I’m pretty new to JIRA and feeling overwhelmed by all the available extensions and add-ons. The platform seems really flexible but that makes it hard to know where to start.
Can anyone recommend which plugins are actually worth installing? I’m looking for both free options and paid ones that are worth the money. What extensions do you think every JIRA setup should have? Would really appreciate hearing about your favorite must-have add-ons and why you find them useful.
Having worked with JIRA extensively, I’d recommend starting with the essentials. Tempo Timesheets is excellent for time tracking without complicating your setup. ScriptRunner, though a paid option, offers significant returns by streamlining repetitive tasks and enhancing custom field validation. For those needing advanced project structuring, Structure for Teams is another worthwhile investment. Don’t overlook the built-in automation features available in newer JIRA versions—they’re often underutilized yet invaluable. Spend some time using the core functionalities to identify your pain points before adding multiple extensions.
bigPicture was a game-changer for us - finally got decent gantt charts and project visualization. eazyBI’s free version rocks for custom reports when jira’s basic dashboards aren’t cutting it. pro tip: don’t go crazy installing everything at once like I did. it’ll bog down your system and confuse the hell out of your team.
I’ve run several JIRA instances at different companies, and here’s what actually works: Zephyr is a must-have if you do any test management. It plugs right into your dev workflow and beats external testing tools hands down. Portfolio is worth it for roadmap planning and resource allocation, especially with complex multi-project setups. Don’t sleep on JIRA Misc Workflow Extensions - it’s free and adds workflow conditions that should’ve been built-in from day one. Pro tip: don’t go crazy installing everything at once. Pick your biggest workflow pain points first, then add more as your team gets comfortable with JIRA.