Advanced formula fields vs. built-in formulas

From simple formulas to advanced calculations in Jira

With the introduction of Formula custom fields in Jira Cloud, Atlassian has closed an important gap that many teams have been working around for years.

Being able to calculate values directly inside Jira – without automation rules or external tools – is a big step forward. For many teams, built-in Formula fields will be exactly what they need.

At the same time, Jira is increasingly used to model business logic, prioritization, and reporting. As those use cases grow, calculations often need to do more than just reference a few fields.

This is why we’re renaming Smart Fields to Advanced Formula Fields – and clarifying where built-in formulas are a perfect fit, and where advanced calculations become necessary.

What built-in Formula fields are great at

Jira’s new Formula custom fields are a strong addition when you need:

• simple arithmetic

• values derived from other fields on the same work item

• a quick, lightweight way to avoid manual math

For many use cases, this is exactly right.

Not every calculation needs a powerful engine behind it.

Where advanced calculations come into play

As Jira becomes the backbone for planning, prioritization, and reporting, calculations often need to handle more than just “A + B”.

This includes scenarios like:

• missing or optional values

• conditional logic and defaults

• reusable calculation patterns

• roll-ups of values across work items

• recalculations across many work items

• understanding why a value looks the way it does

This is the space Advanced Formula Fields is built for.

Built-in vs. Advanced Formula Fields: a practical comparison

This part matters, because it explains why “native + app” can be a very reasonable combination instead of an either/or.

Today’s current boundaries (as of Atlassian’s rollout notes):

1. It’s currently an open beta
   Atlassian explicitly launched Formula fields as an open beta and linked GA to additional capabilities like JQL support.

2. Numeric focus in the initial rollout
   The December 2025 rollout is described as numeric outputs, with formatting options for number / currency / percentage.

3. Function set is defined (and limited compared to “full spreadsheet” expectations)
   Atlassian provides a specific list of supported operators/functions for formulas.

4. Team-managed projects only (for now)
   In the initial rollout, Formula fields are available in team-managed spaces only, with company-managed support listed for later (late Spring 2026 in the announcement).

None of this is “bad”. It’s exactly how new native capabilities tend to land: start with the most common use cases, then expand.

That’s why Advanced Formula Fields ships with dozens of preconfigured Templates for common scenarios—ratings, KPIs, roll-ups, counts, comparisons, and other “classic Jira math” patterns—so you typically don’t start from a blank page. You mostly rewire the right fields to match your setup.

One platform, two levels of formulas

Our perspective is simple:

• Built-in Formula fields are excellent for straightforward calculations.

• Advanced Formula Fields is for scenarios that require structure, flexibility, and transparency.

Both approaches complement each other and help teams build better Jira systems.

If you’re starting with simple formulas and later need more control, Advanced Formula Fields is there to support that next step.

Let’s make Jira your single point of truth when it comes to reliable data.