Trello vs Jira
Trello and Jira represent two popular approaches to project management. My team has used both for real projects, and we've learned that the "best" tool often depends on your team's working style. Jira scores 9.1/10, but team adoption matters more than features.
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Quick Answer
Jira beats Trello for most users. It scores 9.1/10 vs 8.4/10 and industry standard for software development. Choose Trello if you need very easy to learn and use.
Trello
Simple Kanban boards for visual task management
Starting from
$5/mo
Jira
WinnerIndustry-leading agile project management for dev teams
Starting from
$7.53/mo
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 |
| Starting Price | $5/mo | $7.53/mo |
| User Reviews | ||
| Capacity | ||
| Users | Unlimited (free) | 10 (free) |
| Boards | 10 (free) | |
| File Storage | 10MB/file | 2GB (free) |
| Views & Planning | ||
| Kanban View | ||
| Gantt Chart | ||
| Time Tracking | ||
| Features | ||
| Automations | ||
| Integrations | 200+ | 3000+ |
| Mobile App | ||
| API Access | ||
Pros & Cons Breakdown
Trello
- Very easy to learn and use
- Visual Kanban boards
- Great free plan
- Power-Ups for extensions
- Fast and responsive
- Good mobile apps
- Limited to Kanban style
- Basic reporting
- Not ideal for complex projects
Jira
- Industry standard for software development
- Powerful Scrum and Kanban support
- Extensive marketplace with 3,000+ apps
- Advanced workflow customization
- Deep GitHub/GitLab integration
- AI-powered features in Premium
- 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader
- Steep learning curve
- Can become expensive with add-ons
- Complex for non-technical teams
- Free plan limited to 10 users
Key Difference
The core difference lies in approach: Trello focuses on very easy to learn and use, while Jira emphasizes industry standard for software development. Both philosophies have merit depending on your priorities.
Which Should You Choose?
Trello
Choose Trello if you prioritize very easy to learn and use, want to start with a free tier, need unlimited usage, or value visual kanban boards.
Jira
Choose Jira if you prioritize industry standard for software development, want to start with a free tier, need unlimited usage, or value powerful scrum and kanban support.
Our Verdict
After thorough testing, Jira is our winner with a rating of 9.1/10 compared to Trello's 8.4/10. Jira stands out for its industry standard for software development and powerful scrum and kanban support. Jira also offers better value at its price point. However, Trello remains an excellent choice if very easy to learn and use is your priority. There's no universally "wrong" choice here - both are quality options that serve their target audiences well.
Thinking of Switching?
Switching project management tools affects your whole team. Most tools offer data export, but workflows and automations won't transfer. Plan for a transition period where you might run both systems briefly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trello better than Jira?
Jira scores higher in our testing (9.1/10 vs 8.4/10). Jira excels at industry standard for software development, while Trello is better for very easy to learn and use.
Which is cheaper, Trello or Jira?
Jira is more affordable at $0.00/mo vs $0.00/mo. Jira offers NaN% savings.
Trello vs Jira: which should I choose?
Choose Trello if you prioritize very easy to learn and use. Choose Jira if you need industry standard for software development. Both are solid project management options.
What's the main difference between Trello and Jira?
The main difference is Trello offers simple kanban boards for visual task management, while Jira focuses on industry-leading agile project management for dev teams.