GitLab vs Linear
GitLab and Linear are both developer tools tools. GitLab is aimed at developers and enterprise, while Linear is aimed at developers and small businesses. Linear costs less, from $10/mo versus $29/mo for GitLab. Both have a free plan.
DevSecOps platform with Git hosting, CI/CD, security scans and AI
Issue tracking built for fast software teams
| Pricing | Freemium · $29 | Freemium · $10 |
| Starting price | $29/mo | $10/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
| Built for | Developers, Enterprise, Small businesses | Developers, Small businesses |
| Platforms | web, linux | web, macos, windows, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2014 | US · 2019 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose GitLab if
Engineering teams that want source control, CI/CD and security scanning in one platform, with a self-hosting option.
- One platform replaces separate Git, CI and security tools
- Self-hosting suits regulated and air-gapped environments
- Flexible built-in CI/CD with your own runners
Look elsewhere if: Small teams that only need simple Git hosting or a dedicated planning tool (GitHub, Linear, Jira).
Choose Linear if
Product and engineering teams from 3 to a few hundred people who ship continuously and want speed over configurability.
- Fastest issue tracker in day-to-day use; keyboard-first design
- Opinionated structure keeps teams consistent without configuration
- Excellent GitHub, Slack and Sentry integrations
Look elsewhere if: Organizations that need bespoke workflows, custom issue hierarchies, or a single tool for marketing, HR and engineering.
GitLab vs Linear pricing
GitLab
- Free$05 users per private group, 400 compute minutes, 10 GiB
- Premium$29/user/moBilled annually; 10,000 compute minutes, approvals, code owners
- UltimateCustomContact sales; security scans, compliance, 50,000 minutes
- GitLab Credits$1/creditUsage-based AI agent credits; volume discounts on commit
Linear
- Free$0Unlimited members, 2 teams, 250 issues
- Basic$10/user/moBilled yearly; 5 teams, unlimited issues and uploads, admin roles
- Business$16/user/moBilled yearly; unlimited teams, private teams, Insights, Asks
- EnterpriseCustomAnnual only; SAML, SCIM, advanced security
GitLab · Key features
- Git repositories with merge requests, code owners and approval rules
- Built-in CI/CD pipelines with shared or self-hosted runners
- SAST, dependency, secret and container scanning in merge requests
- Container, package and Terraform module registries
- Issue boards, epics and roadmaps for planning
- Duo Agent Platform with agents for planning, security and code review
Cons
- Premium at $29 per user is costly for small teams
- Best security and compliance features need Ultimate
- Dense interface with a real learning curve
Linear · Key features
- Cycles (sprints) with automatic rollover and capacity view
- Projects and initiatives with milestones, updates and roadmap views
- Triage inbox for bugs and requests from Slack, Intercom, Zendesk and Sentry
- GitHub/GitLab automation: branch naming, PR links and auto-close on merge
- Insights dashboards for velocity, scope change and cycle time
- Local-first sync engine; the app works offline and feels instant
Cons
- Limited customization compared with Jira (no custom issue types)
- Reporting is improving but still lighter than enterprise tools
- Not designed for non-engineering departments
GitLab vs Linear: FAQ
Which is cheaper, GitLab or Linear?
Linear starts at $10/mo and GitLab at $29/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do GitLab and Linear have a free plan?
Yes, both GitLab and Linear have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.