Trello vs Jira 2026: Which Project Management Tool is Better?
Trello and Jira are both Atlassian products, but they serve very different purposes. This guide helps you choose the right one.
Quick Answer:
- Choose Trello for simple visual task management
- Choose Jira for software development and complex projects
At a Glance
| Feature | Trello | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Simple projects | Software development |
| Learning Curve | Easy | Steep |
| Free Users | 10 | 10 |
| Methodology | Kanban | Agile (Scrum/Kanban) |
| Price | $5/user/mo | $7.75/user/mo |
Trello Overview
Trello uses boards, lists, and cards for visual task management. It’s simple, flexible, and works for any type of project.
Key Features
- Kanban-style boards
- Drag-and-drop cards
- Checklists and due dates
- Power-Ups (integrations)
- Butler automation
- Multiple views
Best For
- Personal task management
- Small team projects
- Marketing campaigns
- Content calendars
- Simple workflows
Jira Overview
Jira is built for software development teams using Agile methodologies. It’s powerful but complex.
Key Features
- Sprint planning
- Backlog management
- Bug tracking
- Custom workflows
- Advanced reporting
- Roadmaps
- DevOps integrations
Best For
- Software development
- Bug/issue tracking
- Scrum teams
- Complex projects
- Enterprise IT
Pricing Comparison
Trello
| Plan | Price/User/Mo | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10 boards, unlimited cards |
| Standard | $5 | Unlimited boards, checklists |
| Premium | $10 | Views, automation, admin |
| Enterprise | $17.50 | Security, support |
Jira
| Plan | Price/User/Mo | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10 users, basic features |
| Standard | $7.75 | 35K users, audit logs |
| Premium | $15.25 | Advanced roadmaps, SLAs |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited users, 99.95% SLA |
Verdict: Trello is cheaper, but Jira’s free plan is sufficient for small dev teams.
Feature Comparison
Project Views
| View | Trello | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Kanban board | ✅ | ✅ |
| List | ✅ | ✅ |
| Calendar | ✅ Premium | ✅ |
| Timeline/Gantt | ✅ Premium | ✅ |
| Map | ✅ Power-Up | ❌ |
| Backlog | ❌ | ✅ |
| Sprint board | ❌ | ✅ |
Task Management
| Feature | Trello | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Subtasks | Checklists | ✅ True subtasks |
| Dependencies | Power-Up | ✅ Native |
| Custom fields | ✅ | ✅ Extensive |
| Time tracking | Power-Up | ✅ Native |
| Story points | Power-Up | ✅ Native |
Automation
| Feature | Trello | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in automation | ✅ Butler | ✅ Yes |
| Custom rules | ✅ | ✅ |
| Scheduled actions | ✅ Premium | ✅ |
| Workflow automation | Basic | ✅ Advanced |
Winner: Jira for complex automation, Trello for simplicity.
Ease of Use
Trello
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very easy
- Visual and intuitive
- 5-minute onboarding
- Works immediately
- No training needed
Jira
- ⭐⭐ Steep learning curve
- Complex interface
- Requires training
- Admin setup needed
- Too much for simple tasks
Winner: Trello — Much easier to learn and use.
Integrations
Trello Integrations
- Slack
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
- GitHub
- 200+ Power-Ups
Jira Integrations
- Confluence
- Bitbucket
- GitHub
- GitLab
- 3,000+ apps
Winner: Jira — More integrations, especially for development.
Who Should Use What?
Choose Trello If:
- You need simple task management
- Your team isn’t technical
- You hate complex software
- You’re a freelancer or small team
- Projects don’t need sprints
- Visual kanban is enough
Choose Jira If:
- You’re building software
- Your team uses Agile/Scrum
- You need bug tracking
- You require detailed reporting
- Projects have complex workflows
- You need roadmaps
Use Case Comparison
| Use Case | Best Tool |
|---|---|
| Personal todos | Trello |
| Marketing projects | Trello |
| Content calendar | Trello |
| Sprint planning | Jira |
| Bug tracking | Jira |
| Software development | Jira |
| Event planning | Trello |
| IT service desk | Jira |
| Freelance work | Trello |
| Enterprise projects | Jira |
Can You Use Both?
Yes! Many companies use:
- Trello for marketing/operations
- Jira for development
Atlassian offers integrations between them.
Migration Tips
Trello → Jira
- Export Trello board as JSON
- Import into Jira
- Map lists to workflows
- Configure issue types
Jira → Trello
- Export issues as CSV
- Import into Trello
- Create appropriate lists
- Add Power-Ups as needed
Pros and Cons
Trello
Pros:
- ✅ Very easy to use
- ✅ Visual and intuitive
- ✅ Flexible for any use case
- ✅ Good free plan
- ✅ Quick setup
Cons:
- ❌ Limited for complex projects
- ❌ No sprint planning
- ❌ Basic reporting
- ❌ Power-Ups can get expensive
Jira
Pros:
- ✅ Perfect for Agile
- ✅ Powerful reporting
- ✅ Customizable workflows
- ✅ DevOps integrations
- ✅ Industry standard for dev
Cons:
- ❌ Very complex
- ❌ Steep learning curve
- ❌ Overkill for simple tasks
- ❌ Admin overhead
Our Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Ease of use | Trello |
| Software development | Jira |
| Small teams | Trello |
| Enterprise | Jira |
| Agile/Scrum | Jira |
| Visual management | Trello |
| Reporting | Jira |
| Free plan | Tie |
Bottom Line
Trello is for everyone who wants simple, visual task management.
Jira is for software teams doing Agile development.
Don’t use Jira for simple projects—it’s overkill. Don’t use Trello for complex development—it’s insufficient.
Choose based on your actual needs, not features you might use someday.
Last updated: January 2026