JetBrains YouTrack

Comparison
YouTrack is an issue tracking tool by Jet- Key benefits
Brains. It is designed for development teams
and serves as a one-stop shop for tracking How YouTrack Compares to Other Issue Tracking Tools
daily tasks and bugs, planning sprints and
releases, and managing agile projects. Accuracy of Comparison

Integration with JetBrains Tools

Sales Contacts
Key benefits

Query-based issue search as an alternative Commands to quickly execute batch opera-

to traditional issue filters. tions upon selected queries.

Customizable issue attributes. Real-time Agile Boards.

Customizable workflow to define the lifecy- Multiple and shareable Dashboards.

cle of your issues to reflect your process.

Extensive keyboard support to easily cre-

ate, edit, and navigate between issues
with the keyboard.

To learn more about YouTrack, please check our website at jetbrains.com/youtrack

How YouTrack Compares to Other Issue Tracking Tools
JetBrains has extensively researched vari- are being actively developed and their This document compares JetBrains
ous tools to come up with this comparison functionality changes on a regular basis, YouTrack vs. Atlassian Jira vs. Trello.
table. We tried to make it comprehensive we consider this comparison valid for the
and as neutral as we possibly can. As all latest versions of each product available
the products mentioned in the document as of January, 2018.

Functionality YouTrack Jira Trello

Version Cloud, Standalone Cloud, Standalone Cloud

Agile Board
Board type Preconfigured templates Preconfigured templates for Kanban
for Scrum, Kanban, Version- Scrum and Kanban. users can
based, Personal and Custom tune the settings, but some of
board. Users can tune any them are unavailable. For ex-
settings anytime. ample, if a user creates a Kan-
ban board, estimations will not
be available even if a user wants
to use Scrum and add estima-
tions to the board.
Settings Board settings are available No board settings on the board. Settings are available on
right on the Board. This is very Users have to go to the settings the board, but there are few
convenient if a user wants page (it takes time to config- of them, mostly for permissions
to change something really ure the board and then go back management.
quickly, such as columns. to the board to check the up-
dates. If something is wrong,
the user has to go back
to the settings page).
Functionality YouTrack Jira Trello

Agile Board
Query on the board The board can be configured ei- The board is configured by —
ther by a query or manually. Is- JQL query, so that issues that
sues can be added to the sprint match this filter are automat-
automatically based on custom ically added to the board. Us-
fields (for example, link sprints ers can also manually add is-
to custom field). sues to the Board.
Columns Users can add any custom col- Users can change / add columns, Users can add / change columns
umns and move them around. but can only choose from exist- and move them around.
If there are too many columns on ing statuses.
the board, they can be merged.
Merge columns  ✓ × ×
Users can put cards with dif-
ferent states or other values
into one column.
Swimlanes YouTrack lets you use the set Based on query, stories, assign- ×
of values in a custom field ees, epics, or projects.
or select specific types of is-
sues to identify each swim-
lane. Swimlanes are identified
by the value or the issues field.
Quick filters ×  ✓  ×
Search  ✓  No quick search  ✓ 
right on the board.
Estimations Several types of custom fields There are several estima- Due date
can be used for estimation in- tion types: story point, issue
cluding integer, period (time), count, account, and original
and float. There are several es- time estimate.
timation types: story points,
ideal days / hours, issue count,
and time.
Issue fields Admins can add any custom Issues are defined by default General issue fields
fields right from the board. fields.
Functionality YouTrack Jira Trello

Agile Board
Backlog  ✓  ✓ ×
Available from the board. But not available from the board.
Backlogs are saved searches, Sprints are created in the back-
meaning that users can create log, not on the board.
any backlog they want. Different
backlogs are available from the
dropdown.
Users can edit issues, move them Backlog is an independent enti-
around, create a treeview, and ty, issues can be created there,
add issues from a backlog direct- added there, can be moved
ly to the board by dragging them. around there.
Issues can be assigned to vari- Users can manually move issues
ous sprints from the backlog. to specific sprints that were
created in the backlog. Users
can add tags, epics, prioritize
the backlog, etc. This is called
a "plan mode".
Users can use search queries Quick filters to filter the back-
to sort out any issues. log. Users can search for issues
using JQL.
Projects on board Users can change the number When the board is created, the ×
of projects on the Board any time. only way to add a new project
is to edit the filter for the Board.
Sprints Sprints are available on the No sprint options. Complet- ×
board. There are several sprint ed sprints are not visible from
options available on the board. the board.
Users can manually assign is-
sues to sprints, automatical-
ly add new issues to sprint,
and link prints to a custom field.
Charts on board Burndown and Cumulative flow. No charts on board. ×
Functionality YouTrack Jira Trello

Agile Board
Level of details 4 level of details and 2 views 1 detailed view 1 detailed view
(TV and general).
Live update  ✓  × ×
Drafts Users can create multiple ×
drafts on the Board.
Commands  ✓  × ×
Useful commands save a lot of
time while working on the board.
For example, type: Major Assign-
ee Carry.Parker to set major pri-
ority and reassign the selected
tasks to Carry Parker.
Conclusion The board is really flexible and The board is customizable but The board is just a list of issues
customizable. Most settings can limited to Jira's default values. divided into different columns.
be changed anytime by the ad-
ministrator right from the Board.
Handy features like commands,
search, etc. let users quickly
modify the issues on the board.
Import
One-click Jira import. Python li- Custom imports from other It's possible to import from some
brary for other trackers. trackers. trackers (like Jira) via plugins.
Pricing
$20 per 15 users. Jira charges per tier (the closest $9.99 per month. Pricing
to your number of users) start- is based on functionality.
ing from $10 for 10 users.
Trial 30 days for inCloud, 90 days 7 days for inCloud, ×
for Standalone. 30 days for Standalone.
Free version Free forever for 10 users, open- ×  ✓ 
source projects, education.
50% off for startups.
Functionality YouTrack Jira Trello

Working with issues

Search Simple smart search, applicable Jira has its own query language There is no issue list.
to any user. Also, YouTrack pro- called JQL, which provides for
vides query completion in the a complex search and takes
search box to help you choose a long time to learn.
appropriate keywords and values.
Drafts Multiple issue drafts on the × ×
board and in the issue list.
Similar issues YouTrack suggests a list of sim- × ×
ilar issues matching the text in
your summary and description.
Saved search Saved search is available right It's possible to save a search ×
in the search box. as a filter, and find it later
in the filters tab.
Editing images Image Editor is available × ×
from issue screen.
Reporting issues via Rest API  ✓   ✓  ×
Issue modification 4 levels of view are available. 2 levels of view are available. ×
from the issue list It is possible to edit issue fields, It is possible to edit the issue
comment the issue, and attach from the issue list, but users
files right from the list. have to do some additional ac-
tions (for example, separately
open an issue to reassign it).
Сommands  ✓  ×  ✓ 
Custom field values Admins can edit custom × ×
field values from anywhere
in YouTrack.
Functionality YouTrack Jira Trello

Time tracking
Estimation  ✓   ✓  Via plugins
Spent time  ✓   ✓  See above
Type of work done User can choose and customize × ×
the types of work (development,
QA, etc.)
Adds-on ×  ✓   ✓ 
IDE time tracking plugin YouTrack has a native ×
time-tracking plugin to track
time directly from an IDE.
Burndown YouTrack displays the burn-  ✓  Via plugin
down based on the estimation
and spent time in actual hours.
The burndown settings are cus-
tomizable.
Cumulative flow  ✓   ✓  Via plugin
Reports
There are 18 report types Jira has add-ons for reports, and Via plugin
in YouTrack. Reports are divid- native reports, such as: burn-
ed into categories such as is- down, control chart, cumulative
sue distribution, timeline, time flow, epic burndown, epic report,
management (including Gantt release burndown, sprint report,
Chart), and state transition. velocity chart, and version report.
Dashboard
Multiple  ✓   ✓  ×
Shareable  ✓   ✓  ×
Personal  ✓   ✓  ×
Widgets  ✓   ✓  ×
Functionality YouTrack Jira Trello

Workflows
Workflow editor Workflows in YouTrack let you A Jira workflow is the set of sta- ×
customize and automate the life- tuses and transitions that an is-
cycle of issues in your project. sue goes through during its
YouTrack has several workflows lifecycle. Has a visual repre-
by default. Users can write new sentation of workflow editor.
workflows in any IDE that sup- Jira ships with a built-in work-
ports JavaScript, pack it into a flow called jira, which is the de-
ZIP file and upload it to YouTrack. fault system workflow. It cannot
It is also possible to write work- be edited, but a user can clone
flows in a built-in web-based this workflow and quickly start
workflow editor. For example, creating their own. Jira admin-
if a user has the same set of tasks istrators can configure triggers
for the release, he / she can cre- in Jira workflows that respond
ate a custom workflow and turn to events in the linked develop-
it on each time the release is ment tools.
coming. The set of issues will be
automatically added to the proj-
ect, already predefined with the
assignees, fields, etc.
Projects
Type Scrum, Kanban, or Custom. For Software: ×
each project the boards are cre- Scrum, Kanban, or Custom.
ated depending on the type of
the project. For example, for Business:
Scrum, two boards are created: Project, Task, or Process.
project management board and
a project development board.
The issues there are connected,
which makes it easier to follow
the process.
Priorities by project  ✓  ×
Notifications
Notification based  ✓  × ×
on saved search
Functionality YouTrack Jira Trello

Other
Plugin for IDE YouTrack has a native plugin to Jira has IDE plugins which  ✓ 
manage issues right from an IDE: are limited in their functionality.
use commands, manage issues
offline, track time, and more.
Releases × Has a release tab to monitor ×
the progress of the version.
Custom field
All issue fields are custom fields. Users can add new custom ×
In addition to the fields that are fields. Custom fields are defined
predefined, users can define by project.
their own custom fields. A user
can add any values to the cus-
tom fields. Custom field val-
ues can be added either from
the admin settings, or anywhere
else in YouTrack.
Conditional custom fields  ✓  ✓ ×
Integrations
YouTrack has integrations with Jira has a marketplace of add- There are a lot of plugins
JetBrains products, Teamcity ons for various kind of integra- for various functionality.
and Upsource, via Hub (also tions. It has a native integration
a free JetBrains product), var- for Atlassian products (Conflu-
ious JetBrains IDEs, GitHub, ence, Bamboo, etc.).
GitLab, and Bitbucket. IT also in-
tegrates with test management
tools such as TestRail, TestLink,
PractiTest, and TestLodge.
Several plugins for time track-
ing can be also integrated with
YouTrack. YouTrack has mailbox
integration, which makes it via-
ble as a helpdesk.
 Functionality YouTrack Jira Trello

Project and access management

User access in YouTrack is de- Permissions are managed per Permissions are managed
fined on per-project basis by the project. There are groups and per board.
roles that are assigned to the roles, and permissions can
user. A role is a set of permis- be granted to users directly.
sions that allow users to perform
particular operations in YouTrack.
Permissions are only granted
by assigning roles, not directly.

Accuracy of Comparison
We’ve tried to make this comparison
as comprehensive and neutral as we pos-
sibly can. If you discover any inaccuracies
in the table above, please contact us 
at sales@jetbrains.com and we’ll
update the table as soon as possible.
Integration with JetBrains Tools Sales Contacts
YouTrack is a part of JetBrains Team Tools If you need assistance with managing your li-
stack, which also includes TeamCity, a Con- censes, selecting a licensing option, request-
tinuous Integration and Continuous Delivery ing assistance with a JetBrains offer, or any
tool, and Upsource, a code-review and anal- special request or suggestion for JetBrains
ysis tool. Team tools are integrated via Hub, tools, please do not hesitate to contact us.
a permission and user management tool,
which ensures single sign-on to all the prod-
ucts and allows for unified user and permis- Email:
sion management. sales@jetbrains.com

To learn more about how JetBrains team Phone:

tools work together, please check our web- USA: +1 888 672 1076
site at jetbrains.com/hub. Europe and global: +420 2 4172 2501