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Technology · head to head

Linear vs Sourcegraph

Linear logo

Linear

Technology

The issue tracking tool you'll enjoy using

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Sourcegraph logo

Sourcegraph

Developer Tools

Code search and intelligence platform for large codebases with Cody AI assistant

From
$16000/year
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Linear has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Linear no task-level Gantt chart; Timeline view is available for projects only, not individual issues; Sourcegraph enterprise pricing starting at $16k annually creates significant barrier for small teams
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Linear and Sourcegraph actually diverge.

Attributes where Linear and Sourcegraph differ
AttributeLinearSourcegraph
Starting priceFree$16000/year
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, WindowsCloud, Self-hosted
CategoryTechnologyDeveloper Tools
Founded2019Unknown

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 Linear

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

Only in Sourcegraph

Nothing recorded that Linear does not also cover.

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 Sourcegraph
  • Strategic planning via initiatives, roadmaps, and PRDs from idea to launchnot Sourcegraph
  • Agent-assisted development, with agents drafting docs and submitting pull requestsnot Sourcegraph
  • Code review with structural diffs for human and agent outputnot Sourcegraph
  • Progress monitoring via dashboards tracking cycle times and project healthnot Sourcegraph

Sourcegraph

  • Large-scale code migrations across hundreds of repositoriesnot Linear
  • Enterprise governance and code ownership trackingnot Linear
  • AI-assisted bug hunting and security pattern detectionnot Linear
  • Onboarding engineers into large unfamiliar codebasesnot Linear
  • Regulatory compliance and code audit trailsnot 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

Sourcegraph

  • Enterprise pricing starting at $16k annually creates significant barrier for small teams
  • No free tier or standard plan published; all options require custom sales engagement
  • Complex enterprise-only positioning limits adoption compared to GitHub Copilot's pervasiveness
  • Requires indexing entire codebase; not suitable for small or ephemeral projects

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

Sourcegraph

$16000/year
  • Enterprise$16000/year
    • Scales with team size
    • Credits for AI features per user
    • Deep Search

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.
Linear review

Choose Sourcegraph if

  • You work on Cloud, Self-hosted.
Sourcegraph review

Questions people ask

Is Linear or Sourcegraph better?
Neither clearly leads. Linear starts at Free and Sourcegraph at $16000/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Linear or Sourcegraph?
Linear has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Linear and $16000/year for Sourcegraph.
Does Linear or Sourcegraph run on more platforms?
Linear runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. Sourcegraph runs on Cloud, Self-hosted.
Can I use Linear for free?
Yes. Linear has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sourcegraph starts at $16000/year.
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 Sourcegraph is typically brought in for.
What can Linear do that Sourcegraph cannot?
Linear covers Fast, real-time sync, Keyboard-first design, Automatic issue tracking, Cycles (sprints).

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Linear: How much does Linear cost?

Linear has a free tier supporting 2 teams and 250 issues. Paid plans start at $10 per user per month for Basic and $16 per user per month for Business. Annual billing is required for paid tiers.

Source
Linear: What are the file upload limits on Linear?

The free tier is restricted to 10MB file uploads per team. Paid plans offer unlimited file uploads.

Source
Linear: Does Linear offer an Enterprise plan?

Yes, Linear offers an Enterprise tier with custom pricing, annual billing required, SAML and SCIM support, granular admin controls, and priority support.

Source
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