Jira
Issue and project tracking for software teams
Quick verdict
Jira is built for solo founders and small teams who need solid project management capabilities. It holds its own against competitors like Linear. You can start for free, which makes it low-risk to test.
Jira by Atlassian is the most widely used project tracking tool for software development teams. It powers agile workflows with sprints, backlogs, custom issue types, and deep integrations with developer tools like GitHub and Bitbucket.
What we like
- Industry standard for dev teams
- Extremely powerful
- Huge integration ecosystem
- Scales to enterprise
Watch out for
- Steep learning curve
- Can be slow and bloated
- Complex configuration
- Overkill for non-dev teams
Key features
Who should use Jira?
If you are a Solo / freelancer...
The free plan covers the basics. You will probably not need to upgrade until you hit the limits of the Free plan.
If you are a 5-person startup...
Start on the free plan and upgrade when collaboration features become essential. Budget around $40.75/mo for a team of five on the paid plan.
If you are a 50+ person company...
You will likely need the Premium plan or above. At this scale, check the advanced roadmaps and integrations (3,000+) capabilities — they matter more as teams grow.
Pricing: the honest take
The free plan is genuinely useful for scrum boards and kanban boards — not just a teaser. You can run real work on it. When you outgrow it, the jump to Standard at $8.15/mo is reasonable.
See full Jira pricing breakdown →Top Jira alternatives
Our verdict
Jira is a well-regarded project management tool with 4 pricing plans. The free plan makes it easy to get started with no upfront cost. If the watch-outs above are dealbreakers, see the alternatives below.
Jira: frequently asked questions
Is Jira free?
Yes — Jira offers a free plan. Paid plans start at $8.15/mo.
How much does Jira cost?
Jira has 4 plans. There is a free tier. Paid plans start at $8.15/mo. See full pricing →
What are the best alternatives to Jira?
Top alternatives include Linear, ClickUp, Asana. See full comparison →