Trello

4.5 (6.5k reviews)

Visual kanban boards for organizing projects and tasks with cards and lists....

VS 2026

Jira

4.3 (8.2k reviews)

Enterprise project management for agile teams with powerful tracking and reporti...

Trello vs Jira: Which Is Better in 2026?

Comprehensive comparison of Trello and Jira covering features, pricing, pros & cons, and our expert verdict to help you make the right choice for your business.

Quick Overview

Trello

  • Best for: Small teams, Personal projects
  • Starting price: Free
  • Category: project management
  • Founded: 2011
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Jira

  • Best for: Software teams, Enterprise
  • Starting price: Free
  • Category: project management
  • Founded: 2002
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Feature Comparison

Side-by-side feature comparison to help you understand the key differences between Trello and Jira.

Feature
Trello
Jira
Task Management
Kanban Boards
Gantt Charts Timeline view
Time Tracking
File Sharing
Mobile App
Integrations
Automation

Our Verdict

After extensive testing and analysis, Trello edges out as the winner in this comparison. While both tools excel in their respective areas, Trello offers better overall user satisfaction. Jira remains a strong alternative, especially for users who prioritize software teams.

Winner

Trello

Best for Small teams and Personal projects. Very intuitive.

Try Trello
Alternative

Jira

Best for Software teams and Enterprise. Industry standard.

Try Jira

Pros & Cons

Trello Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Very intuitive
  • Great free tier
  • Flexible
  • Good mobile apps
  • Power-Ups ecosystem
Cons
  • Limited for complex projects
  • Gets messy at scale
  • Basic reporting
  • Power-Ups cost extra

Jira Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Industry standard
  • Highly customizable
  • Great for agile
  • Strong integrations
  • Powerful reporting
Cons
  • Complex
  • Steep learning curve
  • Can be slow
  • Over-engineered for small teams

Pricing Comparison

Compare the pricing plans and see which tool offers better value for your budget.

Trello

freemium
Starting from Free
Free tier available
Free Free
  • Unlimited cards
  • 10 boards/workspace
  • Basic automation
Standard $5 /mo
  • Unlimited boards
  • Advanced checklists
  • Custom fields
Enterprise $18 /mo
  • Unlimited workspaces
  • Organization-wide permissions
  • Public board management

Jira

freemium
Starting from Free
Free tier available
Free Free
  • 10 users
  • Scrum & Kanban
  • Backlog
Standard $8 /mo
  • 35000 users
  • Advanced permissions
  • Audit logs
Enterprise Free
  • Cross-org visibility
  • Data residency
  • Atlassian Access

Which Tool Is Best For You?

Choose Trello if you need:

  • Small teams
  • Personal projects
  • Kanban workflows
  • Visual thinkers
  • Very intuitive
  • Great free tier
Try Trello Free

Choose Jira if you need:

  • Software teams
  • Enterprise
  • Agile teams
  • Large organizations
  • Industry standard
  • Highly customizable
Try Jira Free

Trello vs Jira FAQ

What are the main differences between Trello and Jira?

Trello focuses on small teams with very intuitive, while Jira excels at software teams with industry standard. Key differences include pricing structure, feature depth, and target user base.

Is Trello or Jira better for small businesses?

Trello offers a free tier which is great for small businesses starting out. For small businesses with limited budgets, consider starting with the tool that offers Trello's lower starting price of $0/month.

What is the pricing difference between Trello and Jira?

Trello starts at $0/month with a free tier available, while Jira starts at $0/month with a free tier available. Both offer multiple pricing tiers with different feature sets.

Can Trello integrate with Jira?

While direct integration may vary, both Trello and Jira support third-party integrations through platforms like Zapier. Trello integrates with Slack, Google Drive, Jira, while Jira works with Confluence, Bitbucket, GitHub.

Which tool is easier to use, Trello or Jira?

Based on user reviews, Trello generally receives higher marks for ease of use with a 4.5 rating. However, ease of use can depend on your specific needs and technical background. Trello is known for great free tier.

Does Trello or Jira offer better customer support?

Both Trello and Jira provide customer support, with options varying by plan tier. Trello offers support through standard support channels. Check each tool's specific plan for support details.

What are the pros of Trello compared to Jira?

Trello's main advantages include: Very intuitive, Great free tier, Flexible. Compared to Jira, it's particularly strong for small teams.

What are the cons of Trello compared to Jira?

Trello's potential drawbacks include: Limited for complex projects, Gets messy at scale. Jira may be a better choice if these limitations affect your use case.

Should I switch from Trello to Jira or vice versa?

Consider switching if your current tool doesn't meet your needs. Key factors include: current pain points, migration complexity, team training, and total cost of ownership. Use our ROI calculator to estimate the potential impact of switching.

Which tool is best for project management in 2026?

In 2026, Trello leads in this comparison with a 4.5 rating. However, the best choice depends on your specific requirements. Trello excels for small teams, while Jira is ideal for software teams.

Written by

SC
Sarah Chen Product Analyst

Sarah is a product analyst with 6 years of experience in the SaaS industry. She previously worked as a product manager at two successful B2B startups. Her reviews focus on user experience, feature depth, and real-world applicability.

94 articles
Project ManagementCollaboration ToolsProductivity Software