Linear review
Fast, focused issue tracking for software teams
- Linear Orbit, Inc.
- Free + paid plans
- iPhone & iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, Web
Does it deserve #3?
The verdict
Linear is the issue tracker developers actually enjoy using. It is very fast, fully keyboard-driven and opinionated in a good way, with cycles, projects, roadmaps and triage that keep work moving without endless configuration. Git integrations update issues automatically, and you can assign issues to AI coding agents. The trade-off is flexibility: if you need deeply custom workflows, fields and reports, it can feel limiting.
- Keyboard-first, instant interface
- Cycles, projects and roadmaps
- Git and Slack integrations
- Issues assignable to AI agents
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What we like
- Extremely fast and keyboard-friendly
- Sensible defaults with little setup
- Automatic status updates from pull requests
What could be better
- Less customizable than enterprise trackers
- Built for software teams, awkward for other work
Software teams who want fast, low-friction issue tracking and planning
you need heavily customized workflows across non-engineering teams
Questions about Linear
Is Linear free?
Yes, the free plan supports small teams, with limits on issues and teams. Paid plans remove those limits and add features like insights, advanced integrations and admin controls.
Does Linear integrate with GitHub?
Yes, Linear links issues to GitHub and GitLab branches and pull requests, and moves issues through statuses automatically as code is opened, reviewed and merged.
What are the best alternatives to Linear?
The closest alternatives are GitHub, Cursor and Visual Studio Code. See all of them ranked on our Linear alternatives page.
Where does Linear rank?
Linear ranks #3 of 8 in our Developer Tools ranking, with an overall score of 8.9 out of 10.