Project management apps are a new category of tools that bundle task tracking, collaboration, scheduling, and communication into a single platform. And for teams big and small across the world, they've become all the rage.

Instead of switching between separate apps for all of the tasks mentioned above, project management apps centralize these functions. Two of the biggest players on the market today are Jira and Asana, which are both awesome platforms built for slightly different niches. With Kanban boards, dashboards, and automation, these tools enable teams to stay aligned and track progress in real-time.

It can be tricky deciding which features you need and which ones you can go without. For those deciding on which project management tool is the right choice, this article is for you. We'll compare unique features, pricing, and overall philosophy of both Jira and Asana to make your decision easier.

Whether you choose Jira or Asana, one thing is for sure: automation will be your new best friend. From streamlining repetitive tasks to keeping everyone on the same page, IFTTT can help. With our powerful free automation builder, you can customize Jira and Asana to perform exactly how you want.

Jira vs Asana: An overview

Jira and Asana are both project management tools designed to enhance team collaboration. Both offer all of the base features you'd want, like real-time updates, folders and organization, and calendars. However, they approach the challenge from slightly different angles.

If you are a part of a software development team, you'll certainly want to choose Jira. Born out of the agile movement, it excels at handling sprints, bug tracking, and complex workflows. It's the tool of choice for programming teams with NASA, Visa, Ford, and other heavy-hitters.

Jira's flexibility makes it a favorite among engineering teams who need deep customization and reporting. This isn't to say it can't be used by other professions, as the company has expanded features to start appealing to marketing and design teams.

Asana, on the other hand, is a dream for the more generalist audience. It’s intuitive, visually clean, and designed to be accessible to teams of all sizes and industries. We'd say that Asana shines best in simplicity and ease of adoption. With a userbase of over 3.2 million people, it's one of the most popular business tools out today, period. This means Asana offers great technical support and is constantly rolling out new improvements to the app.

Both tools offer Kanban boards, timelines, dashboards, and integrations with other work apps. But the philosophy behind each platform is different: Jira leans into detail and process, while Asana focuses on simplicity and speed.

Key features comparison

When comparing Jira and Asana, there are some core features that highlight their strengths. Let's take a look at what sets each tool apart from the competition.

Jira's standout features:

• - Issue tracking: Manage bugs and tasks with detailed tracking.
• - Agile boards: Scrum and Kanban boards for workflow visualization.
• - Custom workflows: Tailor processes to specific project needs.
• - Advanced reporting: Generate in-depth reports for tracking data.

Asana's standout features:

• - Task management: Organize tasks with folders and timelines.
• - Project templates: Start quickly with ready-made structures.
• - Visual projects: Use Kanban boards and Gantt charts for clarity.
• - Collaboration tools: Communicate with comments and file attachments.

Jira excels in handling complex workflows and agile project management. Agile, for those who don't know, is a framework that breaks large projects into smaller tasks over shorter periods of time. It can be used by anyone, but is especially popular with more technical teams, like software engineers and finance.

As stated before, Asana's strengths lie in its adaptability and all-around appeal. Its user-friendly interface and collaboration features make it ideal for diverse industries.

Importantly: User experience

For all the features they share, Jira and Asana definitely differ in overall user experience.

Asana stands out with its clean and simple interface, making it the more user-friendly pick. With color-coded task types and a helpful sidebar navigation system, you can start managing projects with minimal training.

Jira's extensive features mean it's more complex to navigate for someone just getting used to the platform. Its customization options cater to technical teams but result in a steeper learning curve. Yet, these features allow skilled users to tailor Jira to specific workflow requirements.

Native integrations

Both Jira and Asana are great for those interested in integrations, which can expand their functionality by connecting with third-party apps. This can help support a seamless flow of information across various platforms and tools.

Jira integrates well with development tools such as GitHub and Bitbucket, which are important for software teams. Asana also connects effortlessly with communication apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams. Additionally, you can gain API access for both apps, allowing for custom automations tailored to specific needs.

Here's the bad news: using an API to build a full-blown automation from scratch is out of the wheelhouse for most of us. Fortunately, IFTTT can be the solution. Our app allows you to build automations with a simple logic-based builder, zero programming experience required. With millions of potential configurations, you can create truly advanced automations in just a couple of minutes. We'll get into more detail in the next section.

Automations with IFTTT

We mentioned how Jira and Asana offer some native integrations, but for the most functionality with over 1000 apps and services, users turn to IFTTT for no-code, no-frills integration. In this section, we'll learn everything there is to know about getting started with IFTTT.

Choosing to automate with IFTTT means you'll be able to make custom Applets without any coding knowledge and browse our library of millions of user-created automations. Compare this to complex JavaScript programming normally needed to create custom automations, and it's clear that IFTTT provides the best solution for everyday people looking to work smarter.

Is IFTTT free?

IFTTT offers a free plan that includes access to up to two Applets. However, there are also Pro and Pro+ tiers that unlock additional features such as multiple actions per Applet, faster execution times, and advanced filtering options. If you’re just getting started with automation, our free plan should be enough.

How do I build my own Applet?

Creating your own Applet is easy. Just follow these steps:

• 1) Visit IFTTT.com/create.
• 2) Click on “If This” to select a trigger (e.g., a new task is added in Asana).
• 3) Click on “Then That” to choose an action (e.g., send a reminder to a Slack channel).
• 4) Customize any options or filters, then save your Applet.

That’s it! Your automation will now run.

How does IFTTT use sensitive data?

IFTTT values your privacy and only uses the data required to run your chosen Applets. If any Applet involves a device or service that shares sensitive data (like location or email), IFTTT will ask for your permission. We never sell or share any sensitive data with any third party.

How do I suggest a new service for IFTTT?

IFTTT is always expanding its ecosystem and values feedback. If there's a specific device, app, or service you’d like to see integrated, you can suggest it through our support page. If a lot of users request a feature, we'll likely add it in the near future.

Pricing and scalability

When deciding on what tool to use, it's important to consider what your budget is now and where it may be in the future. Ideally, your tool has good scalability, or in other words, you can upgrade as you need without any issues.

Asana pricing

Free plan: Perfect for individuals or very small teams, offering unlimited projects, basic task management, and integrations with essentials like Slack and Google Drive.

Starter ($10.99 per user/month): Adds advanced project views (like timelines and dashboards), dependencies, and expanded reporting. Asana AI is also included.

Advanced ($24.99 per user/month): Unlocks workload management, advanced automation, and enterprise-grade security.

Enterprise (custom pricing): Designed for large organizations that require advanced compliance, data security, and dedicated customer success support.

Small-to-mid-sized companies, startups, and marketing teams often lean toward Asana’s free or Starter plans to get started.

Jira pricing:

Jira's pricing depends on the number of users in your team. For this pricing example, we'll use 50 users. As a rule of thumb, the more users you commit to a plan, the cheaper it becomes.

Free plan: Supports up to 10 users, with agile boards, backlogs, and basic automation.

Standard ($8.60 per user/month): Adds user management, project roles, and additional storage.

Premium ($17 per user/month): Offers advanced roadmaps, admin insights, sandbox environments, and automation across projects.

Enterprise (custom pricing): Built for global teams with unlimited instances, dedicated support, and compliance.

While Jira's free plan is a great starting point for small groups, its true value emerges in Premium and Enterprise tiers, where you get access to more advanced workflows and automation.

Both Asana and Jira have invested heavily in AI features, which help with scalability. Jira’s AI assistant now helps automatically generate sprint reports and suggest backlog prioritizations, while Asana’s AI provides predictive task deadlines and auto-generated project briefs. Keep these features in mind when making your decision.

Project management made easy with IFTTT

At the end of the day, whether you pick Jira or Asana depends on what kind of team you’re running and how you like to work. Jira shines for programming teams and those who like the Agile method and technical integrations. Asana is best for when your team values speed, simplicity, and flexibility across lots of different industries.

But one thing both platforms have in common is that they become much more powerful with automation. With IFTTT, you can let automation handle the heavy lifting. Best of all, getting started with IFTTT is free and only takes a couple of minutes to start building your first Applet. So what are you waiting for? Click the button below to get started.