Linear vs Trello
A side-by-side look at Linear and Trello: 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 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 Trello if
- Individuals and small teams that need a simple visual to-do board
- Non-technical departments tracking content, hiring or event pipelines
- Teams already in the Atlassian ecosystem alongside Jira and Confluence
Cheapest to start
Trello · From $6/mo
Free plan
Linear, Trello
Highest editor rating
Linear · 4.5
Key differences
- Listed for Linear but not Trello: Git integration, Reporting & dashboards, SSO / SAML and Unlimited users on free plan.
- Listed for Trello but not Linear: App marketplace, Calendar view, Custom fields and Templates.
| 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 |
|
| API access | Yes |
| App marketplace | No |
| Calendar view | No |
| Custom fields | No |
| Desktop app | Yes |
| Gantt & timeline | Yes |
| Git integration | Yes |
| Guest & client access | Yes |
| Kanban boards | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
| Reporting & dashboards | Yes |
| SSO / SAML | Yes |
| Templates | No |
| Unlimited users on free plan | Yes |
| Webhooks | Yes |
| Workflow automation | Yes |
Common questions
- Is Linear cheaper than Trello?
- Trello starts lower, at $6 per user a month against $10 for Linear. 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 Trello have a free plan?
- Both do. Linear and Trello each offer a free tier, so you can try either without paying.
- How long is the Linear and Trello free trial?
- Trello offers a 14-day free trial. Linear does not offer one.
- Which is easier to use, Linear or Trello?
- In VERILO's editorial assessment Trello is the easier of the two, scoring 5 out of 5 against 4 for Linear. That is a judgement about how quickly a new team gets productive, not a measured benchmark.
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