Insightly vs Jira
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Insightly
Insightly is a CRM and project management platform designed for growing businesses. It uniquely combines sales pipeline management with post-sale project delivery so teams can manage the full customer lifecycle in one place. Insightly is popular with professional services firms and companies that need to track complex projects alongside their sales pipeline.
Jira
Jira is the leading project management tool for software development teams, built by Atlassian. It supports agile methodologies including Scrum and Kanban with powerful sprint planning, backlog management, and bug tracking. Jira is used by over 65,000 companies worldwide and is the de facto standard for software engineering project management.
Pros
- ✓Unique combination of CRM and project management in one tool
- ✓Good free plan for up to 2 users
- ✓Strong workflow automation on paid plans
- ✓Good fit for professional services businesses
Cons
- ✗Interface feels dated compared to modern CRM tools
- ✗Customer support can be slow on lower tiers
- ✗Mobile app is less polished than competitors
Pros
- ✓Industry standard for software development teams
- ✓Extremely powerful and customizable for agile workflows
- ✓Deep integration with developer tools like GitHub, Bitbucket, and Confluence
- ✓Strong reporting on sprint velocity and team performance
Cons
- ✗Steep learning curve for non-technical teams
- ✗Can be complex to configure and administer
- ✗Interface feels cluttered compared to modern tools
- ✗Overkill for non-software project management needs
Insightly vs Jira: Side by Side
| Factor | Insightly | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | CRM Software | Project Management |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Best For | Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform | Software development and engineering teams using agile methodologies |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Insightly Features
- ✓Contact and lead management
- ✓pipeline management
- ✓project management
- ✓workflow automation
- ✓email marketing
- ✓reporting
- ✓integrations
Jira Features
- ✓Agile boards
- ✓sprint planning
- ✓backlog management
- ✓bug and issue tracking
- ✓roadmaps
- ✓reporting
- ✓workflow automation
- ✓integrations
- ✓API access
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Insightly if growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform. Choose Jira if software development and engineering teams using agile methodologies.
Best For
Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform
Best For
Software development and engineering teams using agile methodologies
Also Consider
If neither Insightly nor Jira is the right fit, Monday.com CRM is worth evaluating.
Monday.com CRM
Teams that want CRM and project management combined in one visual platform
From $12/user/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Insightly and Jira?
Insightly is best for growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform. Jira is best for software development and engineering teams using agile methodologies.
Which is better, Insightly or Jira?
Choose Insightly if growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform. Choose Jira if software development and engineering teams using agile methodologies.
How much does Insightly cost?
Insightly starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Jira cost?
Jira starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Insightly?
Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform
Who should use Jira?
Software development and engineering teams using agile methodologies