Technology · head to head
Jira vs Linear
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Jira free tier strictly limited to 10 users with only 2 GB storage; unsuitable for growing teams; Linear no task-level Gantt chart; Timeline view is available for projects only, not individual issues
- They diverge on capability: Jira covers Scrum boards, Linear covers Fast, real-time sync.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Jira 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 Jira
- Scrum boards
- Kanban boards
- Roadmaps
- Agile reporting
- Issue tracking
- Sprint planning
- DevOps integration
- Bitbucket
Only in Linear
- Fast, real-time sync
- Keyboard-first design
- Automatic issue tracking
- Cycles (sprints)
- Projects & milestones
- API & webhooks
- Built-in roadmaps
- Discord
Both cover
- Custom workflows
- GitHub
- GitLab
- Slack
- SOC2
- GDPR
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Jira
- Software development teams leveraging AI-powered Rovo for trend analysis and bottleneck identificationnot Linear
- Organisations requiring integrated issue tracking, project planning, and team alignment toolsnot Linear
- Enterprises with 1,000+ users needing advanced analytics, security controls, and custom deployment optionsnot Linear
Linear
- Issue management and triage, converting customer feedback into prioritized issuesnot Jira
- Strategic planning via initiatives, roadmaps, and PRDs from idea to launchnot Jira
- Agent-assisted development, with agents drafting docs and submitting pull requestsnot Jira
- Code review with structural diffs for human and agent outputnot Jira
- Progress monitoring via dashboards tracking cycle times and project healthnot Jira
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Jira
- Free tier strictly limited to 10 users with only 2 GB storage; unsuitable for growing teams
- Per-seat pricing ($7.91–$14.54/user/month) accumulates significantly for large teams; 50-person team costs £3,955–7,270 monthly
- Enterprise tier requires annual billing and sales contact; no transparent per-user pricing available
- Premium features (cross-team planning, advanced automation) available only at $14.54/user/month tier or above
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
Jira
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Jira 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 Jira if
- You need scrum boards.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Cloud, Web.
- You also want kanban boards.
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 Jira or Linear better?
- Neither clearly leads. Jira 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, Jira or Linear?
- Jira starts at Free and Linear at Free.
- Does Jira or Linear run on more platforms?
- Jira runs on Cloud, Web. Linear runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- Can I use Jira for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Jira best used for?
- Jira is most often used for software development teams leveraging ai-powered rovo for trend analysis and bottleneck identification, organisations requiring integrated issue tracking, project planning, and team alignment tools, enterprises with 1,000+ users needing advanced analytics, security controls, and custom deployment options. Of those, software development teams leveraging ai-powered rovo for trend analysis and bottleneck identification and organisations requiring integrated issue tracking, project planning, and team alignment tools are not what Linear is typically brought in for.
- What can Jira do that Linear cannot?
- Jira covers Scrum boards, Kanban boards, Roadmaps, Agile reporting. Linear covers Fast, real-time sync, Keyboard-first design, Automatic issue tracking, Cycles (sprints). Both handle Custom workflows, GitHub, GitLab, Slack.