How you can save money in Jira - strategies to optimize your Jira expenses
Whether during economic upturns or slowdowns, finding ways to save money without sacrificing quality or efficiency is always a smart move, but it becomes especially important in today's ever-changing economic landscape. This principle extends to every aspect of your business operations, including your Jira subscription. We are aware that by incorporating a few wise strategies into your Jira usage, you can optimize your costs while still making use of its powerful functionalities. So, in this article, we’ll explore how you can keep some extra dollars in your pocket without feeling like you've missed out on essential features, or compromising on user experience.
Choosing the right plan
When evaluating the various Jira plans, carefully assess the additional features they offer and determine whether they align with your team's specific needs. Consider factors like the size of your team, the complexity of your projects, and the level of reporting and automation required. If you have a larger team or more complex projects, you may benefit from the added functionalities provided by the premium or enterprise plans. These plans often include features like advanced security controls, enhanced scalability, and dedicated support, which can significantly boost productivity and streamline operations for larger organizations. For smaller teams with simpler projects, the basic plan might be sufficient, offering the essential features at a more affordable price point. By carefully analyzing your team's needs and project scope, you can avoid overpaying for features that you’re never going to use. It might turn out that the basic features that Jira provides across all plans, such as task tracking, customizable workflows, and basic roadmaps will be just enough and there’s no need to invest in more advanced functionalities.
Selecting the right hosting option
You can choose between two hosting options that Jira offers: Jira Data Center and Jira Cloud. Choosing the right one can also be a way to optimize your costs.
Jira Data Center allows you to run Jira on your own infrastructure, so it requires internal resources and technical expertise to effectively manage and maintain. This option is typically chosen by larger organizations that have the capabilities to handle hosting and maintenance as it offers greater control and customization options. You can calculate the price of your Data Center license here. You should also consider the expenses connected with the hosting infrastructure and the ongoing maintenance costs, such as the salary of an employee responsible for performing upgrades and troubleshooting in case of server downtime.
Are you migrating from Server to Data Center? You can save some extra dollars by applying for the Data Center loyalty discount.
Choosing Jira Cloud eliminates the need for server maintenance, infrastructure management, and associated expenses, as 24/7 support and real-time software maintenance are provided by Atlassian. Also, with Jira Cloud, users can stay ahead of the curve as Atlassian provides a quick rollout of new features, enhancements, and bug fixes to the Jira Cloud platform. You can analyze different Jira Cloud license options and their prices here. Moving to the Cloud? Check if you meet the eligibility criteria and apply for 20% off your first year of Cloud.
Remember that the final decision on whether to choose Jira Data Center or Jira Cloud should depend on the specific needs and requirements of your organization and how that falls into a certain plan’s price.
Monthly vs annual payment - not such an obvious choice
Analyze whether a monthly or annual payment will be more optimal for you. While annual payments are often associated with cheaper prices, with Jira this may not always be the case, and it will also depend on the number of users in your organization. Use the pricing calculator provided by Atlassian to determine which option offers the best financial value for your organization.
Leverage Jira discounts
Atlassian offers special programs to support eligible organizations in their mission-driven work. If you belong to a charitable non-profit organization that falls under the categories of being non-government, non-academic, non-commercial, non-political, and having no religious affiliation, it is worth checking if you qualify for a community license discount. Before applying, you can read more about how Atlassian determines who qualifies for Community licensing.
You can also get Jira cheaper as an educational body. For qualifying academic institutions, Atlassian offers 50% off the list price for Atlassian products.
Purchase your Jira license through Solution Partners
When acquiring a Jira license, it can be advantageous to consider purchasing it through Atlassian Solution Partners. They often offer not only exclusive discounts but also valuable expertise. Engaging with a Solution Partner allows you to receive detailed advice regarding Jira license costs and benefit from their support throughout the implementation, configuration, and maintenance phases.
Optimize Jira user licenses by managing active users
The pricing of Jira and Jira apps is directly linked to the number of users. Jira offers different pricing tiers based on user count, and if the number of users exceeds a specific threshold, you will be placed in a higher-priced tier. To avoid unnecessary expenses, you should regularly check how many active Jira users you have at the moment: download the user list, filter out users who have been inactive for a certain amount of time, and deactivate them. Such users will not count toward your Jira user license limit but the history of their activity will be preserved. So, any content or items created by deactivated users will remain in Jira and won't be deleted.
While add-ons and integrations can enhance Jira's functionality, they can also add to your costs. Evaluate your add-ons and integrations regularly and remove those that are no longer necessary. Also, make sure to stay up to date with what’s on the market and how the available options suit your needs. Perhaps, you might come across some options that fully meet your organization’s needs but are at the same time more price-attractive. Examine whether you’re not overpaying for an app with extended features which you are not going to use anyway.
In a nutshell
Summing up, there are several strategies that can help you lower Jira licensing costs. When purchasing Jira, examine thoroughly the pricing and hosting options available. Then, check whether you can apply for discounts for eligible institutions. Do the same when transitioning to Data Center or Cloud. You also might want to consider cooperating with a solution partner to potentially secure a better price and gain valuable assistance. Once you’ve implemented Jira, analyze whether creating separate instances for different teams or departments can further optimize your costs. Then, remember to regularly review and deactivate users who no longer require access to Jira. Last but not least, don’t forget about a well-thought choice of third-party apps. By implementing these strategies, you can effectively control Jira licensing costs and maximize the value of your Jira implementation.
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