Jira Pros and Cons
RESULTS Score
Pros
Cons
Overview
Jira is a popular tool for Agile project management and is primarily used by IT and software development teams. It offers an extensive range of features such as Scrum and Kanban boards, Agile reports and issue tracking. Besides keeping team members in the loop, Jira allows teams to define workflows and create automations. Jira is highly customizable and integrates well with other applications.
Since Jira is a powerful project management solution, users may require some training to help them find their way around the tool. Furthermore, Jira has no capacity and budget management. A flat-rate plan exists for teams up to ten members, however additional users are charged on a per-user basis. With powerful Agile capabilities, Jira is especially effective for IT and software development teams.
In this Jira review, we will explore project management features, pricing, ease of use, customer support, add ons, and more.
What is Jira?
Jira is the very first product developed by Atlassian and its product suite also includes Trello, Confluence, and Bitbucket. Jira is an Agile project management tool aimed at teams within the IT and software development sectors. The software is one of the most well-known applications on the market and is used by 75,000 users in 122 countries.
Facts and Figures
| Employees | 4.000 |
| Customers Worldwide | 170.000 |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Mike Cannon-Brookes, Scott Farquhar |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia |
| CEO | Mike Cannon-Brookes, Scott Farquhar |
Jira Project Management Features
Jira is particularly effective for project planning and Agile project management as it is primarily developed for IT and software development teams. Its features range from Kanban and Scrum boards to Agile reports and issue tracking.
Project Planning
Jira supports project roadmapping so tasks can be easily managed within a timeline. Streamlined workflows and automations are also possible. With Jira, teams can create their own project templates or use ones from the company.
The Kanban boards are flexible and give users a full view of what has been done, what is currently being done, and what still has to be done. This allows the team to prioritize their work nicely and have a good workflow going.
Task management is simple with Jira. Work items can have labels, assignee details and attachments. Users are also able to break tasks down into subtasks.
Jira allows users to create customized workflows. Once an issue is created it can go through 5 stages if need be, which can be named the following: Resolved issue, InProgress issue, ReOpened issue, and Close issue. By having these stages, users are able to have a smooth workflow process. In addition, users can automate their work items to save time.
Jira provides progress reports and it also has a built-in Epic system that allows teams to categorize certain tasks and keep the project goals in focus.
Communication & Collaboration
Team members are able to communicate using the discussion feature as Jira does not offer in-built messaging.
Users are only able to upload files to tickets in Jira. These files can’t be saved in a central area within the software.
Clients and external users are given roles or placed into groups so that they can get access to projects in Jira. Teams are also able to set restrictions for external collaborators.
Users can enter feedback and comments directly on other user's tasks, as well as manage approvals or changes in tasks.
Resource Allocation & Planning
Jira offers functions for time planning and time recording. Users are also able to monitor the number of tasks being assigned to them via the dashboard.
Jira allows users to enter the time they spend on a task, but only manually and not by a running stopwatch.
Agile Project Management
Jira is a great Agile project management tool as it fully supports different Agile methodologies. Teams will be able to manage all of their software development projects.
An important feature for Agile teams as they use it to develop software using the Scrum method. The Scrum board provides a backlog for creating tasks so sprints can be planned, created and tracked precisely.
Issue tracking is one of Jira’s strongest features. Teams can easily capture, assign, prioritize, and track bugs until they are solved.
Jira can be used by IT teams as it offers the necessary tools for structured sprint planning, ticket system, request management, status tracking, issue tracking and more.
Teams have access to many different types of reports in Jira that provide real-time insights on how a user is performing during a project. These reports consist of Sprint reports, Velocity charts, Burnup charts, Version reports, and more.
Jira Pricing
Jira has a free, limited plan and two paid plans. The paid plans come with a 7-day free trial to test out.
Free
Standard
Premium
Jira Security
All user data is encrypted and Jira has successfully completed SOC 2 and SOC 3 audits. The company uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) to manage user data and the data centers are located in secure facilities around the world. Jira protects its users through SAML Single Sign-on, Two-factor authentication, and SCIM (System for Cross-domain Identity Management). Atlassian also takes data privacy seriously and is compliant with GDPR regulations.
Jira Integrations
Jira integrates with several other useful applications. The software has arranged the applications into team types on their website so different teams can easily find integrations suitable for them.
Here are some useful applications that integrate well with Jira:
- Adobe XD
- Slack
- Draw.io
- Zendesk
- Microsoft Outlook
- Google Sheets
- Gmail
- Confluence
- Bitbucket Cloud
- Zephyr
Interface
Jira has a clean interface where users can simply switch between projects. The dashboards provide teams with an overview of all their tasks and it can be customized as desired. Jira has a number of powerful functions that may require teams to have some training to get comfortable with finding their way around the software.
Mobile Apps
Jira can be used on both iOS and Android devices. Managers will be able to track and manage their team’s work easily through the app while users will be able to create and edit issues and stay up to date with notifications about team projects. Users are also able to respond to comments or change tickets description from both the apps.
Jira Support
There is a Knowledge Base available on Jira’s website that users can browse or search by keyword for answers. These support articles range from the basics of setting up projects, to more particular details such as using specific controls and screen elements within the platform.
In addition to the self-help content, Jira has a large community forum. The forum is a space where Atlassian staff and users can contribute to questions and answers about the software. Direct support is also provided for some plans via support tickets.
Jira Alternatives
Jira is a comprehensive and technical tool that offers excellent features, especially for IT and software development teams. Other teams that do not require such specialized features may be better off with one of the alternatives:
- Basecamp review
- Asana review
- MeisterTask review
- monday.com review
Verdict
Jira is a powerful, Agile-focused project management tool that offers advanced issue-tracking capabilities. While Jira can be used for general project management, it is still better suited for Agile project management due to the vast amount of technical features the software provides.
Jira supports a number of popular integrations that extend its functionality. Some of its standout features include Scrum and Kanban boards, Agile reports and issue-tracker. The software also supports collaboration and transparency within teams.
That said, new users may find Jira’s interface a bit confusing at the beginning but that can change once some training is completed and the software is customized as desired. For some teams, the lack of budget and capacity management could also be a problem. The paid plans can also become costly when the number of users grows.
Overall, Jira has strong Agile capabilities, making it a great choice for IT and software development teams.