Trello vs. Jira: Comparison & Expert Reviews For 2025
Trello offers a flexible and intuitive platform for managing your team's tasks and projects. Compared to Trello, Jira provides robust solutions tailored for software development teams.
The primary difference lies in Trello's simplicity and visual approach, while Jira excels in complexity and detailed tracking. In this article, you’ll find a detailed comparison of the tools, their features, pros and cons, pricing, and more to help you choose the right project management software for your needs.
Trello vs. Jira: An Overview
Trello
Jira
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Trello vs. Jira Pricing Comparison
| Trello | Jira | |
|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | 14-day free trial | 7-day free trial + free plan available |
| Pricing | From $5/user/month (billed annually) + free plan available | From $7.16/user/month (billed annually, min 5 seats) |
Get free help from our project management software advisors to find your match.
Get Expert AdviceOpens new windowTrello vs. Jira Pricing & Hidden Costs
Trello’s pricing model offers a free tier with optional paid plans for additional features; however, users may incur costs for integrations or power-ups. In contrast, Jira’s pricing structure is tiered based on the number of users and offers advanced features in higher-priced plans, with potential extra costs for certain plugins or storage.
To choose the right pricing, project managers should assess their team's size, feature needs, and any integrations required, ensuring they understand what each pricing tier truly includes to avoid unexpected expenses.
Trello vs. Jira Feature Comparison
Trello’s drag-and-drop Kanban boards enable you to visualize tasks at a glance, making them perfect for managing daily workflows in a marketing team’s campaign planning. Meanwhile, Jira’s robust task management and customizable workflows are great for software development teams needing to track bugs and manage sprints efficiently.
While Trello simplifies task visualization, Jira provides detailed tracking for complex projects, each offering unique advantages for your team’s specific needs.
| Trello | Jira | |
|---|---|---|
| API | ||
| Budgeting | ||
| Calendar Management | ||
| Contact Management | ||
| Dashboards | ||
| Dependency Tracking | ||
| Document Sharing | ||
| Expense Tracking | ||
| External Integrations | ||
| File Sharing | ||
| Gantt Charts | ||
| Kanban Boards | ||
| Mobile App | ||
| Project Management | ||
| Resource Management | ||
| Status Notifications | ||
| Task Scheduling/Tracking | ||
| Time Management | ||
| Workflow Management |
Get free help from our project management software advisors to find your match.
Get Expert AdviceOpens new windowTrello vs. Jira Core Integrations
| Integration | Trello | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Slack | ✅ | ✅ |
| Google Drive | ✅ | ✅ |
| Microsoft Teams | ✅ | ✅ |
| GitHub | ❌ | ✅ |
| Figma | ❌ | ✅ |
| Miro | ✅ | ✅ |
| Adobe XD | ❌ | ✅ |
| Confluence | ❌ | ✅ |
| API | ✅ | ✅ |
| Zapier | ✅ | ✅ |
Trello's integration with Slack lets you quickly share updates and keep your team in sync, making it ideal for fast-paced marketing teams. Alternatively, Jira's integration with GitHub is great for development teams needing to track code changes alongside project tasks.
While Trello enhances team communication, Jira provides seamless collaboration between development and project management workflows.
Trello vs. Jira Security, Compliance & Reliability
| Factor | Trello | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Data Privacy | Uses TLS encryption to protect data in transit and provides SSO for added security. | Provides data encryption both in transit and at rest, with advanced user permissions. |
| Regulatory Compliance | Complies with GDPR and CCPA, ensuring the protection of user data. | Complies with GDPR, CCPA, and SOC2, offering extensive compliance certifications. |
| Uptime Reliability | Boasts a 99.9% uptime SLA, supported by real-time monitoring systems. | Offers a 99.9% uptime Service Level Agreement (SLA) with robust disaster recovery protocols. |
Jira offers more extensive compliance certifications compared to Trello. When evaluating security and compliance, consider your team's specific regulatory needs and prioritize tools that align with those requirements, ensuring the vendor provides transparent documentation and support.
Trello vs. Jira Ease of Use
| Factor | Trello | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Features an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface that's easy for new users to navigate. | Feature-rich interface, but overwhelming for beginners due to its complexity. |
| Onboarding Experience | Offers quick onboarding with simple tutorials and a user-friendly setup process. | Provides detailed onboarding guides, but the setup can be complex for those new to project management tools. |
| Customization | Provides easy customization of boards and cards to fit various workflows. | Offers extensive customization options, but it requires more time to configure effectively. |
Trello's simplicity makes it easy to start and manage tasks with minimal training, making it ideal for teams seeking straightforward project management. In contrast, Jira's extensive features offer more depth but can be challenging for those unfamiliar with complex project management structures, making it better suited for tech-savvy teams.
Trello vs Jira: Pros & Cons
Trello
- Trello adapts to your team's workflow, offering flexibility in task management.
- It's simple to use, making it accessible for team members of all skill levels.
- You can easily visualize your tasks with Trello's board and card layout.
- Trello's simplicity might not suit large teams with detailed project management needs.
- You can't create intricate task dependencies, which may limit complex project planning.
- Trello lacks advanced reporting features you might find in more complex tools.
Jira
- Agile workflow management supports Scrum and Kanban and can improve your teams' productivity.
- Automation rules are easy to set up, which helps your team speed up their work.
- Custom filters can be created and accessed quickly, which improves your team's efficiency.
- The interface can be too crowded in Scrum projects, which can make it hard for your team to navigate.
- There's a lack of resource management capabilities, which could limit your team's planning.
- Field names can be confusing, which might slow down your team's workflow.
Best Use Cases for Trello and Jira
Trello
- Creative Agencies Trello's visual task management makes it easy for you to track projects, ideas, and client feedback.
- Startups The flexibility Trello offers helps your team adapt quickly as you grow and change.
- Marketing Teams You can easily plan campaigns and track progress with Trello's board system.
- Design Departments Trello's simple interface allows you to manage design projects and revisions efficiently.
- Freelancers You can organize your tasks and deadlines without getting overwhelmed by complex features
- Product Development Trello's adaptability helps your team streamline workflows and manage product roadmaps effectively.
Jira
- Software development Jira’s agile tools like Scrum and Kanban boards make it perfect for managing software projects.
- IT departments Its issue tracking capabilities help your team efficiently handle technical support and bug fixes.
- Tech startups Jira offers customization capabilities that allow your team to scale and adapt as your projects grow.
- Agile teams Sprint planning and backlog management features keep your agile processes organized and effective.
- Large enterprises Jira’s automation rules can streamline your complex workflows and improve team productivity.
- Project managers Its reporting and analytics provide insights that help you make informed decisions quickly.
Get free help from our project management software advisors to find your match.
Get Expert AdviceOpens new windowWho Should Use Trello and Jira?
In my opinion, Trello is ideal for small teams and creative professionals who require a straightforward, visual approach to managing tasks and projects. It's great for marketing teams, freelancers, and anyone who values ease of use and affordability.
On the other hand, I believe Jira is best suited for software development teams or larger organizations that require detailed tracking, advanced features, and robust integrations. If your team needs comprehensive project management with a focus on technical workflows, Jira's depth makes it the right choice.
Differences Between Trello and Jira
| Trello | Jira | |
|---|---|---|
| Automation | Integrates with tools like Zapier for basic automation. | Has built-in automation for complex workflows and processes. |
| Customization | Enable easy customization of boards and cards for diverse workflows. | Offers extensive customization but requires more time to set up. |
| Integrations | Supports integrations with popular apps like Slack and Google Drive. | Integrates with developer tools like GitHub and Confluence. |
| Pricing | Has a free tier with optional paid features for more functionality. | Offers tiered pricing based on user numbers and feature access. |
| User Interface | Offers a simple, drag-and-drop Kanban board that's easy to use. | Provides a detailed interface with advanced project tracking features. |
| Visit TrelloOpens new window | Visit JiraOpens new window |
Similarities Between Trello and Jira
| Cloud-Based Access | They are cloud-based, allowing your team to access projects from anywhere. Trello emphasizes ease of use, while Jira focuses on robust security. |
|---|---|
| Collaboration | The platforms offer collaboration features, such as comments and file sharing, with Trello focusing on simplicity and Jira providing more structured communication. |
| Integrations | Each supports numerous integrations to enhance functionality, though Trello integrates seamlessly with popular apps, while Jira connects deeply with development tools. |
| Mobile Usability | Both have mobile apps for managing projects on the go, with Trello's app being straightforward and Jira's offering more advanced features. |
| Task Management | Trello and Jira enable you to create, assign, and track tasks, but Trello uses visual boards while Jira offers detailed task breakdowns. |
| Visit TrelloOpens new window Visit JiraOpens new window | |