2K/mo searches Updated Feb 2026
Jira vs Linear
Old guard vs new challenger in the issue tracking space. Jira's depth vs Linear's speed.
Jira
★ 4.1/5 | Free plan
Linear
★ 4.7/5 | Free plan
Quick Verdict
Linear wins on speed, design, and developer experience. Jira wins on enterprise features, marketplace, and established ecosystem. Startups and modern dev teams should try Linear; established enterprises should stick with Jira.
Best Rating
Linear
★ 4.7
Best Value
Jira
Free
Most Features
Jira
11/15
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Jira | Linear |
|---|---|---|
| Task Management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Timeline / Gantt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kanban Boards | ✓ | ✓ |
| Calendar View | — | — |
| Built-in Docs | — | ✓ |
| Whiteboard | — | — |
| Time Tracking | ✓ | — |
| Reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrations | 3000+ | 50+ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile App | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real-time Collaboration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom Fields | ✓ | ✓ |
| Goals / OKRs | — | — |
| Sprint Management | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing Comparison
Jira
Issue & project tracking for dev teams
Free Free
- Up to 10 users
- Scrum & Kanban boards
- 2GB storage
Standard $7.75 /user/mo
- Up to 35,000 users
- 250GB storage
- Audit logs
Premium $15.25 /user/mo
- Advanced roadmaps
- Sandbox
- IP allowlisting
Enterprise Contact Sales
- Unlimited sites
- Atlassian Intelligence
- SCIM
Linear
Streamlined issue tracking for software teams
Free Free
- Up to 250 issues
- All features
- Unlimited users
Standard $8 /user/mo
- Unlimited issues
- Admin roles
- Priority support
Plus $14 /user/mo
- SSO/SAML
- Audit log
- SLA
- Advanced analytics
Enterprise Contact Sales
- Custom SLA
- Dedicated support
Jira — Pros & Cons
Pros
- Industry standard for software teams
- Powerful agile features
- Deep customization
- Strong marketplace
- Excellent reporting
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Overkill for non-dev teams
- UI can feel dated
- Complex administration
Linear — Pros & Cons
Pros
- Blazing fast UI
- Beautiful design
- Keyboard-first workflow
- Great for dev teams
- Excellent GitHub integration
Cons
- Not ideal for non-dev teams
- Limited customization
- No time tracking
- Young product (fewer integrations)
Ready to Try?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jira better than Linear?
Linear wins on speed, design, and developer experience. Jira wins on enterprise features, marketplace, and established ecosystem. Startups and modern dev teams should try Linear; established enterprises should stick with Jira.
Which is cheaper, Jira or Linear?
Jira starts at free, while Linear starts at free.
Do Jira and Linear offer free plans?
Jira offers a free plan. Linear offers a free plan.
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