Confluence vs Jira: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Confluence positions itself as "the connected workspace for teams" while Jira goes after "the #1 software development tool for agile teams" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. Both tools compete in the project management category. Check the feature comparison below to see which capabilities matter most for your specific use case.
At a glance
| Confluence | Jira | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 74/100 | 79/100 |
| Starting price | Free | $9.05/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | The connected workspace for teams | The #1 software development tool for agile teams |
Pricing comparison
Confluence
Pricing verified 2026-04-16
Jira
Pricing verified 2026-04-16
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Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Confluence | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Rich text editor | Yes | No |
| Page templates | Yes | No |
| Spaces (organized areas) | Yes | No |
| Page hierarchy/nesting | Yes | No |
| Version history | Yes | No |
| In-line comments | Yes | No |
| Task management | No | Yes |
| Timeline view | No | Yes |
| Kanban boards | No | Yes |
| Calendar view | No | Yes |
| Dependencies | No | Premium+ |
collaboration
| Feature | Confluence | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time co-editing | Yes | No |
| @mentions | Yes | No |
| Page reactions | Yes | No |
| Decision records | Yes | No |
| Team calendars | Premium | No |
| Whiteboards | Yes | No |
| Comments | No | Yes |
| File sharing | No | Yes |
| Real-time editing | No | Yes |
| Guest access | No | No |
ai
| Feature | Confluence | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Atlassian Intelligence | Premium/Enterprise | No |
| AI page summaries | Premium | No |
| AI content generation | Premium | No |
| Smart queries | Premium | No |
integrations
| Feature | Confluence | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Jira | Yes | No |
| Trello | Yes | No |
| Slack | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Teams | Yes | Yes |
| Google Drive | Yes | No |
| GitHub | Yes | Yes |
| Figma | Yes | No |
| Zapier | Yes | Yes |
| Google Workspace | No | Yes |
| MCP (third-party agents) | No | Yes |
advanced
| Feature | Confluence | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Automation | No | Yes |
| Custom fields | No | Yes |
| Portfolios | No | Premium+ |
| Resource management | No | No |
| Sprint planning | No | Yes |
| AI Agents (Rovo) | No | Open beta |
| AI Workflow Builder | No | Premium+ |
| Natural Language to JQL | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing Confluence means going without Task management, Timeline view, Kanban boards (which Jira offers). Choosing Jira means losing Rich text editor, Page templates, Spaces (organized areas). These are the features that typically drive the final decision — check whether your workflow depends on any of them before committing.
Switching cost consideration
Confluence has a broader integration ecosystem, which is great for workflow automation but also creates higher switching costs down the road. Jira's simpler integration footprint means less vendor lock-in — easier to switch if your needs change, but fewer automation possibilities out of the box.
Choose Confluence if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Choose Jira if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Frequently asked questions
Is Confluence or Jira better?
Jira scores 79/100 compared to Confluence's 74/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Confluence excels at ease of use (6/10) while Jira scores 6/10.
How much does Confluence cost compared to Jira?
Confluence starts at free (free tier available). Jira starts at $9.05/mo (free tier available). Confluence is the more affordable option.
Does Confluence or Jira have a free plan?
Yes, both Confluence and Jira offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing to a paid plan.
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