Linear is a specialized issue tracking and product development tool with real-time collaboration and developer-focused workflows, while Basecamp is a general-purpose project management and team communication platform emphasizing simplicity and all-in-one functionality. Linear excels for engineering teams managing complex workflows, whereas Basecamp suits small-to-medium teams preferring an integrated communication hub.
Basecamp vs Linear — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Basecamp if you run a non-technical team or small business that values simplicity, all-in-one communication, and a flat-rate pricing model without worrying about per-seat costs. Choose Linear if you're an engineering or product team needing advanced issue tracking, powerful API integrations, GitHub/GitLab workflows, and real-time collaboration built specifically for modern development practices.
All-in-one project management and team communication platform with simple, visual workflows.
Developer-first issue tracking and product management platform with powerful automation and GitHub integration.
Structured comparison data for Basecamp vs Linear with 186 attributes.
Monthly Cost per User (Annual Commitment)
Max Database Items Before Performance Degradation
Typical Grade Level Introduction (US Education)
Computational Complexity for Standard Operations
Number of Independent Variables in Standard Equation
Practical Applications in Modern Technology
Intersection Outcomes with Same Type Objects
Basecamp vs Linear — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Basecamp vs Linear.
Which is better for a remote engineering team?
Linear is better for engineering teams because it offers native GitHub/GitLab integration, real-time collaboration with live cursors, and developer-optimized workflows. Basecamp works for remote teams doing general project management, but lacks the specialized development features engineers need.
How do the pricing models compare for growing teams?
Basecamp's $99/month flat rate is cheaper for teams under 15 people, but becomes expensive relative to Linear as teams grow beyond 20 people (where Linear's per-user model becomes more economical). Linear scales better for large organizations. Neither offers volume discounts.
Can I use Basecamp for GitHub issue tracking?
Basecamp has no native GitHub integration—only basic webhooks. You'd need third-party tools like Zapier to create manual workflows. Linear integrates bidirectionally with GitHub natively, automatically creating issues from commits and syncing pull requests.
Basecamp's mobile app offers offline access to project data and full functionality, while Linear's mobile app requires online connection. For teams working offline or on poor connections, Basecamp is superior; otherwise, feature parity is similar.
Is Basecamp or Linear better for non-technical teams?
Basecamp is significantly better for non-technical teams due to its simpler UI, integrated communication tools, and faster onboarding (2-3 hours vs 4-6+ hours). Linear is specifically designed for developers and engineers, making it harder for general business users to adopt.