Trello vs Jira 2026: Which Project Tool is Right for You?
Both from Atlassian, but vastly different. Trello is simple Kanban. Jira is enterprise project management.
Key Takeaways
- Trello: Simple, visual, anyone can use
- Jira: Powerful, complex, built for software teams
- Choose Trello for simple projects, non-technical teams
- Choose Jira for software development, agile teams
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Trello | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0-$17.50/user | $0-$14.50/user |
| Learning Curve | Very low | High |
| Best For | Simple projects | Software dev |
| Agile/Scrum | Basic | Full support |
| Customization | Limited | Extensive |
| Integrations | Good | Excellent |
Pricing
Trello
- Free: 10 boards, limited Power-Ups
- Standard: $5/user/month
- Premium: $10/user/month
- Enterprise: $17.50/user/month
Jira
- Free: 10 users
- Standard: $7.75/user/month
- Premium: $14.50/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom
Feature Comparison
Task Management
Trello: Cards on boards, simple and visual Jira: Issues with types, workflows, and fields
Winner: Trello for simplicity, Jira for complexity.
Agile/Scrum
Trello: Basic Kanban, no sprints Jira: Full Scrum, Kanban, sprints, backlogs, velocity
Winner: Jira by far.
Reporting
Trello: Basic dashboard Jira: Burndown, velocity, cumulative flow, custom reports
Winner: Jira.
Who Should Choose Trello?
✅ Non-software teams ✅ Simple project tracking ✅ Visual thinkers ✅ Small teams ✅ Personal task management
Who Should Choose Jira?
✅ Software development teams ✅ Agile/Scrum practitioners ✅ Need detailed reporting ✅ Complex workflows ✅ Large teams
FAQ
Can Trello do sprints?
Not natively. Power-Ups add basic sprint features, but Jira is better.
Is Jira only for software?
Originally yes, but Jira Work Management extends it for business teams.
Can I migrate between them?
Yes. Atlassian has import tools. Complexity is the challenge.
See also: Monday.com vs Asana | Best PM Software
