Why 40% of Jira Apps Haven't Updated in 12 Months

The Silent Abandonment Problem

Our analysis of 2,800+ Jira apps reveals a concerning trend: 40% haven't received a meaningful update in the past 12 months. For enterprise buyers, this represents a significant risk that's often overlooked during procurement.

What Counts as "Meaningful Update"?

We defined meaningful updates as:

• Bug fixes addressing user-reported issues
• New feature additions
• Security patches
• Compatibility updates for new Jira versions

Cosmetic changes (logo updates, description tweaks) were excluded.

The Abandonment Pattern

Apps typically follow a predictable lifecycle:

Phase 1: Active Development (0-18 months)

• Regular updates, responsive support
• Growing install base
• Positive review trajectory

Phase 2: Maintenance Mode (18-36 months)

• Updates slow to monthly or quarterly
• Support becomes ticket-based
• Review responses become templated

Phase 3: Passive Income (36+ months)

• Updates only for breaking changes
• Minimal support engagement
• Reviews start mentioning "abandoned" or "unmaintained"

Phase 4: Zombie State

• No updates for 12+ months
• Support tickets go unanswered
• App continues to collect revenue from existing subscriptions

For single-app vendors, this lifecycle is especially critical. See our Single-App Vendor Survival Guide for strategies to avoid the abandonment trap.

Why This Happens

Our interviews with 20 former Jira app developers revealed common patterns:

1. Solo developer burnout (45%) - Single-person operations simply can't sustain long-term maintenance
2. Business model failure (30%) - Revenue never reached sustainability threshold
3. Acquisition without integration (15%) - App was bought and shelved
4. Platform frustration (10%) - Atlassian API changes made maintenance too costly

The time tracking category is particularly affected, with many smaller players falling into zombie state.

Risk Signals for Buyers

When evaluating a Jira app, watch for:

Red Flags

• No updates in 6+ months
• Support response time > 7 days
• Declining rating trajectory
• No public roadmap
• Anonymous or pseudonymous vendor

Green Flags

• Regular release notes
• Active community forum
• Vendor transparency (team photos, company info)
• Multiple apps in portfolio (diversified revenue)
• Clear pricing aligned with value

Conclusion

App abandonment is a systemic issue in the Jira Marketplace. While Atlassian has implemented some safeguards, buyers must do their own due diligence. The cost of migrating away from an abandoned app often exceeds the original purchase price many times over.

For developers looking to build sustainable apps, read our analysis on what makes Jira apps succeed and explore the blue ocean opportunities where competition is less fierce.