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Jira vs GitHub Comparison

Last updated:

Jira

4.4(17,380 reviews)

Starting at $7.53 /user/month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Jira is every team's tool for project management, making it easy to track progress, priorities, and workload, while staying connected across teams. The platform helps plan, track, and launch world-class products. From si…

GitHub

4.6(7,709 reviews)

Starting at $4 /User/Month

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

GitHub is a Web-based Git repository hosting service operated by GitHub, Inc. It offers all of the distributed revision control and source code management functionality of Git as well as adding its own features. Unlike G…

GitHub leads on user satisfaction with a 4.6-star rating across 7,709 reviews.

Jira vs GitHub — at a glance

FeatureJiraGitHub
Rating4.4 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews17,3807,709
Starting price$7.53 /user/month$4 /User/Month
Free trial Yes Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business
CategoryProduct Management SoftwareApplication Development Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - MacSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
APIAvailableAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), Online24/7 (Live rep), Online
CertificationsSOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001
Data residencyGlobalUS

Key differences between Jira and GitHub

  • Pricing: Jira starts at $7.53 /user/month, while GitHub starts at $4 /User/Month.
  • Target audience: Jira is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while GitHub targets Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises.
  • User satisfaction: GitHub scores higher with a 4.6-star average.
  • Deployment: Jira supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac; GitHub supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Jira vs GitHub — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Product Management Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Jira logo
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert
GitHub - Application Development Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Jira

Best for Agile teams needing customizable, robust project management.

Choose if
  • You manage SaaS product development or consulting projects with Agile methods.
  • Your team requires highly configurable workflows and detailed real-time reporting.
  • You need strong integration capabilities with popular development and collaboration tools.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your team prefers simple, minimal project management without complexity.
  • You require extensive third-party app integrations beyond Jira Marketplace limits.

GitHub

Best for developer teams needing powerful Git hosting with collaboration features.

Choose if
  • You need a web-based Git repository with integrated code review and CI/CD support.
  • Your team values a user-friendly graphical interface alongside command-line tools.
  • You require strong collaboration tools like pull requests, issue tracking, and wikis.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your team lacks Git knowledge and prefers simpler, non-technical version control tools.
  • You depend heavily on extensive third-party marketplace app integrations beyond GitHub's offerings.

Jira: Best for Agile teams needing customizable, robust project management. GitHub: Best for developer teams needing powerful Git hosting with collaboration features.

Description

Jira is every team's tool for project management, making it easy to track progress, priorities, and workload, while staying connected across teams. The platform helps plan, track, and ... Read More about Jira

GitHub is a Web-based Git repository hosting service operated by GitHub, Inc. It offers all of the distributed revision control and source code management functionality of Git as well as ... Read More about GitHub

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $7.53 , monthly
  • Starts from $4

Free Trial Availability

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.8/10

9.8/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

Best Company Size

50-500 employees501-5,000 employees
Small BusinessLarge Enterprises
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

Jira

  • Streamlined Project Management: With Jira, teams can effortlessly plan, track, and manage projects in one centralized platform. You'll find that it enhances collaboration and ensures everyone is on the same page.
  • Customizable Workflows: Jira offers the flexibility to tailor workflows according to your team's unique processes. This adaptability means you can optimize productivity without compromising your established practices.
  • Real-Time Reporting & Analytics: Managers will appreciate Jira’s powerful reporting features, providing valuable insights into project progress and team performance. These metrics enable informed decision-making and strategic planning.

GitHub

No key benefits available yet.

Best fit

Best fit

Jira

  • 50 to 5,000 employees
  • SaaS, Consulting, Fintech, Martech, and Revtech
  • Project Managers, Software Developers, Agile Coaches, Product Owners, and QA Engineers

GitHub

No best-fit guidance available yet.

Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Jira

  • Users may seek alternatives to Jira due to its complexity, particularly for smaller teams or projects that require a more straightforward, user-friendly interface without the steep learning curve associated with Jira's extensive features.
  • Budget constraints can drive users to consider alternatives, as some options offer similar functionalities at a lower cost, making them more accessible for startups or smaller organizations with limited resources.
  • Teams might look for solutions that better integrate with their existing tools and workflows, as Jira's integration capabilities can sometimes be limited or cumbersome compared to other platforms designed for seamless connectivity.

GitHub

No alternatives guidance available yet.

Software Demo

Demo

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How do Jira and GitHub Compare on Features?

Total Features

41 Features

10 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
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Compare Jira and GitHub on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $7.53 , monthly
      • $4

      Pricing Plans

      • Free

        Free

        • Includes:

        • Unlimited goals; projects; tasks and forms

        • Backlog; list; board; timeline; calendar and summary views

        Show more +

      • Standard

        $7.53

        /user/month

        • Everything from Free; plus:

        • User roles and permissions

        • External collaboration

        Show more +

      • Premium

        $13.53

        /user/month

        • Everything from Standard; plus:

        • Rovo Search; Chat and Agents and integrated AI-powered work features

        • Cross-team planning and dependency management

        Show more +

      • Browse all pricing plans
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      Jira pricing
      GitHub pricing

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Freelancers
      • Individuals
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Freelancers
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Installed - Mac
      • Installed - Windows
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Installed - Mac
      • Installed - Windows
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      HIPAA

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      ISO 27001

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global
      🇺🇸 US

      Jira User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      1067

      97

      11

      1

      4

      466

      52

      2

      0

      2

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Overall, users highly value Jira for its powerful Agile support, customization, and integration, though some find it complex initially.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of customization
      • Agile methodology support
      • Integration capabilities

      Common complaints

      • Complexity for new users
      • Limited advanced Marketplace apps

      Buyer sentiment

      Overall, users appreciate GitHub's ease of use and powerful collaboration features but note a learning curve and some feature limitations without paid plans.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Collaboration features
      • Integration with other tools

      Common complaints

      • Complexity for beginners
      • Limitations in free plan features

      Pros and Cons

      • Robust Agile methodology support including sprint tracking and ceremonies

      • Highly customizable workflows and dashboards

      • Strong integration capabilities with other platforms

      • Steep learning curve for newcomers due to feature richness

      • Limited advanced apps and connectors in the Marketplace

      • User-friendly graphical interface simplifying repository maintenance

      • Robust collaboration features including pull request reviews and GitHub Actions

      • Strong integration with desktop, web, and mobile clients

      • Some advanced features require paid subscriptions

      • Complexity in code comparison and search can intimidate beginners

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      List of Customers

      Customers

      Cisco

      Cisco

      ebay

      ebay

      Square

      Square

      American Airlines

      American Airlines

      Anaplan

      Anaplan

      ADEO

      ADEO

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Atlassian Jira AI Work Overview

      6 Screenshots

      README

      7 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      video-0

      3 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Jira and GitHub in 2026

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      Related Blogs and Articles for Application Development Software

      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, Jira or GitHub?
      GitHub edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Jira and GitHub offer a free trial?
      Yes, both Jira and GitHub offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Jira vs GitHub?
      Jira starts at $7.53 /user/month. GitHub starts at $4 /User/Month.
      What are the top alternatives to Jira?
      Top alternatives to Jira include Trello, Confluence, Asana, SwiftKanban, Kanbanize.
      What are the top alternatives to GitHub?
      Top alternatives to GitHub include LiveCode, Codeanywhere, Visual Studio IDE, CodeinCloud, GitLive.

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