Linear's speed and design are great but per-user pricing adds up. These alternatives offer similar experiences with free tiers and open-source self-hosting options.
Each app below addresses a specific gap in Linear's offering. We picked them based on real user review patterns and feature differentiation.
Plane provides a Linear-like experience with similar speed and design philosophy but as an open-source product you can self-host. Cycles, modules, and issues mirror Linear's workflow, and the self-hosted option eliminates per-user pricing entirely.
Explore Plane data →Shortcut balances simplicity with flexibility, offering both Kanban and sprint-based workflows. The generous free tier for up to 10 users, combined with iterations, milestones, and rich integrations, makes it a strong Linear alternative without the rigid workflow constraints.
Explore Shortcut (formerly Clubhouse) data →GitHub Issues with Projects provides native issue tracking that lives alongside your code. The tight integration with pull requests, CI/CD, and code review creates a unified development workflow. For teams already on GitHub, it eliminates the need for a separate project management tool.
Explore GitHub Issues and Projects data →Huly provides project management, issue tracking, knowledge base, and team communication in one open-source platform. The self-hosted option provides unlimited users at no cost, and the all-in-one approach reduces the number of tools teams need to manage.
Explore Huly data →Jira provides the most customizable issue tracking with workflows, fields, screens, and automation rules that adapt to any process. While less sleek than Linear, the depth of configuration and reporting serves enterprise teams with complex requirements.
Explore Jira data →Taiga provides a beautiful open-source agile management tool with Kanban boards, sprint backlogs, and user story mapping. The visual design rivals commercial tools, and the free self-hosted option makes it accessible to teams of any size.
Explore Taiga data →We compared project management tools on speed, design quality, pricing models, and self-hosting options to find the best Linear alternatives for software teams.
Linear's speed and design are excellent but at $10/user/month, costs add up. Shortcut offers a free tier for up to 10 users. Plane provides a similar experience for free when self-hosted. GitHub Issues is free for code-centric teams. The value depends on how much the Linear experience matters versus cost.
GitHub Issues and Projects is the best free option for GitHub-centric teams. Shortcut is free for up to 10 users. Plane, Huly, and Taiga are free when self-hosted. Jira offers a free tier for 10 users. The best choice depends on your team size and existing tooling.
Linear supports CSV export and has an API for data extraction. Plane has a direct Linear import tool. Most alternatives accept CSV imports. The migration requires some manual work for workflows and automations but issue data transfers cleanly.
Yes, Plane and Huly are free self-hosted with Linear-like experiences. GitHub Issues is free and integrated with code. Shortcut is free for small teams. Jira has a free tier. Check AppVulture to compare project management tools and find the right fit for your team.
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