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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.
Comparison of Linear and Trello
CompareLinear
Free planYes
Free trialNo
Starting priceFrom $10/mo
Editor rating4.5
Ease of useEasy (4/5)
CategoryProject Management
Pricing modelFree 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
  • Free — Free
  • Basic — $10/user/mo
  • Business — $16/user/mo
  • Enterprise — Custom
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, API
IntegrationsDiscord, Figma, GitHub, GitLab, Intercom, Slack, Zapier, Zendesk
Best for
  • 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
Pros
  • Fast, keyboard-driven interface with very little friction
  • Deep GitHub and GitLab integration updates issue status from pull requests
  • Opinionated model of teams, cycles and projects keeps workflows consistent
  • Free plan allows unlimited members
Cons
  • Limited customization: no arbitrary custom fields or bespoke workflows
  • Free plan caps the workspace at 250 issues
  • Reporting is basic; Insights requires the Business plan
  • Built for software teams, so non-engineering use cases feel forced
API accessYes
App marketplaceNo
Calendar viewNo
Custom fieldsNo
Desktop appYes
Gantt & timelineYes
Git integrationYes
Guest & client accessYes
Kanban boardsYes
Mobile appYes
Reporting & dashboardsYes
SSO / SAMLYes
TemplatesNo
Unlimited users on free planYes
WebhooksYes
Workflow automationYes

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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