Jira Software vs Confluence Software – Competitors or Companions?

Companies that want to move away from outdated filing systems and email correspondence need to consider implementing a project management solution in their organization. The software can change the work culture by introducing modern methods and agile techniques to the workflow. Atlassian has developed different software solutions that help with all of the above. Two popular names are Jira software and Confluence software because they can be used to track project updates and make sure stakeholders are involved in the process. 

This article compares Jira software vs Confluence software outlining the differences and similarities between them. It also explains how teams can use the software together to increase functionality and overcome their limitations. 

Jira Software vs Confluence Software – The Differences 

Jira is a task management solution that helps users keep track of all issues and complaints throughout the project lifecycle. It helps users with everything from software development, incident management, and HR processes. Confluence on the other hand, is a wiki-based tool that makes it easier to create, organize and share content. It is a collaborative platform through which users can distribute information and set up their knowledge bases. 

Both platforms are based on Agile principles and built to promote collaboration however Jira helps track individual tasks and provides a standard view, Confluence software brings all broader information together that emphasizes on creativity and visual presentation.  

Jira Software vs Confluence Software – Features 

Jira 

Jira project management is available in three different configurations namely software, service management, and work management. They all have the same core components and provide issue tracking capabilities. However, each version is aimed at addressing specific needs. 

Jira Software 

It is a robust and customizable project management platform built for agile software development teams. The software includes several different functionalities for bug tracking, sprint planning, and releases management. The software helps users track and fix different versions of the product, create roadmaps, map user stories, and accomplish a lot more. It also helps analyze the breakdown of every sprint.  

Service Management 

The service management solution is used as a support desk by customers and employees to raise tickets or make requests. Agents are able to manage the queue and ensure everyone has answers to their questions. It uses innovative configurations for IT service management and other types of service requests, change management, or incident management. The system can also be used by HR teams, facility managers, or legal teams to keep track of all ticket items.  

Work Management 

The business version of Jira is the work management module which includes Excel-like sheets, calendar views, marketing data, HR, and sales teams. The features can be adapted to meet the needs of any organization and it is completely customizable. This Jira version is only available as cloud-based software and on-premise users have to choose Jira Core.  

Confluence 

Confluence project management gives organizations a way to organize their content, ideas, and files in one place. It has version control features that help develop a database that can serve as the single source of truth. The software will remain up-to-date and all the features including content organization, search power, and permission management are possible with the built-in editor.  

Jira Software vs Confluence Software – Limitations 

Jira 

Those who need traditional project management software with cost tracking or financial management capabilities will not appreciate Jira. They can add extensions from the Atlassian marketplace but the built-in features are only used for tracking or reporting individual tasks. There are options for version planning but Confluence is better in those situations.  

Confluence 

Confluence allows managers to assign tasks but they can only mark them as “to-do” or “done”. Those who want to keep track of complex workflows should choose Jira instead. Also, for time tracking capabilities, Jira is a much better option than Confluence.  

Pricing 

Atlassian has set a price for both tools based on how many users are in the team but in comparison, Jira is more expensive. It has a higher per-user subscription fee but teams can adjust how many users have access to the tool to bring down costs. The pricing is different for service management because it depends on the number of agents handling requests whereas the customers or employees lodging the request can use it for free. 

Integrating Jira with Confluence  

Using Jira project management with Confluence can help overcome the limitations and provide users with a lot of benefits. Jira is used to keep track of individual tasks for each user whereas Confluence is a platform used to organize all content, ideas, and files in a single place.  

Complete Knowledgebase 

Collaborative tools are accessible to everyone and help teams build, edit, and share information in real-time. Jira and Confluence are considered the single source of truth because they contain all the data as well as functions. Users can follow the status of bug fixes, find links to the documentation page, and develop roadmaps for the marketing team. Everyone is able to access the latest information with these platforms. 

Open Communication 

Software developers spend a lot of their time with Jira whereas business teams mostly focus on Confluence project management. Integrating both tools can provide everyone with access to information from other members of the organization. Instead of every department working in silos, everyone can gain access to whatever information they need. There is a flow of ideas from product managers and UX designers to the marketing team. They can all be on the same page without having to sit in meetings or request updates. 

High Efficiency 

Linking Jira issues to the requirements stated in Confluence can help resolve them. The team does not need to search for the product documentation and can easily access it whenever necessary. These tools help teams communicate and work together in a way that maximizes productivity because no time is wasted looking for data.   

Conclusion 

The Jira software vs Confluence software debate ends here. They are not competitors in the field of project management but actually complement each other. Those who can afford them should consider buying both of them.