Jira Software vs Azure DevOps

Written By Ben Entwistle
Categories: Technology

To run your projects seamlessly, you need excellent proprietary software for reliable issue tracking, reporting, and project management. Thanks to their popularity and noted reliability, you’re likely to narrow your search to Jira Align vs Azure Boards when looking for efficient software to handle your projects.

However, since deciding between the two can be daunting, we’ll help you point out each software’s unique features, so you can pick your preferred choice depending on your needs.

Plans and Pricing

Pricing is critical when deciding between Jira and Azure DevOps. Both options offer free and premium plans, suitable for people of different budgets.

Jira’s free plan is open to up to ten users. It provides enhanced community support and 2GB of storage capacity, which is enough to run small projects. Should you decide to add more users, then you can sign up for the premium option, which offers more storage.

You’ll also enjoy Jira’s free 7-day trial period before settling on either of the three available premium subscription options: Standard ($7.5 per user p.m), Premium ($14.5 per user p.m), and Enterprise (annual billing).

On the other hand, Azure offers a free plan for up to five users. Increasing the number of users will cost you at least $6 per user per month.

While the basic program requires a monthly subscription of $6 per user, the Basic+Tests plan costs $52 monthly. In addition, Azure DevOps offers a 30-day free trial period, which is a long enough period to allow you to decide whether or not the software suits your needs.

Technical Support

Instant technical support is vital in guaranteeing an immersive experience when using this proprietary software.

Jira offers technical support in different ways, including social media, live chat, and a self-service portal. The customer support team is significantly responsive, addressing your issues promptly and wholly.

In contrast, Microsoft’s Azure DevOps majorly relies on the support ticket system, which is significantly reliable. You’ll get generous support online, making resolving any issues you have with their proprietary software easier.

Dashboard and User Interface

The software’s user interface and dashboard will often determine how immersive your experience will be when using it. Azure DevOps and Jira have impressive user interfaces, allowing you to access different features more effortlessly. However, Azure DevOps has the edge.

Azure DevOps and Jira both allow you to customize the dashboard. This feature ensures that you organize your projects and achievements on particular, readily accessible slides. However, while Jira uses Kanban & Scrum boards, Azure relies on Microsoft for its dashboard structure.

In addition, Jira allows you to customize your project workflow, including the issues you face. This feature makes tracking your progress more straightforward, including an overview of your team’s work, plans, and achievements.

Unfortunately, Azure DevOps does not offer this element. Instead, it guarantees an exceptional search functionality, something Jira offers in limitation.

Agile Reporting

Agile reporting centers on analyzing and sharing critical information on your project’s progress, issues, and projections. Enhanced agile reporting is vital in strategic decision-making, which could help avert crisis and financial complications in the long run.

Jira provides a comprehensive agile reporting feature. Your teams will access different reports in real time, including invaluable insights into team performance. You can confirm changes in your project, often based on particular milestones.

In contrast, Azure DevOps does not offer insightful, agile reporting. The lack of this feature implies that you have to rely on other elements to confirm the progress and performance of your project.

Project Traceability

Easily tracking your projects could help reduce time and resource wastage. Both Azure DevOps and Jira allow you to do this.

Azure allows you to trace a project from start to finish. You can check its lifecycle to determine your progress, including the changes and milestones achieved. In contrast, Jira does not offer a direct traceability tool, meaning you cannot confirm the visibility of specific changes or which group has been completed.

Yet, Azure has the edge in progress tracking thanks to its built-in roadmaps. This feature is not available in Azure DevOps.

Supported Coding Languages

While Azure DevOps readily integrates with Github, you’ll incorporate Jira with BitBucket. Yet, Github has often proven to be a more reliable coding option. In this case, the choice shall depend on personal preferences.

Jira vs Azure DevOps

Azure boards vs Jira share multiple similarities, including strengths and weaknesses. Choosing between the two requires you to compare the elements above. However, Jira seems to have the edge, thanks to its agile methodologies, enhanced search functionality, and affordability.

Ben Entwistle