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Technology · head to head

Jira vs Eclipse

Jira logo

Jira

Technology

The #1 software development tool used by agile teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Eclipse logo

Eclipse

Technology

The Eclipse Foundation - home to a global community

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Jira free tier strictly limited to 10 users with only 2 GB storage; unsuitable for growing teams; Eclipse high memory consumption and CPU usage, especially with multiple plugins installed
  • They diverge on capability: Jira covers Scrum boards, Eclipse covers Java development environment.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Jira and Eclipse actually diverge.

Attributes where Jira and Eclipse differ
AttributeJiraEclipse
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsCloud, WebWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded20022001

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Technology).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Jira

  • Scrum boards
  • Kanban boards
  • Roadmaps
  • Agile reporting
  • Custom workflows
  • Issue tracking
  • Sprint planning
  • DevOps integration

Only in Eclipse

  • Java development environment
  • Extensible plugin architecture
  • Integrated debugger
  • Code refactoring
  • Version control integration
  • Build automation
  • Multi-language support
  • Rich client platform

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Jira

  • Software development teams leveraging AI-powered Rovo for trend analysis and bottleneck identificationnot Eclipse
  • Organisations requiring integrated issue tracking, project planning, and team alignment toolsnot Eclipse
  • Enterprises with 1,000+ users needing advanced analytics, security controls, and custom deployment optionsnot Eclipse

Eclipse

  • Java application developmentnot Jira
  • Enterprise software developmentnot Jira
  • Web application developmentnot Jira
  • Plugin developmentnot Jira
  • Educational programmingnot Jira

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Jira

  • Free tier strictly limited to 10 users with only 2 GB storage; unsuitable for growing teams
  • Per-seat pricing ($7.91–$14.54/user/month) accumulates significantly for large teams; 50-person team costs £3,955–7,270 monthly
  • Enterprise tier requires annual billing and sales contact; no transparent per-user pricing available
  • Premium features (cross-team planning, advanced automation) available only at $14.54/user/month tier or above

Eclipse

  • High memory consumption and CPU usage, especially with multiple plugins installed
  • Slow startup times and performance degradation with large projects or many open editors
  • Requires configuration of eclipse.ini file to optimize heap sizes for adequate performance
  • User interface considered outdated compared to modern IDE alternatives
  • User base fell from 39% of Java developers in 2024 to 28% in 2025, indicating market decline

Pricing, plan by plan

Jira

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Jira review.

Eclipse

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Eclipse review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Jira if

  • You need scrum boards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Web.
  • You also want kanban boards.
Jira review

Choose Eclipse if

  • You need java development environment.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want extensible plugin architecture.
Eclipse review

Questions people ask

Is Jira or Eclipse better?
Neither clearly leads. Jira starts at Free and Eclipse at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Jira or Eclipse?
Jira starts at Free and Eclipse at Free.
Does Jira or Eclipse run on more platforms?
Jira runs on Cloud, Web. Eclipse runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Jira for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Jira best used for?
Jira is most often used for software development teams leveraging ai-powered rovo for trend analysis and bottleneck identification, organisations requiring integrated issue tracking, project planning, and team alignment tools, enterprises with 1,000+ users needing advanced analytics, security controls, and custom deployment options. Of those, software development teams leveraging ai-powered rovo for trend analysis and bottleneck identification and organisations requiring integrated issue tracking, project planning, and team alignment tools are not what Eclipse is typically brought in for.
What can Jira do that Eclipse cannot?
Jira covers Scrum boards, Kanban boards, Roadmaps, Agile reporting. Eclipse covers Java development environment, Extensible plugin architecture, Integrated debugger, Code refactoring.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Eclipse: How much does Eclipse IDE cost?

Eclipse IDE is completely free and open-source, released under the Eclipse Public License 2.0.

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