Both Trello and Jira are top-of-the-line project management platforms owned by software company Atlassian. Despite being owned by the same company, they are quite different, so making a decision on which will be right for you will come down to your business needs. Although they both allow for team collaboration and task management, one could be better than the other depending on your specific use case.
In this article, we’ll explore the similarities and differences between Trello and Jira. Read on to learn more about these software programs and how to choose the best option for your small business.
What is Trello?
Trello is a project management tool that allows you to create and manage team projects and tasks. It’s a safe work management bet for most organizations, with more than 50 million users worldwide. Trello’s Kanban-style boards are aesthetically appealing and allow users to gain a visual overview of projects in progress.
What is Jira?
In comparison, Jira which was originally designed as an issue-testing platform rather than a project management tool. That generally makes it a good option for developers and IT teams. However, Jira can also work nicely as a functional project management solution in other industries like healthcare and education.
Features in common
Although they’re different in many ways, Trello and Jira can be used to accomplish many of the same tasks. The two most common feature overlaps are task management and integrations, but each solution has its own unique approach to these features.
Task management
Needless to say, task management is the most important commonality when comparing Trello and Jira. Trello’s project management interface is intuitive and ready to use. It offers plenty of ways to break down and manage complex tasks, while Jira’s options in this area are more limited. However, Jira’s more basic task workflow does the job, especially for software companies looking to keep things simple.
Integrations
Both Trello and Jira support third-party integrations for users looking for more robust functionality. Jira is especially strong in the integrations department, offering more than 3,000 software integrations, plugins, and applications for users to choose from. Some of its most popular integrations include Microsoft, Zoom, Google, and Slack.
Trello’s paid version also offers integration options for frequently used software like Salesforce and Slack, although it doesn’t support nearly as many integrations as Jira does.
Feature Differences: Who Are They For?
To help you decide which is better for your business, we’ve outlined a couple of scenarios, so you can better understand Trello and Jira’s feature differences and which software works best for which kinds of teams.
Trello vs. Jira for growing teams
For growing teams, Jira offers better scalability. Trello’s free plan works great for small teams, but you’ll have to transition to a paid plan as your business expands. And if you’re growing rapidly, it could prove difficult to manage a large team on Trello. Jira, on the other hand, can scale up quickly and efficiently alongside your team.
It all depends on your company, industry, and how you’ll be using the software. But on the whole, Jira works best for large teams experiencing rapid growth. However, it is worth noting that Jira’s Premium plan is more expensive than Trello’s Business Class tier.
Trello vs. Jira for versatility
Trello wins out over Jira in versatility. Trello’s clean Kanban boards and user interface make project management a breeze. This straightforward software works best for managing different kinds of tasks at once. Jira, on the other hand, is more focused on bug tracking and software testing, so it’s not as versatile when it comes to managing different types of projects.
Trello vs. Jira for tech-savvy teams
Jira‘s more specialized feature offerings work best for tech-savvy teams such as developers and engineers. In addition to its comprehensive integration options and ability to use scrum boards, Jira also boasts detailed reporting functionality.
Organizations can make use of the impactful data Jira generates to distribute resources across projects, adjust deadlines as necessary, and design projects with increased efficiency.
Choosing between Trello and Jira Project Management
Project management is essential for any successful small business. When deciding between Trello and Jira, it’s important to consider all of the factors at hand. Some of the questions you should ask yourself are:
- What’s your budget like?
- What industry are you in, and what are your corresponding business needs?
- How many team members will be using the software?
- What kind of projects do you plan on using the software for?
- Do you anticipate your company growing rapidly?
At the end of the day, choosing a task management solution will depend on your organization’s unique needs. Keep these in mind when evaluating the advantages and drawbacks of each software. If neither Jira nor Trello seems like the right choice, explore other project management solutions on our round up of the Top Project Management Software for Small Business.
