Jira vs ClickUp: Which is better in 2026?
A side-by-side comparison of pricing, features, and use cases to help you decide between Jira and ClickUp.
Quick answer
ClickUp rates higher on G2 (4.7/5 vs 4.3/5) and is the stronger pick for most teams. ClickUp is the cheaper option, starting at $7/mo versus $8.15/mo for Jira.
Issue and project tracking for software teams
One app to replace them all
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Jira | ClickUp |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $8.15/mo | $7/mo ✓ Cheaper |
| Free plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Pricing model | freemium | freemium |
| G2 rating | 4.3/5 | 4.7/5 ↑ |
| Capterra rating | 4.4/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Founded | 2002 | 2017 |
Jira: pros & cons
- ✓Industry standard for dev teams
- ✓Extremely powerful
- ✓Huge integration ecosystem
- ✓Scales to enterprise
- ✗Steep learning curve
- ✗Can be slow and bloated
- ✗Complex configuration
- ✗Overkill for non-dev teams
ClickUp: pros & cons
- ✓Feature-rich free plan
- ✓Extremely customisable
- ✓Affordable paid plans
- ✓Constant improvements
- ✗Feature overload can be overwhelming
- ✗Occasional performance issues
- ✗Mobile app lags behind desktop
Choose Jira if...
- →Your engineering team runs agile sprints and needs scrum boards, backlog grooming, and velocity tracking built around the software development lifecycle
- →You use Bitbucket, GitHub, or GitLab and want issues, branches, and pull requests linked so engineers can transition tickets directly from their IDE
- →Your organisation needs advanced roadmaps that roll up epics across multiple teams with dependency tracking and timeline views
Choose ClickUp if...
- →You want tasks, docs, goals, and whiteboards in a single workspace
- →Your team needs deep customisation — custom fields, views, and 50+ automation triggers
- →You're budget-conscious and need a genuinely capable free plan
Our verdict
ClickUp scores higher on G2 (4.7/5 vs 4.3/5), suggesting stronger overall user satisfaction. ClickUp is the more affordable option. The right pick depends on your team size and workflow.
Jira vs ClickUp: frequently asked questions
Is Jira better than ClickUp?
ClickUp has a higher G2 score (4.7/5 vs 4.3/5). The best tool depends on your specific use case and budget.
Which is cheaper, Jira or ClickUp?
ClickUp is cheaper, starting at $7/mo.
What is the main difference between Jira and ClickUp?
Jira focuses on scrum boards, kanban boards, backlog management. ClickUp focuses on tasks & subtasks, docs, goals. Both serve similar use cases but differ in approach and pricing model.
Can I migrate from Jira to ClickUp?
Most teams migrate between Jira and ClickUp within a day or two. Export your data from Jira (typically as CSV or via API), then use ClickUp's import wizard to bring it across. Check each tool's help centre for a step-by-step migration guide before switching.