Workload or Jira Align for an IT department?
Choose Jira Align if you need a multi-BU SAFe portfolio hub with enterprise governance. Choose Workload if your priority is team capacity, tactical PIs, and dependencies — with read-only Jira sync — without a 6–12 month Align rollout.
Features by plan
Jira Tempo, Azure DevOps, and Toggl integrations from the Professional plan
The Starter plan includes the full trial and CSV import; native integrations start on Professional.
Compare plans →Workload vs Jira Align
Jira Align orchestrates enterprise scaled agile portfolio. Workload brings real capacity, PI lite, and dependencies — as complement or lightweight alternative for 20–500 person IT departments.
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Workload is a fit if…
- You run an internal IT department (20–500 people)
- Real capacity and allocation conflicts are your blind spot
- You want PI lite tied to fiscal calendar, not a full Align backlog
- You complement Jira Software with capacity + read-only dependencies
- Budget and time-to-value < enterprise PPM
Jira Align is a better fit if…
- You need a multi-BU SAFe portfolio hub at group scale
- OKRs, strategic themes, and enterprise PI planning board are central
- Jira Align is already deployed with mature RTE/PMO
- Enterprise PPM budget and timeline (6–12 months) accepted
Frequently asked questions
Can Workload coexist with Jira Align?
Yes. Complementary positioning: Align for strategic portfolio, Workload for operational capacity and team-side PI lite.
Does Workload sync with Jira?
Yes — read-only epics and dependencies from Jira Software; optional capacity push. No native Jira Align connector at MVP.
Is Align's PI Planning board in Workload?
Post-MVP (sprints 11+). MVP delivers PI calendar, capacity, objectives, and predictability — not the full multi-team PI Planning board.
Does Workload offer a free trial?
Yes — 14-day free trial with no credit card at simpleworkload.com/register. CSV import on Starter (~30 minutes for first setup).
Do you need Jira to use Workload?
No. Workload runs standalone with CSV/Excel import (Starter). Jira Tempo and Azure DevOps integrations are on the Professional plan.
What IT team size is Workload built for?
CIO and IT PMO teams from 20 to 500 people. Below 15 staff Excel may suffice; from 30–50 onward a dedicated tool typically pays off quickly.
Can you migrate from Excel or an existing PPM?
Yes. Workload offers CSV/Excel, Sciforma, and MS Project migration kits with guided wizards. Most IT departments migrate teams and projects in hours.
Does Workload replace full enterprise PPM?
Not at multi-BU PPM parity. Workload is the tactical IT capacity layer (teams, allocations, conflicts, timesheet) — often alongside Sciforma/Planview or replacing Excel.
Which timesheet integrations are available?
Jira Tempo, Azure DevOps, Toggl, and Clockify (Professional plan). Workload compares planned vs actual for CIO reporting and PvA variance.
How does Workload handle intelligent allocation?
Transparent 0–100 scoring (skills ~60%, availability ~40%) with conflict detection — no opaque ML on your data. Generative AI may enrich explanatory text only.