Best Linear alternatives in 2026
The best Linear alternatives in 2026 are Plane, GitHub, GitLab. Plane is the strongest free option. GitHub costs less, from $4/mo versus $10/mo for Linear.
Why people look for Linear alternatives
Linear is used by product and engineering teams from a handful of people to a few hundred, and it is known for speed, a keyboard-first interface and an opinionated workflow built on cycles and projects. Plans start at $10 a user, and features such as Asks and Insights need the Business tier.
Teams leave because customization is limited (no custom issue types), reporting is lighter than in enterprise tools, and the product is not designed for departments outside engineering. When choosing a replacement, weigh how much configuration you need, whether non-engineers must work in the same tool, open source or self-hosting needs, links to your code host, and per-seat cost.
- Limited customization compared with Jira (no custom issue types)
- Reporting is improving but still lighter than enterprise tools
- Not designed for non-engineering departments
- Price per seat rose in 2024; Business tier needed for Asks and Insights
- Linear starts at $10/mo (Freemium).
Best Linear alternative by need
| # | Tool | Pricing | Starts at | Best for | Platforms | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plane Open-source project management | Open source | $8/mo | Developers, Small businesses | web | 1 |
| 2 | GitHub Code hosting, CI/CD and AI coding platform owned by Microsoft | Freemium | $4/mo | Developers, Small businesses, Enterprise | web, macos, windows, ios, android | 0 |
| 3 | GitLab DevSecOps platform with Git hosting, CI/CD, security scans and AI | Freemium | $29/mo | Developers, Enterprise, Small businesses | web, linux | 0 |
| 4 | Otobüs Ne Zaman? Canlı Otobüs Takibi ve Güncel Saatler Otobüs şu an nerede? Canlı harita üzerinden anlık konumu görün, güncel otobüs sa | Free | $0/mo | Freelancers, Small businesses, Enterprise | web, android | 2 |
| 5 | AppFlowy Open-source workspace you can self-host | Open source | $16/mo | Developers, Small businesses | macos, windows, linux, ios, android | 0 |
| 6 | Notion All-in-one workspace for notes, docs and projects | Freemium | $12/mo | Small businesses, Freelancers, Enterprise | web, ios, android, macos, windows | 0 |
| 7 | Asana Work management for cross-functional teams | Freemium | $13/mo | Small businesses, Enterprise | web, ios, android, macos, windows | 0 |
| 8 | ClickUp One app for tasks, docs, goals and chat | Freemium | $12/mo | Small businesses, Agencies | web, ios, android, macos, windows | 0 |
| 9 | Jira Agile project tracking for software teams | Freemium | $10/mo | Enterprise, Developers | web, ios, android | 0 |
| 10 | monday.com Colorful work OS with many templates | Freemium | $12/mo | Small businesses, Enterprise | web, ios, android | 0 |
10 Linear alternatives compared
- 1
Plane
Open-source project management
Why pick it over Linear: Plane offers a Linear-like workflow with cycles and modules, is open source and self-hostable, and its cloud plans start at $8 a user. It fits teams that like Linear's style but want lower cost or their own servers.
- 2
GitHub
Code hosting, CI/CD and AI coding platform owned by Microsoft
Why pick it over Linear: GitHub Issues and Projects start at $4 a user versus Linear's $10 and live next to your repositories and pull requests. Teams already working in GitHub can drop a separate tracker if their planning needs are simple.
- 3
GitLab
DevSecOps platform with Git hosting, CI/CD, security scans and AI
Why pick it over Linear: GitLab costs $29 a user, well above Linear, but bundles issues with Git hosting, CI/CD and security scans, and it can run self-hosted. It suits teams that need planning and code on their own infrastructure.
- 4
Otobüs Ne Zaman? Canlı Otobüs Takibi ve Güncel Saatler
Otobüs şu an nerede? Canlı harita üzerinden anlık konumu görün, güncel otobüs sa
- 5
AppFlowy
Open-source workspace you can self-host
Why pick it over Linear: AppFlowy is an open-source workspace you can self-host, with cloud plans from $16. It suits teams that want docs and boards under their own control, rather than Linear's hosted, engineering-focused tracker.
- 6
Notion
All-in-one workspace for notes, docs and projects
Why pick it over Linear: Notion starts at $12 a user and combines docs, wiki and simple project databases. It fits small teams where non-engineers plan alongside developers, a use Linear is not designed for.
- 7
Asana
Work management for cross-functional teams
Why pick it over Linear: Asana costs $13.49 a user and is built for cross-functional business teams. Choose it when marketing, ops and design share projects with engineering and Linear's software-focused model leaves them out.
- 8
ClickUp
One app for tasks, docs, goals and chat
Why pick it over Linear: ClickUp costs $10 a user, the same as Linear, and packs tasks, docs, goals and chat into one app with heavy customization. It suits agencies and SMBs willing to invest in setup to replace several tools.
- 9
Jira
Agile project tracking for software teams
Why pick it over Linear: Jira starts at $9.70 a user, just below Linear, and offers custom issue types, deep workflow configuration and a large app marketplace. It suits larger organizations that need the governance Linear deliberately leaves out.
- 10
monday.com
Colorful work OS with many templates
Why pick it over Linear: monday.com starts at $12 a seat and offers visual boards that non-technical teams configure themselves. It suits companies where most users are outside engineering and Linear's issue-centric model feels too narrow.
Linear alternatives: FAQ
What is the best alternative to Linear?
Based on features, audience and market presence, the strongest Linear alternatives are Plane, GitHub, GitLab. Plane is the closest match for most teams.
Is there a free alternative to Linear?
Yes. Plane can be used for free. Other free or freemium alternatives to Linear include GitHub, GitLab, Otobüs Ne Zaman? Canlı Otobüs Takibi ve Güncel Saatler.
What is cheaper than Linear?
GitHub starts at $4/mo, while Linear starts at $10/mo. Prices are checked on each vendor's own pricing page.
Is there an open-source alternative to Linear?
Yes. Plane is open source, so you can self-host it or inspect the code.