Jira Review (2026): Pricing, Pros and Cons
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Short answer
Jira ranks #1 of 7 in our issue tracking tools ranking (87/100). Best overall for scaling engineering teams. Paid plans start at $9.70/user/mo (Standard, billed monthly for 1 to 100 users; annual $950/yr for 10 users; Premium $19.60).
What is Jira?
Jira is Atlassian's issue and project tracker for software teams. The free plan covers 10 users and 2 GB of storage; Standard ($9.70 per user monthly) adds 250 GB and 1,700 automation rule runs a month; Premium ($19.60) adds advanced planning, a sandbox, unlimited storage, a 99.9% uptime SLA and 24/7 support.
Who it's best for
Engineering organizations with several teams that need configurable workflows, permissions and cross-team planning.
Why we rank it
It has the deepest workflow, permission and planning options here, and its free plan covers a full team of 10.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Free plan for 10 users
- Advanced planning, sandbox and 99.9% uptime SLA on Premium
- Annual pricing drops to $950 a year for 10 users on Standard
Watch-outs
- List prices rose on Oct 13, 2026 (Standard $9.05 to $9.70 per user monthly)
- Premium costs about twice Standard
- More configuration than lighter tools
Skip it if: You're a small team that wants a fast, opinionated tracker with little setup.
Jira pricing
Paid plans start at $9.70/user/mo (Standard, billed monthly for 1 to 100 users; annual $950/yr for 10 users; Premium $19.60). Free plan or trial: Free plan (10 users, 2 GB); paid-plan trials.
From Jira's pricing page, checked on the date at the top of this review. See how it compares on price in our issue tracking tools pricing overview.
How we scored Jira
Issue tracking score: 87/100
Each criterion is rated 0 to 5 and weighted for the category. See our methodology.
How Jira compares
| # | Tool | Best for | Starting price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jira | Best overall for scaling engineering teams | $9.70/user/mo | 87/100 |
| 2 | Linear | Fast-moving product teams | $10/user/mo | 86/100 |
| 3 | YouTrack | Best value, with every feature on every plan | $4.50/user/mo | 85/100 |
| 4 | GitHub Issues | Teams whose code is already on GitHub | $4/user/mo | 84/100 |
| 5 | Azure Boards | Microsoft and Azure DevOps shops | $6/user/mo | 83/100 |
| 6 | Shortcut | Small teams moving off a free plan | $8.50/user/mo | 81/100 |
Alternatives and comparisons
Jira FAQ
How much does Jira cost?
Paid plans start at $9.70/user/mo (Standard, billed monthly for 1 to 100 users; annual $950/yr for 10 users; Premium $19.60). Free plan or trial: Free plan (10 users, 2 GB); paid-plan trials.
Is Jira worth it?
Jira scores 87/100 in our issue tracking tools ranking, where it is best overall for scaling engineering teams. It's a weaker fit if: you're a small team that wants a fast, opinionated tracker with little setup.
Does Jira have a free plan or trial?
Free plan (10 users, 2 GB); paid-plan trials.
What are the best Jira alternatives?
In our issue tracking tools ranking, the closest alternatives are Linear, YouTrack and GitHub Issues.