Linear vs Asana
This comparison usually comes up when engineering wants one tool and the rest of the company uses another. Linear is opinionated issue tracking built for software teams, with cycles, projects and deep GitHub and GitLab integration. Asana is general work management that marketing, operations and cross-functional teams adopt easily.
Which should you choose?
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
Choose Asana if
- Marketing, operations and cross-functional teams at mid-sized companies
- Leaders who need portfolio-level visibility across many projects
- Organizations that prioritize ease of adoption over deep customization
Cheapest to start
Linear · From $10/mo
Free plan
Linear, Asana
Highest editor rating
Linear · 4.5
Key differences
- Listed for Linear but not Asana: Desktop app, Git integration, Guest & client access, SSO / SAML, Unlimited users on free plan and 1 more.
- Listed for Asana but not Linear: AI assistant, Calendar view, Custom fields, Forms & surveys, Goals & OKRs and 1 more.
- Only Asana lists Browser extension among its platforms.
| Compare | Linear |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Free trial | No |
| Starting price | From $10/mo |
| Editor rating | 4.5 |
| Ease of use | Easy (4/5) |
| Category | Project Management |
| Pricing model | Free plan with unlimited members and a cap of 250 issues. Basic is $10 and Business $16 per user per month, both billed yearly; the pricing page lists no monthly-billed rate. Enterprise is custom and billed annually only. |
| Plans |
|
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, API |
| Integrations | Discord, Figma, GitHub, GitLab, Intercom, Slack, Zapier, Zendesk |
| Best for |
|
| Pros |
|
| Cons |
|
| AI assistant | No |
| API access | Yes |
| Calendar view | No |
| Custom fields | No |
| Desktop app | Yes |
| Forms & surveys | No |
| Gantt & timeline | Yes |
| Git integration | Yes |
| Goals & OKRs | No |
| Guest & client access | Yes |
| Kanban boards | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
| Reporting & dashboards | Yes |
| SSO / SAML | Yes |
| Time tracking | No |
| Unlimited users on free plan | Yes |
| Webhooks | Yes |
| Workflow automation | Yes |
Common questions
- Is Linear cheaper than Asana?
- Linear starts lower, at $10 per user a month against $13.49 for Asana. Both figures are the entry paid plan as each vendor lists it, checked against its own pricing page. Some vendors quote the annual-billing rate, and higher tiers and add-ons can change the comparison, so price the plan you actually need.
- Does Linear or Asana have a free plan?
- Both do. Linear and Asana each offer a free tier, so you can try either without paying.
- How long is the Linear and Asana free trial?
- Asana offers a 30-day free trial. Linear does not offer one.
Our verdict
They are not really competing for the same team, and the honest answer is usually to match the tool to the work. Linear is faster and leaner, but the two publish on different billing bases — Linear quotes $10 per user per month billed yearly, Asana $13.49 billed monthly — so a direct price gap is not available. Linear is rated 4.5 by VERILO editors, but it deliberately refuses custom fields and bespoke workflows, and its free plan caps the workspace at 250 issues. Asana handles portfolios, goals and intake forms that Linear does not attempt, at a higher per-seat price with seats sold in bundles. Choose Linear for an engineering-led company. Choose Asana when non-technical teams outnumber engineers. Running both is a legitimate outcome, not a failure to decide.
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