Jira vs Trello: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Jira and Trello? Both are popular project management tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.
Jira is for: Software and IT teams, often in larger organisations, who want configurable workflows, Scrum and Kanban boards and the Atlassian ecosystem.
Trello is for: Small teams and individuals who want visual Kanban boards with almost no setup.
Quick verdict
There’s no single winner; pick on your constraint. Choose Jira if you need configurable workflows, issue types and permissions across many teams. Choose Trello if you want a Kanban board your whole team understands on day one.
Jira vs Trello — Side by Side
| Jira | Trello | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Project Management | Project Management |
| What it is | Issue and project tracker | Kanban board tool |
| How work is organised | Projects with issues, Scrum and Kanban boards | Boards, lists and cards |
| How you pay | Per user, monthly or annual | Per user, monthly or annual |
| Free access | Up to 10 users, 2 GB storage | 10 collaborators per workspace, 10 boards |
| SAML SSO | Not confirmed on the vendor page | Enterprise, through Atlassian Guard |
| Pricing | Free · paid from $8.15/user/mo | Free · paid from $5/user/mo |
| Starting price | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Free tier | ||
| Best for | Project Management — Scrum and Kanban, enterprise workflows, Atlassian | Project Management — Kanban boards, small teams, simple setup |
Pros & Cons
- Configurable workflows, issue types and permissions
- Scrum and Kanban boards on the free plan
- Fits companies already on Atlassian products
- Free plan stops at 10 users
- More setup and configuration than simpler trackers
- Automation runs are capped per user on paid plans
- Kanban boards with almost no setup
- Unlimited Power-Ups on every plan
- Low per-user price for unlimited boards
- Free plan stops at 10 collaborators per Workspace
- Timeline, Calendar and Dashboard views need Premium
- Not built for sprints or issue triage
Key Features Compared
Jira
- Free: up to 10 users, 2 GB of storage, community support, 150 automation steps a month
- Standard: 400 automation steps per user a month, 250 GB storage, up to 100,000 users per site
- Premium: 750 automation steps per user a month, unlimited storage, 99.9% uptime SLA
- Enterprise: 1,000 automation steps per user a month
- Paid per-user prices were not readable on the vendor page (it renders them client-side)
Trello
- Free: up to 10 collaborators per workspace, 10 boards, 10 MB per file, 250 workspace command runs a month
- Standard: $5 per user a month billed annually or $6 monthly; unlimited boards, custom fields, AI features, 1,000 command runs
- Premium: $10 per user a month billed annually or $12.50 monthly; Calendar, Timeline, Table, Dashboard and Map views, unlimited command runs
- Enterprise: $17.50 per user a month billed annually; SSO and user provisioning with Atlassian Guard
- Unlimited Power-Ups per board on every plan
Choose Jira if…
- You need configurable workflows, issue types and permissions across many teams.
- Your company already uses Confluence or other Atlassian products.
- Your team is 10 people or fewer and wants a free plan with Scrum and Kanban boards.
Choose Trello if…
- Budget is tight — paid plans start lower ($5/mo vs $8.15/mo).
- You want a Kanban board your whole team understands on day one.
- Your team is 10 people or fewer and fits in 10 boards.
- You want a low per-user price for unlimited boards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jira better than Trello?⌄
There’s no single winner; pick on your constraint. Choose Jira if you need configurable workflows, issue types and permissions across many teams. Choose Trello if you want a Kanban board your whole team understands on day one.
What is the difference between Jira and Trello?⌄
What it is — Jira: Issue and project tracker. Trello: Kanban board tool. How work is organised — Jira: Projects with issues, Scrum and Kanban boards. Trello: Boards, lists and cards. Free access — Jira: Up to 10 users, 2 GB storage. Trello: 10 collaborators per workspace, 10 boards. SAML SSO — Jira: Not confirmed on the vendor page. Trello: Enterprise, through Atlassian Guard.
Jira vs Trello: which is cheaper?⌄
Jira pricing: Free · paid from $8.15/user/mo. Trello pricing: Free · paid from $5/user/mo. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.
When should I skip both Jira and Trello?⌄
Skip Jira if you want a lighter tracker with less configuration. Linear is opinionated about issues and cycles. Skip Trello if you need Gantt charts or timelines without the Premium plan. Asana includes timeline and Gantt on Starter.
Sources · tool facts checked November 2026
See more options in our guide to the best project management tools for startups.
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