Linear Review (2026): Pricing, Pros and Cons
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Short answer
Linear ranks #2 of 7 in our issue tracking tools ranking (86/100). Best for fast-moving product teams. Paid plans start at $10/user/mo (Basic, billed yearly; Business $16).
What is Linear?
Linear is an issue tracker built around cycles (1- to 8-week sprints where unfinished issues roll over automatically) and projects. Free covers 2 teams and 250 issues; Basic ($10 per user billed yearly) removes the issue limit and allows 5 teams; Business ($16) adds Insights, Linear Asks, guest accounts and triage rules.
Who it's best for
Startups and product engineering teams that want a fast, keyboard-driven tracker with sensible defaults.
Why we rank it
It's the easiest tracker here to adopt, with automatic sprint rollover and agent features available from the free plan.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Cycles roll unfinished issues over automatically
- Unlimited members on every plan, including Free
- Rated 4.6/5 on G2, the second highest here
Watch-outs
- Free plan stops at 250 issues
- Insights need Business ($16); dashboards, SAML and audit log need Enterprise
- Monthly prices aren't listed on the pricing page
Skip it if: You need heavily customized workflows and permissions per project.
Linear pricing
Paid plans start at $10/user/mo (Basic, billed yearly; Business $16). Free plan or trial: Free plan (unlimited members, 2 teams, 250 issues).
From Linear's pricing page, checked on the date at the top of this review. See how it compares on price in our issue tracking tools pricing overview.
How we scored Linear
Issue tracking score: 86/100
Each criterion is rated 0 to 5 and weighted for the category. See our methodology.
How Linear compares
| # | Tool | Best for | Starting price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jira | Best overall for scaling engineering teams | $9.70/user/mo | 87/100 |
| 2 | Linear | Fast-moving product teams | $10/user/mo | 86/100 |
| 3 | YouTrack | Best value, with every feature on every plan | $4.50/user/mo | 85/100 |
| 4 | GitHub Issues | Teams whose code is already on GitHub | $4/user/mo | 84/100 |
| 5 | Azure Boards | Microsoft and Azure DevOps shops | $6/user/mo | 83/100 |
| 6 | Shortcut | Small teams moving off a free plan | $8.50/user/mo | 81/100 |
Alternatives and comparisons
Linear FAQ
How much does Linear cost?
Paid plans start at $10/user/mo (Basic, billed yearly; Business $16). Free plan or trial: Free plan (unlimited members, 2 teams, 250 issues).
Is Linear worth it?
Linear scores 86/100 in our issue tracking tools ranking, where it is best for fast-moving product teams. It's a weaker fit if: you need heavily customized workflows and permissions per project.
Does Linear have a free plan or trial?
Free plan (unlimited members, 2 teams, 250 issues).
What are the best Linear alternatives?
In our issue tracking tools ranking, the closest alternatives are Jira, YouTrack and GitHub Issues.