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Best Jira Plugins: Overview of TOP 10

Best Jira Plugins: Overview of TOP 10

Are you wondering about the best Jira plugins for 2024? Well, look no further - we've gotcha covered. We'll look at 10 awesome Jira addons that will help make your resource planning, project management, and collaboration a whole lot easier.

July 29, 2024
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Top 10 Best Jira Add-ons: A Detailed Guide [2024]
Nataliya Vasyliv | ActivityTimeline's Blog Author
Nataliya Vasyliv
Product Marketing Specialist
In this article

Are you wondering about the best Jira plugins for 2024? Well, look no further - we've gotcha covered. We'll look at 10 awesome plugins for Jira that will help make your Jira resource planning, project management, and collaboration life a whole lot easier. Read on to find out which ones made the cut. Also, you will find out which of these plugins offer great functionality but also come with a low price tag. So if you're looking to make your Jira experience better without breaking the bank - we've got that covered as well. In addition, read about installation and setup tips. Let's get started!

What are the Jira Plugins?

Jira plugins, or “add ons”, are a type of software that helps to extend the features and functionality of Atlassian's Jira project management plugin. They can be used for additional reporting, customizing field visibility on user interfaces, integrating with external applications (such as Salesforce), and creating workflows and automation that streamline repetitive processes – all in order to improve overall productivity and collaboration within an organization. Also, plugins could play a big role in Jira as resource planning or capacity management. Moreover, they provide users with an enhanced experience when working within the Jira platform.

Jira addons can be based on Jira Server and Data Center, but Atlassian is encouraging users to switch over to the Jira Cloud platform in order to take advantage of its various benefits.

Atlassian has forced companies to move away from their traditional Jira Server and Data Center solutions, toward a cloud-based solution with the help of powerful tools for Jira Cloud.

What can Jira Plugins Accomplish?

With various types of Jira Cloud plugins now available for Jira – ranging from simple time tracking tools to more complex integrations such as customer relationship management systems or resource management systems – it is possible to customize and tailor your workflow depending on what you need. With them in place, Agile teams no longer have to manually implement changes every time standards or industry regulations evolve; instead, they can simply download best free Jira add ons that match their requirements better than before. Other advantages include data visualization capabilities or resource dependencies showing that turn raw information into meaningful insights; automation of manual tasks thus maximizing efficiency; centralization of related projects through integration with remote services like GitHub or BitBucket; improved service delivery by allowing partners access to shared resources without having direct system access rights; extended control over who sees what based on company hierarchy structure etc. The list goes on.

How to Install and Set Up Plugins in Jira?

The are two ways to install Jira plugins: choose from the Atlassian marketplace or upload the app.

Installing a Jira custom plugin usually takes no more than 4 steps:

  1. Login into your account
  2. Select Admin Settings
  3. Scroll down until you find the Apps section
  4. Then choose Manage Apps
  5. Then Upload app → Upload selected file/files
  6. Finally, confirm installation & restart the application (if needed). After the setup is complete all features will become available immediately.
Upload app in Jira
Manage apps in Jira
Apps section in Jira
Login in Jira

Choose Jira addons from Atlassian Marketplace takes 3 steps:

  1. Login into your account
  2. Select Admin Settings
  3. Scroll down until you find the Apps section
  4. Then choose Manage Apps → Find new apps
  5. Find the Jira add ons by using a filter or a category
Discover apps in Jira

Jira Plugins: How To Choose?

Choosing an appropriate Jira plugin out of dozens available and finding the best Jira plugins might seem overwhelming, but luckily there exist several methods which could help filter thru this abundance. Looking for the best Jira plugins project management leaders loose their precious time, but luckily there exist several methods which could help filter thru this abundance.

Decide what core functions you need: calendar activities in the Jira charting plugin, cross-program dependencies, custom charts, some advanced automation features or activities in projects; and what customization features there should be: custom issue fields, custom icons, issue workflows, custom reports, custom fields, custom filters or so on. Based solely on description alone first impressions often lead astray, so it’s best practice to get familiarized firsthand via trial version prior to committing fully one way or another.

Secondly, paying attention to how frequently has been given updates. And recent reviews written about product and compatibility rates amongst different platforms should also not go unnoticed as well.

Last but not least important aspect would probably fall upon the pricing range. Budget constraints still apply across most businesses, making cost-benefit analysis harder.

Top 10 Best Jira Plugins in 2024

Here is the comprehensive list of the top 10 plugins for Jira, in our opinion:

Activity Timeline – Resource Capacity Planning Plugin

ActivityTimeline

ActivityTimeline is one of the best resource capacity planning Jira addons which enables admins to set optimized utilization levels by analyzing the current situation against future expectations and show visual representation inside a timeline chart at glance. This Jira timeline plugin uses powerful algorithms to show user and team availability in real-time and helps prevent overuse and conflicts with resource allocation. It covers comprehensive insight, including variables like holidays, vacations, overtime hours, and allocated users, which is delivered right on the dashboard; eliminating any guesswork process traditionally used. ActivityTimeline has a powerful time tracking system, timesheets, and reporting. Moreover, its easy-to-use drag-and-drop UI enables novice users to quickly understand what is happening and make changes accordingly.

Pros:

  • Improves visibility over Utilization Efficiency
  • Generates quick overview of Resources Allocation
  • Ensuring fairness across team members, optimization of aspiration levels is achieved.
  • The comprehensive tool with planning, time tracking, timesheets, and reporting

Cons:

  • At first glance, it may seem difficult because of the advanced functions

Pricing:

$2.5 per month per user (More than 10 licenses purchase quantity)

Structure by Tempo - Project Portfolio Management for Jira

Structure by Tempo

Structure by Tempo is a project portfolio management solution for Jira software that helps boost the visibility and transparency of workspaces. It allows users to manage multiple parallel projects, create workflows, and analyze progress over time in an intuitive way. The plugin features various filters which help divide tasks into categories, enabling managers to pinpoint detailed information about each task – both individually and as part of a whole entity. The user interface with drag-and-drop capabilities allows inexperienced users to rapidly comprehend the process and adjust as needed.

Pros:

  • Detailed insight through Filtering System
  • A clear way to Visualize Complex Project Hierarchy
  • Easy-to-understand UI

Cons:

  • Steep learning curve
  • Very complex and hard for to maintain the visibility of all the tasks in the structure for beginners

Pricing:

$2.4 per month per user (More than 10 licenses purchase quantity)

Timesheet Tracking for Jira

Timesheet Tracking for Jira

This add-on is one of the best Jira plugins project management leaders choose for timesheet tracking. It makes it easy to track time spent on Jira ongoing projects and tasks, manage resources, create timesheets, and export data. The plugin provides an interactive dashboard where project managers can view the time logs of different team members in real-time as well as assign tasks or change statuses within a few clicks. Its extensive reporting capabilities give a thorough understanding of performance and progress both individually and collectively, making sure the proper attention is given in the appropriate place.

Pros:

  • Streamlines Time Tracking process
  • Easy-to-use Interface for quick adaptation
  • Comprehensive Reports help generate insightful overviews

Cons:

  • Limited functionality
  • Limited reporting options

Pricing:

$0.75 per month per user (More than 10 licenses purchase quantity)

Timesheets by Tempo - Jira Time Tracking Plugin

Timesheets by Tempo

This plugin is an advanced timesheet tracking system for Jira that enables users to track time spent on tasks and projects, analyze data, assign tasks, and manage resources in a more efficient way. It offers to create reports with global/per-user visibility which helps admins get detailed insights into their teams' performance. Additionally, Timesheets by Tempo provides users with extensive tools such as automatic categorization; calendar & tags support; task planning features allowing change management among others.

Pros:

  • Simplifying Time Tracking procedures
  • Provides extensive tools for comprehensive reporting
  • Offers Custom Reports with team/per-user visibility

Cons:

  • Limited customization options
  • Expensive: the highest price between time-tracking apps

Pricing:

$3.80 per month per user (More than 10 licenses purchase quantity)

Xray Test Management for Jira

Xray Test Management for Jira

Xray is an advanced test management tool created for Jira. It helps teams reduce complexity by streamlining their testing processes, and integrating software development and business analysis workflows into one collaborative platform. Xray integrates with other tools such as Jenkins, Selenium, Bamboo, and GitLab to enable users to get detailed insights into their projects’ progress and ensure that all tasks are completed in due time.

Pros:

  • Makes test management easier
  • Integrates with other tools for comprehensive analysis
  • Offers detailed insights into project performance

Cons:

  • Difficult to learn for non-technical users
  • Onboarding new users is time-consuming

Pricing:

$4.25 per month per user (More than 10 licenses purchase quantity)

Zephyr Scale - Test Management for Jira

Zephyr Scale - Test Management for Jira

Zephyr Scale is a comprehensive test management and reporting plugin for Jira. It helps teams improve testing accuracy, reduce errors, and decrease time to market by automating their manual processes. Zephyr Scale integrates seamlessly with other applications such as Jenkins, Selenium, Confluence, and BitBucket; thus giving users a unified experience when viewing software development progress or debugging issues in one single interface.

Pros:

  • Automates manual processes for improved accuracy
  • Integrates seamlessly with other applications & tools
  • Offers a unified interface for viewing software development progress

Cons:

  • Limited customization per project
  • Requires a certain level of technical knowledge

Pricing:

$4.78 per month per user (More than 10 licenses purchase quantity)

Planner by Tempo – Resource Planning & Capacity Planning

Planner by Tempo

Planner by Tempo is a resource planning and capacity planning plugin for Jira. It helps managers plan out their team's resources in an efficient way with its intuitive interface. With Planner by Tempo, users are able to assign tasks and collaborate with team members in order to adjust project plans quickly in a user-friendly environment. Moreover, it has a comprehensive reporting system that helps generate insights into resource utilization and workloads of individual team members as well.

Pros:

  • Intuitive interface for quick Planning & Adjustments
  • The comprehensive Reporting system for generating Resource Utilization insights
  • Collaboration options between Team Members

Cons:

  • Difficult to scale up for team-level planning & reporting
  • Requires Tempo Timesheets to work properly
  • Cost: Tempo Timesheets + Planer suite will result in significant additional charges

Pricing:

$2.15 per month per user (More than 10 licenses purchase quantity)

ScriptRunner for Jira

ScriptRunner for Jira

ScriptRunner for Jira is a plugin that allows the admin to automate processes, create custom reports and control user access. It provides users with the ability to integrate custom scripts into the environment via Scripted Field Validators, System Automation, Custom Listeners, and other modules. It allows users to create custom fields & field mappings which help store & retrieve data more efficiently; automate issue creation; customize the Jira workflow toolbox according to the specific needs of an organization.

Pros:

  • Automates processes for improved productivity
  • Integrates custom scripts into the environment for streamlined performance
  • Offers Custom Reports with flexible queries and filters

Cons:

  • Not suitable for complex requirements
  • Limited access to the source code

Pricing:

$2.50 per month per user (More than 10 licenses purchase quantity)

Easy Agile TeamRhythm for Jira

Easy Agile TeamRhythm for Jira

Easy Agile User Story Maps is a Jira plugin that helps teams plan, collaborate and track user stories. It can be applied to any project type and provides users with an organized view of their story maps which makes it easier for them to identify the progress of individual stories. Additionally, Easy Agile TeamRhythm for Jira supports Scrum and Kanban frameworks so that teams can take advantage of all Agile approaches.

Pros:

  • Enhances collaboration & simplifies Tracking of User Stories
  • Supports both scrum and kanban frameworks for optimized performance
  • Offers an organized view of story maps for easier visualization of progress

Cons:

  • Difficult to set up properly to get a proper view

Pricing:

$2.80 per month per user (More than 10 licenses purchase quantity)

Flowchart Maker & Online Diagram Software  - Jira Diagrams & Whiteboards

Flowchart Maker & Online Diagram Software

Flowchart Maker & Online Diagram Software is a plugin for Jira that allows users to quickly create diagrams, whiteboards, and mind maps within the environment. It offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface which makes it easy to draw the desired elements on a diagram in no time. Moreover, its collaboration capabilities allow teams to share their ideas with colleagues in real-time; so that everyone can brainstorm together even when working remotely.

Pros:

  • Intuitive drag & drop interface for easier Visualization
  • Collaboration capabilities for brainstorming with colleagues in real-time
  • Offers multiple diagrams types based on requirements

Cons:

  • Limited compatibility with other software programs

Pricing:

$0.75 per month per user (More than 10 licenses purchase quantity)

How to Get the Most Out of Your Jira Plugins?

To get the most out of your plugins for Jira, it is important to be aware of the benefits and limitations of each plugin. Take some time to explore all the additional features within a particular Jira add-on to understand how they can help you achieve better results. Familiarizing yourself with advanced configuration settings when available can be beneficial, as it can lead to faster implementation times and greater results when deploying the tools later, ultimately providing more value. Create contact points between projects if external involvement is needed, making adjustments throughout the process, and eventually achieving the desired outcome in a short period of time with minimal effort.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where are plugins in Jira?

Plugins in Jira are under the "Apps" tab of the Administration section. Once you click on this tab, you will see a Jira plugins list of installed plugins and be able to search for available plugins in the Marketplace. You can find various add ons like time tracking plugins, resource capacity management plugins, Jira reporting plugins, and Jira plugins for project management, etc. You can also create custom best free Jira add ons using the Developer Toolbox if you have an existing development team or want to develop your own plugin as we have illustrated above.

How do I add a plugin to Jira?

You can add a plugin to Jira by navigating to the "Apps" tab in the Administration section of your Jira instance. Click on the “Manage Apps” button and then click on "Upload app". Select the appropriate file or directory containing the files for your plugin, and then confirm the installation. Depending on your plugin Jira could be restarted after installing it.

Are Jira plugins free?

There are both paid and free Jira plugins available in the Marketplace. Some plugins offer a trial period, during which users can try out the features before buying a subscription. Additionally, some open-source Jira free plugins may be without payment to use depending on the license agreement.

Which one is the popular add ons of Jira?

Some of the most popular add ons Jira has are ActivityTimeline, Xray, Structure, Timesheet Tracking, and Planner. These plugins offer a variety of features designed to help teams better manage projects and improve workflow efficiency.

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