Jira Service Management vs Kayako: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Jira Service Management and Kayako side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Jira Service Management leads on a free plan; Kayako leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Jira Service Management
Unite teams on a single AI-powered platform to deliver service at scale.
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
Kayako
Unified customer service platform for modern support teams
Best for you if:
- • You want great context across conversations
| At a Glance | Jira Service Management | Kayako |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $21/agent/mo, billed monthly Standard plan | From $1/mo Kay plan |
Category | Workflow Automation Incident Management | Customer Support Live Chat |
Rating | 3.9/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.5 · SourceForge 2.3 1,956 reviews | 4.1/5 G2 4.1 · Capterra 4.0 403 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Choose Jira Service Management or Kayako?
Choose Jira Service Management if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want seamless integration with Atlassian ecosystem
- You want flexible and customizable workflows
- You work in workflow automation, not customer support
Choose Kayako if
- You want great context across conversations
- You want collaborative agent features
- Budget matters ($1/mo vs $21/agent/mo, billed monthly)
- You work in customer support, not workflow automation
In-Depth Analysis
Jira Service Management
Unite teams on a single AI-powered platform to deliver service at scale.
Jira Service Management offers a fair pricing structure, especially with its generous Free tier for up to 3 agents.
Strengths
- Pro: Seamless integration with Atlassian ecosystem
- Pro: Flexible and customizable workflows
- Pro: Free tier for up to 3 agents
- Pro: Strong ITSM and ITIL capabilities
- Pro: Excellent knowledge base integration
Weaknesses
- Con: Can be complex to configure initially
- Con: Pricing scales quickly with agent count
- Con: UI can feel cluttered for simple use cases
- Con: Some features require add-ons
- Con: Learning curve for non-technical users
Key features
Kayako
Unified customer service platform for modern support teams
It's best suited for businesses prioritizing a unified platform and willing to pay a premium for comprehensive features.
Strengths
- Pro: Great context across conversations
- Pro: Collaborative agent features
- Pro: Clean interface
Weaknesses
- Con: Pricing can add up with larger teams
- Con: Mobile app could be better
- Con: Limited customization options
Key features
Plans and prices: Jira Service Management vs Kayako
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Jira Service Management |
| atlassian.com/software/jira/service-management/… read Oct 31, 2026 |
| Kayako |
| kayako.com/pricing read Nov 2, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Jira Service Management pricing and Kayako pricing.
Key Takeaways
Jira Service Management
- Has a free plan
Kayako
- Lower entry price: $1/mo vs $21/agent/mo, billed monthly
What the data shows
On the data below, Jira Service Management leads on a free plan; Kayako leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (3.9/5 from 1,956 reviews for Jira Service Management, 4.1/5 from 403 reviews for Kayako).
- Kayako has the lower entry price: $1/mo (Kay) against $21/agent/mo, billed monthly (Standard) for Jira Service Management.
- Only Jira Service Management has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Jira Service Management and Kayako compare in 2026?
On the data below, Jira Service Management leads on a free plan; Kayako leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (3.9/5 from 1,956 reviews for Jira Service Management, 4.1/5 from 403 reviews for Kayako). Kayako has the lower entry price: $1/mo (Kay) against $21/agent/mo, billed monthly (Standard) for Jira Service Management. Only Jira Service Management has a free plan.
What are Jira Service Management and Kayako used for?
Jira Service Management: Unite teams on a single AI-powered platform to deliver service at scale. Kayako: Unified customer service platform for modern support teams.
What does Jira Service Management cost vs Kayako?
Jira Service Management's cheapest paid plan is Standard at $21/agent/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Kayako's cheapest paid plan is Kay at $1/mo. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 2, 2026.
What's the main difference between Jira Service Management and Kayako?
Jira Service Management's main strength: seamless integration with Atlassian ecosystem. Kayako's main strength: great context across conversations.