GitHub vs Linear
A side-by-side look at GitHub and Linear: what each costs to start, whether there is a free plan, how easy they are to pick up, and which features and integrations they cover.
Which should you choose?
Choose GitHub if
- Software teams of any size hosting code and reviewing pull requests
- Open-source projects and public developer communities
- Teams that want CI/CD and issue tracking alongside their code
Choose Linear if
- Startup and scale-up engineering teams
- Product teams that want a faster, simpler alternative to Jira
- Teams that run cycles or sprints tightly coupled to GitHub or GitLab
Cheapest to start
Not confirmed
Free plan
GitHub, Linear
Highest editor rating
GitHub · 4.7
| Compare | GitHub |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes |
| Starting price | From $4/mo |
| Editor rating | 4.7 |
| Ease of use | Moderate (3/5) |
| Category | Development |
| Pricing model | Free plan with unlimited repositories; Team is $4 per user per month; Enterprise is $21 per user per month; Copilot is a separate add-on from $10 per month for individuals. |
| Plans |
|
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, API, CLI |
| Integrations | Jira, Microsoft Teams, Slack |
| Best for |
|
| Pros |
|
| Cons |
|
| AI agents | Yes |
| AI assistant | Yes |
| API access | Yes |
| CI/CD & preview deployments | Yes |
| Code completion | Yes |
| Code review | Yes |
| Desktop app | No |
| Gantt & timeline | No |
| Git integration | Yes |
| Guest & client access | No |
| Kanban boards | Yes |
| Mobile app | No |
| Reporting & dashboards | No |
| Roles & permissions | Yes |
| SSO / SAML | Yes |
| Two-factor authentication | Yes |
| Unlimited users on free plan | No |
| Webhooks | Yes |
| Workflow automation | No |
Common questions
- Does GitHub or Linear have a free plan?
- Both do. GitHub and Linear each offer a free tier, so you can try either without paying.
- How long is the GitHub and Linear free trial?
- GitHub offers a 30-day free trial. Linear does not offer one.
- Which is easier to use, GitHub or Linear?
- In VERILO's editorial assessment Linear is the easier of the two, scoring 4 out of 5 against 3 for GitHub. That is a judgement about how quickly a new team gets productive, not a measured benchmark.