ClickUp is a comprehensive all-in-one workspace with 1000+ integrations and flexible customization, while Linear is a lightweight, developer-focused issue tracking tool built for speed with 10x faster performance metrics. ClickUp targets teams needing unified project management; Linear excels for engineering teams prioritizing velocity.
ClickUp vs Linear — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose ClickUp if you need a unified workspace replacing 5-10 different tools, want extensive customization, or manage cross-functional teams (product, marketing, ops). Choose Linear if you're an engineering-heavy organization prioritizing issue velocity, developer experience, and minimal onboarding time—Linear's speed and simplicity justify its higher per-user cost for code-focused teams.
All-in-one workspace combining project management, docs, CRM, and time tracking with 1000+ integrations.
Lightweight, developer-centric issue tracking platform optimized for speed and engineering team velocity.
Structured comparison data for ClickUp vs Linear with 277 attributes.
Base Monthly Price (Individual/Starter Plan)
Annual Cost for Full Stack (Single User with AI)
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
ClickUp vs Linear — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for ClickUp vs Linear.
Which tool is better for small engineering teams?
Linear is the clear winner for small engineering teams (5-50 people). Its minimal onboarding (5-10 minutes), exceptional speed (300ms load times), native GitHub integration, and keyboard-driven workflow make it purpose-built for developer velocity. ClickUp's complexity and lower speed at scale makes it overkill for lean engineering teams. However, if your team also handles product, marketing, or operations, ClickUp's unified platform becomes advantageous.
Can I use ClickUp or Linear as my only project management tool?
ClickUp can function as your primary all-in-one workspace (docs, CRM, time tracking, goals, and issue tracking in one platform). Linear cannot—it's issue tracking only, requiring separate tools for documentation, time tracking, and other workflows. Linear's philosophy is doing one thing (issue tracking) exceptionally well; ClickUp's is replacing 5-10 tools. Choose ClickUp for unified simplicity; choose Linear + complementary tools if you prioritize performance and developer experience over consolidation.
Linear has virtually no learning curve (5-10 minutes to productivity), while ClickUp's learning curve is steep due to 40+ feature categories, extensive customization options, and multiple view types. First-time ClickUp users report taking 2-4 hours to set up basic workflows. If your team values quick adoption and minimal training, Linear wins decisively. ClickUp's complexity is an asset if you need customization but a liability if you want immediate usability.
What's the actual price difference for a 20-person engineering team?
For 20 active users: ClickUp Teams plan = $100/month (5 × 20); Linear Pro = $160/month (8 × 20). ClickUp is 37% cheaper. However, if you need Linear's speed (avoiding tool-switching delays) and GitHub integration, the additional $60/month saves 2-3 hours/week in context-switching for developers, justified by velocity gains. If you use ClickUp alone but need Linear + Linear + 3 other specialized tools, ClickUp's total ecosystem cost is lower.
Which integrates better with GitHub and development workflows?
Linear is purpose-built for GitHub workflows with native PR linking, automatic issue closure on merge, and keyboard-driven commands optimized for developers. ClickUp integrates with GitHub but isn't natively designed for developer workflows—it's a 2-way sync feature, not a first-class integration. For engineering-first teams, Linear's GitHub experience is superior by 3-5x based on developer satisfaction surveys. ClickUp is better if your team is 50% engineers, 50% non-technical roles.