Trello vs Jira: Which is Better? (2026)
Choosing between Trello and Jira for your team? Both are powerful project management platforms, but they excel in different areas. This comprehensive comparison breaks down pricing, features, ease of use, and ideal use cases to help you decide.
Last updated: January 2026
⚡ Quick Verdict
Choose Trello if:
Simple kanban-style project management and personal task tracking
- Extremely simple and easy to learn
- Perfect for visual thinkers
- Strong free plan for small teams
From $Free/user/mo
Try Trello Free →Choose Jira if:
Software development teams using agile methodologies
- Industry standard for software development
- Powerful agile features (Scrum, Kanban)
- Deep integration with developer tools
From $Free/user/mo
Try Jira Free →📊 Trello vs Jira: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Trello | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free plan available | Free plan available |
| Best For | Simple kanban-style project management and personal task tracking | Software development teams using agile methodologies |
| Ideal Team Size | 1-20 people | 5-1000+ people |
| User Rating | ⭐ 4.5/5 | ⭐ 4.3/5 |
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Key Integrations | Slack, Google Drive, Jira | GitHub, Bitbucket, Confluence |
💰 Pricing Comparison
Trello Pricing
- Free: $0
- Standard: $5/user/month
Jira Pricing
- Free: $0
- Standard: $7.75/user/month
✅ Pros & Cons
Trello
✅ Pros
- Extremely simple and easy to learn
- Perfect for visual thinkers
- Strong free plan for small teams
- Large ecosystem of Power-Ups
- Owned by Atlassian (reliable)
❌ Cons
- Limited features for complex projects
- No native time tracking
- Lacks advanced reporting
- Not ideal for large-scale project management
Jira
✅ Pros
- Industry standard for software development
- Powerful agile features (Scrum, Kanban)
- Deep integration with developer tools
- Highly customizable
- Excellent for bug tracking
❌ Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Can be overwhelming for non-technical users
- Interface feels dated
- Not ideal for non-software projects
🏆 Final Verdict
Both Trello and Jira are excellent tools. Choose Trello if you prioritize simple kanban-style project management and personal task tracking, while Jira excels at software development teams using agile methodologies.