Jira Review: Pros, Cons, Features & Pricing
Jira is a product management tool that helps teams plan, track, and manage Agile software development projects. It's ideal for software development teams, IT departments, and tech companies like startups and enterprises seeking efficient project coordination. Jira's value lies in its ability to enhance team collaboration and streamline project workflows, making your work more organized and productive.
In this article, you'll discover Jira's features, pros and cons, best and worst use cases, and pricing. Whether you're looking to improve your team's efficiency or tackle complex projects, this guide will align with your goals and challenges.
Jira Evaluation Summary
- From $7.16/user/month (billed annually, min 5 seats)
- 7-day free trial + free plan available
Why Trust Our Software Reviews
Jira Overview
In my opinion, Jira is a solid choice for Agile project management, particularly excelling in environments that require robust collaboration and task tracking. It stands out for its flexibility and deep integration options, making it ideal for software development teams. However, its complexity can be daunting for smaller teams or those with simpler needs. Compared to other tools, Jira offers exceptional features but demands a steeper learning curve and investment to fully leverage its capabilities. For teams ready to commit, it offers unmatched customization and project management prowess.
pros
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It enhances collaboration with real-time updates and tracking.
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You can customize workflows to match your project's unique needs.
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It offers powerful Agile project management features for your team.
cons
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You may experience a steep learning curve during onboarding.
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It can be too complex for smaller teams or simpler projects.
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You might find the interface overwhelming if you're new to it.
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Ravetree
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.1 -
Wrike
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.2 -
monday dev
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6
How We Test & Score Tools
We’ve spent years building, refining, and improving our software testing and scoring system. The rubric is designed to capture the nuances of software selection and what makes a tool effective, focusing on critical aspects of the decision-making process.
Below, you can see exactly how our testing and scoring works across seven criteria. It allows us to provide an unbiased evaluation of the software based on core functionality, standout features, ease of use, onboarding, customer support, integrations, customer reviews, and value for money.
Core Functionality (25% of final scoring)
The starting point of our evaluation is always the core functionality of the tool. Does it have the basic features and functions that a user would expect to see? Are any of those core features locked to higher-tiered pricing plans? At its core, we expect a tool to stand up against the baseline capabilities of its competitors.
Standout Features (25% of final scoring)
Next, we evaluate uncommon standout features that go above and beyond the core functionality typically found in tools of its kind. A high score reflects specialized or unique features that make the product faster, more efficient, or offer additional value to the user.
We also evaluate how easy it is to integrate with other tools typically found in the tech stack to expand the functionality and utility of the software. Tools offering plentiful native integrations, 3rd party connections, and API access to build custom integrations score best.
Ease of Use (10% of final scoring)
We consider how quick and easy it is to execute the tasks defined in the core functionality using the tool. High scoring software is well designed, intuitive to use, offers mobile apps, provides templates, and makes relatively complex tasks seem simple.
Onboarding (10% of final scoring)
We know how important rapid team adoption is for a new platform, so we evaluate how easy it is to learn and use a tool with minimal training. We evaluate how quickly a team member can get set up and start using the tool with no experience. High scoring solutions indicate little or no support is required.
Customer Support (10% of final scoring)
We review how quick and easy it is to get unstuck and find help by phone, live chat, or knowledge base. Tools and companies that provide real-time support score best, while chatbots score worst.
Customer Reviews (10% of final scoring)
Beyond our own testing and evaluation, we consider the net promoter score from current and past customers. We review their likelihood, given the option, to choose the tool again for the core functionality. A high scoring software reflects a high net promoter score from current or past customers.
Value for Money (10% of final scoring)
Lastly, in consideration of all the other criteria, we review the average price of entry level plans against the core features and consider the value of the other evaluation criteria. Software that delivers more, for less, will score higher.
Core Features
Task Management
You can create, assign, and prioritize tasks with ease, keeping your team on track. The intuitive interface helps you visualize tasks across different stages.
Scrum Boards
These boards allow your team to manage backlogs and sprints efficiently, supporting Agile workflows. You can easily track progress and make adjustments as needed.
Kanban Boards
With customizable Kanban boards, you can streamline your team's workflow. They help you visualize work in progress and identify bottlenecks quickly.
Reporting
Jira's reporting tools provide insights into your team's performance with detailed charts and metrics. You can make informed decisions based on real-time data.
Custom Workflows
You can design workflows to match your project's specific needs, enhancing flexibility. This feature allows you to adapt processes to suit your team's style.
Permissions and Security
Jira offers robust permission settings, giving you control over who accesses what. This ensures your project's data remains secure and confidential.
Ease of Use
Jira offers a robust set of features, but you might find its interface overwhelming at first. Its complexity can pose a challenge for new users, especially if your team is small or lacks technical expertise. However, once you get the hang of it, its customizable boards and automation tools can significantly boost your team's productivity. The learning curve is there, but the payoff comes with enhanced project management capabilities and effective collaboration.
New Product Updates from Jira
Atlassian CLI Now Available for Jira Cloud
The Atlassian Command-Line Interface (CLI) is now available for Jira Cloud, offering valuable enhancements for administrators and automation engineers.
This update enables users to script and execute bulk operations—such as creating, updating, or migrating issues—directly against Jira Cloud. The CLI aims to reduce manual effort and improve repeatability in managing Jira projects.
More details at Atlassian.
Jira Specs
- API
- Calendar Management
- Collaboration Support
- Dashboards
- Data Export
- Data Import
- External Integrations
- File Sharing
- Gantt Charts
- Kanban Boards
- Mobile App
- Multi-User
- Notifications
- Prioritization
- Project Management
- Status Notifications
- Task Scheduling/Tracking
- Time Management
Jira FAQs
How secure is my data in Jira?
Does Jira offer mobile access?
How does Jira handle task dependencies?
What kind of reporting capabilities does Jira provide?
Can Jira be used for non-software projects?
How does Jira support Agile project management?
Can I customize Jira to fit my team's workflow?
What kind of support does Jira offer?
What's Next
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