Jira's built-in board gets you started. BetterBoard gets you where you actually want to be — without leaving Jira or changing a thing.
Jira Board BetterBoard Built-in Jira board
The default Kanban or Scrum board that ships with every Jira team-managed space. Quick to set up, hard to customise past the basics.
Forge app · one-click install
A Forge-native board inside your existing Jira space — same work items, same permissions, no migration required.
A complete breakdown of what each board supports — from basic columns to advanced power features. Hover any row to see details.
| Feature | Team-managed board Built-in Jira | BetterBoard Forge app |
|---|---|---|
| Board basics | ||
| Multiple boards per space Create more than one board view in the same space | Not available: One board per space | Supported: Unlimited boards, each with its own config |
| Multi-space board Pull work items from several spaces onto one board | Not available: Single space only | Supported: Multiple spaces on one board |
| Private boards Boards visible only to you | Not available: Shared with space by default | Supported: Private or shared, per board |
| Real-time sync Board reflects Jira changes instantly across all open boards | Limited: Polls every ~30s, click banner to refresh | Supported: Live updates — no refresh banner |
| Columns & grouping | ||
| Column grouping field Choose what field drives the column structure | Not available: Status only | Supported: Any field — status, assignee, priority, sprint, or custom |
| Map multiple values to one column Consolidate several statuses into a single swimlane | Supported: Multiple statuses per column | Supported: Map any number of values to one column |
| Reorder columns Drag columns into your preferred order | Supported: Supported | Supported: Drag columns into any order |
| Cards & fields | ||
| Choose fields on cards Control which fields appear on each card face | Limited: Fixed set of fields | Supported: Most fields — standard and custom |
| Inline field editing on card Update a field without opening the work item | Limited: Summary, epic, estimate, assignee only | Supported: Click most field chips to edit in place |
| Bulk edit multiple work items Apply field changes to several cards at once | Limited: Hidden behind right-click → Bulk change | Supported: Select cards, apply changes via bulk action bar |
| Time in status See how long each work item has been in its current status | Not available: Not available | Supported: Shown on each card |
| Sorting & ordering | ||
| Sort cards within columns Control work item order inside each column | Limited: Rank only — base filter is locked | Supported: Sort by any field, multi-level |
| Manual drag-to-rank Reorder work items within a column by dragging | Supported: Supported | Supported: Supported — syncs to Jira rank |
| Filtering | ||
| Filter work items on the board Narrow what's shown without changing board config | Limited: Assignee, epic, label, type, status, priority | Supported: Any field with 25+ operators |
| Saved filters per board Persist filters without re-applying each session | Not available: Not supported | Limited: Create separate boards per view instead |
| Power features | ||
| Keyboard shortcuts Navigate and update work items without a mouse | Limited: Basic navigation shortcuts only | Supported: Full keyboard nav + command palette (⌘K) |
| Compatibility & trust | ||
| Works without installation | Supported: Built into Jira | Limited: One-click install from the Marketplace |
| Data stays in your Jira tenant | Supported: Atlassian-hosted | Supported: Atlassian Forge — runs entirely in your tenant |
The built-in board locks your columns to workflow status. BetterBoard lets you group by priority, assignee, sprint, component, or any custom option field. Drag an work item between columns and the field updates on it automatically in Jira.
One board per team, per workflow, per stakeholder — each with its own column setup, card fields, filters, and sort order. The built-in board gives you one.
Combine work items from multiple Jira spaces on a single board. Useful for cross-functional teams spanning software, service management, and product discovery.
When grouping by status, merge multiple statuses into one column — combine In Review and Waiting for Feedback so your board stays readable.
Select multiple work items and update a field across all of them at once — reassign work, move to a sprint, change priority. What used to mean opening work items one by one now takes a single action.
Choose exactly which fields appear on every card — assignee, priority, labels, story points, due date, or any custom field your team uses.
Click any field chip on a card to edit it in place — status, assignee, priority, labels, and all custom fields. No work item drawer required.
Drag an work item to a different column and the underlying field updates automatically in Jira. No extra clicks, no confirmation dialogs.
The built-in board filters by assignee, label, and epic. BetterBoard gives you 25+ operators — date ranges, sprint membership, contains, empty/non-empty — across every field your space uses. Every filter is saved to the board automatically.
Create a separate board for each filter configuration or team view. Each board keeps its own column setup, fields, and filters — so different workflows get their own dedicated space.
See how long each work item has sat in its current status. Spot bottlenecks and ageing work at a glance — without leaving the board or running a separate report.
Order work items within columns by due date, priority, story points, or any custom field. Stack multiple sort levels to get exactly the order your workflow needs.
No migration. No duplicate data. No new process to learn. Your work items, your fields, your workflows — shown the way you want them.
Free for teams up to 10 users. Includes a 30-day free trial. Install in one click from the Atlassian Marketplace.
