Asana vs Jira: Which one is the best for your team?

Old-fashioned project management tools just can’t keep up in today’s workplaces. Sure, some teams still rely on sticky notes and whiteboards to stay organized. But those methods quickly fail when your team is scattered across the country or juggling a project with dozens of moving parts. And if you use Agile, forget it. You’d be ripping up and rewriting those sticky notes every day. 

The modern solution to these project woes is task management software. Asana and Jira are two of the most popular platforms. They both help teams visualize workflows and track progress from anywhere. But they have different purposes: Asana works great for general project management, while Jira is geared toward Agile teams and software development projects. 

This article provides a side-by-side comparison of Asana and Jira’s features, pros and cons, and pricing. This breakdown will help you get a sense of which platform will work best for your projects. Plus, learn about a third alternative: Jotform Boards. 

Asana vs Jira: A quick comparison at a glance

	Asana	Jira
Best for	General project management	Software development
Ease of use	More intuitive and user-friendly	Known for its complex user interface and steeper learning curve
Key features	Visual project boards, automated workflows, multiple project views, time tracking, resource management tools, such as captivity planning	Visual project boards, automated workflows, backlog and sprint planning for agile teams, issue tracking
Customization	More limited, but you can customize menus, project fields, and other elements	Can create multiple custom dashboards
Pricing	Free personal plan; team plans start at $10.99 per month	Free plan for up to 10 users; paid plans start at $8 per month
Integration options	Offers hundreds of integrations with popular platforms, including Microsoft Office and Slack	Over 3,000 apps and integrations
Collaboration tools	Built-in chat, file sharing, shared to-do lists and project boards	Integrates with popular collaboration tools, such as Slack, shared release dates for cross-departmental teams
Artificial intelligence (AI)	AI-powered workflows and project management tools for more efficiency	Suite of AI tools for faster decision-making and data analytics
Reporting & analytics	Customizable dashboards and reporting charts for easy data analysis	More granular reporting
User reviews (G2 ratings)	4.4 out of 5 stars	4.3 out of 5 stars

Jira or Asana: Comparing key features 

At first glance, Jira and Asana might look fairly similar: colorful project boards, shared calendars, the works. And it’s true that they have many overlapping functions. But there are a few key distinctions. 

Task and project management

These platforms both excel at task management, but they take slightly different approaches. 

Asana has a simple system: You can assign each task to a single person. For more complex tasks requiring multiple people, Asana recommends splitting them into subtasks. For example, for a TikTok marketing campaign, you might assign filming and editing to Jennifer and communicating with influencers to Mario. 

You can also organize tasks into larger projects with many collaborators, all working on different subtasks. Each project has a centralized dashboard, where everyone involved can view status updates, deadlines, and other key details. That way, you’ll never have to wonder if Carter in product development has finished that new wireframe; you can just check Asana. 

Jira refers to tasks as “work items,” but it also defaults to the one-person-per-task model. However, you can work around this limitation by creating custom fields to add multiple collaborators or splitting a task into subtasks. Unlike Asana, this platform also offers convenient project templates. These ready-made frameworks make it easy to create projects for different use cases: one for testing new software, another for that top-secret AI project, and so on.

While Asana and Jira share similar task management philosophies, key differences emerge when you look at the nitty-gritty details, including 

• Due dates: Asana allows you to set a start time and a deadline for each task, making it easier to plan your workload across extended periods. Similarly, Jira has due dates and visual charts called “epics,” which let you map out when you’ll start and finish each task within a larger project. 
• Dependencies: Both platforms let you mark tasks as dependent on others, which means you can’t start working on Task B until someone completes Task A. Asana’s system is simple, only allowing you to make a task dependent on other tasks. Meanwhile, Jira is much more flexible. You can link many work items (tasks, subtasks, issues, etc.) in a complex network of dependencies, even connecting items across projects. 
• Task views: Jira and Asana offer the same viewpoints for your to-do list: simple calendars, kanban boards, Gantt charts, timelines, and lists. However, only Jira has scrum boards designed specifically for agile sprints. 

Collaboration & communication

With the rise of remote work, you might never even see your team members in person. Task management software can help you work together from anywhere and keep everyone in the loop. 

Asana has many collaboration features, such as 

• Shared project boards and lists, where everyone can view tasks and deadlines 
• The ability to share files 
• Chat system 
• Comments and status updates 

Jira also has built-in team tools, though they’re somewhat less robust: 

• Shared projects and calendars 
• Backlogs for planning collaborative agile projects 
• Ability to comment on tasks and send notifications 

However, you’ll need to integrate Jira with other software (such as Atlassian’s Confluence platform) to effectively communicate with your team. Otherwise, you’ll just be conversing over short comments, which won’t get you far. 

Both platforms also integrate with popular communication tools, including Microsoft Teams and Slack. Combining these platforms allows you to plan meetings and send messages without leaving Jira or Asana. That way, you’re not constantly hopping back and forth across apps all day. 

Workflow automation 

Projects often involve time-consuming tasks that don’t necessarily need a human to handle them. Asana and Jira can help you automate these activities, freeing up your to-do list for other tasks. 

In Asana, paid users can automate workflows with Rules. The concept is simple: You define a trigger, and the platform automatically performs an action whenever it happens. Here are a few examples of potential Rules: 

• Add tasks due this week to a meeting agenda. 
• When someone updates a due date, send a notification to the entire team. 
• If someone assigns you a task when you’re on vacation, they’ll get an automatic Out of Office comment. 
• Three days before a task is due, Asana can automatically post a comment with a gentle reminder. 

You can also create more complex Rules with multiple triggers or actions. For instance, you might automatically send the client a status update when your team completes a set of tasks. 

Jira lets you automate tasks, too. It uses a three-part system: triggers, conditions that the rule must meet, and actions. Building on the previous example, you could set a rule in Jira to send automatic status updates, with the condition that it only happens when you complete high-priority tasks. That way, your client doesn’t get bombarded with notifications every time your team creates a report or sends an email. Asana doesn’t offer this high level of control, which may make Jira more appealing for some teams. 

Additionally, Jira has an audit log that records every time your rule gets triggered. This feature makes it easy to double-check that all your automations are working correctly. 

Customization 

When it comes to customization, Jira is the clear winner. It lets you tailor many aspects of the platform, including 

• Creating custom fields 
• Designing custom dashboards with “gadgets” that summarize key data 
• Changing the site’s colors to match your brand 
• Swap[ing the logo and favicon at the top of the browser
• Changing the appearance of cards on your project dashboard

A project manager, for instance, might build a custom dashboard that displays an activity stream and the average time spent in each status. This information can help them monitor progress and flag any stalled tasks. Meanwhile, a software development team can use the resolution time gadget to make sure they’re resolving bugs quickly. 

Asana also offers a handful of customization options, such as 

• Automated rules 
• Custom fields and rules 
• Integrations 
• Custom task templates 

However, this platform doesn’t give users as much freedom as Jira. 

Integration capabilities 

The numbers don’t lie: Jira has a much broader ecosystem than Asana. It’s compatible with over 3,000 platforms, including niche software engineering and design tools. By contrast, Asana only has around 200 integrations. 

Of course, size isn’t everything, especially if your team doesn’t rely on specialized software. Both Jira and Asana integrate with many popular platforms, including 

• Dropbox
• GitHub 
• Google Docs 
• Microsoft Teams 
• Salesforce 
• Slack
• Trello
• Zapier 
• Zendesk 

Jotform is another powerful tool that’s compatible with both task management platforms. It offers native integration with Asana, while Zapier can connect it with Jira using a simple template. Combining this software lets you use custom forms to quickly add tasks, comments, and other content to projects.

Reporting & analytics

Data analytics is another factor to consider when deciding between Jira or Asana. Even if you’re not a hardcore number cruncher, you’ll likely still want to analyze your team’s performance and progress. 

Jira has the most sophisticated built-in reporting tools. It lets you analyze virtually any aspect of your projects with out-of-the-box reports, such as 

• Sprint reports to track how much work an agile team completes in a specific period 
• Velocity reports, so you can monitor whether your team’s productivity is increasing or decreasing with each sprint
• Cumulative flow diagrams to visualize the status of different work items 
• Time tracking and user workload reports, which can help you distribute tasks fairly among team members (and prevent burnout)
• Created vs resolved issues reports to make sure problems aren’t piling up

This platform also lets you design custom dashboards that collect all the information you need, and nothing more. For example, you could create agile dashboards to monitor your team’s velocity and spot potential bottlenecks (like overdue tasks) early. 

Asana’s paid plans also come with reporting tools, though they’re not as advanced as Jira’s. The platform gathers basic project data, such as completion status and spending. You can also build custom dashboards with simple data visualizations (line charts, pie charts, etc.). However, Asana lacks the in-depth and productivity-focused analysis offered by Jira. 

But that doesn’t mean Asana users are doomed to a life of shallow reporting and limited insights. The platform integrates with third-party data analytics tools, such as Velocity and Tableau. With the right software, you can get deeper insights. 

Pros and cons of each tool

There are plenty of great reasons to choose Asana or Jira for task management. But like any platform, they’re not flawless. Here are a few benefits and drawbacks to consider as you weigh your options. 

Pros and cons of Asana

Here are the biggest advantages of using Asana: 

• Incredibly user-friendly, with an intuitive interface 
• Drag-and-drop editor for organizing tasks 
• Great for nontechnical teams 
• Straightforward automations 
• Versatile task views 

But the platform has several drawbacks, including 

• High costs for larger teams 
• Fewer integrations 
• Less robust reporting 
• Limited agile features 

Pros and cons of Jira

Here are a few reasons why you might choose Jira: 

• Ability to manage backlogs and plan sprints 
• Issue tracking system 
• Perfect for agile and DevOps teams 
• Powerful customization 
• Sophisticated reporting 

However, the software’s cons include 

• Complex user interface, especially for non-developers 
• Lack of built-in communication and collaboration features 
• Slow loading times 
• Steep learning curve 

Which one is best for you? 

At this point, you’ve probably got all sorts of features and benefits swirling around your mind. Still feeling torn? Here are a few scenarios to help you determine whether Asana or Jira fits your needs: 

Best for general project management: Asana

Maybe you’re not working on any especially technical projects, or you don’t follow the agile methodology — no sprints, thanks. In that case, Asana is an excellent choice. It’s incredibly accessible and doesn’t take much time to set up. Plus, it includes everything you need to manage non-techy projects, from kanban boards to automations. 

Best for small businesses & startups: Asana 

Smaller companies often don’t have the time (or, frankly, the budget) for extensive training. With its user-friendly interface, even the least tech-savvy people on your team can learn how to use Asana quickly. Additionally, its lowest paid tier includes more advanced features, like artificial intelligence and unlimited automations, than the comparable Jira plan. 

Best for large enterprises with complex workflows: Jira 

Huge enterprises may work on hundreds of projects simultaneously, often across departments. Jira has the flexibility and customizations needed to handle these complicated workflows. For example, you can use this platform to build intricate dependencies and automations to keep everything flowing smoothly. 

Best for teams focused on simplicity & collaboration: Asana 

While some people relish the idea of customizing their Jira account or using complex features, others want something simpler. Much simpler. That’s where Asana shines. With its straightforward processes and built-in collaboration tools, it’s perfect for teams that want to work together with minimal effort. 

Best for IT & technical teams: Jira 

There’s no competition: Jira is simply the best option for technology-related projects. It has all sorts of IT-related features, from issue tracking to the in-depth reporting that data analysts love. Plus, it’s designed for agile teams, so you don’t have to modify anything in the platform to use this popular methodology. 

Pricing breakdown 

Cost is another significant factor when comparing Jira vs Asana, especially for small businesses with the budgets to match. Fortunately, both platforms offer several pricing tiers, so you only pay for the features you actually need. 

Currently, Jira has four plans: 

Asana is slightly more expensive, with five available options: 

Enhance task management with Jotform Boards

While Asana and Jira are popular task management software, they’re not the only options or necessarily the best ones for every user. Jotform Boards is a great alternative with cutting-edge automation, collaboration, and customization tools. 

This kanban-style task management tool lets you organize and track your to-do list visually. It has over 1,000 free board templates, so you can spend less time setting up projects and more time actually working on them. For example, you could use a marketing plan template to plan your next Instagram campaign, or a timeline template to track milestones and upcoming deadlines.

Jotform Boards also stands out for its automation features. You can design custom AI Agents that automatically turn conversations into tasks. Let’s say an employee tells an AI Agent that their work laptop keeps shutting off randomly. The Agent will create a new task (“Fix Andrea’s laptop”) and add it to your IT team’s to-do list. 

Form submissions are another way to automate task management. For example, you might create a custom order form that clients can use to submit their requests. Jotform Boards can convert each submission to a task and place it on your fulfillment team’s to-do list — no phone calls or emails required.

Other key features of Jotform Boards include 

1. Workflow automation: Connect Boards with Jotform Workflows to automate task creation at different phases. This could involve anything from requesting payments to scheduling follow-up appointments with patients. 
2. Customizable task fields: Organize your tasks by Priority, Tags, Due Date, and other fields. That way, you can easily locate the most urgent or critical tasks. 
3. Drag-and-drop kanban view: Forget about painstakingly typing in new data every time you need to adjust a task. With the drag-and-drop editor, you can shuffle tasks across different workflow stages in seconds. 
4. Collaborative workspace: Get the whole team in on the action by assigning tasks and sharing boards. You can also add comments and track progress with an Activity Log.
5. Mobile-friendly: Manage tasks on the go with a fully responsive interface.

For users looking for an incredibly customizable (but not too technical) task management tool, Jotform Boards is a powerful alternative to traditional options like Jira and Asana. Ready to take control of your to-do list? Create your first board today for free or check out our templates for inspiration.