Best Linear alternatives in 2026

Looking for an alternative to Linear? Whether you've outgrown it, find the pricing steep, or just want to weigh your options, these are the strongest project management alternatives in 2026 — ranked on pricing, features, and who each one fits best. Linear itself has a free tier, so we've flagged where each option is cheaper, simpler, or more specialized.

1
Shortcut
Best for: engineering-teams
Project management for software teams. A popular project management alternative to Linear with a genuinely usable free tier — free – $8.50/user/mo. Particularly strong for engineering-teams.
4.3Free – $8.50/user/moVisit
2
Taskade
Best for: startups
If Linear feels like overkill or over-budget, Taskade is a leaner option with a genuinely usable free tier. AI-powered tasks, notes, and chat. Pricing: free – $8/mo.
4.6Free – $8/moVisit
3
ClickUp
Best for: smb
ClickUp goes head-to-head with Linear on features with a genuinely usable free tier. One app to replace them all. Best suited to smb. Free – $7/user/mo.
4.5Free – $7/user/moVisit
4
Notion Projects
Best for: startups
A well-rated project management pick. Project management inside Notion. Notion Projects offers a free plan and starts at free – $10/user/mo, making it a credible Linear replacement.
4.5Free – $10/user/moVisit
5
Height
Best for: startups
The autonomous project management tool. A popular project management alternative to Linear with a genuinely usable free tier — free – $9.90/user/mo. Particularly strong for startups.
4.4Free – $9.90/user/moVisit
6
Plane
Best for: startups
If Linear feels like overkill or over-budget, Plane is a leaner option with a genuinely usable free tier. Open-source project management. Pricing: free – $8/user/mo.
4.4Free – $8/user/moVisit
7
Jira
Best for: engineering-teams
Jira goes head-to-head with Linear on features with a genuinely usable free tier. Agile issue tracking for software teams. Best suited to engineering-teams. Free – $7.90/user/mo.
4.3Free – $7.90/user/moVisit
8
ZenHub
Best for: engineering-teams
A well-rated project management pick. Project management inside GitHub. ZenHub starts at from $8.33/user/mo, making it a credible Linear replacement.
4.3From $8.33/user/moVisit

Still considering Linear itself? Read our Linear review →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Linear alternative?

Shortcut is our top-rated Linear alternative for 2026. Project management for software teams. Free – $8.50/user/mo.

Is there a free Linear alternative?

Yes — Shortcut, Taskade, ClickUp all offer a free tier you can start on without a credit card.

Why switch from Linear?

Common reasons are price, a simpler feature set, better fit for a specific use case, or platform support. Each tool above notes where it has an edge over Linear.