Jira alternatives: a data-backed comparison
Explore the most popular project management tools, including average spend, ideal use cases, pros, and cons, to find the Jira alternatives that might better fit your needs.
In this article
Best Jira alternatives in 2025
Monday
Best for: Teams that need powerful yet intuitive work management tools to coordinate projects across teams without the complexity of enterprise software.
Relative cost:
The cost is about 12% higher than average
Adoption trend:
Monday has seen 16% adoption growth in the last quarter
Pros:
- Intuitive, visual interface requires minimal training time
- Strong mobile app functionality for on-the-go monitoring
- Excellent dashboard visualization for metrics
- High user satisfaction ratings for ease of use
Cons:
- Limited functionality in free version
- Limited customization options for complex processes
- Less robust time tracking capabilities for billable hour management
- Limited number of native integrations
Notion
Best for: Teams that want an all-in-one workspace to manage docs, tasks, and wikis in a highly flexible and customizable way.
Relative cost:
The cost is about 25% lower than average
Adoption trend:
Notion has seen 9% adoption growth in the last quarter
Pros:
- Real-time collaboration and document creation
- Affordable pricing compared to competitors
- Highly customizable with a variety of templates
- Combines note-taking, task management, and databases
Cons:
- Basic workflow management not ideal for complex projects
- Can be slow with large workspaces
- New users may find it overwhelming due to its high level of customization
Smartsheet
Best for: Organizations of all sizes that need collaborative project management and scalable workflow solutions that can grow with their business.
Relative cost:
The cost is about 22% lower than average
Adoption trend:
Smartsheet has seen 15% adoption growth in the last quarter
Pros:
- Team members can comment, attach files, and update tasks in real time.
- Ability to link data across sheets like a database, enabling dynamic project rollups.
- Connections with systems like Salesforce, Jira, Microsoft Teams, and ServiceNow.
Cons:
- Unlike Google Sheets, simultaneous edits by multiple users can lag.
- Some features are harder to access or use on mobile.
- Requires third-party tools for detailed time tracking.