How to Connect Jira and Asana: Three Ways to Keep Teams Aligned (Without Switching Tools)

“Is this task in Jira or Asana?”

If you’ve asked that question lately, you’re not alone.

Marketing lives in Asana.
Engineering lives in Jira.
And you’re the one copy-pasting updates between platforms while deadlines creep closer.

Good news… You don’t have to pick one tool over the other.

In this guide, we’ll break down three levels of integration, so you can pick the right solution for your workflow, your budget, and your sanity.

Integration Options Comparison

Integration Level	Best For	Complexity	Cost
Manual Exports	Occasional reporting snapshots	⭐ Simple	Free
Native Jira App	Basic, real-time status syncing	⭐⭐ Moderate	Included
Unito Integration	Complex, customizable, multi-project	⭐⭐⭐ Advanced	Paid (Varies)

Level 1: Manual Exports
Good for Light Reporting

If you just need occasional updates, you can export Jira issues to CSV and import them into Asana as tasks. It’s clunky, but it works in a pinch.

When to use manual exports:

• You only need periodic snapshots (e.g., weekly status reports).

• You’re not too concerned with real-time syncing.

• You have a small number of issues to track.

How to do it:

1. In Jira, export your issues as CSV.

2. In Asana, click Import > CSV and map fields (name, description, assignee).

Manual Exports

Pros

• ✔️ Free and fast

Considerations

• ➖ No automatic updates
• ➖ No comments or attachments syncing

Level 2: Native Jira Integration within Asana
Best for Simple Syncing

If you need basic, automatic syncing between tools, Asana’s native Jira Cloud app is a solid choice.

This setup lets you:

• Create Jira issues from inside Asana

• See Jira issue status in your Asana project

• Keep fields like status, description, and assignee in sync
  

When to use it:

• You have one or two Jira projects

• You’re okay with limited field mapping

• You don’t need subtask syncing or historical data

“If you’re looking for subtask syncing to maintain hierarchy between your projects, tasks, issues and subtasks, and even want to have your attachments synced over, this is not the solution for you. But if you need basic syncing, this will get you there.”

— Marquis Murray, CEO of Cirface

How to set it up:

1. Prepare your projects:

• Create a Jira project (e.g., “Dev Board”)

• Create an Asana project (e.g., “Dev Marketing Board”)

2. Initiate the integration :

• In Asana, click Customize > Apps > Jira Cloud

• Log in to your Jira account

3. Map your fields:

• Summary → Task Name

• Description

• Due date

• Status

• Assignee

4. Choose sync direction:

• One-way or two-way

5. Automate:

• Use Asana Rules to trigger actions as updates happen

Visual learner? Watch Marquis’ step-by-step setup tutorial below:

Asana Integration

Pros

• ✔️ Free and included in Asana
• ✔️ Real-time updates
• ✔️ Simple to set up

Considerations

• ➖ Limited to basic fields
• ➖ No advanced filtering or multi-project sync
• ➖ Manual rules needed to keep statuses in sections

Level 3: Unito Integration
Best for Advanced Workflows

If you need more power, Unito is the gold standard for complex Asana ↔ Jira workflows.

What is Unito?

Unito is a no-code integration tool that connects platforms like Asana and Jira. It enables two-way syncing of tasks, subtasks, comments, attachments, and custom fields. Users can map specific fields, control sync direction, and connect multiple projects across tools. It’s designed for teams that need to keep their systems aligned without relying on manual updates or custom development.

Why choose Unito?

• Full two-way syncing, including subtasks, attachments, and rich formatting

• Map any field, including custom fields

• Sync multiple Jira projects to Asana

• Control direction at the field level (e.g., priority flows Jira→Asana only)

• Historical data syncing

• No-code setup

“Unito is a real time two-way data sync that is built from the ground up to keep Jira (or any other tools that you have) and Asana speaking the same language.”

— Marquis Murray, CEO of Cirface

When to use Unito:

• You have complex workflows with many fields

• You need to maintain project hierarchies (epics, subtasks)

• You want enterprise-grade visibility across teams
  

How to get started:

1. Create a Unito account

2. Connect Jira and Asana workspaces

3. Build a flow:

• Choose which projects to connect

• Select one-way or two-way sync

• Map fields and set rules

4. Launch your flow and monitor syncs in real time

Unito Integration

Pros

• ✔️ Most powerful option
• ✔️ Highly customizable
• ✔️ Ideal for scaling teams
• ✔️ No-code and quick to set up

Considerations

• ➖ Paid subscription (pricing varies by volume)

Find Your Integration

Manual exports

For occasional updates

Native Jira app

For simple, real-time sync

Unito

For full customization

“Whether you go with the native solution or you bring Unito into your organization, the goal is the same. It’s always the same: transparency across your teams, clarity across your teams.”

— Marquis Murray, CEO of Cirface

Not sure which option is right for you?
Let’s walk through your workflow together.

Automation Tips to Save Even More Time

No matter which method you choose, remember:

• Use Asana Rules to automate notifications.

• Keep naming conventions consistent across tools.

• Train your team on what updates sync automatically (and what doesn’t).
  

TL;DR Quick Recap

There are 3 levels of integration between Jira and Asana:

• Manual Exports

• For light, occasional use

• No automatic updates

• Native Asana <> Jira integration

• Basic real-time syncing

• Limited field support

• Unito

• Full two-way syncing with subtasks and attachments

• Advanced field mapping and historical data
  

Read the full setup process for whichever option applies to your workflow.

With the right approach:

• Asana stays your clarity hub

• Jira keeps your dev teams productive

• No more “Where’s the latest update?” messages

FAQ Section

• Q: Can I sync subtasks between Jira and Asana?

  A: Only with Unito. Asana’s native integration doesn’t support subtask syncing.

• Q: Is the native Jira integration free?

  A: Yes, it’s included with your Advanced or Enterprise Asana plan, but it has limited functionality.

• Q: How often does Unito sync?

  A: Unito syncs tasks in near real-time, depending on your subscription plan.