Software · head to head
Linear vs Plane
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Linear no task-level Gantt chart; Timeline view is available for projects only, not individual issues; Plane self-hosted Community edition requires managing your own Docker/Kubernetes infra plus your own PostgreSQL, Redis, and S3-compatible/GCS/MinIO storage; no single-binary install
- They diverge on capability: Linear covers Fast, real-time sync, Plane covers Issue tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Linear and Plane actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows), 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 Plane
- Issue tracking
- Cycles (Sprints)
- Modules
- Views & layouts
- Pages (Docs)
- Analytics
- API access
- Webhooks
Both cover
- GitHub
- GitLab
- Slack
- Discord
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 Plane
- Strategic planning via initiatives, roadmaps, and PRDs from idea to launchnot Plane
- Agent-assisted development, with agents drafting docs and submitting pull requestsnot Plane
- Code review with structural diffs for human and agent outputnot Plane
- Progress monitoring via dashboards tracking cycle times and project healthnot Plane
Plane
- Project and task management with cycles, modules, epics, and initiativesnot Linear
- Documentation and knowledge management via workspace wiki tied to project worknot Linear
- Sprint planning and issue triagenot Linear
- Cross-functional collaboration with analytics and dashboardsnot Linear
- Migration target from Jira, Linear, Monday, ClickUp, or Asananot 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
Plane
- Self-hosted Community edition requires managing your own Docker/Kubernetes infra plus your own PostgreSQL, Redis, and S3-compatible/GCS/MinIO storage; no single-binary install
- Cloud Free tier caps at 12 users and 500 AI credits per seat per month
- Substantial feature gating by tier: custom work item types, workspace wiki, time tracking, dashboards, initiatives, teamspaces, and integrations require Pro or above; LDAP, granular access control, and multi-workflow approvals require Enterprise Grid
- Guest-to-paid-member ratio capped at 1:5 on the Pro plan
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
Plane
Free- FreeFree
- Up to 12 users
- 500 AI credits/seat
- Cycles, modules
- Pro$6/month
- 1,000 AI credits/seat
- Custom work item types
- Wiki
- Business$13/month
- 2,000 AI credits/seat
- Project templates
- Recurring items
- Enterprise Grid$undefined/month
- Flexible AI credits
- Private/managed deployment
- Granular access control
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 Plane if
- You need issue tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- You also want cycles (sprints).
Questions people ask
- Is Linear or Plane better?
- Neither clearly leads. Linear starts at Free and Plane at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Linear or Plane?
- Linear starts at Free and Plane at Free.
- Does Linear or Plane run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- 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 Plane is typically brought in for.
- What can Linear do that Plane cannot?
- Linear covers Fast, real-time sync, Keyboard-first design, Automatic issue tracking, Cycles (sprints). Plane covers Issue tracking, Cycles (Sprints), Modules, Views & layouts. Both handle GitHub, GitLab, Slack, Discord.