Jira vs Zoho Projects
Jira and Zoho Projects are both project management tools. Jira is aimed at enterprise and developers, while Zoho Projects is aimed at small businesses and enterprise. Zoho Projects costs less, from $5/mo versus $9.70/mo for Jira. Both have a free plan.
Agile project tracking for software teams
Low-cost project management with Gantt, timesheets and blueprints
| Pricing | Freemium · $10 | Freemium · $5 |
| Starting price | $9.70/mo | $5/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 14 days | 15 days |
| Built for | Enterprise, Developers | Small businesses, Enterprise, Agencies |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web, ios, android |
| Country | AU · 2002 | IN |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Jira if
Mid-size to enterprise engineering organizations that need customization, governance and ecosystem.
- Can model virtually any process
- Deep ecosystem and integrations
- Free for up to 10 users
Look elsewhere if: Small fast teams who want speed and simplicity (Linear, Plane).
Choose Zoho Projects if
Budget-conscious SMBs and agencies that want Gantt charts, timesheets and issue tracking in one tool, especially inside the Zoho ecosystem.
- One of the cheapest per-user prices for Gantt and timesheets
- Usable free plan for up to five users
- Tight integration with Zoho CRM, Books and Analytics
Look elsewhere if: Software teams that live in agile sprints (Jira, Linear) or teams that want the most polished collaborative workspace (Asana, monday.com).
Jira vs Zoho Projects pricing
Jira
- Free$0Up to 10 users, 2 GB storage
- Standard$9.70/user/mo1-100 users list price; 250 GB, 400 automation steps
- Premium$19.60/user/mo1-100 users; unlimited storage; 30-day trial
- EnterpriseCustomAnnual billing, multiple instances
Zoho Projects
- Free$0Up to 5 users, 3 projects, 5 GB storage
- Premium$5/user/mo$4 billed annually; unlimited projects, timesheets, Zia
- Enterprise$10/user/mo$9 billed annually; SSO, critical path, baselines
- Ultimate$15/user/mo$14 billed annually; resources, portfolio dashboards
Jira · Key features
- Scrum and kanban boards with backlogs, sprints and releases
- Custom workflows, issue types, fields and screens
- JQL advanced search and saved filters
- Plans for cross-project roadmaps and capacity (Premium)
- Automation rules and 3,000+ marketplace apps
- Rovo AI for JQL, summaries and breakdowns
Cons
- Complexity grows with configuration
- Slower and denser than modern trackers
- Admin overhead in large instances
Zoho Projects · Key features
- Gantt charts with task dependencies, critical path and baselines
- Kanban boards, task lists, subtasks and milestones
- Built-in issue tracker for bugs and change requests
- Timesheets and time logs with billable and non-billable hours
- Project budgets with earned value management metrics
- Task blueprints that enforce a fixed, rule-based workflow
Cons
- Interface feels dated next to Asana and monday.com
- Agile sprints live in a separate product, Zoho Sprints
- Free plan caps you at three projects
Jira vs Zoho Projects: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Jira or Zoho Projects?
Zoho Projects starts at $5/mo and Jira at $9.70/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Jira and Zoho Projects have a free plan?
Yes, both Jira and Zoho Projects have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.
Which is better for small businesses, Jira or Zoho Projects?
Zoho Projects lists small businesses as a core audience, while Jira is aimed more at enterprise and developers.