Jira vs Shortcut
Jira is enterprise project management and issue tracking for software development teams, while Shortcut is project management for software teams with a focus on simplicity and collaboration. Jira comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. Jira is built for large engineering teams that need customizable workflows and reporting, whereas Shortcut targets mid-size software teams that find jira too heavy and trello too light.
| Feature | Jira | Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | — |
| API | — | ✓ |
| Custom Workflows | ✓ | — |
| Dashboards | ✓ | — |
| Epics | — | ✓ |
| Iterations | — | ✓ |
| Marketplace | ✓ | — |
| Milestones | — | ✓ |
| Roadmaps | ✓ | — |
| Sprints | ✓ | — |
| Stories | — | ✓ |
Pricing: Both tools offer free tiers, so you can test each before committing. Jira's free plan: Free for up to 10 users. Shortcut's free plan: Free for up to 10 users. When you outgrow the free tier, Jira is the cheaper option at $7.75/user/mo vs. $8.50/user/mo for Shortcut.
Feature gaps: Jira offers Custom Workflows, Dashboards and Marketplace that Shortcut lacks. Shortcut brings API, Epics and Iterations that Jira does not have.
Team fit: Jira is geared toward enterprise teams, while Shortcut 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.
Where each tool shines: Jira's biggest strengths are: extremely customizable workflows and fields. advanced reporting and dashboards. Shortcut's biggest strengths are: right balance of features without jira's complexity. clean, intuitive interface.
Watch out for: With Jira, users commonly note that slow and bloated interface. With Shortcut, the main complaint is that smaller market share means less community content.
choose Jira if
- You need a tool built for large engineering teams that need customizable workflows and reporting
- You want to save on per-user costs — Jira is $0.75/user/mo cheaper
- 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
choose Shortcut if
- You need a tool built for mid-size software teams that find jira too heavy and trello too light
- You specifically need API and Epics
- You care about clean, intuitive interface
- Your team size fits the small teams profile Shortcut is designed for
- The free tier works for you: free for up to 10 users
frequently asked
What is the difference between Jira and Shortcut?
Jira is enterprise project management and issue tracking for software development teams, while Shortcut is project management for software teams with a focus on simplicity and collaboration. Jira comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. Jira is built for large engineering teams that need customizable workflows and reporting, whereas Shortcut targets mid-size software teams that find jira too heavy and trello too light.
Should I use Jira or Shortcut?
Jira is built for large engineering teams that need customizable workflows and reporting. Shortcut is built for mid-size software teams that find jira too heavy and trello too light. Pick the one that fits.
When should I choose Jira over Shortcut?
Choose Jira if You need a tool built for large engineering teams that need customizable workflows and reporting; You want to save on per-user costs — Jira is $0.75/user/mo cheaper; 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.
When should I choose Shortcut over Jira?
Choose Shortcut if You need a tool built for mid-size software teams that find jira too heavy and trello too light; You specifically need API and Epics; You care about clean, intuitive interface; Your team size fits the small teams profile Shortcut is designed for; The free tier works for you: free for up to 10 users.
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