Top Jira Alternatives in 2025: Why Teams Choose Businessmap

Jira is one of the most widely known project management and issue-tracking platforms. With powerful customization and a huge plugin ecosystem, it's widely used across software development and enterprise teams.

But Jira isn't for everyone. Many organizations find it:

• Complex to set up and maintain, often requiring dedicated admins.
• Slow for adoption, especially outside technical teams.
• Expensive at scale, with costs rising quickly due to required add-ons.

If you're searching for a Jira alternative, you're likely looking for a tool that's easier to use, more cost-efficient, and adaptable across your organization. In this guide, we'll compare Businessmap and four other leading alternatives - Azure DevOps, Asana, Rally, and Wrike - to help you decide which solution best fits your teams' needs.

Top 5 Jira Alternatives at a Glance

Businessmap →

Azure DevOps →

Asana →

Rally →

Wrike →

Here's a side-by-side view of the top 5 Jira alternatives on the most common decision points:

1. Businessmap (Formerly Kanbanize): The Cost-Efficient, Scalable Alternative

Businessmap combines project, workflow, and goals management into a single environment - eliminating the need for multiple add-ons. Compared to Jira, it offers predictable pricing, faster onboarding, and built-in features like OKRs and advanced analytics at no extra cost. It provides seamless workflow customization, OKRs at scale, and real-time collaboration in a single, unified environment.

Best For

• Organizations scaling beyond 100+ users
• Enterprises that want all-in-one Agile project & portfolio management
• Teams needing clarity across strategy, goals, and execution

Key Features

• Projects, Portfolio, Goals in One Hub: Connect OKRs directly to execution workflows.
• Executive Dashboards: Track goals vs. delivery across departments in real time.
• Multiple Workflow Views: Timeline, Kanban, Gantt, and initiative-based boards.
• Embedded Analytics: Real-time reporting included with all plans.
• Unlimited Automations: Automate workflows at any scale.
• AI Tools: Generate insights, summaries, and comments directly in workflows.

Pricing

• ~$7/user/month for large implementations (1,000+ users)
• Includes portfolio management, automations, analytics, and OKRs at no extra cost
• ~40% more cost-efficient than Jira Premium with add-ons

Strengths vs. Jira

• Predictable pricing model (flat rate vs. per-user add-ons).
• Unified platform (no need for third-party plugins for OKRs or reporting).
• Faster adoption for both technical and business stakeholders.
• Outstanding support.

Limitations vs. Jira

• Smaller plugin ecosystem than Jira Marketplace.

2. Azure DevOps: Developer-Focused Jira Alternative

Azure DevOps is Microsoft's project management and development suite, built for end-to-end software delivery. It's especially powerful for technical teams already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Best For

• Software development teams
• Organizations with CI/CD pipelines and Git repositories
• Teams needing tight Microsoft integrations

Key Features

• Work Items: Supports issues, bugs, epics, features, and user stories.
• Azure Boards: Kanban-based workflow tracking.
• Unlimited Private Git Repos: Provides version control for code collaboration.
• CI/CD Integration: Offers continuous integration and delivery for faster releases.
• Extensions Marketplace: Includes multiple integration extensions for a customized experience.

Pricing

• Free: First 5 users
• Basic: $6/user/month
• Basic + Test Plans: $52/user/month (advanced QA/testing)
• Additional costs for pipelines, artifacts, and security features

Strengths vs. Jira

• Strong development lifecycle support (from code to release).
• Excellent for teams already on Azure/GitHub.
• Flexible modular pricing.

Limitations vs. Jira

• Less intuitive for non-technical roles.

3. Asana: A Flexible Jira Alternative for Cross-Functional Teams

Asana is a widely adopted project and task management platform, popular with its intuitive interface and adaptability across departments. Unlike Jira, which is heavily geared toward technical workflows, Asana appeals to both technical and non-technical teams looking for a seamless way to manage projects, tasks, and collaboration.

Best For

• Cross-functional teams (marketing, product, ops, HR, etc.)
• Organizations that need simple yet structured task management
• Teams seeking a tool with low adoption friction

Key Features

• Task & Project Management: Organize work with tasks, subtasks, and milestones.
• Portfolio Management: Group projects into portfolios for goal tracking.
• Agile Adaptability: Configure boards for backlogs, sprints, or Kanban workflows.
• Collaboration Tools: Real-time updates, file attachments, and comment threads.
• User-Friendly Design: Built for quick adoption across non-technical roles.

Pricing

Asana offers the following tiered pricing structure:

• Free (Personal): Up to 10 users.
• Starter: €10.99/user/month (billed annually) – basic automations (250 actions per month), timelines.
• Advanced Plan: €24.99/user/month – advanced reporting, portfolios, and goals. Includes 100 portfolios and portfolios reporting with real-time data.
• Enterprise Plans: Custom pricing with enhanced security & admin controls.

Strengths vs. Jira

• Easier to learn and use across different business units.
• Faster setup with minimal admin overhead.
• Great for cross-department collaboration (not just software teams).

Limitations vs. Jira

• Limited depth for advanced Agile project tracking (e.g., no native epics/issues like Jira).
• Automation rules and portfolios are capped based on plan tier.

4. Rally: Enterprise-Grade Jira Alternative

Rally is designed for large enterprises needing to scale Agile practices across thousands of users. It offers robust support for frameworks like Scrum, Kanban, and SAFe, making it a strong alternative to Jira for enterprise Agile transformations.

Best For

• Large enterprises with complex Agile scaling needs
• Organizations requiring enterprise-grade compliance and security
• PMOs managing multi-team initiatives

Key Features

• Scalability: Handles enterprise-wide Agile frameworks.
• Agile Methodology Support: Scrum boards, Kanban boards, sprint planning.
• Advanced Agile Metrics: Flow metrics and predictive charts.
• Timeline & Roadmap Views: Visualize progress across programs.
• Enterprise-Grade Security: SOC, ISO/IEC 27001:2013, FISMA compliance.
• Deployment Flexibility: Cloud or on-premise.

Pricing

• Custom pricing only (enterprise-focused).

Strengths vs. Jira

• Purpose-built for large-scale Agile delivery.
• Strong compliance and security features.
• Advanced enterprise metrics not native to Jira.

Limitations vs. Jira

• Overkill for small to medium-sized teams.
• Complex setup and training required.

5. Wrike: Lightweight, Flexible Jira Alternative

Wrike is a flexible project management platform focused on task tracking, collaboration, and workflow automation. It's best suited for small to medium-sized teams seeking an easier-to-use option than Jira.

Best For

• Small to mid-sized teams
• Organizations prioritizing collaboration + simple automation
• Teams wanting a balance of usability and reporting

Key Features

• Essential Task Management: Assign, track, and collaborate on tasks.
• Work Intelligence: Smart search, AI recommendations, and subitems.
• Custom Workflows: Build workflows for different team processes.
• Automation: Basic automation features, with add-ons available for advanced needs.
• Collaboration Tools: Real-time updates, shared dashboards, and resource management.

Pricing

• Team: $10/user/month (2–15 users)
• Business: $25/user/month (5–200 users, includes advanced reporting)
• Enterprise/Pinnacle: Custom pricing
• Add-ons available for integrations and advanced automation

Strengths vs. Jira

• Easier to adopt and use across teams.
• More affordable entry pricing.
• Good balance of collaboration and reporting.

Limitations vs. Jira

• Lacks depth for advanced Agile frameworks.
• Requires add-ons for advanced automation or integration needs.
• Less scalable for enterprise Agile than Jira or Businessmap.

Which Jira Alternative Should You Choose?

Choosing the right Jira alternative depends on your team's size, goals, and technical needs:

• Businessmap is the best choice for organizations that want cost efficiency, scalability, and clarity in a single platform. Unlike Jira, it includes advanced features such as OKRs, portfolio management, and unlimited automations out of the box - no add-ons are required.
• Azure DevOps is a strong fit for developer-heavy teams that need deep integration with Microsoft tools and CI/CD pipelines.
• Asana is ideal for cross-functional teams that want a simple, flexible tool to manage projects and tasks across departments.
• Rally works best for large enterprises that require advanced Agile scaling and enterprise-grade security.
• Wrike suits smaller to mid-sized teams looking for lightweight project management with real-time collaboration and automation.

If your team is struggling with Jira's complexity and rising costs, Businessmap offers a streamlined, all-in-one solution that scales with you - at a fraction of the cost of Jira.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

»» Is Businessmap really cheaper than Jira?

Yes. Businessmap costs around $7 per user per month for large implementations (1000+ users) and includes advanced features such as OKRs, portfolio management, analytics, and unlimited automations. In contrast, Jira Premium costs ~$10.29/user/month (1000+ users), and many essential features require additional paid add-ons, which increases the total cost.

»» What is the easiest Jira alternative to adopt?

Asana and Wrike are generally the easiest alternatives to Jira for non-technical teams, thanks to their intuitive interfaces and straightforward setup. However, Businessmap offers a balance of ease of use and enterprise-grade features, making it easier for organizations to scale adoption across all departments.

»» Which Jira alternative is best for software development teams?

Azure DevOps is the strongest option for software development teams already working within the Microsoft ecosystem. It offers Git repos, CI/CD pipelines, and deep integration with developer workflows. For mixed or cross-functional teams, Businessmap is often preferred for its broader adaptability.

»» Which Jira alternative is best for large enterprises?

Rally (Broadcom ValueOps) is designed for enterprise-scale Agile transformations and offers advanced compliance and security. That said, Businessmap is often chosen by enterprises seeking a cost-efficient, all-in-one solution without heavy setup requirements.

»» Can I migrate from Jira to Businessmap easily?

Yes. Businessmap provides migration support and data import tools to facilitate a smoother transition. Many organizations successfully migrate their Jira projects into Businessmap in just a few days, with less administrative overhead compared to setting up Jira.