Softwr

Software · head to head

Shortcut vs etcd

Shortcut logo

Shortcut

Software

Project management for software teams

From
Free
Rated
-
E

etcd

Software

A strongly consistent, distributed key-value store

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Shortcut has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Shortcut limited reporting compared to Jira; etcd licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (etcd-io/etcd LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Shortcut and etcd actually diverge.

Attributes where Shortcut and etcd differ
AttributeShortcutetcd
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, LinuxWeb
Founded2014Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Shortcut

  • Stories & epics
  • Iterations (sprints)
  • Kanban boards
  • Roadmaps
  • Reporting
  • Docs
  • API & webhooks
  • Mobile apps

Only in etcd

Nothing recorded that Shortcut does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Shortcut

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

etcd

No use cases recorded yet. See the etcd review.

Where each one falls short

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

Shortcut

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

etcd

  • Licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (etcd-io/etcd LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
  • Benchmarked at only thousands of writes per second per instance per etcd.io, a throughput ceiling that requires clustering or an alternative store for higher write volumes

Pricing, plan by plan

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

etcd

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the etcd review.

Which should you pick?

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).

Choose etcd if

Nothing in the data separates etcd from Shortcut on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Questions people ask

Is Shortcut or etcd better?
Neither clearly leads. Shortcut starts at Free and etcd at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Shortcut or etcd?
Shortcut has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Shortcut and On request for etcd.
Does Shortcut or etcd run on more platforms?
Shortcut runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux. etcd runs on Web.
Can I use Shortcut for free?
Yes. Shortcut has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. etcd starts at On request.
What is Shortcut best used for?
Shortcut is most often used for sprint planning, bug tracking, feature development, product roadmapping. Of those, sprint planning and bug tracking are not what etcd is typically brought in for.
What can Shortcut do that etcd cannot?
Shortcut covers Stories & epics, Iterations (sprints), Kanban boards, Roadmaps.

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

Related pages