Jira is a comprehensive, enterprise-grade project management tool with extensive customization and integration capabilities, while Linear is a modern, lightweight alternative designed for speed and simplicity with a focus on software development teams. Jira dominates in large organizations needing complex workflows, while Linear excels for lean teams prioritizing efficiency.
Jira vs Linear — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Jira if you need enterprise-scale complexity, work in regulated industries, require deep customization, or manage multiple departments with disparate workflows. Choose Linear if you're a lean software development team that values speed, simplicity, and a modern user experience, or if you want faster onboarding and lower total cost of ownership for small-to-medium teams.
Purpose-built issue tracking and project management platform for software development teams
Modern, lightweight project management tool designed for software development teams emphasizing speed and simplicity.
Structured comparison data for Jira vs Linear with 297 attributes.
Advanced Agile Features (Sprint Velocity Tracking)
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
Time to First Productivity (Learning Curve)
Jira vs Linear — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Jira vs Linear.
Which tool is better for a startup with 15 developers?
Linear is the clear winner for startups. Its generous free tier supports up to 10 team members, 2-4 hour onboarding saves weeks of productivity, and native GitHub/Slack integration streamlines developer workflows. Jira would be overkill and cost $700-1,050/month for 15 seats versus Linear's free-to-$150/month pricing.
Can I use Jira for simple project management outside software development?
Yes, Jira supports marketing, HR, and operations teams, but it's overengineered for simple workflows. You'll spend 30-40 hours configuring custom fields and workflows that Linear's out-of-the-box setup handles in 2 hours. Non-technical teams typically struggle with Jira's complexity.
What are the main reasons enterprises choose Jira over Linear?
Enterprises choose Jira for: (1) compliance/audit requirements via on-premise Server/Data Center editions, (2) 1000+ integrations with legacy systems like SAP and Oracle, (3) advanced workflow automation for multi-stage approval processes, and (4) deep customization for diverse department needs. Linear cannot handle these enterprise requirements.
How do the total costs compare for a 50-person team?
For 50 paid users: Jira costs $350-700/month ($7-14/user) plus $200-500/month for add-ons = $550-1,200/month. Linear costs $500/month (fixed $10/user) with no mandatory add-ons. Over 12 months, Linear saves $600-8,400. However, Jira's cost includes vastly more customization and integrations.
Linear has a cleaner, faster mobile experience with native apps for iOS/Android optimized for quick issue updates. Jira's mobile app is feature-complete but slower and more cluttered. For teams working frequently on mobile, Linear is notably superior; for occasional mobile use, both are adequate.