.png)
Frameworks, core principles and top case studies for SaaS pricing, learnt and refined over 28+ years of SaaS-monetization experience.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Are you trying to determine if Atlassian's popular project management and team collaboration tools fit your budget? Understanding the complete pricing structure of Jira and Confluence can be challenging with their various deployment options, user tiers, and add-ons. Let's break down the real costs to help you make an informed decision for your team.
Atlassian Pricing Models: Cloud vs. Data Center
Atlassian offers different deployment options that significantly impact pricing:
Cloud Pricing: Atlassian's preferred and most popular option provides fully-hosted solutions with automatic updates.
Data Center Pricing: Self-hosted enterprise option for organizations requiring advanced security, compliance controls, or customization capabilities.
Let's examine the specific costs for each product under these models.
Jira Pricing: What to Expect in 2023
Jira Software is Atlassian's flagship project management tool designed for agile teams. The pricing breaks down as follows:
Jira Cloud Pricing Tiers
- Free Plan: Up to 10 users, with basic features
- Standard Plan: $8.15 per user per month (annual billing) for teams of 1-10 users, scaling down to $7.00 per user for 11-100 users
- Premium Plan: $16.00 per user per month (annual billing)
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing, typically starting around $28.75 per user per month
For a team of 50 users on the Standard plan, you're looking at approximately $350 per month ($4,200 annually).
Jira Data Center Pricing
For organizations requiring self-hosted solutions:
- 500 users: $42,000 per year
- 1,000 users: $72,000 per year
- 2,000 users: $120,000 per year
According to Atlassian's 2022 pricing data, the average cost per user decreases as team size increases, incentivizing larger deployments.
Confluence Costs: Team Collaboration Pricing Structure
Confluence complements Jira as a knowledge management and team collaboration platform. Here's how Confluence pricing works:
Confluence Cloud Pricing
- Free Plan: Up to 10 users with basic functionality
- Standard Plan: $6.00 per user per month (annual billing) for teams of 1-10 users, scaling down to $5.25 per user for 11-100 users
- Premium Plan: $11.75 per user per month (annual billing)
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing, typically around $23.50 per user per month
For the same 50-person team on Standard, Confluence would cost approximately $262.50 per month ($3,150 annually).
Confluence Data Center Pricing
- 500 users: $27,000 per year
- 1,000 users: $48,000 per year
- 2,000 users: $84,000 per year
Bundle Savings: Combining Jira and Confluence
Many organizations use both Jira and Confluence together. While Atlassian doesn't offer official bundles with discounted rates, volume licensing can lead to savings of approximately 10-15% according to Atlassian Solution Partners.
A 50-person team using both Jira and Confluence on Standard plans would pay approximately $612.50 per month ($7,350 annually).
Hidden Project Management Pricing Factors to Consider
When budgeting for Atlassian tools, several factors beyond the base subscription can affect total cost:
1. Add-ons and Marketplace Apps
The Atlassian Marketplace offers thousands of apps that extend functionality:
- Popular project management add-ons like Advanced Roadmaps ($5-10 per user)
- Time tracking tools ($3-8 per user)
- Reporting and visualization tools ($2-15 per user)
A typical team might spend an additional 30-50% of their base subscription on apps.
2. Migration and Implementation Costs
If you're transitioning from another system:
- Data migration services: $5,000-$20,000 depending on complexity
- Training: $1,500-$5,000 for team onboarding
- Custom configuration: $3,000-$15,000 for tailored workflows
3. Maintenance and Administration
Organizations often underestimate ongoing maintenance costs:
- Dedicated administrator (full or part-time): $30,000-$90,000 annual salary
- Consultants for major updates: $150-$250 per hour
Comparing Atlassian Pricing to Other Project Management Tools
How do Jira and Confluence stack up against competitors?
| Tool | Starting Price (per user/month) | Mid-tier Price (50 users) |
|------|--------------------------------|---------------------------|
| Jira + Confluence | ~$13 combined | ~$612.50/month |
| Monday.com | $10 | $500/month |
| Asana | $13.49 | $674.50/month |
| ClickUp | $7 | $350/month |
| Smartsheet | $9 | $450/month |
According to a 2022 Forrester analysis, Atlassian products typically offer a 15-20% lower total cost of ownership over three years compared to similar enterprise solutions, primarily due to reduced implementation and training requirements.
Maximizing ROI on Team Collaboration Pricing
To ensure you're getting the most value from your Atlassian investment:
- Start with the essentials: Begin with core features before adding marketplace apps
- Regularly audit users: Remove inactive accounts to avoid unnecessary licensing costs
- Consider annual billing: Save approximately 25% compared to monthly billing
- Evaluate the free tier: Test functionality before committing to paid plans
- Leverage Atlassian Community resources: Reduce training costs with free learning materials
Final Thoughts: Is Atlassian Pricing Worth It?
While Atlassian's Jira and Confluence represent significant investments for growing teams, their extensive functionality and integration capabilities provide substantial value. Teams report average productivity gains of 30-45% after proper implementation, according to Atlassian case studies.
For most organizations, the decision comes down to specific needs:
- Small teams (under 20): The Standard plans offer excellent value
- Mid-size teams (20-500): Premium plans become cost-effective when advanced security and support are needed
- Enterprise (500+): Data Center options provide necessary control and compliance features
Remember that the true cost extends beyond the subscription fees. Implementation, training, add-ons, and administration all contribute to total ownership costs, but effective use of these platforms typically delivers positive ROI within 6-12 months of deployment.
Have you implemented Jira or Confluence in your organization? What has your experience been with the pricing and value equation?