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Jira testing tool:
the good and the bad

If your company uses Jira to keep track of software development, you may also be tempted to run Quality Assurance there. After all, you are probably paying for Jira already, so why not add the extra licences? Letā€™s dive into why you should and should not do that.

Jira testing tool webpage

What is Jira tool in testing good for

Here are the perks of using Jira as your test management solution

1

Free tier

Small teams with up to 10 users can use Jira at no cost. The free tier also supports integrations that you may want to use for Jira testing tool. The pricing page currently says that this option will be ā€œalways freeā€Ā 

2

All-in-one hub

Keeping things in one place is just easier. It makes even more sense when we talk about development & QA. Testers use devā€™s Jira anyway, so they might as well explore Jiraā€™s test management options

3

Plugin library

Best test management tools for Jira are all available on the Atlassian marketplace. These can be Jira-exclusive solutions or Jira plugins from providers of standalone test management solutions

4

Simple start

Test management solutions come with a learning curve. Mastering it takes time, and not all companies can afford to spend it. On the other hand, practically every tech person in IT has experience using Jira

What is lacking in Jiraā€™s test management tools

Alas, not every universal tool is universally good at what it does

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No first-party support

Jira itself does not facilitate test management. You mostly reuse the software development functionality for QA purposes. Anything else is at the mercy of third-party devs creating Jira pluginsĀ 

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CI server requirement

Jira offers a way to customise your server into a test management solution. You will, however, need a Continuous Integration server alongside Jira to make this work. This route is neither free nor quick to start.Ā 

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Limited test automation potential

While Jiraā€™s manual testing options are serviceable, automated tests are not. Going the customisation route about Jira test management means that you supply your own test automation solution

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Retiring On-Premise offering

Atlassian has announced that they will stop maintaining their on-premise offering by 2024. Also, even before 2024, some of the newest Cloud functionality will never make it to the On-Premise. Alas, Cloud is a no go for sensitive industriesĀ 

Why pick dedicated solution over Jira test management

Here are some reasons to use a separate solution for QA

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Manual & automated QA options

Testing software provides more variety compared to the Jira test management route. Dedicated tools organise and enhance manual testing, and also enable or entirely handle automated QA

Testing software provides more variety compared to the Jira test management route. Dedicated tools organise and enhance manual testing, and also enable or entirely handle automated QA

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Future-proof security

Test management solutions seek to run both Cloud and On-Premise versions. You would sometimes run into situations where On-Premise lags behind Cloud in features, but itā€™s the same with Jira

Test management solutions seek to run both Cloud and On-Premise versions. You would sometimes run into situations where On-Premise lags behind Cloud in features, but itā€™s the same with Jira

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QA-ready reporting

Testing tools are designed around key QA items. You may want to visualise whether the new build passed essential test cases or whether there are no critical bugs left. Jiraā€™s reporting wonā€™t be as specific here

Testing tools are designed around key QA items. You may want to visualise whether the new build passed essential test cases or whether there are no critical bugs left. Jiraā€™s reporting wonā€™t be as specific here

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Traceability

General issue trackers like Jira may not be geared to meet strict traceability requirements. Testing with them will result in either extra effort for compliance or potentially failed audits

General issue trackers like Jira may not be geared to meet strict traceability requirements. Testing with them will result in either extra effort for compliance or potentially failed audits

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Scope & scaling

Jira lacks test plan features. Tests plans both provide an actual plan on covering all potential issues but also chain test cases together. Imagine Jira test cases management with no test plans

Jira lacks test plan features. Tests plans both provide an actual plan on covering all potential issues but also chain test cases together. Imagine Jira test cases management with no test plans

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Risk management

Jira, like any other service, can go down and does that. Developers can just keep doing their current tasks, but QA specialists need their tests. Relying on a single tool created a single point of failure

Jira, like any other service, can go down and does that. Developers can just keep doing their current tasks, but QA specialists need their tests. Relying on a single tool created a single point of failure

Why choose aqua as your test management tool

1

Jira & automated QA integrations

aqua has over 12 integrations with leading test automation solutions. It also comes with a Jira integration: you can either access individual items or fully sync aqua & Jira projects. No extra cost attached

aqua + jira integrations
2

Cloud & On-Premise offerings

aqua offers both cloud and on-premise versions with virtually identical functionality. On-Premise is not an afterthought for us: we have plenty of clients in banking insurance, and government.

Security with aqua test management tool
3

Reporting wizard & dashboards

aquaā€™s reporting wizard is quick to set up yet comes with quite some depth. You can even execute custom scripts inside the report. Dashboards help visualise progress and support KPI alerts for emergencies

reporting with aqua
4

Traceability as a feature

aqua is fully compliant with traceability requirements, proven by our banking and government portfolio. This traceability, however, helps in any industry. You can see all changes to tests and revert if needed

Data records in test management tool aqua
5

Robust foundation & infrastructure

aqua works fast and doesnā€™t slow down even if you have millions of test cases. We have such clients using both Cloud & On-Premise versions without hiccups. Test execution doesnā€™t throttle for them either

6

Agile

aqua comes with native support of the Agile methodology. The sprintā€™s Scrum Board, a project-wide Planning Board, and Burn-Down Chart will all make your work more efficient. Waterfall is also available

Agile functionality with aqua test management tool
7

Chrome Extension

aqua Test Recorder takes web QA to the next level: your specialists can run tests and document results in the same Chrome window. Record interactions, edit captured data, leave comments, annotate screenshots ā€” these are just some features of our Chrome extension

Chrome extension aqua

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reporting tool

aqua is an Application Lifecycle Management solution. You can use it for all stages of your project

Planning, development, and testing in one tool

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Our clients speak for us

Companies that want to keep up with digital change trust in aqua

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ā€œI was surprised to find such a comprehensive and mature tool for test management in the German market not having taken it seriously beforehand.ā€

Jƶrg GroƟmann, Head of Development, Bank 11
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ā€œThe reporting is meaningful and provides a good basis for decisions. After the employees have used aqua, they recognize the added value very quickly.ā€

Thomas Haeske, Head of Organisation/IT, Berlin Hyp
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ā€œThe aqua support and development team is a reliable partner for the implementation of the customer requirements of the KBA.ā€

Jƶrn-Hendrick Sƶrensen, Test Manager, KBA
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ā€œManual test cases are easily automated with aqua. Seamless integration with test automation tools helps here.ā€

Dennis Seidel, QA Specialist, megapharm
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ā€œDesigning parameterizable and modular test cases means a very slim structure, enables a high reusability and accelerates creation of new tests.ā€

Slavcho Mavrodiev, Head of Software Development, CREM SOLUTIONS

ā€œI was surprised to find such a comprehensive and mature tool for test management in the German market not having taken it seriously beforehand.ā€

photo
Jƶrg GroƟmann, Head of Development, Bank 11

ā€œThe reporting is meaningful and provides a good basis for decisions. After the employees have used aqua, they recognize the added value very quickly.ā€

photo
Thomas Haeske, Head of Organisation/IT, Berlin Hyp

ā€œThe aqua support and development team is a reliable partner for the implementation of the customer requirements of the KBA.ā€

photo
Jƶrn-Hendrick Sƶrensen, Test Manager, KBA

ā€œManual test cases are easily automated with aqua. Seamless integration with test automation tools helps here.ā€

photo
Dennis Seidel, QA Specialist, megapharm

ā€œDesigning parameterizable and modular test cases means a very slim structure, enables a high reusability and accelerates creation of new tests.ā€

photo
Slavcho Mavrodiev, Head of Software Development, CREM SOLUTIONS

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Pricing

We offer three tiers of aqua plus free
Basic licences to any of the tiers.
All tiers are available in Cloud and On-Premise

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FAQ

What are the Jira testing tools?

There are no native software testing features in Jira. There are solutions that add an extra layer of QA to Jira, but they are still hindered by Jiraā€™s limitations and general policies (e.g. sunsetting On-Premise from 2024).

Is Jira a test management tool?

No, Jira is primarily a requirements management tool with a serviceable defect tracking suite. You canā€™t realistically create, upgrade, execute, and track manual software tests there. Automated tests are out of the question, too.

What are the benefits and disadvantages of Jira testing tool?

There are no tangible advantages to using Jira as a testing tool.

The disadvantages include:

  • Lack of actual test cases
  • Non-existent test automation potential
  • No On-Premise since 2024
  • Reliance on third-party plugins to get anything resembling QA done
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