Jira vs Plane
Jira is enterprise project management and issue tracking for software development teams, while Plane is open-source project management tool for software teams. Self-hostable alternative to Jira and Linear. The biggest difference up front: Plane is free, while Jira starts at $7.75/user/mo. Jira is built for large engineering teams that need customizable workflows and reporting, whereas Plane targets teams that want open-source, self-hosted project management.
| Feature | Jira | Plane |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | ✓ |
| Custom Workflows | ✓ | — |
| Cycles | — | ✓ |
| Dashboards | ✓ | — |
| Marketplace | ✓ | — |
| Modules | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | — | ✓ |
| Roadmaps | ✓ | — |
| Self-Hosted | — | ✓ |
| Sprints | ✓ | — |
| Views | — | ✓ |
Pricing: Plane is completely free, which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Jira starts at $7.75/user/mo, but Free for up to 10 users. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.
Feature gaps: Jira offers Custom Workflows, Dashboards and Marketplace that Plane lacks. Plane brings Cycles, Modules and Open Source that Jira does not have.
Team fit: Jira is geared toward enterprise teams, while Plane is aimed at small teams teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.
Open source: Plane is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Jira is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
Where each tool shines: Jira's biggest strengths are: extremely customizable workflows and fields. advanced reporting and dashboards. Plane's biggest strengths are: open source and self-hostable. clean, modern interface inspired by linear.
Watch out for: With Jira, users commonly note that slow and bloated interface. With Plane, the main complaint is that less mature than established alternatives.
choose Jira if
- You need a tool built for large engineering teams that need customizable workflows and reporting
- You specifically need Custom Workflows and Dashboards
- You care about advanced reporting and dashboards
- Your team size fits the enterprise profile Jira is designed for
- The free tier works for you: free for up to 10 users
choose Plane if
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that want open-source, self-hosted project management
- Budget is a hard constraint — Plane is free, Jira is not
- You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
- You specifically need Cycles and Modules
- You care about clean, modern interface inspired by linear
frequently asked
What is the difference between Jira and Plane?
Jira is enterprise project management and issue tracking for software development teams, while Plane is open-source project management tool for software teams. Self-hostable alternative to Jira and Linear. The biggest difference up front: Plane is free, while Jira starts at $7.75/user/mo. Jira is built for large engineering teams that need customizable workflows and reporting, whereas Plane targets teams that want open-source, self-hosted project management.
Should I use Jira or Plane?
Plane is the free option; Jira charges $7.75/user/mo but may offer more polish. Here is how they compare.
When should I choose Jira over Plane?
Choose Jira if You need a tool built for large engineering teams that need customizable workflows and reporting; You specifically need Custom Workflows and Dashboards; You care about advanced reporting and dashboards; Your team size fits the enterprise profile Jira is designed for; The free tier works for you: free for up to 10 users.
When should I choose Plane over Jira?
Choose Plane if Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that want open-source, self-hosted project management; Budget is a hard constraint — Plane is free, Jira is not; You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code; You specifically need Cycles and Modules; You care about clean, modern interface inspired by linear.
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