Software · head to head
Linear vs Asana
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Linear no task-level Gantt chart; Timeline view is available for projects only, not individual issues; Asana the free Personal tier is capped at 2 users, so it does not cover a small team
- They diverge on capability: Linear covers Fast, real-time sync, Asana covers Multiple project views.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Linear and Asana actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Linear
- Fast, real-time sync
- Keyboard-first design
- Automatic issue tracking
- Cycles (sprints)
- Projects & milestones
- Custom workflows
- API & webhooks
- Built-in roadmaps
Only in Asana
- Multiple project views
- Task dependencies
- Milestones
- Portfolios
- Goals & OKRs
- Workflow automation
- Resource management
- Reporting dashboards
Both cover
- Slack
- SOC2
- GDPR
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Linear
- Issue management and triage, converting customer feedback into prioritized issuesnot Asana
- Strategic planning via initiatives, roadmaps, and PRDs from idea to launchnot Asana
- Agent-assisted development, with agents drafting docs and submitting pull requestsnot Asana
- Code review with structural diffs for human and agent outputnot Asana
- Progress monitoring via dashboards tracking cycle times and project healthnot Asana
Asana
- Project planning & trackingnot Linear
- Campaign managementnot Linear
- Product launchesnot Linear
- Event planningnot Linear
- Agile & Scrum managementnot Linear
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Asana
- The free Personal tier is capped at 2 users, so it does not cover a small team
- Timeline and Gantt views, reporting dashboards and time tracking all require Starter at $10.99 per user per month
- Portfolios, goals, workload management and approvals need Advanced at $24.99 per user per month
- Salesforce, Tableau and Power BI integrations are Advanced or above
- Monthly billing costs more, at $13.49 and $30.49 against the annual rates
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Asana
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Asana review.
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Asana if
- You need multiple project views.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want task dependencies.
Questions people ask
- Is Linear or Asana better?
- Neither clearly leads. Linear starts at Free and Asana at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Linear or Asana?
- Linear starts at Free and Asana at Free.
- Does Linear or Asana run on more platforms?
- Linear runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. Asana runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Linear for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Linear best used for?
- Linear is most often used for issue management and triage, converting customer feedback into prioritized issues, strategic planning via initiatives, roadmaps, and prds from idea to launch, agent-assisted development, with agents drafting docs and submitting pull requests, code review with structural diffs for human and agent output. Of those, issue management and triage, converting customer feedback into prioritized issues and strategic planning via initiatives, roadmaps, and prds from idea to launch are not what Asana is typically brought in for.
- What can Linear do that Asana cannot?
- Linear covers Fast, real-time sync, Keyboard-first design, Automatic issue tracking, Cycles (sprints). Asana covers Multiple project views, Task dependencies, Milestones, Portfolios. Both handle Slack, SOC2, GDPR.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Asana: Does Asana have a free tier?
Yes. Asana offers a free Personal plan for up to 2 users, plus free trial access to paid plans.
SourceAsana: What is the starting price for Asana paid plans?
Asana Starter plan begins at $10.99 per user per month when billed annually, or $13.49 per user when billed monthly.
SourceAsana: Does Asana integrate with other work tools?
Yes. Asana offers 200+ integrations including Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Jira, and Zoom.
Source