Softwr

Customer Support · head to head

Front vs Linear

Front logo

Front

Customer Support

Where teams collaborate on customer communication

From
$25/month per seat
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Linear logo

Linear

Technology

The issue tracking tool you'll enjoy using

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Linear has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Front starter tier limited to single-channel support; omnichannel support requires Professional tier; Linear no task-level Gantt chart; Timeline view is available for projects only, not individual issues
  • They diverge on capability: Front covers Shared inbox, Linear covers Fast, real-time sync.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Front and Linear actually diverge.

Attributes where Front and Linear differ
AttributeFrontLinear
Starting price$25/month per seatFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud-based SaaSWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows
CategoryCustomer SupportTechnology
Founded20132019

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Front

  • Shared inbox
  • Email collaboration
  • Omnichannel messaging
  • Analytics
  • Workflows
  • Integrations
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot

Only in Linear

  • Fast, real-time sync
  • Keyboard-first design
  • Automatic issue tracking
  • Cycles (sprints)
  • Projects & milestones
  • Custom workflows
  • API & webhooks
  • Built-in roadmaps

Both cover

  • Slack
  • SOC2
  • GDPR
  • SSO

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Front

  • Multi-team customer support across email, chat, SMS channelsnot Linear
  • Enterprises using AI to resolve complex multi-step customer requestsnot Linear

Linear

  • Issue management and triage, converting customer feedback into prioritized issuesnot Front
  • Strategic planning via initiatives, roadmaps, and PRDs from idea to launchnot Front
  • Agent-assisted development, with agents drafting docs and submitting pull requestsnot Front
  • Code review with structural diffs for human and agent outputnot Front
  • Progress monitoring via dashboards tracking cycle times and project healthnot Front

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Front

  • Starter tier limited to single-channel support; omnichannel support requires Professional tier
  • AI Copilot, Smart QA, and Smart CSAT are included only in Enterprise tier ($105/seat/month); available as add-ons at higher cost in lower tiers
  • Starter tier limited to 10 automation rules; Professional tier allows 20; unlimited rules only in Enterprise
  • Advanced analytics excluded from Starter tier

Linear

  • No task-level Gantt chart; Timeline view is available for projects only, not individual issues
  • No native time-tracking or hour-logging feature
  • No native Linux desktop app; official FAQ states it 'may come in the future but it's not on the roadmap for now'
  • Free tier capped at 250 issues and 2 teams

Pricing, plan by plan

Front

$25/month per seat

No published plan breakdown. See the Front review.

Linear

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited members
    • 2 teams
    • 250 issues
  • Basic$10/month
    • 5 teams
    • Unlimited issues
    • Unlimited file uploads
  • Business$16/month
    • Unlimited teams
    • Private teams/guests
    • Triage Intelligence
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • SAML/SCIM
    • Granular admin controls
    • Invoice/PO billing

Which should you pick?

Choose Front if

  • You need shared inbox.
  • You work on Cloud-based SaaS.
  • You also want email collaboration.
Front review

Choose Linear if

  • You need fast, real-time sync.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want keyboard-first design.
Linear review

Questions people ask

Is Front or Linear better?
Neither clearly leads. Front starts at $25/month per seat and Linear at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Front or Linear?
Linear has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $25/month per seat for Front and Free for Linear.
Does Front or Linear run on more platforms?
Front runs on Cloud-based SaaS. Linear runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Linear for free?
Yes. Linear has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Front starts at $25/month per seat.
What is Front best used for?
Front is most often used for multi-team customer support across email, chat, sms channels, enterprises using ai to resolve complex multi-step customer requests. Of those, multi-team customer support across email, chat, sms channels and enterprises using ai to resolve complex multi-step customer requests are not what Linear is typically brought in for.
What can Front do that Linear cannot?
Front covers Shared inbox, Email collaboration, Omnichannel messaging, Analytics. Linear covers Fast, real-time sync, Keyboard-first design, Automatic issue tracking, Cycles (sprints). Both handle Slack, SOC2, GDPR, SSO.
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Related pages

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