Linear is a fast issue tracking tool for software teams, valued at 1.25 billion dollars. Compare Linear pricing, features and alternatives like Jira and Asana.
Category
Project Management
Pricing
Freemium / Subscription, from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Founded
2019
Headquarters
San Francisco, California, United States
Free PlanAPIAIFreemiumMac
Overview
Linear was founded in 2019 by Karri Saarinen, Tuomas Artman and Jori Lallo, and is headquartered in San Francisco. The company has raised roughly 134.2 million dollars in total funding, most recently an 82 million dollar Series C led by Accel in June 2025 at a 1.25 billion dollar valuation.
Linear is used by more than 33,000 companies, including OpenAI, Coinbase and Ramp, and is built around the Linear Method, an opinionated approach to software development workflow that emphasizes speed, focus and minimal process overhead.
Key Features
Core product features include Cycles for time-boxed sprints, a Triage queue for incoming issues, project and roadmap tracking, and an extensive keyboard-shortcut-driven interface built for speed.
Higher tiers add AI-assisted Triage Intelligence, beta Linear Agent automations and Code Intelligence, Linear Insights analytics, and integrations with tools like Zendesk and Intercom.
Pricing
Linear offers a free plan (unlimited members, 2 teams, 250 issues), a Basic plan at 10 dollars per user per month billed yearly, and a Business plan at 16 dollars per user per month billed yearly with AI and automation features.
An Enterprise plan offers custom, annual-only pricing with SAML/SCIM, invoice billing and dedicated support for larger organizations.
Key Features
Cycles (sprint management) — Time-boxed work cycles that help teams plan and track focused iterations of work, Linear's equivalent to sprints.
Triage queue — A dedicated queue for incoming issues and bug reports that need to be classified before entering the active workflow.
Keyboard-first, high-speed interface — Built with a local-first architecture for near-instant navigation and an extensive set of keyboard shortcuts.
Roadmaps and project tracking — Connects individual issues to larger projects and initiatives for visibility across teams and leadership.
Triage Intelligence and Linear Agent (AI) — AI-assisted issue classification and beta agent automations available on the Business tier and above.
Code Intelligence (beta) — Connects issues directly to related code changes and pull requests for engineering traceability.
Guest accounts and private teams — Business tier supports external collaborators via guest accounts and restricts visibility with private teams.
Enterprise identity and billing controls — SAML and SCIM support, invoice and purchase-order billing, and granular admin controls on the Enterprise plan.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Widely praised for interface speed and design quality compared to legacy tools like Jira
Generous free tier supports small teams with unlimited members
Strong backing from Sequoia and Accel with a 1.25 billion dollar valuation signaling long-term stability
Opinionated Linear Method reduces process overhead for engineering teams
Increasing AI-assisted features (Triage Intelligence, Code Intelligence) built directly into the workflow
Cons
Free plan caps out at 250 issues and 2 teams, requiring an upgrade for growing teams
Advanced AI and automation features are gated behind the higher-priced Business tier
Enterprise pricing is not published and requires custom sales negotiation
Less configurable than Jira for teams with complex, non-standard workflows
Opinionated workflow model may not suit teams outside software engineering
Pricing
Free $0 N/A
Basic $10/user/month Annual
Business $16/user/month Annual
Enterprise Custom pricing Annual
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Linear free
Linear offers a free plan with unlimited members, up to 2 teams and 250 issues. Paid plans start at 10 dollars per user per month billed yearly for more teams and unlimited issues.
Who founded Linear
Linear was founded in 2019 by Karri Saarinen, Tuomas Artman and Jori Lallo, and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
How much funding has Linear raised
Linear has raised approximately 134.2 million dollars in total funding, including an 82 million dollar Series C in June 2025 at a 1.25 billion dollar valuation, led by Accel.
What is the Linear Method
The Linear Method is Linear's opinionated set of best practices for software development workflow, emphasizing short focused work cycles, clear issue ownership and minimal process overhead.
How does Linear differ from Jira
Linear focuses on speed, a minimalist interface and an opinionated workflow, while Jira offers extensive configurability and a broader feature set aimed at larger, more complex organizations.
Does Linear have AI features
Yes, Linear's Business plan includes Triage Intelligence for AI-assisted issue classification, along with beta Linear Agent automations and Code Intelligence.