Jira is powerful, but for many teams it becomes heavy, expensive, or hard to use as you scale. And the right Jira alternative can save you time (and often money) and reduce frustration.
Switching tools can feel risky, but also liberating. In this guide, we’ll explore the top Jira alternatives in 2025 to help you make an informed decision.
But if you have any questions that are not covered in this article, you can always connect with our team via info@goodday.work
Best Jira alternatives shortlist for 2025
Here’s a quick comparison of many of the leading Jira alternatives.
| Software | Best for | Pricing (2025) | Ease of migration from Jira |
|---|---|---|---|
| GoodDay | Best overall balance of features, pricing & flexibility | Free plan (up to users), Professional ~$4/user/mo, Business ~$7/user/mo, Enterprise custom | Easy (CSV import, API) |
| Asana | Teams needing both structure & flexibility | Free tier; Premium ~$10.99/user/mo; Business tiers above that | Moderate (importers + CSV) |
| ClickUp | All-in-one productivity + dev features | Free plan; Unlimited ~$7/user/mo; Business ~$12/user/mo | Easy to moderate (import tools exist) |
| Monday.com | Visual workflows & dashboards | Basic ~$9/user/mo; Standard ~$12; Pro ~$19 | Moderate (native import + manual adjustments) |
| Trello | Simpler, board-based tasks | Free tier; Paid ~$5+/user/mo | Moderate (manual or via connectors) |
| Notion | Knowledge + light project tracking | Free / Personal; Team ~$8–15/user/mo | Moderate (you’ll rebuild structure) |
| GitLab | Dev teams who want issue + repo in one | Starts free; paid tiers for premium features | Moderate to complex (requires mapping) |
| Pivotal Tracker | Agile / software teams | Subscription-based; varies by team size | Moderate |
| Backlog | Software & bug tracking with UI focus | Pricing varies by plan & users | Moderate |
| Zendesk (with Zendesk Explore / Sunshine) | If you need integrated ticketing + dev workflows | Licenses dependent on modules | Complex (you’ll build integrations) |
| Wrike | Scaling teams needing structure & oversight | Free / basic plan; Team ~$10/user/mo; Business ~ $24.80/user/mo | Moderate (importers + service support) |
| OpenProject | Open source, self-hosted + cloud | Free (self-hosted) or paid cloud plans | Moderate to complex |
| Redmine | Open source, highly customizable | Free (self-hosted) | Complex (manual migration & configuration) |
What is Jira and why consider an alternative agile project management tool for your business?
Image source: Jira
Jira is a popular project management tool developed by Atlassian. Originally designed for software development teams to track bugs and manage agile workflows, Jira has evolved into a comprehensive platform for managing projects, tasks, and collaboration across various departments.
It supports agile methodologies like Scrum and Kanban, offering boards, backlogs, customizable workflows, and powerful reporting features.
While Jira is feature-rich and widely adopted for software development projects, it’s not always the right fit for every business. Many organizations find that Jira’s complexity, steep learning curve, and extensive configuration options can become obstacles, especially for smaller teams or those that need simpler task management.
Licensing costs can also grow quickly as teams scale, and performance may slow under heavy customization or large data sets.
For businesses seeking more intuitive interfaces, faster onboarding, or specialized functionality (such as lightweight task tracking, better integration with non-technical tools, or improved collaboration features), considering a Jira alternative can make sense.
In-depth exploration of the best alternatives to Jira for agile teams
Below is a deeper look at each alternative, their strengths, trade-offs, and what makes them good choices.
1) GoodDay
GoodDay is a robust platform trusted by Fortune 500 companies, startups and businesses of all sizes. It offers powerful tools for project planning, time tracking, and reporting.
Why it’s a good Jira alternative
GoodDay is recognized as a top-rated tool in 12 Capterra shortlists in 2025. It provides many features out-of-the-box that might require plugins in Jira (time tracking, goals, reporting). It’s lighter, easier to adopt, and often more cost-effective for growing teams.
Main features
- Multiple views (board, list, Gantt, calendar)
- Time tracking & timesheets
- Goals & KPI tracking
- Automations & workflow rules
- Templates & project types
- Role-based permissions & access control
Integrations
GoodDay integrates with tools like Slack, Google Workspace, GitLab, Asana, Zapier, and more. It also offers an open API for custom integrations.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| User-friendly, intuitive UI | Some advanced reporting needs setup |
| Strong value for money | Mobile app has some limitations |
| Built-in features reduce need for many add-ons | For highly custom dev workflows, may lack deep niche features |
| Flexible workflows | Migration from very complex Jira setups takes planning |
| Good support & updates | Some users note occasional UI navigation issues |
2) Asana
Asana is a work management tool oriented toward tasks, workflows, and cross-team visibility. It’s geared toward both technical and non-technical teams.
Why it’s a good Jira alternative
Asana gives you structure without overwhelming complexity. Its custom rules, forms, and portfolio views let you grow in sophistication gradually.
Main features
- Tasks & subtasks
- Multiple views (list, board, timeline, calendar)
- Automation rules & triggers
- Forms & custom fields
- Portfolios & reporting
- Workload & capacity views
Integrations
Asana integrates with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Zapier, Tableau, and many more via API or connectors.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Clean UI, easy to onboard | Some dev teams miss issue tracking depth |
| Strong rule engine & workflows | Advanced features locked in higher tiers |
| Good for hybrid teams (dev + operations) | Migrating deeply structured Jira setups might need custom work |
| Great visibility & dashboards | Reporting limitations for very complex metrics |
3) ClickUp
ClickUp is designed as a unified workspace, tasks, docs, goals, chat, dashboards, all under one roof.
Why it’s a good Jira alternative
It aims to replace your tool stack, not just Jira. ClickUp has flexibility for both dev teams and general business teams.
Main features
- Tasks, subtasks, checklists, dependencies
- Multiple views: board, Gantt, calendar, timeline
- Docs & wikis embedded
- Goals / OKRs
- Time tracking, estimates
- Automations, templates
- Custom dashboards & reports
Integrations
Connects with Slack, GitHub, Google Workspace, Microsoft, Webhooks, Zapier, and more.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Very feature rich | Can feel overwhelming for small/simple teams |
| Strong free plan | Some performance issues on large projects |
| Highly customizable | Too many options may confuse users |
| Good for scaling | Overconfiguration risk |
4) Monday.com
Monday.com (especially the “monday dev” variant) gives you a visual, modular platform for workflows and cross-team collaboration.
Why it’s a good Jira alternative
It offers flexibility in how you visualize and build workflows, with less setup friction than Jira.
Main features
- Boards + tables + dashboards
- Automations & logic blocks
- Timeline / Gantt views
- Dashboards combining multiple boards
- Workload & resource views
- Templates & permission control
Integrations
Works with Slack, Google Workspace, GitHub, Figma, Zapier, and many others.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Beautiful, intuitive UI | Free plan often too limited |
| Flexible structure | Advanced features locked to higher tiers |
| Great dashboards & visibility | Large organizations may need more rigid governance |
| Good for cross-functional teams | May require configuring for dev-specific workflows |
5) Trello
Trello is simple, board-based, and visually oriented project management tool. It’s not a full dev tool but often used for lighter dev or hybrid workflows.
Why it’s a good Jira alternative
If you don’t need full issue tracking, Trello gives you simplicity, ease of use, and familiarity.
Main features
- Boards, lists, cards
- Labels, checklists, due dates
- Power-Ups for added features
- Comments & attachments
Integrations
Trello integrates with Slack, Google Workspace, Jira (bridge), Zapier, and many apps.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Very easy to start | Lacks depth for dev (no built-in backlog, sprints) |
| Great visual simplicity | Will need many add-ons |
| Good cross-team adoption | Scaling becomes harder |
| Low friction | Not ideal for reporting or complex workflows |
6) Notion
Notion blends notes, docs, databases, and basic project tracking. It’s powerful for teams that want to combine knowledge and work in one place.
Why it’s a good Jira alternative
For teams that value documentation, context, and flexibility more than rigid dev structure, Notion gives you a unified workspace.
Main features
- Nested pages & rich content
- Linked databases / tables
- Views: table, board, calendar, list
- Relations & rollups
- Templates & custom schemas
Integrations
Notion integrates with Slack, GitHub, Zapier, and has an API for custom connectors.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Highly flexible & customizable | Requires setup and schema design |
| Combines docs + tasks | Doesn’t have deep dev-specific features |
| Good for cross-functional teams | Performance may lag with large datasets |
| Clean UI | Reporting limited |
7) GitLab
GitLab is primarily known as a code hosting platform, but it also has built-in issue tracking, CI/CD, and DevOps features.
Why it’s a good Jira alternative
If your dev team already uses GitLab for repositories, shifting issue tracking into the same system can reduce context switching.
Main features
- Issues & boards
- Epics, milestones
- Integrated CI/CD pipelines
- Code reviews / merge requests
- Analytics & insights
Integrations
Built-in integration with Git operations. Also supports webhooks, APIs, and integrations to Slack, Jira bridges, etc.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Unified dev + issue system | Less suited for non-dev teams |
| Strong CI/CD | Not as polished UI for general project management |
| Good versioning / traceability | Learning curve for non-engineers |
| Dev-centric features built-in | Less flexibility for hybrid workflows |
8) Pivotal Tracker
Pivotal Tracker is designed for Agile software development teams, particularly those focused on iteration, velocity, and simple workflows.
Why it’s a good Jira alternative
It emphasizes ease and clarity for dev teams rather than configurability.
Main features
- Stories / backlog
- Iterations / sprints
- Estimation & velocity tracking
- Prioritization & labels
- Activity / status tracking
Integrations
Integrates with Git hosting, Slack, and other dev tools.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Simple & focused for dev | Limited for general project management |
| Clear iteration focus | Less flexibility than Jira |
| Good for teams that want constraints | Scaling beyond software dev can be hard |
| Easy onboarding | Reporting less robust |
9) Backlog
Backlog is created for software teams, combining issue tracking, project management, and version control.
Why it’s a good Jira alternative
It is built for dev workflows with visual clarity and fewer distractions.
Main features
- Issue & bug tracking
- Boards & backlog views
- Version control / Git integration
- Wiki & documentation
- Gantt charts & charts
Integrations
Integrates with Git, SVN, Slack, Webhooks, etc.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Dev-focused features | Less suited for non-dev teams |
| Code integration built-in | UI less flexible |
| Clear issue workflows | Reporting and dashboards are more limited |
| Good for mid-size dev teams | Customization less deep than Jira |
10) Zendesk
While Zendesk is primarily customer support / ticketing software, when extended with its development extensions (e.g. Sunshine, Zendesk Explore), some teams use it for internal issue workflows.
Why it’s a (partial) Jira alternative
If your core need is in combining tickets + dev work, Zendesk can blur the boundaries and simplify your stack.
Main features
- Ticketing workflows
- Custom fields & triggers
- Reporting & dashboards
- Integration modules for dev tracking
Integrations
Integrates with GitHub, Jira Bridge, Slack, APIs, etc.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Unified support + dev view | Not built as full dev issue tracker |
| Good for support-driven dev flows | You’ll need extensions / custom config |
| Strong reporting for tickets | Less depth for backlog / planning |
| Flexible workflow rules | Complexity rises with scaling |
11) Wrike
Wrike is a mature work management tool with strong project structure and oversight.
Why it’s a good Jira alternative
It offers project hierarchy, dashboards, resource management, and strong governance features.
Main features
- Folders / projects / tasks hierarchy
- Gantt, board, list views
- Resource & workload management
- Reporting & dashboards
- Request forms & intake workflows
- Automation & custom fields
Integrations
Integrates with Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft, BI tools, APIs, etc.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Strong governance & oversight | Steeper learning curve |
| Good reporting & dashboards | Some advanced features in higher tiers |
| Scales well | Setup can be complex |
| Flexible workflows | Overkill for small teams |
12) OpenProject
OpenProject is an open-source project management tool with features for planning, tracking, and collaboration.
Why it’s a good Jira alternative
It gives you the control of self-hosting and flexibility to mold it to your needs without vendor lock-in.
Main features
- Gantt, roadmap, agile modules
- Backlogs, sprints, tasks
- Wiki, forums, document management
- Custom fields, roles & permissions
- Time tracking & cost reporting
Integrations
Offers APIs, plugin support, and connects to external tools (Git, CI/CD, etc.).
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Open-source freedom | Requires admin maintenance |
| Strong transparency & control | UI less polished than SaaS tools |
| Customizable modules | Hosting & backup responsibility |
| Good for teams who want self-hosting | Migration complexity |
13) Redmine
Redmine is a long-standing open-source project management and issue tracking platform.
Why it’s a good Jira alternative
If you need full control, plugins, and absolute flexibility, Redmine remains a solid choice for technical teams.
Main features
- Issues, trackers, custom fields
- Gantt charts, calendar
- Plugin ecosystem
- Roles & permissions, workflows
- Wiki & forums
Integrations
Many plugins, REST API, integration with Git, CI/CD, external tools.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Highly customizable | Steep learning curve |
| Large plugin ecosystem | Requires hosting / maintenance |
| No vendor lock-in | UI can feel dated |
| Good for dev-heavy teams | Migration complex |
How to select Jira alternative for your business: main criteria
Choosing a tool isn’t about checking all boxes. It’s about matching priorities.
Functionality
List your must-have features (issue tracking, backlog, reporting, CI/CD integration, etc.). Pick tools that support those natively or with strong add-ons.
Usability
A powerful tool is useless if your team rejects it. The interface should be intuitive, onboarding should be smooth, and workflows should make sense to both technical and non-technical users.
Customer support
Good support (docs, live chat, community, onboarding help) can save you headaches, especially during migration and scaling.
Value for money
Compare plans not just by cost, but by what features they include. A slightly more expensive plan with built-in features may beat a cheaper plan plus many paid add-ons.
Customer reviews
See what real users say about stability, usability, support, and performance. Reviews often reveal issues not obvious from marketing materials.
In 2025, there is no one-size-fits-all Jira replacement. But depending on your team’s priorities, many of these alternatives can offer better usability, lower cost, or more flexibility. Explore a few in trial mode and see which tool feels like an extension, not an obstacle.
Save up to 50% by switching to GoodDay
If you’re searching for a project management platform that perfectly balances customization, performance, and price, GoodDay truly stands out in 2025. It’s trusted by teams worldwide for its robust functionality, intuitive design, and budget-friendly plans.
You can start for free and experience how seamlessly GoodDay adapts to your workflow, your team, and the way you like to work.
And if you ever need guidance choosing the right tool for your business, our team is always here to help at info@goodday.work
