Linear vs Jira: Which Is Better for Software Teams? (2026)

Linear is the fast, opinionated issue tracker loved by startups. Jira is the enterprise-grade project management giant. This breakdown helps software teams pick the right tool for their workflow in 2026.

Best for Startups & Dev Teams

Linear

$8.00 /mo

★★★★½ 4.7/5

Sub-100ms interface with keyboard-first design
Cycles (sprint equivalent) with automatic progress
Git integration with auto-linked PRs and commits

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Best for Enterprise & Compliance

Jira

$8.00 /mo

★★★★☆ 4.3/5

Scrum and Kanban boards with sprint planning
Advanced reporting: burndown, velocity, control charts
Workflow automation with no-code rule builder

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Feature	Best for Startups & Dev Teams Linear	Best for Enterprise & Compliance Jira
Price	$8.00	$8.00
Rating	★★★★½	★★★★☆
Sub-100ms interface with keyboard-first design	✓	✗
Cycles (sprint equivalent) with automatic progress	✓	✗
Git integration with auto-linked PRs and commits	✓	✗
Project milestones and roadmap view	✓	✗
Triage workflow for incoming issues	✓	✗
Linear API and webhooks	✓	✗
Slack, Figma, and GitHub integrations	✓	✗
Scrum and Kanban boards with sprint planning	✗	✓
Advanced reporting: burndown, velocity, control charts	✗	✓
Workflow automation with no-code rule builder	✗	✓
3,000+ marketplace apps and integrations	✗	✓
Roadmaps with dependency mapping (Advanced plan)	✗	✓
Deep Confluence, Bitbucket, and Atlassian suite integration	✗	✓
Enterprise-grade permissions and audit logs	✗	✓
Pros	Fastest issue tracker UI on the market Opinionated defaults reduce setup time Developers love the keyboard shortcuts Clean roadmap and milestone views Free plan is genuinely useful for small teams	Unmatched customization for complex workflows Best-in-class reporting for Scrum teams Huge marketplace for any integration need Enterprise compliance and security features Scales to tens of thousands of users
Cons	Limited reporting and analytics depth No native time tracking Less flexible for non-engineering workflows Smaller integration ecosystem than Jira	Interface is slow and cluttered compared to Linear Configuration overhead is significant Free plan limited to 10 users Can feel over-engineered for small teams
Get Started	View Deal →	View Deal →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Linear cheaper than Jira?

Both Linear and Jira start at $8/user/month on paid plans billed annually. However, Jira's free plan is capped at 10 users while Linear's free plan supports up to 250 members, making Linear significantly more accessible for small teams without budget.

Can Linear replace Jira for enterprise teams?

Linear is increasingly used by teams of 100-500 engineers, but it lacks Jira's enterprise audit logging, advanced permission schemes, and compliance certifications (SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 at the enterprise tier). Large regulated organizations should evaluate Jira's enterprise plan.

Which is easier to set up: Linear or Jira?

Linear is dramatically easier to set up. A team can be productive within 30 minutes. Jira often requires dedicated administrator time to configure workflows, permission schemes, and screen schemes before it feels usable.

Does Linear integrate with GitHub and GitLab?

Yes. Linear has native, deep integrations with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket. Pull requests auto-link to issues, branches can be named from issues directly, and completed PRs can auto-close issues.

Is Jira still worth it in 2026?

Jira remains worth it for teams already invested in the Atlassian ecosystem (Confluence, Bitbucket, Atlassian Access) or organizations with strict enterprise compliance requirements. For greenfield teams, the decision is increasingly difficult to justify over faster alternatives like Linear or even GitHub Issues.

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