7 Jira alternatives for streamlining project management

Are you looking beyond Jira for your agency’s project management software?

Sure, Jira offers some distinct advantages. It’s an agile project management tool that gives users a way to communicate and customize workflows and complete scrum projects. It also offers several helpful integrations.

But (you knew there was going to be a “but,” right?), it’s hard to learn how to use it and the interface seems outdated and confusing.

If you’re looking for a project management software solution that's not Jira, you’re in the right place. We’ve examined many project management tools and came up with seven of the best Jira alternatives. Each one offers tons of functionality, automation capabilities, and other benefits.

Why your team should consider alternatives to Jira

Credit: Atlassian

There are multiple drawbacks to using Jira that may make it challenging to adopt — and get the most use out of.

Steep learning curve

While Jira may offer benefits, the process of learning it can hinder its success. The tool was designed for software developers, meaning it’s not easy for Marketing Mary to get the hang of. Its complexity can frustrate and intimidate users, especially those who aren’t super tech-savvy.

Isn’t designed for everyone

Large team operations are Jira’s sweet spot. Its wide array of features and level of customization caters to complex projects with many participants.

Agencies with only a few team members may find it to be unwieldy and overwhelming. For small teams, Jira may end up creating less efficiency, which is the opposite effect a project management system is supposed to have.

Lacks multiple assignee capabilities

There are many instances within a project that benefit from being able to make assignments. Jira doesn’t offer a way to assign multiple participants to a task. This oversight can:

• Create a breakdown in collaboration.

• Cause errors and bottlenecks.

• Damage the quality of the final deliverable.

Complex user interface

User-friendliness is another area where Jira falls well short. The software lacks the sleek, intuitive design available with other tools on this list. Cumbersome, multistep customizations weigh down workflows and hinder efficiency.

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The best 7 Jira alternatives for team management

This list of project management platforms shows that agencies can have their cake and eat it, too: You don’t have to give up ease of use to gain customizable processes. You also don’t have to break your budget to find a feature-rich tool that improves efficiency and drives productivity.

A recent survey finds that the most important factors in a project management software purchase were functionality, ease of use, price, and customer support. We chose these companies based on these attributes, as well as their design, features, levels of customizations, available integrations, and overall resource management.

1. Teamwork.com

Specifically designed for agencies, this project management software powerhouse tops our list of great Jira alternatives. From the first steps of project planning to analyzing performance at the end, Teamwork.com’s functionality has you covered.

All-in-one task management

As a one-stop-shop for information sharing, problem-solving, and collaborating, Teamwork.com keeps every participant informed and focused on their tasks. It’s a user-friendly meeting place for on-site, hybrid, and remote team members.

Built to scale with you

A high level of customization is built into the system, making scaling your agency a cinch. Add users, expand projects, and manage multiple workflows from inside the platform. The easy-to-interpret dashboard gives managers a birds-eye view of everything going on.

Sleek and intuitive user interface

One of Jira’s biggest drawbacks is its outdated, clunky interface. By contrast, Teamwork.com was designed with agencies in mind, giving it a smooth, snappy view. Users can easily find what they need and add information to share with other stakeholders.

Financial budgeting and reporting

While Jira does offer some out-of-the-box reporting and insights features, they’re limited and don’t offer much customization flexibility. With Teamwork.com, you gain accurate, real-time visibility into your spending versus budgeting. You can quickly and easily keep track of budgets by project, add fixed costs and one-off fees as they apply, and keep track of every billable moment. You can also create detailed reports to give you a snapshot of view of project health, profitability, and utilization, helping you keep your agency at peak performance.

Additional features

• Pre-built templates: Save the time of starting from scratch by choosing from a library of handy project templates. You can even design your own.

• Time tracking tool: Never miss a billable minute and always know where the bulk of your team’s time is being spent.

• Multiple views: Team members can organize information in Kanban boards, Gantt charts, lists, and tables, and then customize the view that makes this information most effective for them.

• Custom fields: Tailor the experience to your agency by using project and task custom fields to track, manage, and filter information.

• Automation: Save time and clicks by automating repetitive tasks.

• Client users: Keep your clients in the loop and increase transparency by adding them to their projects. Teamwork.com gives you unlimited free client users.

Pricing

• Free Forever: Up to five users

• Deliver: $9.99 per user per month

• Grow: $19.99 per user per month with a three-user minimum

• Scale: Custom pricing

2. Asana

Credit: AppSumo

With its intuitive interface and commitment to team collaboration, Asana has enough features and integrations to rank high on our list. Its functionality streamlines processes and increases project efficiency from start to finish.

Key features

• Boards: Map out timelines and stay organized with to-do lists.

• Multiple workspaces: Choose which environment works best for you.

• Reports: Gain real-time insights into project progress, workloads, and potential obstacles.

• Calendar view: Keep an eye on deadlines by viewing each user’s tasks in a single location.

Pricing

• Basic: Free forever

• Premium: $10.00 per user per month

• Business: $24.00 per user per month

• Enterprise: Custom-quoted by the sales team

3. ClickUp

Another popular project management tool to make our list is ClickUp. Its crystal-clear interface almost eliminates ramp-up time, even for users who aren’t tech-savvy. In addition, it’s a feature-rich, cost-effective alternative to Jira.

Key features

• Collaborative editing: Team members (no matter where they are) can collaborate and offer input into documents

• 35+ ClickApp: Customize task management with automation, custom field data, and sprint points.

• Nested subtasks and checklists: Break down projects into subtasks to help track every action.

• Dashboard: Visual widgets and project indicators keep every participant informed with transparent feedback.

Pricing

• Free: $0 per month

• Unlimited: $5 per user per month

• Business: $12 per member per month

• Business Plus: $19 per member per month

• Enterprise: Custom pricing

4. Trello

Credit: Trello

Trello is owned by Atlassian, which also owns Jira. However, Trello is a less complex option for agencies wanting a generous dose of functionality without being overwhelmed by bells and whistles.

Board views drive this project management tool, helping each user tap into a visual that keeps them the most organized and focused.

Key features

• Timeline: Make due date alterations with a simple drag-and-drop adjustment, view upcoming tasks, and proactively pinpoint gaps.

• Butler: No-code automation is built into every board to let users create rules, commands, and automate almost any action.

• Power-ups: Add burndown charts, create polls, and communicate with teammates with integration connections.

• Calendar: Set priorities, balance out assignments, and sync any third-party calendar for a complete picture.

• Mobile-capable: Trello works with iOS and Android.

Pricing

• Free: $0 per month

• Standard: $5 per user per month

• Premium: $10 per user per month

• Enterprise: $17.50 per user per month

5. Basecamp

Plenty of advanced features and the bandwidth to manage multiple projects are two of the biggest reasons this tool gives Jira a run for its money. More straightforward and easy to navigate than Jira, Basecamp elevates the user’s experience and drives buy-in.

Key features

• Messages: Users have a dedicated space for messaging to share information and gain access to complete conversations. Notifications go out to the involved parties to keep them updated in real-time.

• Customizable dashboard: Pin and reorder projects and view recent and upcoming projects from a single place.

• To-dos: Add groups to make sub-lists, and follow up with notes, attachments, and comments to any to-do for a full explanation.

• Documents: Take advantage of simple drag-and-drop uploads and easily reorder and color code files to save time and stay organized.

Pricing

• Basecamp: $15 per user per month

• Basecamp Pro Unlimited: $299 per month (includes an unlimited number of users)

6. monday.com

Credit: monday.com

For teams that require extensive features in their project management solution, monday.com edges out Jira. Easily create custom workflows, visual workspaces, and collaborative communication channels.

Key features

• Automations: Take advantage of 200+ pre-built automation recipes to increase efficiency.

• Customer service: Contact knowledgeable customer support 24/7.

• Integrations and add-ons: A long list of integrations and plug-ins guarantees you can use your current tools with monday.com.

• Docs: Co-edit, share comments in real-time, embed boards, and use work docs as action items to drive progress.

Pricing

• Free: Free forever for up to two seats

• Basic: $8 per seat per month

• Standard: $10 per seat per month

• Pro: $16 per seat per month

• Enterprise: Custom pricing

7. Nifty

The final project management software to make our list is the straightforward Nifty. Agencies can use it to collaborate, set milestones, create and manage tasks, share docs, and much more.

Key features

• Roadmaps: Clearly state and share project objectives and goals.

• Dependencies: Segment milestones by setting built-in bulk task dependencies.

• Workflow automations: Use if/then commands to cut down on time spent on repetitive tasks.

• Comprehensive team management: View team members’ time logs for an understanding of workloads.

Pricing

• Free: $0 per month

• Starter: $5 per member per month

• Pro: $10 per member per month

• Business: $16 per member per month

• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Robust task management software

Plan, track, and monitor all aspects of your tasks across every project or break them down even further with subtasks.

Track tasks with Teamwork

Supercharge your team’s project management with Teamwork.com

If your agency is looking for a high-performing alternative to Jira for your project management needs, one of the tools on this list could be your perfect choice. Before you decide, consider your agency itself, your projects, and the goals you want to accomplish by using this type of software. 

Teamwork.com is a powerful, sleek, user-friendly alternative to Jira. Since it was designed especially for agencies, there’s no other platform available that is more intuitive, efficient, or scalable. Discover why more agencies are switching to Teamwork.com. Sign up with us today.