Linear is a purpose-built issue tracking and project management tool for software engineering teams, while Trello is a flexible visual task management platform designed for broader audiences. Linear excels at developer workflows with advanced features like issue hierarchies and automation, whereas Trello prioritizes simplicity and ease of adoption for non-technical teams.
Linear vs Trello — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Linear if you lead a software development team that needs robust issue tracking, sprint planning, automation, and hierarchical project structures. Choose Trello if you need a lightweight, intuitive task board for general teams, non-technical workflows, or rapid setup without extensive configuration.
Modern, lightweight project management tool designed for software development teams emphasizing speed and simplicity.
Visual, card-based task management platform enabling teams to organize work using customizable boards.
Structured comparison data for Linear vs Trello with 213 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
Time to First Productivity (Learning Curve)
Monthly Cost (Single User, Standard Plan)
Professional Plan Price (Per User/Month)
Linear vs Trello — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Linear vs Trello.
Which is better for software development teams?
Linear is purpose-built for software engineering workflows with native sprint planning, cycle management, and issue hierarchies. Trello can work for smaller dev teams but lacks specialized features like burndown charts and complex dependency tracking. Linear wins for teams practicing agile or managing large codebases.
Can I use Trello for software project management?
Yes, Trello can handle basic software projects with Power-Ups like Burndown for Trello or Custom Fields, but it requires manual workarounds for features Linear provides natively. It's adequate for 2-5 person dev teams but becomes cumbersome at scale with 10+ developers.
Can Linear replace Trello or vice versa?
Linear can replace Trello for engineering teams but is overkill for simple task management. Trello cannot effectively replace Linear for complex software projects requiring hierarchical planning and sprint management. Choose based on your team's specific needs, not as a one-size-fits-all solution.
What's the total cost difference for a 10-person team?
Linear costs $100/month (10 users × $10), while Trello's Standard plan costs $50/month (10 users × $5). Over a year, Linear is $600 more expensive, but for engineering teams, the specialized features often justify the cost difference.
Yes, Linear has a steeper learning curve because it's designed for developers and includes advanced concepts like issue cycles, epics, and workflow automation. Trello's drag-and-drop interface is immediately intuitive, making it suitable for non-technical users and rapid adoption.