An Xray Alternative That Keeps Test Cases Out of Your Jira Backlog
Xray models tests as Jira issues, which is powerful — and heavy. TestKit keeps test management in its own tool, connected to Jira. Here's how they compare.
Updated · TestKit Team
About Xray
Xray is a popular test management app for Jira, offered in Standard and Advanced editions, with Xray Enterprise as a separate app for large organizations. It stores tests, test sets, test plans, and test executions as Jira issue types, which gives you Jira's search (JQL), workflows, and permissions for testing artifacts. It's particularly well known for BDD support (Cucumber, SpecFlow, and more), and includes AI test case generation in every edition.
Why Teams Look for an Xray Alternative
- Issue volume — every test and execution becoming a Jira issue can swell your Jira instance and clutter boards, filters, and reports.
- Jira-wide licensing — like other paid Atlassian Cloud apps, Xray is licensed to your whole Jira site's user tier.
- Learning curve — the issue-type model is flexible, but new testers have to learn how the pieces fit together.
- Sharing outside Jira — stakeholders need Jira access to see results.
TestKit vs. Xray at a Glance
| Capability | TestKit | Xray |
|---|---|---|
| How tests are stored | In TestKit, linked to Jira issues | As Jira issues |
| Pricing basis | Per TestKit seat (Team plan) | Your Jira site's user tier (Atlassian Cloud) |
| Requirement coverage from Jira | Yes, per story (Pro & Team) | Yes |
| BDD / Cucumber-first workflows | Not a focus | Strong native support |
| AI test case generation | Every plan | Every edition |
| AI test strategy generation | Every plan | Not offered (Enterprise adds AI test model generation) |
| Automation results via API | Yes (Pro & Team) | Yes |
| Public, no-login status pages | Every plan | In-Jira views need Jira access |
Checked against each vendor's own website and documentation on September 23, 2026. Plans and features change — check each vendor directly for current details.
When Xray Is the Better Choice
- Your team is BDD-first and manages Gherkin feature files as the source of truth for tests.
- You want tests to be real Jira issues, queryable with JQL and governed by Jira workflows.
- Most of your Jira users test, so site-wide licensing isn't a cost problem.
When TestKit Is the Better Choice
- You want Jira kept for stories and bugs, not thousands of test and execution issues.
- Testers are a fraction of Jira users, so per-seat pricing costs less.
- New testers need to be productive on day one without learning an issue-type model.
- You want no-login stakeholder reporting and AI test strategy generation included.
Weighing Jira apps against connected tools more generally? See test case management in Jira.
Moving From Xray to TestKit
- Export your test cases from Xray — export your tests to CSV in Xray's step-per-row layout — the one Xray's own Test Case Importer reads, with each test's rows sharing its TCID or issue key.
- Import the file as-is — on TestKit's Test Cases page, choose Import and pick Xray as the source. Steps, folders (as suites), and linked Jira issues come across, and a preview shows exactly what will land before anything is saved.
- Spot-check a suite — every imported case is tagged with where it came from, so the whole batch is easy to find, review, or bulk-edit (up to 5,000 cases per file).
- Connect Jira (Pro and Team plans) so imported cases link back to the stories they cover.
- Run the next release in TestKit while keeping Xray read-only as a reference, then retire it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can TestKit show which Jira stories have test coverage?
Yes. Test cases link to Jira issues, and TestKit's coverage view traces each story to the test cases that verify it — including stories with no coverage at all.
Keep Reading
TestKit vs. Zephyr
Jira app vs. connected tool: how TestKit compares with Zephyr, and when each fits.
Test Case Management in Jira
Custom issue types vs. Jira apps vs. connected tools — pros, cons, and how each is priced.
The Best Test Case Management Tools
Ten tools compared honestly — what each is best for and where each falls short.
Put Your Test Cases in One Place
Import your existing test cases, connect Jira or Azure DevOps, and run your first test plan in TestKit — free to start, no credit card required.