Softwr

Technology · head to head

Jira vs Shortcut

Jira logo

Jira

Technology

The #1 software development tool used by agile teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shortcut logo

Shortcut

Technology

Project management for software teams

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; Shortcut limited reporting compared to Jira
  • They diverge on capability: Jira covers Scrum boards, Shortcut covers Stories & epics.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Jira and Shortcut actually diverge.

Attributes where Jira and Shortcut differ
AttributeJiraShortcut
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsCloud, WebWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux
Founded20022014

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
  • Agile reporting
  • Custom workflows
  • Issue tracking
  • Sprint planning
  • DevOps integration
  • Bitbucket
  • Confluence

Only in Shortcut

  • Stories & epics
  • Iterations (sprints)
  • Reporting
  • Docs
  • API & webhooks
  • Mobile apps
  • Figma
  • Sentry

Both cover

  • Kanban boards
  • Roadmaps
  • GitHub
  • GitLab
  • Slack
  • SOC2
  • GDPR

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 Shortcut
  • Organisations requiring integrated issue tracking, project planning, and team alignment toolsnot Shortcut
  • Enterprises with 1,000+ users needing advanced analytics, security controls, and custom deployment optionsnot Shortcut

Shortcut

  • Sprint planningnot Jira
  • Bug trackingnot Jira
  • Feature developmentnot Jira
  • Product roadmappingnot Jira
  • Team collaborationnot 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

Shortcut

  • Limited reporting compared to Jira
  • Designed specifically for software teams, not general project management
  • Can experience slow loading times with very large projects

Pricing, plan by plan

Jira

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Jira review.

Shortcut

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Kanban boards
    • Sprints
    • Roadmaps
  • Team$8.5/user/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Advanced reports
    • WIP limits
  • Business$12/user/month
    • Unlimited workspaces
    • OKRs
    • Advanced custom fields
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Volume discounts
    • SSO/SCIM
    • Premier support

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 agile reporting.
Jira review

Choose Shortcut if

  • You need stories & epics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want iterations (sprints).
Shortcut review

Questions people ask

Is Jira or Shortcut better?
Neither clearly leads. Jira starts at Free and Shortcut at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Jira or Shortcut?
Jira starts at Free and Shortcut at Free.
Does Jira or Shortcut run on more platforms?
Jira runs on Cloud, Web. Shortcut runs on Web, macOS, Windows, 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 Shortcut is typically brought in for.
What can Jira do that Shortcut cannot?
Jira covers Scrum boards, Agile reporting, Custom workflows, Issue tracking. Shortcut covers Stories & epics, Iterations (sprints), Reporting, Docs. Both handle Kanban boards, Roadmaps, GitHub, GitLab.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Shortcut: Does Shortcut have a free plan?

Yes, Shortcut offers a free plan for up to 10 users with core features like kanban boards, roadmaps, sprints, and reports. Paid plans start at $8.50 per user per month.

Source
Shortcut: Does Shortcut integrate with GitHub?

Yes, Shortcut has native GitHub integration that automatically syncs pull requests and commits to stories, and includes GitLab and Bitbucket support as well.

Source
Shortcut: Can I use Shortcut for non-technical projects?

Shortcut is built for software teams, though you can customize workflows for other use cases. Linear and Asana may be better suited for non-technical project management.

Source
Shortcut: Does Shortcut support SSO and SCIM?

Yes, SSO and SCIM support are available on the Enterprise plan, allowing centralized identity management for large organizations.

Source
Shortcut: What's the difference between Shortcut and Jira?

Shortcut is lighter and faster with less setup required, while Jira offers deeper customization and enterprise features. Shortcut works better for modern software teams wanting simplicity; Jira suits enterprises needing extensive configuration.

Source
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