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Linear alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Linear: less configurable than Jira, and mainly suited to software teams. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Linear, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. ClickUp currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1ClickUp logoClickUpFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +33 of 376.8
2Jira logoJiraFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android +21 of 361.8
3GitHub Projects logoGitHub ProjectsFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 340.0
  1. ClickUp logo

    1. ClickUpTop pick

    Best for: Teams consolidating tasks, docs and chat into one app

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    76.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Linear

    Broader feature set covering docs, goals and non-engineering work.

    Pros

    • Huge feature set
    • Many views and custom fields
    • Generous free plan

    Cons

    • Overwhelming to set up
    • Performance can lag in big workspaces
    Visit ClickUp Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is ClickUp a good Linear alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026clickup.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Docs and whiteboards
    Included
    Checked Oct 24, 2026clickup.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Web, desktop, mobile
    Checked Oct 24, 2026clickup.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Jira logo

    2. Jira

    Best for: Engineering organizations that need configurable agile workflows

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Linear

    More configurable workflows and reporting for large organizations.

    Pros

    • Highly configurable workflows
    • Deep agile reporting
    • Huge app marketplace

    Cons

    • Complex to administer
    • Slower and heavier than newer trackers
    Visit Jira Compare with LinearDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1553
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Jira a good Linear alternative?

    Verified facts

    1 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, for small teams
    Not checked yetatlassian.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Boards
    Scrum and kanban
    Not checked yetatlassian.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Atlassian
    Checked Oct 24, 2026atlassian.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. GitHub Projects logo

    3. GitHub Projects

    Best for: Engineering and open-source teams that already work in GitHub

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    40.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Linear

    Free planning built into GitHub for teams already there.

    Pros

    • Lives next to issues, pull requests and code
    • Custom fields and saved views without extra cost
    • Automations via built-in workflows, Actions and API

    Cons

    • Awkward for non-developers and non-code work
    • Limited reporting and no time tracking
    • Tied to GitHub as your code host
    Visit GitHub Projects Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is GitHub Projects a good Linear alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Views
    Table, board and roadmap
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Custom fields
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Automation
    Built-in workflows that update item status
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Linear alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

ClickUp logo

Best Linear alternative for most people

ClickUp

Broader feature set covering docs, goals and non-engineering work.

Plane logo

Best Linear alternative for a free option

Plane

Similar issues-and-cycles model, but open source and self-hostable.

Jira logo

Best Linear alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Jira

More configurable workflows and reporting for large organizations.

Huly logo

Best Linear alternative for open source

Huly

Open-source Linear-style tracker you can self-host.

Plane logo

Best Linear alternative for self-hosting

Plane

Similar issues-and-cycles model, but open source and self-hostable.

ClickUp logo

Best Linear alternative for Mac

ClickUp

Broader feature set covering docs, goals and non-engineering work.

ClickUp logo

Best Linear alternative for Windows

ClickUp

Broader feature set covering docs, goals and non-engineering work.

ClickUp logo

Best Linear alternative for Linux

ClickUp

Broader feature set covering docs, goals and non-engineering work.

GitHub Projects logo

Best Linear alternative for iPhone and Android

GitHub Projects

Free planning built into GitHub for teams already there.

Shortcut logo

Best Linear alternative for working in the browser

Shortcut

Similar developer focus with stories, epics and iterations.

Linear alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Linear?

ClickUp ranks first right now. Broader feature set covering docs, goals and non-engineering work. Jira and Plane follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Linear?

Yes. ClickUp (free plan + paid), Jira (free plan + paid), Plane (open source) and Shortcut (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Linear?

Yes: Plane and Huly. Plane and Huly can also be self-hosted.

Which Linear alternatives work on Linux?

ClickUp and Huly run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Linear?

The complaints we hear most: less configurable than Jira; mainly suited to software teams.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Linear, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.