Jira Review: Features, Pros and Cons, Pricing, and Alternatives

Welcome to our Jira review. Let us take you through all the important elements.

Jira is a popular project management tool developed by Atlassian. Software development teams widely use it to manage their projects and track their progress. 

It has robust features which help teams streamline their workflows and collaborate more effectively. 

So, in this Jira review, we explore its features, pros and cons, pricing plans, and some of the best alternatives to Jira.

What are the Features of Jira?

Jira has features that make it an attractive option for software development teams. Our expert Jira reviewer has discussed the following:

1. Jira review: Issue tracking

Issue tracking is one of the core features of Jira, and it helps to manage tasks, bugs, and other issues related to software development projects.

With Jira, teams can create issues and track their progress from start to finish. Also, you may delegate issues to team members, prioritizing based on importance and tracking through customizable workflows.

Jira’s issue tracking feature allows teams to create issues, including bugs, tasks, improvements, and new features. You may assign each issue a status, such as Open, In Progress, or Resolved, and tag them with relevant labels to make them easier to find and categorize.

The service also provides customizable fields, allowing teams to capture specific information about each important issue to their development process.

Additionally, one of the strengths of Jira’s issue tracking feature is its flexibility. Teams may create custom workflows matching their unique development processes.

Furthermore, workflows are customizable to include different statuses, transitions between statuses, and rules for who can perform certain actions. This level of customization can help teams streamline their development process and ensure consistent handling of issues.

Another benefit of Jira’s issue tracking feature is its ability to integrate with other tools. For example, developers can connect Jira to their code repositories, linking code changes to specific issues. This can help teams track changes and understand the impact of each code change on the project.

2. Jira review: Customizable workflows

Jira’s customizable workflows is a feature that allows teams to create and tailor workflows to match their unique development processes.

A workflow in Jira is a sequence of steps an issue goes through, from creation to completion. Each step is represented by a status, and rules and conditions define transitions between statuses.

Customizable workflows in Jira can be used to create workflows that match how a team works. Workflows can be created from scratch or modified from existing templates including different statuses, transitions between statuses, and rules for who can perform certain actions.

This level of customization allows teams to optimize their development process and ensure that issues are handled consistently and efficiently.

Also, Jira provides a drag-and-drop interface for creating and modifying workflows, making it easy for non-technical team members to make changes. Workflows can also be shared across projects, allowing teams to use the same workflow for multiple projects.

Jira’s customizable workflows also allow teams to set up notifications and alerts. Notifications can be sent to team members when an issue is created or updated, when it is assigned to them, or when it is due. Alerts can be set up to notify team members of critical issues that require immediate attention.

Lastly, one of the key benefits of customizable workflows in Jira is the ability to automate repetitive tasks. Workflows can be set up to automatically assign issues to team members, notify stakeholders, or trigger other actions based on specific rules and conditions.

3. Jira review: Agile support

Jira provides robust support for Agile software development methodologies, including Scrum and Kanban.

Agile development is an iterative approach that emphasizes flexibility and responsiveness to change, and Jira’s Agile support features are designed to help teams effectively manage their Agile projects.

Jira’s Agile support features include Agile boards, Backlogs, Sprints, and Reports. These tools allow teams to visualize their work, track progress, and make informed decisions about their development process.

Agile boards in Jira are customizable visualizations of a team’s work, allowing team members to see the status of their tasks at a glance. Agile boards can be customized to match a team’s workflow, and they can be used to track progress in real-time.

The boards visually represent the work that needs to be done, what is currently being worked on, and what has been completed.

Backlogs in Jira provide teams with a prioritized work list that needs to be done. The backlog can be used to track new features, improvements, and bugs and can be sorted based on priority, severity, or other factors. This feature helps teams stay organized and focused on the most important tasks.

Sprints in Jira are time-boxed periods of work that are used to achieve specific goals. Sprints can be used to break down work into manageable chunks, and they can help teams deliver incremental value to their customers.

Jira provides tools to manage sprints, including sprint planning, sprint execution, and sprint retrospective.

Jira’s Reports feature provides teams with various reports that can be used to analyze their progress and make data-driven decisions.

Reports can include project velocity, sprint burndown, and team performance information. These reports can help teams identify bottlenecks, track progress, and make informed decisions about their development process.

4. Jira review: Collaboration

Collaboration is an essential aspect of software development, and Jira provides several features that help teams collaborate more effectively. Jira’s collaboration features include team communication, sharing and tracking information, and real-time updates.

One of the key collaboration features in Jira is the ability to add comments and attachments to issues. This allows team members to provide feedback, ask questions, or share relevant information about a particular issue.

Jira also provides a feature called @mentions, which allows team members to notify others of important updates or requests. When a team member is @mentioned in a comment, they receive a notification, which helps to ensure that important messages are not missed.

Jira also provides a range of integrations with other collaboration tools, such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Confluence. This allows teams to work seamlessly across different platforms and tools, and it helps to ensure that information is shared and tracked effectively.

Jira’s collaboration features also include real-time updates, which allow team members to see changes to issues in real-time. This can help to improve communication and reduce the time it takes to respond to changes or issues.

Another collaboration feature in Jira is the ability to assign issues to team members, which helps ensure everyone is clear on their responsibilities and deadlines. This feature can also track progress and identify areas where additional resources may be needed.

5. Jira review: Reporting and analytics

Jira provides powerful reporting and analytics features that enable teams to track progress, measure performance, and make data-driven decisions. These features include a range of customizable reports and dashboards, as well as integrations with third-party analytics tools.

One of the key reporting features in Jira is the ability to create custom reports. These reports can be tailored to specific requirements and used to track progress against goals, monitor project health, and identify issues or bottlenecks.

Jira provides several out-of-the-box reports, such as sprint burndown charts, velocity charts, and control charts, but teams can also create their custom reports.

Jira’s dashboards provide a visual overview of project performance and can be customized to show the most important metrics for a team or project. Dashboards can include charts, tables, and other visualizations, and they can be shared with team members or stakeholders to keep everyone informed.

Additionally, Jira can track and analyze team performance over time. This can be done using Jira’s velocity charts, visually representing a team’s ability to deliver work over a specific period. Velocity charts can help teams identify trends and adjust their workflow to improve performance.

Finally, Jira also provides integrations with third-party analytics tools like Tableau and PowerBI. This allows teams to combine data from multiple sources and create custom reports and visualizations important for analyzing project performance.

6. Jira review: Integration

Jira provides robust integrations with other tools and platforms, which makes it easy for teams to work seamlessly across different systems and collaborate more effectively. These integrations help to streamline workflows, reduce manual effort, and ensure that information is shared and tracked effectively.

One of the key integrations in Jira is with Confluence, which is Atlassian’s collaboration and documentation tool.

The integration allows teams to link Jira issues with Confluence pages, which makes it easy to share information and collaborate more effectively. For example, team members can add Confluence pages to Jira issues, providing context and making it easier to understand the issue.

Jira also provides integrations with various development tools, such as GitHub, Bitbucket, and Jenkins. These integrations help to streamline workflows and ensure that information is shared effectively across different systems.

For example, Jira can be configured to automatically create issues in response to commits or pull requests in GitHub, which helps to reduce manual effort and ensure that all team members are up-to-date on project progress.

Lastly, Jira also integrates with other business tools, such as Salesforce and Zendesk. These integrations help to bridge the gap between development teams and other parts of the business, such as sales and customer support.

For example, Jira can automatically create issues in response to customer support tickets in Zendesk, ensuring that all issues get prompt tracking and resolution.

Jira review: Pros and cons

Like any tool, Jira has its pros and cons. Here are some of the main advantages and disadvantages of using Jira:

Pros of using Jira:

1. Comprehensive feature set: Jira provides a comprehensive set of features that cover all aspects of software development, from issue tracking and project management to collaboration and reporting. This makes it a powerful tool for development teams that manage complex projects and workflows.
2. Customizable workflows: Jira’s workflows are highly customizable, so teams can tailor them to their needs and processes. This helps ensure that everyone works consistently and is tracked effectively.
3. Agile support: Jira provides excellent support for agile development methodologies, such as Scrum and Kanban. Its agile boards and sprint planning features make it easy to manage sprints and track progress against goals.
4. Collaboration: Jira provides a range of collaboration features, such as commenting, notifications, and mentions, which help to ensure that team members are always up-to-date and working together effectively.
5. Reporting and analytics: Jira’s reporting and analytics features provide teams with valuable insights into project performance and help to drive continuous improvement. Its customizable reports and dashboards contribute to improved visibility and decision-making.

Cons of using Jira:

1. Complexity: The tool can be complex to set up and use, particularly for teams that are new to the tool. The many features and customization options can be overwhelming, and teams may need time to get up to speed.
2. Cost: It can be expensive, particularly for larger teams that require advanced features and support. Its pricing model is based on the number of users, making it difficult for smaller teams with limited budgets.
3. Learning curve: This tool is steep, particularly for teams new to agile development methodologies. Teams may need to invest time in training and onboarding to ensure everyone uses the tool effectively.

How much is Jira?

An important element to consider in this Jira software review is Jira pricing. It is available in four pricing plans: Free, Standard, Premium, and Enterprise. Here’s a breakdown of each plan:

Free:

Jira’s free plan is designed for small teams of up to ten users. It includes basic issue-tracking features, customizable workflows, and agile support.

However, it does not include some of the more advanced features like reporting and analytics and integration with other tools. A free plan is a good option for small teams or those just starting with Jira.

Standard:

Jira’s Standard plan starts at $7.75 per user per month. It includes all the features of the free plan, as well as more advanced reporting and analytics tools.

The Standard plan also integrates with popular development tools like GitHub and Bitbucket. The Standard plan is a good option for small to medium-sized teams looking for more advanced features.

Premium:

Jira’s Premium plan starts at $15.25 per user per month. It includes all the features of the Standard plan, as well as more advanced collaboration features like advanced roadmaps and team calendars.

The Premium plan also includes enhanced security and compliance features. The Premium plan is a good option for larger teams or those with more complex projects.

Enterprise:

Jira’s Enterprise plan is designed for large organizations and starts at $30 per monthly user. It includes all the features of the Premium plan, as well as advanced governance and control features.

The Enterprise plan also includes enhanced support and training. The Enterprise plan is a good option for large organizations with complex projects and teams.

What are the best alternatives to Jira?

While Jira is a powerful tool, it may not fit every team best. Here are the best Jira alternatives:

Trello:

The service is a popular project management tool known for its ease of use and simplicity. It uses a card-based system to track tasks and includes collaboration features like commenting and file sharing. Trello is a good option for small teams or those looking for a simpler tool than Jira.

You may check out our comprehensive Trello review.

Asana:

this tool is a powerful project management tool that includes advanced features like custom fields and dependencies.

Asana also includes collaboration features like comments and file sharing, as well as integrations with other tools. Asana is a good option for medium to large-sized teams looking for more advanced features.

You may check out our comprehensive Asana review.

Monday.com:

Monday.com is a visual project management tool that includes customizable workflows and templates. It includes collaboration features like commenting and file sharing and integrates with many other tools. Monday.com is a good option for teams that need a visual tool to track their projects.

You may check out our comprehensive Monday.com review.

Basecamp:

Basecamp is a simple project management tool with features like to-do lists, scheduling, and file sharing. It is designed for small to medium-sized teams and includes collaboration features like comments and group chat. Basecamp is a good option for teams that need a simple tool to manage their projects.

ClickUp:

ClickUp is a powerful project management tool with features like custom workflows, time tracking, and advanced reporting.

It includes collaboration features like commenting and file sharing and integrates with many other tools. ClickUp is a good option for medium to large-sized teams looking for advanced features.

What is Jira good for?

Jira is an excellent tool for software development teams that need to track issues and progress in their projects.

It includes powerful features like customizable workflows, agile support, and reporting and analytics tools. Jira’s collaboration features also make it easy for teams to work together and stay connected.

Jira review: Our verdict

Jira is a powerful tool, especially for software development teams. Its robust issue tracking system, customizable workflows, and agile support make it an excellent choice for teams that need to track the progress of their projects. 

While Jira can be overwhelming initially, its powerful features and integration options make it a worthwhile investment for teams needing a tool to grow with them.

However, its complexity can be overwhelming for smaller teams or those without all its advanced features. Additionally, its pricing may be a barrier for some teams, especially larger organizations.

If you are considering using Jira for your team, it is important to carefully evaluate your needs and budget to determine if it is the right fit. You should also use Jira’s free trial to get a feel for the tool and its features.

In conclusion, Jira is a powerful tool offering numerous features and customization options. While it may not be the best fit for every team, it is worth considering for software development teams that need a tool that can scale with them.