarding process.
7. Review pricing alongside your budget
Compare the pricing plans of different tools and consider your budget. Look for a tool that offers the best value for money, balancing cost with the features and support you need.
By following these steps, you can make a more informed decision and select a project management tool that aligns with your team’s unique requirements and goals. Remember, the right solution can enhance collaboration, streamline workflows, and ultimately contribute to your team’s success.
monday dev: A versatile Jira alternative
If monday dev stands out as an appealing alternative to Jira, these specific features will keep your product development lifecycle connected and streamlined across your entire organization:
- Sprint management: Plan sprints, host daily standups and sprint retros, and understand sprint ownership all from a single location in monday dev.
- Burndown charts: Detect any bottlenecks or vulnerabilities in your development cycles. You can compare actual sprint progress with ideal progress to understand where to deploy resources.
- Git integrations: Streamline updates directly from your coding repository and track the progress on your integrated Git board.
- Automation: Eliminate repetitive tasks by creating simple automation recipes in monday dev. For example, you might create an automatic notification to update a product manager by email when a sprint is complete.
- Knowledge management: Store collective information in a shared space for easy collaboration among team members.
Which is the best Jira replacement?
The truth is there’s no one-size-fits-all option that will be right for every team. The best Jira alternative depends on the size of your team and your individual needs and preferences. That said, choosing a platform that can manage any stage of the product life cycle from a single location gives you the best chance of developing successful products your customers will love—and that’s exactly what you get with monday dev.
With the flexibility to build a bespoke workspace, monday dev offers teams of all types and sizes a wide range of features to customize the platform to their liking through flexible boards, plenty of work views, and an array of popular integrations that allow you to connect all your existing work tools. It even integrates with Jira, giving you the best of both worlds. Why not take a free monday dev trial today?
FAQs
What’s the difference between Jira and Trello?
Trello is a Kanban-style task management tool that uses digital cards to organize tasks, while Jira offers more advanced features for product management and collaboration. Trello is better suited for smaller teams or simpler projects, while Jira is ideal for larger teams with complex product development processes.
Does Microsoft have a Jira alternative?
Yes, Microsoft's Azure DevOps offers features similar to Jira, including Agile planning tools and reporting capabilities.
Who is Jira’s biggest competitor?
Jira has numerous competitors in the market, including Asana, Redmine, and monday dev. It's worth noting that the G2 user community gives monday dev a higher score than Jira, with 4.7 out of 5 compared to Jira's 4.3.
Why do people still use Jira?
Jira is still popular because it’s a powerful tool for Agile teams. It excels at issue tracking, sprint planning, and reporting, making it ideal for managing complex projects. Its extensive customization and integration options also make it a go-to for larger businesses needing detailed insights and control.
Is there a better alternative to Jira?
The "best" alternative depends on your team's needs. While Jira is great for complex Agile workflows, tools like monday dev offer a more intuitive and flexible approach. Other options like ClickUp or Airtable might suit teams looking for easier setups, collaboration, or specific features. The right choice is all about what fits your workflow best.
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