Jira vs Trello: Project Management Software Compared (2026)
Jira and Trello are both Atlassian products, but they are built for different jobs.
- Verified 27 Oct 2026Sources are dated on this page
- 9 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- No winner declaredFit depends on your criteria
- Not tested by Stack18Editorial summary of documented facts
Jira vs Trello: the short answer
Jira and Trello are both Atlassian products, but they are built for different jobs. Jira is a work tracking and agile project management product with Scrum and Kanban boards, backlogs and roadmaps, widely used by software teams. Trello is a visual Kanban-board tool with built-in no-code automation, aimed at simple task and project tracking.
The sources reviewed describe the choice as structure against simplicity. Trello is cheaper per user at every comparable tier and is faster to learn. Jira costs more but adds backlog management, cross-team roadmaps, a self-managed option and a larger administration model. Because they come from the same vendor, they also integrate with each other, and some teams use both.
We compare what Atlassian's pages and independent 2026 sources support and mark the rest Unknown. Published prices differ slightly between sources because of regional pricing, sliding per-user rates and recent changes, so we show the figures as reported. No winner is declared: the better fit depends on how complex your workflow is.
Choose Jira if you- Run agile software development with sprints, backlogs and roadmaps
- Already use Confluence and other Atlassian tools and want them tightly connected
- Need cross-team planning, deep administration or a self-managed deployment
Choose Trello if you- Want simple, visual Kanban boards that a non-technical team can use in minutes
- Want low per-user pricing and built-in automation without extra tools
- Run content, operations or small-project workflows rather than software sprints
Jira and Trello at a glance.
One card per product, drawn from each full profile. Open a profile for features, pricing plans, limits and sources.
Jira
Atlassian · Project Management Software
Jira is Atlassian's work tracking and project management product, widely used for agile software development with Scrum and Kanban boards, backlogs and roadmaps, sold in the cloud per user in Free, Standard, Premium and Enterprise plans.
- Pricing
- Free for up to 10 users; Standard reported at about $7.91 per user per month (annual).
- Best for
- Agile software development teams
Trello
Atlassian · Project Management Software
Trello is a visual, Kanban-board work management product from Atlassian, sold per user in Free, Standard, Premium and Enterprise plans with built-in no-code automation on every plan.
- Pricing
- Free plan; Standard $5 per user per month billed annually ($6 monthly).
- Best for
- Small teams that want simple Kanban boards
Jira vs Trello: feature-by-feature comparison.
Every row is drawn from the sources listed below. Rows that differ are marked, and you can filter the table to show only those.
- YesDocumented
- PartialAvailable with limits or on some plans
- NoDocumented as unavailable
- UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed
| Dimension |  Jira |  Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Product | ||
| Core approach | YesIssue and work tracking with Scrum and Kanban boards, backlogs and roadmaps for agile teams. | YesKanban boards, lists and cards; Premium adds timeline, calendar, dashboard, table and map views. |
| Best-known audience | YesSoftware development and agile teams, plus wider business teams. | YesSmall teams, content and lightweight project workflows. |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | YesFree for up to 10 users, with boards, backlog and basic roadmaps. | YesFree plan; recent guides report limits of 10 collaborators and 10 boards per Workspace, so confirm the current cap. |
| Standard price per user (annual) | YesAbout $7.91 per user per month, on a sliding per-user scale; older guides show $7 to $8.15. | Yes$5 per user per month billed annually; $6 billed monthly. |
| Premium price per user (annual) | YesAbout $14.54 per user per month; older guides show $14 to $16. | Yes$10 per user per month billed annually; $12.50 billed monthly. |
| EnterpriseDiffers | PartialQuote-only on annual terms, with multiple instances and unlimited automation. | Yes$17.50 per user per month billed annually, including admin dashboard, data restrictions and 24/7 admin support. |
| Planning | ||
| Backlogs and roadmapsDiffers | YesBacklog and basic roadmaps on Free; advanced roadmaps for cross-team planning on Premium. | NoNot a backlog or sprint tool; planning is by board, with timeline and dashboard views on Premium. |
| Automation | ||
| Built-in automationDiffers | PartialRule-run allowances rise by plan: about 1,700 pooled runs on Standard, 1,000 per paid user on Premium and unlimited on Enterprise per guides; Atlassian's page text has varied. | YesButler: 250 runs a month on Free, 1,000 on Standard and unlimited on Premium per Atlassian documentation. |
| AI | ||
| AI features | PartialRovo is listed on paid plans with 25, 70 and 150 credits per user; one guide says AI is Premium and Enterprise only. | PartialAtlassian Intelligence is listed on paid plans; one guide places it on Premium. AI scope is mainly writing assistance. |
| Deployment | ||
| Self-managed optionDiffers | YesA self-managed Data Center option exists; one guide reports prices rose about 15 percent on 17 February 2026. | NoTrello is reported as cloud-only. |
| Scale | ||
| Team size supportedDiffers | YesGuides report cloud sites up to 35,000 users. | PartialSuited to small and mid-size teams; limits by plan were not documented in detail. |
| Integrations | ||
| EcosystemDiffers | YesAtlassian Marketplace apps and tight Confluence integration; add-ons can add cost. | PartialPower-Ups extend boards; the Atlassian product family integrates, but some partner Power-Ups charge separately. |
| Enterprise | ||
| SSO and provisioningDiffers | YesAtlassian Guard provides SSO and SCIM; Guard Standard needs a separate subscription on non-Enterprise plans. | PartialSAML SSO is through Atlassian Guard, with a separate subscription outside Enterprise. |
Jira vs Trello pricing.
Jira pricing
Per user per month, billed annually, with a sliding per-user rate that falls as the user count grows. Enterprise is quoted by sales on annual terms.
- Free$0
- StandardAbout $7.91 per user per month billed annually
- PremiumAbout $14.54 per user per month billed annually
- EnterpriseCustom
Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
All Jira plans and sources
Trello pricing
Per user per month by plan, with a free plan and annual billing discounts. Enterprise is billed annually.
- Free$0
- Standard$5 per user per month billed annually; $6 billed monthly
- Premium$10 per user per month billed annually; $12.50 billed monthly
- Enterprise$17.50 per user per month billed annually ($210 per user per year)
Prices from a vendor-published source. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
All Trello plans and sourcesTrello is cheaper at every comparable tier on list price. Using reported annual rates, our arithmetic for 25 users gives about $1,500 a year on Trello Standard ($5 x 25 x 12) against roughly $2,373 on Jira Standard ($7.91 x 25 x 12), and about $3,000 on Trello Premium ($10 x 25 x 12) against roughly $4,362 on Jira Premium ($14.54 x 25 x 12). Jira's per-user rate slides with team size, so its real total can differ from this simple multiplication.
Both free plans are useful for very small teams. Jira's Free plan covers up to 10 users and includes backlog and basic roadmap features. Trello's free plan has recently been reported as limited to 10 collaborators and 10 boards per Workspace, so a growing team hits a ceiling on either product. Free also means limits on automation: Trello Free allows 250 runs a month.
Look past the seat price. Jira's total can rise with Marketplace add-ons, Atlassian Guard and companion products such as Jira Service Management. Trello's cost can rise with partner Power-Ups and a separate subscription for SSO. Prices and plan limits change often, so confirm current terms with Atlassian before you decide.
Prices and plans change. Confirm current terms with each vendor before you decide.
Jira vs Trello: implementation, ecosystem, AI and security.
Ease of implementation and usability
We did not test setup or migration for either product. Independent guides describe Trello as usable within minutes and Jira as needing configuration for workflows, permissions and boards, especially for non-technical teams. Because both come from Atlassian they connect, so a common pattern is to start on Trello and move to Jira when backlogs, sprints and roadmaps become necessary.
Integrations and ecosystem
Jira connects to Confluence and the wider Atlassian suite and to Marketplace apps, which suits teams that document in Confluence. Trello extends through Power-Ups and integrates with the Atlassian family, including Jira. Integration depth and API details were not assessed for either product, and add-on costs can vary, so check the apps you need before committing.
AI capabilities
Atlassian lists Rovo on Jira paid plans with monthly credits of 25, 70 and 150 per user by tier, while one independent guide says Jira's AI is on Premium and Enterprise only. Trello lists Atlassian Intelligence on paid plans for writing help on card descriptions and comments. We did not test either, and sources disagree on which plans include AI, so verify with Atlassian.
Security, deployment and administration
Jira provides user roles and permissions on Standard, with Atlassian Guard for SSO and SCIM and unlimited storage and sandbox features on Premium. Trello Enterprise adds an admin dashboard, data restrictions and SAML SSO through Atlassian Guard. We did not review certifications or data residency for either product, so request current security documentation from Atlassian.
Jira and Trello: each option, in balance.
Jira
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Agile boards, backlogs and roadmaps are built in, and the Free plan supports up to 10 users.
- Rovo AI search, chat and agents are included on every paid plan, with a clear credit allowance per tier.
- A tiered plan ladder takes teams from Free to Enterprise with multiple instances, unlimited automation and analytics.
- Tight integration with Confluence and other Atlassian products suits teams that document in Confluence.
- Per-user pricing scales with team size, and reviewers describe it as expensive for very small teams.
- Enterprise pricing is quote-only and available only on annual terms.
- Marketplace add-ons and separately priced products such as Jira Service Management can raise total cost.
- Published per-user prices differ between sources because of sliding tiers, so budgeting needs a current quote.
Trello
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Automation is built into every plan, including Free, with clear monthly run limits by plan.
- The Free plan is offered to a whole team, and paid prices start low per user.
- Enterprise adds central administration, data restrictions and SAML SSO through Atlassian Guard.
- Free caps automation at 250 runs a month, and Standard at 1,000, before Premium removes the limit.
- SSO and user provisioning on non-Enterprise plans need a separate Atlassian Access subscription.
- Guides report the Free plan limits a workspace to 10 open boards.
- Advanced views and unlimited automation require the Premium plan.
Jira or Trello: which fits which situation?
No overall winner is declared. The better choice depends on the criteria that matter most to you, so test both against your own requirements.
Choose Jira if you…
- Run agile software development with sprints, backlogs and roadmaps
- Already use Confluence and other Atlassian tools and want them tightly connected
- Need cross-team planning, deep administration or a self-managed deployment
Choose Trello if you…
- Want simple, visual Kanban boards that a non-technical team can use in minutes
- Want low per-user pricing and built-in automation without extra tools
- Run content, operations or small-project workflows rather than software sprints
Switching between Jira and Trello.
Moving between Jira and Trello means translating issues and cards, mapping statuses to lists, and rebuilding automation and custom fields. Because both are Atlassian products, native connections can help you run them in parallel. Export a sample board, test an import, and pilot one team before you migrate the rest.
- Export a sample of your data and test an import into the other product.
- List the automations, integrations and permissions you would need to rebuild.
- Pilot with one team before a full cut-over.
- Check contract terms and notice periods with both vendors.
General guidance, not specific to either vendor. Confirm migration options with the vendors.
Jira vs Trello: questions and answers
What is the difference between Jira and Trello?
Jira is an agile work tracking product with backlogs, sprints and roadmaps, built mainly for software teams. Trello is a visual Kanban-board tool for simpler task and project tracking. Both are owned by Atlassian.
Is Jira or Trello cheaper?
Trello is cheaper at comparable tiers: Standard is $5 per user per month billed annually against about $7.91 for Jira, and Premium is $10 against about $14.54. Both also have free plans.
Do Jira and Trello both have free plans?
Yes. Jira Free supports up to 10 users. Trello has a free plan, with recent guides reporting limits of 10 collaborators and 10 boards per Workspace.
Which is better for agile and Scrum?
Jira, which has Scrum and Kanban boards, backlogs and roadmaps built in. Trello is a Kanban board and is described as not a sprint or backlog tool.
Can Jira and Trello work together?
Yes. Both are Atlassian products and integrate, and some teams use Trello for lightweight work and Jira for engineering.
Which has better automation?
Both include built-in automation. Trello's Butler allows 250 runs a month on Free, 1,000 on Standard and unlimited on Premium. Jira's allowances rise by plan and Atlassian's wording has varied, so confirm current limits.
Can I self-host Jira or Trello?
Jira offers a self-managed Data Center option alongside cloud. Trello is reported as cloud-only.
Where this comparison comes from.
- Jira pricing and plan comparison Atlassian (atlassian.com) Official Accessed 15 Oct 2026
- Trello pricing and plan comparison Trello (trello.com) Official Accessed 15 Oct 2026
- Which Trello plan is best for me? Atlassian Support (support.atlassian.com) Official docs Accessed 15 Oct 2026
- Jira vs Trello Breeze Third-party Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- Jira Pricing in 2026: Every Plan, the Per-User Slide, and Is Jira Free? Carly Third-party Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- A comprehensive Jira pricing guide for 2026 eesel AI Third-party Accessed 15 Oct 2026
- Trello Pricing 2026: Plans, Costs, and Hidden Fees Activepieces Third-party Accessed 15 Oct 2026
- Trello vs Jira 2026 Tech Insider Third-party Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- Trello vs Jira: Features, Pros, and Cons Compared CRM.org Third-party Accessed 27 Oct 2026
Comparison rows summarise the sources listed and the two profiles. Confirm current details with each vendor. Stack18 has not tested either product.
Ready to test Jira and Trello?
Check each vendor's current pricing and terms, run both against a real scenario from your business, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf software is not the answer.
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