Quick Answer: Trello and Jira do not have a native integration, but you can sync Trello cards with Jira issues using Zapier as a bridge, automating workflows between the two platforms.
Overview
Trello and Jira serve different project management philosophies. Trello excels at visual, card-based task management with a lightweight approach ideal for teams that value simplicity and flexibility. Jira, built by Atlassian, is a more structured issue-tracking and agile project management tool designed for software development teams managing sprints, backlogs, and detailed workflows.
Many organizations run both tools in parallel—Trello for cross-functional initiatives or non-technical projects, and Jira for engineering work. The challenge: keeping work synchronized across both systems without manual duplication. Using Zapier as an integration layer solves this problem by automating the flow of information between Trello cards and Jira issues.
How the Integration Works
The Trello-Jira integration via Zapier operates on a trigger-and-action model. When an event occurs in one tool, Zapier detects it and automatically performs a corresponding action in the other. Here’s what happens under the hood:
- Trigger Events: Zapier monitors your Trello board for changes—a new card is created, a card moves to a specific list, a card is marked complete, or a card receives a label. Similarly, it watches Jira for new issues, status changes, or updates to issue fields.
- Data Mapping: When a trigger fires, Zapier maps Trello card data to Jira issue fields. For example, a Trello card title becomes a Jira issue summary, the card description maps to the issue description, and Trello due dates can sync to Jira due dates. Custom fields and labels can also be matched.
- Bi-Directional Sync: You can set up workflows in both directions. Create a Trello card and automatically generate a Jira issue, or create a Jira issue and have Zapier spawn a corresponding Trello card. This prevents duplicate work and keeps both teams informed.
- Status and List Mapping: Moving a Trello card between lists (e.g., “To Do” → “In Progress” → “Done”) can trigger status changes in Jira (e.g., “To Do” → “In Progress” → “Done”). This keeps project visibility consistent across both tools.
- Attachment and Comment Sync: Depending on your Zapier configuration, attachments and comments added to Trello cards can be forwarded to Jira issues, creating a unified audit trail of work discussion and file references.
Key Features & Capabilities
Automated Card-to-Issue Creation: When a new Trello card is added to a specific board or list, Zapier automatically creates a corresponding Jira issue in your chosen project. This eliminates the need for manual ticket entry and ensures no work falls through the cracks.
Status Synchronization Across Platforms: Move a Trello card to your “In Progress” list, and Zapier updates the linked Jira issue status to “In Progress” in real time. The reverse also works: update an issue status in Jira, and the Trello card moves to match, keeping both teams aligned on progress.
Due Date and Priority Alignment: Trello due dates can sync to Jira due dates, and Trello labels (such as “High Priority” or “Urgent”) can map to Jira priority levels. This ensures deadlines and urgency are understood consistently across both platforms.
Team Notifications and Visibility: When Zapier syncs data, both Trello and Jira teams receive notifications of changes. A Jira developer sees that a card was created in Trello; a Trello team member sees that their card spawned a Jira issue. This transparency reduces communication overhead.
Conditional Workflows: Zapier allows you to set conditions on your automations. For example, “Only sync Trello cards labeled ‘Engineering’ to Jira” or “Only create a Trello card when a Jira issue is assigned to a specific team.” This keeps noise out of both systems.
Custom Field Mapping: If your Jira instance uses custom fields (e.g., “Story Points,” “Component,” “Environment”), you can map Trello card data or Zapier-generated values to those fields, ensuring rich context flows between systems.
Setup Difficulty
Rating: Medium (20–30 minutes, some configuration required)
Setting up the Trello-Jira integration via Zapier does not require coding, but it does require familiarity with both platforms and clear thinking about your workflow.
Steps at a glance:
- Create or log into a Zapier account (free tier available).
- Authorize Zapier to access your Trello workspace and Jira instance.
- Create a new Zap and select “Trello” as the trigger app and “Jira” as the action app (or vice versa).
- Choose your trigger event (e.g., “New Card in Board” or “Card Moved to List”).
- Select the specific Trello board and list to monitor.
- Choose your action event (e.g., “Create Issue”).
- Map Trello fields to Jira fields (title → summary, description → description, etc.).
- Test the Zap with a sample card or issue to confirm data flows correctly.
- Turn the Zap on and monitor for a few days to ensure it works as expected.
The main complexity is deciding which events to automate and how to map fields. If your Jira instance has many custom fields or complex workflows, plan extra time to align field mappings correctly. Most teams complete setup in under 30 minutes.
Alternatives to Consider
Make (formerly Integromat): Similar to Zapier, Make offers visual workflow automation between Trello and Jira. It can be more cost-effective for high-volume automations and offers slightly more advanced conditional logic. Setup is comparable to Zapier.
Custom API Integration: If you have a developer on staff, you can build a custom integration using the Trello REST API and Jira REST API. This gives you complete control over data mapping and workflow logic but requires ongoing maintenance and technical expertise.
Atlassian Cloud Marketplace Apps: Atlassian’s own marketplace includes third-party apps that integrate Jira with other tools. While not all are Trello-specific, some project management connectors may offer tighter integration than Zapier, though typically at a higher cost.
Manual Workflow + Slack Bot: For smaller teams, a lightweight alternative is to use Slack as a notification hub. When a Trello card is created, a Slack bot posts a message; team members manually create the Jira issue. This is less automated but requires no third-party integration tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Trello have a native integration with Jira?
No, Trello and Jira do not offer a native, out-of-the-box integration. Both are Atlassian products, but they are designed as separate tools for different use cases. To sync them, you must use a third-party automation platform like Zapier or Make.
Can I sync Trello and Jira in both directions?
Yes. Zapier allows you to create multiple Zaps—one that syncs Trello to Jira and another that syncs Jira to Trello. However, you must be careful to avoid infinite loops (e.g., a Jira issue creating a Trello card, which then creates another Jira issue). Use conditions and filters to prevent this.
What data can I sync between Trello and Jira?
You can sync card titles, descriptions, due dates, labels, attachments, and comments. Trello labels can map to Jira priority or custom fields. Trello list positions can map to Jira status. The extent of sync depends on your Zapier configuration and the fields available in your Jira instance.
What happens if I update a synced card or issue?
Updates to synced data depend on your Zap configuration. By default, Zapier syncs the initial creation event. If you want updates to propagate (e.g., changing a due date in Trello updates it in Jira), you need to create additional Zaps that trigger on “Card Updated” or “Issue Updated” events. This can increase your Zapier usage and cost.