6 Best Jira Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 20 min read
Jira is a popular tool for large software development teams. While it offers a free tier (Up to 10 users), its paid plans start at $8.15/user/mo. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 6 best Jira alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 6
- Free alternatives: 6 (Linear, ClickUp, Asana)
- Open-source options: Plane, Taiga
- Best overall: Linear
- Best free: Linear
Why Look for Jira Alternatives?
People commonly look for Jira alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While Jira has a free tier, its paid plans starting at $8.15/user/mo can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: Complex and overwhelming and slow performance are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find Jira overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Data ownership: Organizations wanting data sovereignty prefer open-source, self-hosted alternatives.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jira | ✓ Up to 10 users | $8.15/user/mo | ⭐ 4 | No | Large software development teams |
| Linear | ✓ Up to 250 issues | $8/user/mo | ⭐ 4.6 | No | Software development teams |
| ClickUp | ✓ Unlimited tasks and members | $7/user/mo | ⭐ 4.2 | No | Teams wanting an all-in-one solution on a budget |
| Asana | ✓ Up to 10 users | $10.99/user/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Mid-size teams managing complex projects |
| Shortcut | ✓ Up to 10 users | $8.50/user/mo | ⭐ 4.2 | No | Small to mid-size software teams |
| Plane | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | $4/user/mo | ⭐ 4.2 | ✓ Yes | Teams wanting open-source Jira alternative |
| Taiga | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | Free cloud | ⭐ 4 | ✓ Yes | Agile teams wanting a free, open-source solution |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Linear
Streamlined issue tracking built for modern software teams.
Linear has quickly become the favorite project management tool for software development teams. Built with a focus on speed and developer experience, Linear offers keyboard-first navigation, a clean UI, and integrations with GitHub, GitLab, and other developer tools. It's designed to make issue tracking feel fast and enjoyable.
Pros
- ✓ Blazingly fast
- ✓ Beautiful design
- ✓ Developer-focused
- ✓ Great keyboard shortcuts
Cons
- ✗ Limited non-dev features
- ✗ Smaller ecosystem
- ✗ No free plan for teams
- ✗ Limited reporting
ClickUp
All-in-one productivity platform that replaces multiple work apps.
ClickUp positions itself as the 'one app to replace them all' — combining project management, docs, goals, chat, and whiteboards in a single platform. Known for its feature density and competitive pricing, ClickUp has rapidly grown to compete with established players. It offers an impressive free tier and is popular among startups and growing teams.
Pros
- ✓ Feature-rich free plan
- ✓ All-in-one platform
- ✓ Highly customizable
- ✓ Affordable paid plans
Cons
- ✗ Can feel cluttered
- ✗ Steep learning curve
- ✗ Performance issues reported
- ✗ Frequent UI changes
Asana
Work management platform for teams to organize, track, and manage work.
Asana is a leading work management platform that helps teams orchestrate their work, from daily tasks to strategic initiatives. Founded in 2008 by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, Asana has grown to serve over 100,000 organizations worldwide. The platform offers multiple project views including lists, boards, timelines, and calendars, making it versatile for different work styles and project types.
Pros
- ✓ Intuitive interface
- ✓ Powerful automation
- ✓ Great for cross-team projects
- ✓ Excellent mobile app
Cons
- ✗ Expensive for large teams
- ✗ Can be overwhelming for simple projects
- ✗ Limited free tier
- ✗ No built-in time tracking
Shortcut
Project management platform built for software development teams.
Shortcut (formerly Clubhouse) is a project management tool designed specifically for software teams. It offers a balance between simplicity and power, with features like stories, epics, iterations, and milestones organized in an intuitive interface.
Pros
- ✓ Developer-friendly
- ✓ Clean interface
- ✓ Good free tier
- ✓ Fast
Cons
- ✗ Limited views
- ✗ Less known
- ✗ Basic reporting
- ✗ Limited integrations
Plane
Open-source project planning tool as an alternative to Jira.
Plane is an open-source project management tool that aims to be a simpler, more accessible alternative to Jira. It supports issues, cycles, modules, and pages, with a clean modern interface. Being open-source, teams can self-host it for complete data control.
Pros
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Self-hostable
- ✓ Modern UI
- ✓ Active development
- ✓ Free to self-host
Cons
- ✗ Young product
- ✗ Fewer integrations
- ✗ Limited documentation
- ✗ Smaller community
Taiga
Free open-source project management for agile teams.
Taiga is a free, open-source project management platform for agile developers and designers. It supports Scrum and Kanban methodologies and offers a clean, intuitive interface that makes agile project management accessible.
Pros
- ✓ Completely free
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Good agile support
- ✓ Self-hostable
Cons
- ✗ Limited integrations
- ✗ Smaller community
- ✗ Basic reporting
- ✗ Less polished UI
🏆 Our Recommendations
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to Jira?
The best free alternative to Jira is Linear, which offers Up to 250 issues.
Is there an open-source alternative to Jira?
Yes! Plane, Taiga are open-source alternatives to Jira that you can self-host for free.
What is the cheapest alternative to Jira?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Linear, ClickUp, Asana. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $4/mo.
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