Alternatives

12 Best Jira Alternatives

Ruud CarisEditor-in-Chief

Updated: 9 January 2026About Jira →

Jira is the industry standard for agile software development, but is known for its complexity and slow interface. Teams often look for alternatives that work faster, require less configuration, or offer better integration between documentation and task management.

136+ toolscompared

✓No sponsored rankings

My recommendations

Best Overall

Clickup

★ 4.1/5

Combines project management, docs, and goals in one platform

View Clickup →

Most Similar

Linear

★ 4.5/5

Specifically built for software teams with focus on speed

View Linear →

Best for Teams

Asana

★ 4.5/5

Strong for collaboration between technical and non-technical teams

View Asana →

Best Budget

Basecamp

★ 4.1/5

Fixed price per month regardless of number of users

View Basecamp →

At a glance

ToolScoreBest for

Linear

★4.5/5

Software teams that prefer speed and keyboard shortcutsView →

Clickup

★4.1/5

Organizations that want Jira and Confluence in one toolView →

Asana

★4.5/5

Teams that collaborate across different departmentsView →

Notion

★4.4/5

Startups that want to integrate documentation and tasksView →

Monday.com

★4.5/5

Marketing and operational teams that work visuallyView →

Trello

★4.4/5

Small teams that follow a simple Kanban processView →

Basecamp

★4.1/5

Teams that want to centralize communication and tasksView →

Wrike

★4/5

Medium to large teams that need resource planningView →

Coda

★4.4/5

Teams that want to build their own tools and workflowsView →

Airtable

★4/5

Teams that need data-driven workflowsView →

Smartsheet

★4/5

Organizations that are stuck with Excel workflowsView →

Taskade

★4.4/5

Remote teams that want AI assistance with projectsView →

All Jira alternatives at a glance

Linear

Software teams that prefer speed and keyboard shortcuts

★ 4.5/5 · Free / from 8 dollar

Linear is an issue tracking tool specifically designed for software development teams that prioritize speed. The application is keyboard-first, which means virtually every action can be performed without a mouse. It offers built-in workflows for cycles and projects without the heavy configuration that Jira requires. Linear enforces a specific way of working (opinionated software), which speeds up setup but limits flexibility. There is no native support for non-technical departments such as HR or marketing.

Difference: Opinionated workflow that requires hardly any configuration

Choose this if: speed and git integration have the highest priority

✓ What we like

✓Blazing fast interface
✓Full offline mode
✓Excellent GitHub integration
✓Intuitive keyboard shortcuts

✗ What we don't like

✗Limited reporting options
✗High guest user costs
✗Steep learning curve for shortcuts

View Linear →More details →

Clickup

Organizations that want Jira and Confluence in one tool

★ 4.1/5 · Free / from 7 dollar

ClickUp positions itself as a replacement for multiple apps by combining tasks, documents, whiteboards, and time tracking. The platform is extremely customizable with ClickApps that allow features to be turned on or off per space. This makes it suitable for both developers (sprints, git integrations) and marketing teams. The flip side of this versatility is a steep learning curve and an interface that sometimes responds slowly with large amounts of data. The search function is less accurate than Jira's.

Difference: All-in-one architecture including native docs and whiteboards

Choose this if: one tool for the entire organization is required

✓ What we like

✓Enormous customizability
✓Generous free plan
✓Versatile view options
✓Powerful automations

✗ What we don't like

✗Steep learning curve
✗Slow loading times
✗Overwhelming interface

View Clickup →More details →

Asana

Teams that collaborate across different departments

★ 4.5/5 · Free / from 11 euro

Asana focuses on general project management with a strong emphasis on visual clarity and ease of use. It offers various views such as list, board, timeline, and calendar to organize work. Although it has less in-depth technical features than Jira (such as release management), it is more accessible for cross-functional teams. The reporting capabilities are extensive but often require a more expensive subscription. Asana lacks native markdown support in task descriptions, which can be a drawback for developers.

Difference: Focus on task management instead of issue tracking

Choose this if: ease of use for non-technical members is essential

✓ What we like

✓Intuitive interface
✓Generous free version
✓Extensive integrations
✓Visual project views

✗ What we don't like

✗Pricey subscriptions
✗Limited time tracking
✗One task assignee

View Asana →More details →

Notion

Startups that want to integrate documentation and tasks

★ 4.4/5 · Free / from 10 dollar

Notion combines databases, notes and tasks in a block-based editor. Teams can build their own issue tracker with properties, statuses and relationships that exactly match their process. This provides maximum freedom, but requires users to design and maintain their own system ('Lego for software'). It lacks standard agile features like burndown charts or sprint automation, unless you build these yourself or use templates. The mobile app is functional but slower than dedicated task managers.

Difference: Fully flexible database structure instead of fixed modules

Choose this if: documentation is just as important as task management

✓ What we like

✓All-in-one workspace (docs/tasks)
✓Huge customizability & flexibility
✓Powerful databases with relations
✓Relatively good mobile app

✗ What we don't like

✗No full offline mode
✗Slowness with large databases
✗Steep learning curve for beginners
✗No password protection on pages

View Notion →More details →

Monday.com

Marketing and operational teams that work visually

★ 4.5/5 · Free / from 9 dollar

Monday.com is a Work OS that works with colorful boards and columns to visualize processes. It is stronger in high-level project tracking and operations than in detailed software bug tracking. The automations can be set up visually and easily connect boards to each other. The pricing model is complex because you pay per group of users (seats) instead of per individual user. For pure software development it lacks the depth of Jira's backlog management and release tools.

Difference: Spreadsheet-like interface with visual status columns

Choose this if: visual overview is more important than technical details

✓ What we like

✓Intuitive visual interface
✓Powerful no-code automations
✓Many integrations (Slack, Gmail)
✓Free plan for 2 users

✗ What we don't like

✗Confusing pricing structure (tiers)
✗Time tracking only in Pro
✗Gantt charts feel limited
✗Steep learning curve for advanced features

View Monday.com →More details →

Trello

Small teams that follow a simple Kanban process

★ 4.4/5 · Free / from 5 dollar

Trello is the pioneer of the digital Kanban board and excels in simplicity. It uses a card-and-list metaphor that is immediately understandable without training. Through 'Power-Ups' additional features such as calendars or custom fields can be added. However, Trello is limited when it comes to hierarchy; it is difficult to manage epics, stories and subtasks across multiple boards. For complex software projects with many dependencies, the standard functionality often falls short compared to Jira.

Difference: Focus on visual simplicity without complex configuration

Choose this if: the process is simple and linear

✓ What we like

✓Intuitive interface
✓Visual Kanban boards
✓Generous free version
✓Simple automation

✗ What we don't like

✗Limited reporting options
✗No native time tracking
✗Expensive Premium subscriptions

View Trello →More details →

Basecamp

Teams that want to centralize communication and tasks

★ 4.1/5 · Free / from 299 dollar

Basecamp chooses a philosophy of calm and overview instead of micro-management. It divides work into projects with fixed tools: chat, to-do lists, files and a schedule. It uses 'Hill Charts' instead of Gantt charts or Kanban boards to show progress. Basecamp has no sub-tasks or dependencies, which is done deliberately to avoid complexity. The pricing model is unique: a fixed amount per month for unlimited users (with the Pro plan), which is advantageous for growing teams.

Difference: Fixed set of tools per project without configuration options

Choose this if: want to get rid of fragmented communication

✓ What we like

✓Flat rate ($299/month) great for large teams
✓Free guest access for clients
✓Unique Hill Charts for visual progress
✓All-in-one: chat, files, and tasks

✗ What we don't like

✗No task dependencies or Gantt charts
✗Lack of real subtasks (only lists)
✗Limited native integrations (mainly Zapier)
✗Rigid structure, little customizability

View Basecamp →More details →

Wrike

Medium to large teams that need resource planning

★ 4/5 · Free / from 10 dollar

Wrike is an enterprise-grade project management tool that supports both waterfall and agile methodologies. It is known for its powerful Gantt charts and resource management features. Wrike offers deep capabilities for time tracking and budgeting, which makes it popular with agencies and large organizations. However, the interface feels more business-like and less modern than newer tools. The configuration can be complex and the learning curve is comparable to that of Jira.

Difference: Strong focus on traditional PM features like Gantt and hours

Choose this if: detailed resource planning is required

✓ What we like

✓Extensive customizability
✓Powerful reporting
✓Versatile views
✓Strong security

✗ What we don't like

✗Steep learning curve
✗High costs
✗Slow loading times

View Wrike →More details →

Coda

Teams that want to build their own tools and workflows

★ 4.4/5 · Free / from 10 dollar

Coda is similar to Notion but focuses more strongly on functionality through formulas and buttons. A Coda doc behaves like an app: you can link tables, create buttons that perform actions (such as sending a Slack message), and visualize data. This makes it possible to build very specific workflows that can replace Jira. The learning curve for the formula language is present. Performance on mobile devices is a known weak point with complex documents.

Difference: Documents with app-like features and powerful formulas

Choose this if: standard tools don't fit your process

✓ What we like

✓Powerful databases
✓Flexible building blocks
✓Extensive integrations
✓Affordable maker model

✗ What we don't like

✗Steep learning curve
✗Missing desktop app
✗Slow mobile experience

View Coda →More details →

Airtable

Teams that need data-driven workflows

★ 4/5 · Free / from 20 dollar

Airtable is a relational database with a user-friendly interface. It allows teams to set up their own data structure for tasks, bugs, or assets. With the 'Interface Designer' you can build dashboards for team members without them seeing the raw data. It is less suitable for text-heavy documentation, but excels in structured data. The limits on the number of records (rows) per base can pose a limitation for large projects in the cheaper plans.

Difference: Database-first approach instead of task-first

Choose this if: processes are heavily dependent on structured data

✓ What we like

✓Powerful relational database features
✓Flexible 'spreadsheet on steroids' interface
✓Extensive automation capabilities
✓Versatile templates for various use-cases

✗ What we don't like

✗Expensive, especially when scaling teams
✗Steep learning curve for advanced features
✗Mobile app lacks features and stability
✗Limited native reporting/dashboards

View Airtable →More details →

Smartsheet

Organizations stuck with Excel workflows

★ 4/5 · From 9 dollar

Smartsheet offers a spreadsheet interface that has been extended with project management features. For users accustomed to Excel, the transition is small. It supports Gantt charts, forms, and automations directly from the cells. It is less suitable for agile software development (scrum/sprints) but very strong in traditional project management and administrative processes. The interface is functional but lacks the modern 'look and feel' of tools like Monday or Asana.

Difference: Spreadsheet interface as the basis for project management

Choose this if: the team is Excel-proficient but seeks more structure

✓ What we like

✓Powerful automation
✓Flexible workflows
✓Familiar spreadsheet interface
✓Comprehensive reporting

✗ What we don't like

✗Pricey add-ons
✗Steep learning curve
✗Slow mobile app

View Smartsheet →More details →

Taskade

Remote teams that want AI assistance with projects

★ 4.4/5 · Free / from 4 dollar

Taskade is a modern tool that combines tasks, notes, and video chat with a strong focus on AI. The platform lets you view projects as a list, board, calendar, or mind map. A unique aspect is the integration of AI agents that can execute tasks or generate plans. It is lighter and faster than Jira, but lacks advanced features for enterprise reporting. The interface can sometimes appear busy due to the many viewing options in one screen.

Difference: Built-in AI agents and real-time video chat

Choose this if: real-time collaboration and AI support are desired

✓ What we like

✓Intuitive interface
✓Powerful AI features
✓Generous free plan
✓Flexible project views

✗ What we don't like

✗Cluttered mobile app
✗Steep learning curve
✗Limited project management

View Taskade →More details →

For whom is Jira the best choice?

Jira is built for software teams that work with complex development processes and need detailed workflows. The tool offers customizable issue types, subtasks, epics, and sprints that you won’t find in this depth with most alternatives. For teams that work on multiple projects simultaneously and want to document every step in the development process, Jira remains the logical choice because of its extensive configuration options.

Also for organizations that already invest in the Atlassian ecosystem, Jira has advantages. The integration with Confluence for documentation, Bitbucket for code repositories, and Opsgenie for incident management works directly without external connections. For enterprise teams of 50+ developers that need to comply with compliance requirements, Jira offers the audit logs and permission settings that are needed.

The price of € 7,75 per user per month (Standard plan) to € 15,25 (Premium) is justifiable for teams that use the advanced reporting functionality. The velocity charts, burndown reports, and custom dashboards provide insight into team performance over multiple sprints, which is lacking in basic alternatives.

Why would you look for a Jira alternative?

The complexity of Jira is a barrier for many teams. Configuring a workflow with custom statuses, transitions, and validators easily takes 2-3 hours, and that for each project again. Teams that want to get started quickly without first training a Jira administrator get stuck in the setup. Alternatives like Linear and ClickUp offer pre-configured workflows that are immediately usable.

Performance is a second frequently mentioned reason. With projects with more than 1000 issues, the board loads slowly, and switching between projects sometimes takes 3-5 seconds. For teams that create and update 50+ tasks per day, this feels like a delay. Linear is specifically built on speed and loads boards in under a second.

A third factor is the separation between tasks and documentation. Jira requires a separate Confluence subscription (from € 5,75 per user per month extra) to document context with tasks. For startups and small teams that want to manage everything in one tool, this means double costs and switching between two interfaces. Notion and ClickUp combine tasks and documentation in one platform, which saves both price and complexity.

Finally

The choice depends on your priorities. For software teams that prefer speed and work a lot with keyboard shortcuts, Linear is the best option. For organizations that want to combine Jira and Confluence in one tool, ClickUp offers the most overlap in functionality for a lower total amount. Teams that collaborate across different departments such as marketing, sales, and development benefit from the accessibility of Asana. Startups that want to integrate documentation and tasks without complex configuration find the best balance in Notion. Marketing and operational teams that work visually with timelines and Kanban boards are better served with Monday.com because of the visual interface and templates.

Frequently asked questions

Can I export my Jira tickets to these alternatives?

Yes, most tools like ClickUp, Linear, and Asana offer direct import tools for Jira. You can also often export to CSV in Jira and import this file into the new tool.

Which alternative is best for software developers?

Linear is widely regarded as the best alternative for pure software development because of its speed and Git integrations. ClickUp is a good second choice if you need more features than just issue tracking.

Are these tools cheaper than Jira?

Not always. Jira Standard is relatively inexpensive ($8-9/user). Tools like Asana and Monday are often more expensive per user. ClickUp and Linear are comparable in price or slightly more affordable, depending on the plan.

Do these tools work offline?

Linear and ClickUp (desktop app) have reasonable offline support. Web-based tools like Monday and Smartsheet require an active internet connection to function properly.

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All alternatives →