12 Best Jira Alternatives to Try in 2022 (Free and Paid)

Udn Webber

Content Strategist

Hunting for Jira alternatives is no easy task.

Not because there’s a shortage of options, but because Jira is a one-way ticket to a foreign land (that you probably don’t like) and there’s no way out.

Moreover, it markets itself as THE project management tool for developers.

But who said developers need clunky and complex software?

Last we checked, that’s not what they want or need.

On top of that, they’re discontinuing their server.

And their solution is to force you onto their cloud (alongside an increased price). *scoffs*

But you don’t have to go down that route.

Your agile software development team and project management group will find the post-Jira world quite efficient and user-friendly!

Alternatives to Jira provide innumerable benefits ranging from lower costs ( in some instances no cost at all ), time tracking, to-do lists, superior flexibility, comprehensive issue tracking, and robust tools for collaboration.

You’ll also get advanced filters, search functionality, and mobile apps (Android and iOS) to boot.

Give an alternative a chance, and you’ll quickly find Jira is an inferior project management tool in numerous ways.

In this article, we’ll discuss Jira , why you should look for its alternatives , and explore the 12 best Jira alternatives .

Let’s get started!

Jira is Powerful, but Complicated

Atlassian’s Jira is certainly a valuable tool. This agile project management software empowers your group to communicate through basic channels with ease.

Read our full review of Jira here .

Jira software:

There’s no doubt Jira is quite a flexible project management tool.

If your tech team and project management group are like most others, they’ll find considerable value in managing projects with this program.

Your group might have even tapped into Jira’s most complex features that empower your managers to establish a highly customized system that works per their unique aims.

However, looking for Jira alternatives is prudent for a number of reasons.

Why Look for a Jira Alternative?

Jira is no easy nor ideal tool. At least not for all teams.

Here’s why:

1. Hard to learn and not meant for all

Take a moment to consider the massive onboarding effort required to learn this nuanced project management software.

The learning curve is steep, to say the least.

If those who have used the Jira software are honest, they’ll admit the software is clunky. They’ll also testify that using this program on a daily basis is somewhat frustrating.

And to top it off, it’s not meant for all.

Jira was built with only development teams in mind.

And guess what?

Even developers don’t find it effective.

Need proof? Don’t take our word for it… just go visit Quora !

As a result, there will be a significant disconnect when others use a different program and expect compatibility with a project management team that relies on Jira. Additionally, Jira is quite pricey, and you’ll see why so many are looking for alternatives to the software.

2. Outdated interface

The program has plenty of inefficiencies and often proves overly complex.

Project management teams that have tried the customization options find the process to be cumbersome. Those looking for a way to enhance productivity will find Jira’s user experience design unnecessarily complex.

It takes considerable time and effort to figure out how to use this interface efficiently.

3. No multiple assignees

Furthermore, when tasks require more than one person, Jira’s weaknesses really stand out.

The software does not permit multiple assignees.

In practice, people become watchers on the task, chipping in their comments and working on issues. However, this is messy and inefficient because you end up with two lists: the official Jira assigned person and then the actual team working on the issues.

4. Migrating to another app isn’t easy

If you want to move on from Jira to another project management software , things might just turn a bit complicated.

You see, “complicated” is Jira’s middle name.

Why?

Just try to explore their knowledge base pages to find an exporting solution. It’ll only show importing solutions, no exporting.

Or it’ll send you to the Atlassian Jira Marketplace, where you get apps for Atlassian products. There too, you’ll find plugins that help migrate from other apps to Jira, not the other way around. 😨

And to make things worse, they’re now forcing you to migrate to cloud since they’re saying bye-bye to their server products!

5. Pricing isn’t flexible

Are you actually thinking of migrating to Jira’s cloud, now that you’re forced to?

Let’s just stop you there.

One: It’s not fair.

Two: It’s super-expensive!

The pricing is a real deal-breaker.

Why?

And even when you upgrade from the free plan to the standard plan ($7/user per month), there’s hardly any difference. You’ll have the same site limit of one, automations limited to a single project, and basic features remain the same.

So the question is, why pay for an upgrade?

Like we already mentioned, you don’t have to fret because Jira alternatives are flooding the market.

You’ll surely find tools similar to Jira just for you!

12 Best Jira Alternatives

Here are the top 12 best Jira alternatives:

1. UDN Task Manager

UDN Task Manager is one of the world’s highest-rated productivity tools , loved by all kinds of businesses worldwide .

Give it a try, and you won’t have to deal with the Jira/Atlassian Marketplace.

UDN Task Manager provides the majority of the features and integrations Jira offers, yet there is absolutely no cost at all.

There are countless additional reasons to make the transition from Jira to UDN Task Manager .

We provide a free version with features like Assigned Comments , to-do lists, task checklists , super-rich text editing , a Multitask Toolbar , Simple/Custom Statuses , Sprints , Goals , and more.

Not to mention the top-rated customer support!

Additionally, take advantage of UDN Task Manager ’s ClickApps to enable the features you need for your workspace with a single click!

It doesn’t get any more efficient than that.

ClickApps lets you fully customize your group’s experience in each individual Space . Use this powerful feature to enable Priorities, tags, Custom Fields, and sync your Spaces with your workflow.

Those assigned with the Admin title are empowered to enable/disable ClickApps from two sections of the platform.

Basically, if your project management team has grown tired of Jira’s usability, design, or the need to use more than a single platform for your project management needs, give UDN Task Manager a try.

And importing from Jira to UDN Task Manager is super easy.

Take a look at one of our customer’s experiences of switching from Jira to UDN Task Manager to get an idea of why UDN Task Manager is the best Jira alternative , or check out our list of best UDN Task Manager alternatives ..

UDN Task Manager has a Free Forever Plan with unlimited projects and users. Its paid plans start as low as $5/user per month.

Unlike Jira, UDN Task Manager makes migration super easy.

But most importantly, it’s a simple tool for both engineers and non-engineers.

Compare Jira and UDN Task Manager to find out why!

2. Binfire

Binfire is a comprehensive project management tool that your engineering and software team can use.

It provides task management features, a kanban board , an interactive Gantt chart , etc. It also includes the full set of collaboration features needed to manage small and large projects.

Binfire creates a virtual office where team members can work remotely and collaborate with each other effectively. It has been used for project collaboration for large remote teams on three continents.

Most of the engineering team working on Binfire’s projects are located in multiple locations. For this reason, remote work and team collaboration are embedded in Binfire’s genes.

Binfire has no free plans, and the paid plans start from $6.50/ user per month.

3. Basecamp

Basecamp is quite effective at steering those with different roles toward a common goal.

This will work if your team has been shoehorned into Jira, even though you’re not a developer or handling bug tracking and issue tracking .

If you’re looking for software that helps your group finish a project together, this is the software for you. It provides a pay-as-you-go pricing model without any sort of contract.

There’s an annual package for those who desire the system’s full range of features.

The cost is not based on the number of users, so you can involve as many people as necessary.

Jump right in, and you’ll find that Basecamp allows delegation of tasks in an efficient manner and monitoring of progress with ease.

It doesn’t matter if your team is located in different time zones.

Basecamp allows for remote project management that dramatically improves your project management team’s work agility and productivity.

Looking for Basecamp alternatives? Check out these top 10 Basecamp alternatives!

Basecamp has a free personal plan, and the paid plan costs $99/month for unlimited users.

Thinking of choosing Basecamp?

Why not first take a look at how it compares to ClickU p ?

4. Pivotal Tracker

If you’re looking specifically for agile project management tools , then consider Pivotal Tracker. Your team will get a shared look at priorities to help everyone decide which task to tackle next.

Pivotal Tracker is one of the main Jira competitors, and presents backlog lists , features, and hotfixes to help your team pick and choose what to work on next. You’ll also see how fast your agile software development team is working, with a team velocity calculated by story points completed in each iteration.

Pivotal Tracker even helps you plan your iterations with its guided tracker tool that lets you break off manageable amounts of work.

Pivotal Tracker is free for up to five users. The paid plans for more users start at a $10 monthly flat rate.

Before you move forward with this tool, check out our Pivotal Tracker and UDN Task Manager comparison to see how much more UDN Task Manager can offer you!

5. Asana

Asana has emerged as quite the popular project management tool for good reason.

One of the many Jira-similar tools, it facilitates communication and collaboration across the entire project management team.

Asana features include multiple workspaces, the ability to add assignees and attachments to tasks, task tracking, real-time collaboration, and the ability to comment on tasks.

Users can even see their co-workers’ tasks and priorities to boot. This is the type of transparency every organization and an agile project needs.

You can even track progress of projects and tasks from an array of devices and browsers.

There’s no need to rely on third-party apps or email for corporate communications when you have Asana running.

Let your team take advantage of Asana, and you’ll find it streamlines workflows, facilitates task management, and improves diverse aspects of project management. Asana even provides a savvy tech team that can be contacted through numerous methods.

Want a closer look at how Asana stacks up against Jira?

Compare Asana vs. Jira

Sure, Asana has some things going for it.

But there are a lot of things that it doesn’t have under control!

Curious?

Check out how UDN Task Manager compares to Asana .

Asana offers a free plan. Their paid plans start from $10.99/user per month.

6. Clubhouse

Clubhouse has emerged as a very popular Jira alternative because of its simple, intuitive interface while still speaking Jira’s language, if that makes sense.

In other words, you’ll get the smart functionality of Jira without its cluttered and outdated user interface.

Everything starts with a story, where you can add tickets, bugs, or a chore to form your story.

It also has lots of easily digestible charts for burndowns, estimates, and more.

Craving a more detailed Clubhouse breakdown? Take a look at our Clubhouse review .

Clubhouse offers a free plan. Their paid plans start at $8.50/user per month.

7. Trello

If you need a simpler board view than Jira but like the cards and status updates, then maybe you can try Trello .

Interestingly enough, Trello is also owned by Atlassian, the same company that owns Jira.

But it’s not quite Jira Lite.

You won’t get complex things like story points or issue tracking, but you can set up different boards for backlogs, your sprint, or the next iteration.

Switching to Trello from Jira may be good for a smaller software development team that wants to manage multiple projects at a fair price.

What’s nice about Trello are their power-ups that let you add burndown charts or a Gantt chart.

You can add the features you need without paying for them at the beginning. It grows as you grow.

All of this in an intuitive interface that won’t kill your spirit!

The major problem with Trello?

It locks you into that board view without considering how lists or a time view may be better for some users. Also, cards can get quite crowded if you have any comments, making something like UDN Task Manager a better choice for that.

Don’t believe us? Learn about top Trello alternatives and see why you should choose UDN Task Manager over Trello.

Trello pricing ranges from free to $10/user per month.

Compare Trello and UDN Task Manager & Trello and Asana !

8. ProofHub

If you’re looking for a Jira alternative that gives you added flexibility in managing your teams and projects, ProofHub is a good option.

It lets you stay in ultimate control of your teams, tasks, projects, and communications by providing you with a central source of truth. You get the flexibility in task management with simple to-do lists, agile workflows , and kanban boards.

There are also Gantt charts to help in project planning. The in-built chat app works great to bring all your office communications in one place. It also has an online proofing tool that simplifies the review and feedback sharing process.

You get a dedicated space for real-time discussions and custom reports to better project and resource management.

ProofHub also integrates with third-party apps like Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and Box to give you a central place to access all your data.

One of the best things about this agile project management software is its easy-to-use interface that makes onboarding smooth. There’s no learning curve, and you can get used to it in no time.

Simple, no per-user pricing. The Ultimate Control plan with unlimited users and projects available at $89/month (billed annually).

9. Kanbanize

Kanbanize is another popular agile project management tool. It lets teams visualize key initiatives and break them down into work items by combining easy-to-use kanban boards .

It provides Work In Progress limits, filters, role-based access, and custom fields, so you and your teams can effortlessly visualize work the way you want.

Use their kanban boards to create different custom workflows or the timeline workflow feature to switch it up.

It also lets you track time to see hours spent on tasks or projects along with analytics to monitor performance.

Kanbanize has a standard plan that costs $149/month.

10. Notion

Notion is a free Jira alternative. This project management and collaboration tool let you take notes, create documents, manage projects, create tasks, employ the kanban method, etc., all from one place.

If you want to go a step further, it can be a good CRM tool too.

At first glance, it’s pretty simple and easy to use. Yet, some users have found it a bit intimidating solely because of the numerous ways you can use it.

Is Notion what you need? Check out some Notion alternatives to find your answer.

Notion’s personal plan is free. The paid plans range from $4/month to $8/user per month.

See how UDN Task Manager does in comparison to Notion .

11. Wrike

Wrike is a Jira-like project management tool for mid-sized and enterprise-level teams that helps simplify planning, gain visibility, and streamline workflow.

It’s cloud-based collaboration software suitable for any team using the waterfall , agile, or any other project management model.

From Gantt charts to delivering robust reports to monitor team progress, Wrike lets you fully customize your workflow and empower your team members to be more productive.

Need more details?

Read our Wrike review and check out its top alternatives .

Wrike offers a free plan, and the paid plans start at $9.80/user per month.

However, before you go ahead and sign up for this tool, compare Wrike with UDN Task Manager to see how much more UDN Task Manager can offer!

12. Bitrix24

Bitrix24 is a social enterprise platform that combines project management, CRM, and communication into one place.

Whether you run a small team or a large one, Bitrix24 makes task management easy and collaboration smooth.

At the same time, you can track performance with detailed task management metrics.

It’s pretty flexible as well, so different departments can use Bitrix24, such as sales and marketing, management, HR, legal, customer service, etc.

Want to know more about Bitrix24? Check out our comprehensive Bitrix24 review .

Bitrix24 has paid plans starting from $24/ month for two users. They also offer a free plan.

Test the Waters Beyond Jira

When thinking about a Jira alternative, consider three factors about your team.

One, your preferred project management methodology .

Two, how your team communicates.

Three, the essential features you need vs. which ones are nice-to-have.

And four, the importance of migration.

Bottom line, Jira is one of the most complicated project management tools around, rivaling only Microsoft Project (or Microsoft Planner ) in its complexity.

And you can’t ignore the fact that they’re forcing you to migrate to their cloud!

It’s a one-way ticket to pain and frustration.

But don’t worry, your journey isn’t over.

There are way easier softwares like Jira, such as UDN Task Manager , that give you many of the same capabilities without the difficult user interface.

It’s an all-in-one solution for task, resource, document, and time management .

If you want to choose the best Jira alternative available, join UDN Task Manager for free today !