Atlassian Jira plugins are a real productivity booster. They allow users for continuous integration with their favorite apps for better and faster work. Let’s dive into the world of top Jira plugins!
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Best Jira Plugins
Have you ever wondered where the name of this software comes from? It is a truncation of Gojira, the Japanese word for Godzilla (a monster from a film series? ), which is a reference to a competitor, Bugzilla, which the company used originally. But only if you use the best Jira plugins, the software will be a real productivity monster!
via GIPHY
To use the full potential of any software you need to integrate it with other apps, use extensions and plugins. And it’s even more important if you monitor and control projects in tools such as Jira. Jira service allows you to manage projects in the agile system, track bugs, and make sure all issues are resolved and problems are eliminated.
If you’re looking for the full catalog of Jira plugins, check them all in the Atlassian marketplace.
But if you need a short list of the best plugins, see our propositions below. They are chosen based on functionality and popularity. Here’s the list of top Jira plugins.
1. Time tracking – TimeCamp
Jira integration with TimeCamp enables you to assess time for projects and issues you are working on. In TimeCamp, you can define unique keywords to your Jira tasks. Then TimeCamp can automatically switch between them when keywords occur in the window’s title. Moreover, the tool will automatically import all your projects and tasks so you can work immediately without the need of switching between apps.
Thanks to the plugin you can track time spent on work, see which issues are most time-consuming, and you can enhance project management. It’s the basic Jira plugin you should have to follow work progress.
2. Work automation – Automation for Jira
Since the automation of tasks and processes is one of the crucial aspects of efficient project management, you should opt for this Jira add-on. It allows you to save time and money on things that don’t require your constant attention. It’s a great solution for teams as it is helpful in resolving any issues and helps to make work smooth. Here’s what you can do thanks to Automation for Jira:
- Synchronize subtasks with parent issues
- Comment on issues
- Configure subtasks upon the creation of an issue
- Automatically assign issues to users
- Automatically reopen in case of a certain notification or comment
- Create monthly or weekly recurring tasks
- Automatically respond to established errors/scenarios
- Receive SMS notification for high-priority issues
- Any global or project admin (with permissions) can set up rules that will save your company time and money. No need to write custom scripts or battle Jira’s APIs
- Automation for Jira combines the functionality of dozens of individual apps with the added ease of a visual rule builder
- Secure and optimized for server performance
3. Work Optimization – Script Runner for Jira
Script Runner is a Jira add-on that also allows you to automatize work but more in the context of optimization. While you can manage your team with Automation for Jira, this add-on makes it possible to optimize inside tasks, especially all those related to resolving issues.
With Script Runner, you can create applications that fulfill hundreds of use-cases; think it, script it, and use it.
You can customize how your Jira projects receive, display, and send information with customizable behaviors and scripted fields. You can also customize the Jira interface and development workflow to your team’s unique needs. Also, Built-in scripts offer easy-to-use solutions to some of the most requested community problems.
What’s more, ScriptRunner JQL functions enable access to information about your Jira projects, such as hierarchies in Portfolio (portfolioChildrenOf & portfolioParentsOf), which provide an overview of the health of your sprints.
Additionally, combined with time tracking feature can save lots of time, money, and enhance your team’s work and all processes.
4. Work Structurization – Structure Cloud – Project Management at Scale
When you already have automatized and optimized internal processes, it’s time for creating a transparent work structure. With this plugin to Jira, you can “visualize, track and manage progress across large-scale projects with adaptable, user-defined issue hierarchies.”
Structure Cloud enables all project managers that work with Atlassian Cloud to easily visualize, track and manage progress across Jira projects and teams. It does this with adaptable, user-defined issue hierarchies presented in a familiar spreadsheet-like view of Jira issues.
When processes are visualized it is easier to track their progress, manage tasks, and people know what is happening in the company. It’s a great team management plugin.
5. Gantt Chart for Jira – BigGantt – Gantt Chart for Jira
Many organizations like to use the Gantt chart. If you’re one of those people who have it hard to work without it, this plugin to Jira is for you. It is one of the best plugins because with it you can easily track and visualize Jira issues and plan resources.
BigGantt is a perfect plugin for dependency visualization and data control. It also helps in efficient planning and simplified PPM (project portfolio management).
Some of its main features include:
- Mapping out projects with due dates and interdependencies
- Integrating with Jira agile (sprints, epics)
- Intuitive drag and drop interface
- Inline editing, task auto-scheduling, or smart issue linking
- Setting up critical paths, time markers, baselines
- Export your work to MS Excel and MS Project with BigTemplate (BigTemplate is also a Jira plugin available in Atlassian depository, it lets you export Jira issues however you want)
6. Easy scheduling – The Scheduler
When you work in Jira, you may have lots of tasks that are repetitive. If so, this plugin will be your life savior. The Scheduler, as the name suggests, allows you to automate the process of creating recurring tasks in Jira. You can create your issues daily, weekly, monthly, or using your own custom interval. Use it to better control the workflow!
It’s a simple Jira plugin but extremely effective.
7. Calendar – My.com Calendar
A calendar is one of the best plugins to Jira that everyone should have. Even though it may seem unnecessary, it can actually contribute to better work in Jira. If you want your team to stay on track with all the work, all tasks, and projects, and have them not pass the deadlines, you should use My.com Calendar – one of the highest-rated calendars in Atlassian marketplace.
Another benefit is that this Calendar is easy-in-use, has a friendly interface and helps to organize work – no more forgotten meetings or unfinished tasks!
Here are the main features that can help improve work:
- Quarter, Month, Week, Day and Timeline views
- Optional weekends hiding
- View issue fields data in event popup
- Sharing calendars with other users
- Drag&Drop support
- Export calendars to Outlook, iCalendar, iOS Calendar, Google Calendar
- Create separate events that are not linked to issues. This will not clutter the JQL-result with unnecessary information.
- Create a periodic issue to forget nothing. (Periodic purchases, cleaning of premises, maintenance of equipment, etc)
- Supports English and Russian languages
8. Test management – Zephyr for Jira
Zephyr is like a box overfilled with good chocolates. It has plenty of useful features that hugely help in test management. With this plugin you can create, view, edit, clone and execute tests, plan test execution cycles, logically group test cases within test cycles with folder structure, link folders and cycles to a sprint to enhance traceability, configure, track quality metrics share a dashboard, and many, many more.
It’s a smart tool allowing you and your team to manage various tests and related processes as well as create reports to keep everyone on track.
It’s a top-rated Atlassian Jira plugin in the category of test management that every development team should use!
Which Plugins to Jira Are Best for You?
There are many add-ons fully compatible with Jira. Not all Jira plugins may be suitable for you, though. It all depends on the nature of your work, business needs or even the apps you use. You can check the Atlassian Jira marketplace to find the perfect Jira plugins for you and your team.
Which plugins for Jira do you like most? Have we missed an app that should be on the list? Let us know in the comments!
✍ Last updated February 2020