Best Linear Alternatives
for Issue Tracking 2027
Linear is beloved by software engineers — but it only covers engineering workflows. Teams that need CRM, business operations, or non-technical project management need a more complete solution. We reviewed the top 6 alternatives.
Top 6 Linear Alternatives Compared
Each tool evaluated on features, pricing, ease of use, and value for diverse teams.
Dewx
Editor's PickAI-native business operating system that goes beyond issue tracking to cover project management, CRM, unified inbox, and AI automation in one flat-rate platform. Built for small and mid-size teams that need more than an engineering-only tracker.
Pros
- Project management alongside CRM and inbox — no silo switching
- AI assistant (Dew) creates tasks, tracks blockers, and drafts updates
- Flat-rate pricing — no $8/user/mo escalation as the team grows
- Works for non-engineering teams: agencies, consultants, operations
Cons
- Less optimized for pure software engineering workflows than Linear
- Best suited for teams under 50 people
Jira
The industry standard for software issue tracking. Jira is more powerful and customizable than Linear for complex workflows, large organizations, and teams that need deep integrations with the Atlassian ecosystem.
Pros
- Extremely customizable workflows and issue types
- Deep integration with Confluence, Bitbucket, and Atlassian tools
- Advanced reporting and JQL query language
- Enterprise-grade compliance and security features
Cons
- Much slower and more complex than Linear
- Significant administrative overhead
- Costs add up with Atlassian ecosystem dependencies
Shortcut
Formerly Clubhouse, Shortcut offers a balanced approach to software project management — more structured than Linear for non-developers, yet cleaner than Jira for engineers. Stories, epics, and milestones make it approachable for cross-functional teams.
Pros
- Better for cross-functional teams than Linear
- Stories, epics, and milestones are intuitive
- Clean interface stakeholders can navigate without training
- Strong GitHub, GitLab, and Slack integrations
Cons
- Slightly slower than Linear for pure engineering speed
- No built-in CRM or business operations features
- Fewer keyboard shortcuts than Linear power users expect
Height
An AI-first project tracker that automates repetitive PM tasks. Height positions itself as a smarter Linear — with AI that can auto-assign, summarize, and manage projects without manual overhead.
Pros
- AI automation handles repetitive project management tasks
- Flexible for both software and non-software teams
- Built-in threaded discussions alongside tasks
- Spreadsheet-like view familiar to most team members
Cons
- Smaller ecosystem than Linear or Jira
- AI features still maturing
- Less polished than Linear for pure developer workflows
Plane
An open-source project management tool built as a Jira and Linear alternative. Plane offers issues, cycles, modules, and pages with both self-hosted and cloud options.
Pros
- Open-source with full self-hosting option
- Active development with rapid feature growth
- Issues, cycles, and modules cover most PM workflows
- Cloud plan available for teams without self-hosting capacity
Cons
- Less polished UI than Linear
- Self-hosted version requires infrastructure management
- Smaller community than Linear or Jira
Notion
A flexible all-in-one workspace that can function as a project tracker via databases and templates. Notion is favored by teams that want project tracking alongside documentation and knowledge management.
Pros
- Extremely flexible — databases, docs, and projects unified
- Great for documentation alongside project tracking
- Large template library for quick setup
- Affordable compared to dedicated issue trackers
Cons
- No purpose-built issue or sprint management
- Can become disorganized without strict structure
- Performance degrades with very large databases
Quick Comparison Table
Side-by-side overview of all Linear alternatives.
| Tool | Starting Price | Best For | AI Features | Non-Eng Teams | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dewx | From $49/mo (all features included) | Businesses needing project management plus CRM and AI beyond pure software tracking | 4.8/5 | ||
| Jira | From $8.15/user/mo | Large engineering organizations needing deep customization and Atlassian integration | 4.1/5 | ||
| Shortcut | From $8.50/user/mo | Cross-functional software teams wanting more structure than Linear without Jira complexity | 4.3/5 | ||
| Height | From $8.50/user/mo | Teams wanting AI automation in their project tracker without Linear's developer-only focus | 4.2/5 | ||
| Plane | Free (self-hosted); cloud from $7/user/mo | Teams wanting an open-source Linear alternative with data sovereignty | 4.1/5 | ||
| Notion | Free tier; paid from $10/user/mo | Teams wanting flexible project tracking with wikis and docs in the same workspace | 4.3/5 |
Why Consider Linear Alternatives?
Linear is excellent for engineers but its narrow focus means most businesses need to pair it with additional tools.
Engineering-Only Focus
Linear is built for software teams. Marketing, sales, operations, and client-facing teams need a platform that works for their workflows too.
Per-User Pricing
At $8/user/mo, Linear costs compound with headcount. Flat-rate alternatives eliminate per-seat billing and offer more predictable pricing.
Limited AI Automation
Linear's automation is rule-based. Teams wanting AI-powered task creation, summarization, and intelligent prioritization need AI-native platforms.
No Business Context
Linear has no CRM, inbox, or client management. Teams manage Linear plus a CRM plus an inbox separately — creating fragmented context across tools.
Linear Alternatives FAQ
Why do teams look for Linear alternatives?
The most common reasons: 1) Engineering-only focus — Linear is excellent for software teams but doesn't serve business operations, CRM, or non-engineering workflows. 2) Limited AI — Linear's automation is rule-based, not AI-driven. 3) Per-user costs — at $8/user/mo it adds up for growing teams. 4) No cross-functional coverage — teams need PM tools that work for sales, operations, and client management too.
What is the best Linear alternative for non-engineering teams?
Dewx is the best option for teams that need project management alongside CRM, invoicing, and business operations. Notion is strong for teams prioritizing documentation with project tracking. Height handles cross-functional teams well with its flexible views. Shortcut bridges engineering and product/design better than Linear.
Is there a free Linear alternative?
Yes. Linear has its own free tier for up to 3 members. Plane is fully open-source and free to self-host. Notion has a generous free tier. For paid alternatives, Plane's cloud plan at $7/user/mo is slightly cheaper than Linear.
Can I migrate from Linear to another platform?
Linear supports CSV and JSON export of issues, cycles, and project data. Shortcut, Height, and Plane all have import tools for Linear exports. Notion can import CSV. Plan for rebuilding custom workflows and integrations in the new platform after data migration.
Does Dewx have issue tracking like Linear?
Dewx includes task and project management rather than pure issue tracking optimized for code workflows. For teams where project management is about client deliverables, agency work, or business operations, Dewx is the better choice. For pure software engineering with GitHub integration and cycle time analytics, Linear remains purpose-built.
Explore Dewx Features
See why Dewx is the top-rated Linear alternative for cross-functional teams.
Project Management
Tasks, projects, and milestones for every team — not just engineering.
CRM & Pipeline
Client data and deals alongside project context — no split tools.
AI Assistant (Dew)
AI that creates tasks, summarizes projects, and keeps work moving.
More comparisons:
Ready to Move Beyond Linear?
Take your project management further. Dewx combines tasks, CRM, inbox, and AI in one platform — giving your whole team a single source of truth, not just your engineers.