Technology · head to head
GitHub vs Linear
The short version
- Each has a real cost: GitHub acquired by Microsoft in 2018, reducing pure independence despite operational autonomy; Linear no task-level Gantt chart; Timeline view is available for projects only, not individual issues
- They diverge on capability: GitHub covers Git repositories, Linear covers Fast, real-time sync.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GitHub and Linear actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Technology).
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 GitHub
- Git repositories
- Pull requests
- Code review
- Issues & projects
- GitHub Actions CI/CD
- GitHub Pages
- Security scanning
- Dependency management
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
- 2FA
- SOC2
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
GitHub
- Version controlnot Linear
- Code collaborationnot Linear
- CI/CD pipelinesnot Linear
- Project managementnot Linear
- Documentation hostingnot Linear
Linear
- Issue management and triage, converting customer feedback into prioritized issuesnot GitHub
- Strategic planning via initiatives, roadmaps, and PRDs from idea to launchnot GitHub
- Agent-assisted development, with agents drafting docs and submitting pull requestsnot GitHub
- Code review with structural diffs for human and agent outputnot GitHub
- Progress monitoring via dashboards tracking cycle times and project healthnot GitHub
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
GitHub
- Acquired by Microsoft in 2018, reducing pure independence despite operational autonomy
- Primary focus on source control differs from purpose-built project management tools like Jira
- Pricing for enterprise features and private repositories adds up compared to some self-hosted alternatives
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
GitHub
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited public/private repos
- 2,000 CI/CD minutes/month
- 500MB package storage
- Team$4/month
- Everything in Free
- 3,000 CI/CD minutes/month
- 2GB package storage
- Enterprise$21/month
- Everything in Team
- 50,000 CI/CD minutes/month
- 50GB package storage
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 GitHub if
- You need git repositories.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
- You also want pull requests.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is GitHub or Linear better?
- Neither clearly leads. GitHub starts at Free and Linear at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, GitHub or Linear?
- GitHub starts at Free and Linear at Free.
- Does GitHub or Linear run on more platforms?
- GitHub runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile. Linear runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- Can I use GitHub for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is GitHub best used for?
- GitHub is most often used for version control, code collaboration, ci/cd pipelines, project management. Of those, version control and code collaboration are not what Linear is typically brought in for.
- What can GitHub do that Linear cannot?
- GitHub covers Git repositories, Pull requests, Code review, Issues & projects. Linear covers Fast, real-time sync, Keyboard-first design, Automatic issue tracking, Cycles (sprints). Both handle Slack, 2FA, SOC2.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
GitHub: What is a Git repository and how does GitHub use it?
A repository is the centralized database that stores the complete collection of files and folders for a codebase, along with the revision history. GitHub uses Git to provide distributed version control access to repositories with version tracking, branching, and collaboration features.
SourceGitHub: How does GitHub authentication work?
When you connect to a GitHub repository from Git, you need to authenticate with GitHub using either HTTPS or SSH. GitHub supports multiple authentication methods including passwords, personal access tokens, SSH keys, and GitHub Apps.
SourceGitHub: How long has GitHub been operating?
GitHub was founded in 2008 and launched publicly on April 10, 2008, making it the dominant git hosting platform for nearly two decades.
SourceGitHub: Who owns GitHub and when did the acquisition occur?
Microsoft acquired GitHub for $7.5 billion USD, with the deal announced June 4, 2018 and completed October 26, 2018. GitHub operates as an independent subsidiary within Microsoft.
Source