

IBM DOORS and Jira compete in the realm of requirements and project management tools. Between the two, Jira seems to have the upper hand thanks to its broader flexibility, integration capabilities, and stronger project tracking and agile management features.
Features: IBM DOORS provides extensive traceability and customizable scripting with DXL, which is beneficial for complex requirements management. Its integration with various engineering tools and change control features are highly valued. Conversely, Jira is recognized for its robust project management and Agile/Scrum compatibility. It offers seamless integration with a wide array of tools and extensive plugin options, significantly improving task management and collaboration.
Room for Improvement: IBM DOORS users often mention challenges with its outdated interface and steep learning curve. It also faces limitations in integrating with external databases and systems without relying heavily on DXL scripting, resulting in slow remote performance and limited agile practice support. On the other hand, Jira users point out issues with customization complexity and the need for numerous plugins to fill functionality gaps. Reporting features and user interface intuitiveness are common areas needing enhancement, along with improvements in search accuracy and test management support.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM DOORS traditionally runs on-premises and has faced criticism for inconsistent technical support, although some improvements are noted. Responses depend on the support team and location. Jira, however, provides flexible deployment options in cloud environments and on-premises solutions. It is generally praised for its quick customer service and technical support, although complex queries often require third-party involvement. Jira's deployment flexibility and responsive support contribute to its widespread use.
Pricing and ROI: IBM DOORS is viewed as an expensive option, primarily suited for large projects due to its licensing complexities. Users report significant ROI from its comprehensive capabilities in large-scale projects, despite high associated costs for licenses and necessary training or customization. In comparison, Jira is considered more cost-effective, especially for smaller teams. Though criticized at times for the need to purchase plugins ("nickel-and-diming"), its pricing model is generally more affordable than IBM DOORS. Jira is positively rated for its return on investment, particularly when combined with its agile project management features, offering value in dynamic team settings.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Jira | 13.1% |
| IBM DOORS | 29.5% |
| Other | 57.4% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 12 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 10 |
| Large Enterprise | 36 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 104 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 56 |
| Large Enterprise | 149 |
IBM Engineering Requirements Management DOORS (DOORS) is a Requirements Management (RM) software designed to help organizations manage engineering project requirements throughout the development lifecycle. It provides a central location for capturing, defining, and organizing project requirements, facilitating communication and collaboration among stakeholders like engineers, system designers, and customers. Key features include requirements traceability, version control, and impact analysis, ensuring effective implementation and testing. DOORS improves efficiency, enhances communication, reduces risks, and supports better decision-making through clear visibility into requirements. Compared to its newer, web-based counterpart DOORS Next, the mature DOORS 9 offers a wider range of features with a traditional user interface but lacks web-based functionality and modern integration with IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) tools.
Jira is a powerful cloud- and subscription-based application lifecycle and issue management solution. It is designed to aid users both in project management and in resolving any issues that arise at any point in the software development process. It is especially concerned with easing the ability of developers to collaborate.
Jira Benefits
Some of the ways that organizations can benefit by choosing to deploy Jira include:
Jira Features
Real-time notification feature. Users can set Jira so that it offers them notifications that contain critical information in real time. It can send users email notifications when pressing issues have been updated. They can also set it to notify them about tasks that may be due, or other similar events.
Reviews from Real Users
Jira is a powerful solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Two major advantages it offers are its workflow engine and its highly customizable dashboard.
Bharath R., the tool implementation and project management lead at a financial services firm, writes, “I feel the strongest feature of Jira is its workflow engine. It empowers us to automate our workflows within our organization. It's the one characteristic of Jira which I think can help any organization, be it in any domain.”
Uday J., a staff engineer at a computer company, says, “Another thing that I like a lot about Jira is that in the dashboard, you can plug the modules that you want. You can enable certain sections. For example, you can show trend history, open Jira tickets, etc. Some of the managers have created a dashboard for each engineer.”
We monitor all Application Requirements Management reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.