A self-hosted Jira alternative, with chat and docs in the same app.
Projects, boards, backlog, weekly sprints and epics, installed in your own cloud. For teams that need issue tracking to stay in infrastructure they control after Jira Server and Data Center.
Self-managed Jira has an end date
Atlassian has moved its focus to the cloud. These dates come from Atlassian's published end-of-life notice.
- Atlassian ended support for Server products, including Jira Server and Confluence Server.
- Atlassian stopped selling new Data Center subscriptions to new customers.
- Last date for existing customers to buy new Data Center licenses or expansions.
- Data Center reaches end of life. Subscriptions expire and the products become read-only.
What Kernyl Issues does today
Each project runs as Scrum or Kanban. Plan in the backlog, start a weekly sprint, move cards on the board and complete the sprint; unfinished work goes back to the backlog. Issues have epics, sub-tasks, labels, estimates, due dates, comments, history and attachments, and filters live in the URL so you can share a view as a link.
Because chat and docs are in the same app, an issue key in a message or a page shows the issue's live status, and you can create an issue straight from a chat message.
Kernyl Issues board
Kernyl and Jira, on hosting, AI and scope
Jira is a deep, configurable tracker with a large marketplace. Kernyl is simpler today. The real difference is where it runs.
Where it runs
- Kernyl
- Your cloud, in the region you choose.
- Jira (Cloud and Data Center)
- Cloud: Atlassian's cloud. Data Center: your own infrastructure until end of life in March 2029.
AI data path
- Kernyl
- AI models in your own cloud. Permissions checked at question time. Content not sent to us.
- Jira (Cloud and Data Center)
- Atlassian's AI features are offered in Atlassian Cloud.
Tracker depth
- Kernyl
- Projects, boards, backlog, sprints, epics, sub-tasks. No custom workflows or fields yet.
- Jira (Cloud and Data Center)
- Custom workflows, fields, automation, JQL and a large app marketplace.
Chat and docs
- Kernyl
- In the same app, sharing search, people and permissions.
- Jira (Cloud and Data Center)
- Separate products: Confluence for docs and a separate chat tool.
Pricing model
- Kernyl
- Annual subscription by team-size tier, plus your own cloud costs.
- Jira (Cloud and Data Center)
- Cloud: per user, monthly or annual. Data Center: annual, by user tier.
| Topic | Kernyl | Jira (Cloud and Data Center) |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Your cloud, in the region you choose. | Cloud: Atlassian's cloud. Data Center: your own infrastructure until end of life in March 2029. |
| AI data path | AI models in your own cloud. Permissions checked at question time. Content not sent to us. | Atlassian's AI features are offered in Atlassian Cloud. |
| Tracker depth | Projects, boards, backlog, sprints, epics, sub-tasks. No custom workflows or fields yet. | Custom workflows, fields, automation, JQL and a large app marketplace. |
| Chat and docs | In the same app, sharing search, people and permissions. | Separate products: Confluence for docs and a separate chat tool. |
| Pricing model | Annual subscription by team-size tier, plus your own cloud costs. | Cloud: per user, monthly or annual. Data Center: annual, by user tier. |
A Jira importer is planned
We'd rather be clear about the order: the Slack importer is in development now, and Jira comes after it. Until then, teams can start new projects in Kernyl while Jira stays available for reference. Tell us which projects and fields matter most, and design partners help set the importer's priorities.
Also leaving Confluence? See the Confluence alternative.
We're onboarding our first teams now. Design partners get hands-on help with the install, a direct line to the people building Kernyl, and a say in what we build next.
FAQ
We're still on Jira Server. What are our options?
Server products stopped receiving support and security fixes in February 2024. Atlassian's paths are its cloud or, for existing customers, Data Center until its end of life in March 2029. Kernyl is another option if your tracker needs to stay in infrastructure you control.
Can we import our Jira projects?
A Jira importer is planned, after the Slack importer that's in development now. Tell us on a call what you need to bring across and we'll share the timeline.
Does Kernyl support custom workflows and fields?
Not yet. Kernyl has statuses, epics, sub-tasks, labels, estimates, due dates and priorities. Custom workflows, custom fields, automation and a query language are on the roadmap.
Do we have to replace Slack and Confluence too?
No. You can start with Issues and keep other tools, though Kernyl is most useful as one workspace: issues show live in chat and docs, and AI answers across all three.