Linear vs Jira vs GitHub Projects Pricing 2026

Quick Pricing Overview

Detailed Pricing Breakdown

Linear Pricing

Linear uses a straightforward per-user-per-month model with unlimited projects and features:

• Free: 1 user, unlimited projects, basic features
• Pro: $5/user/month (billed annually at $60/user, ~$5/mo effective rate) — unlimited users, all features
• Scale: $10/user/month — for teams 20+ needing admin controls and SSO

Hidden costs: None. Linear is transparent per-user. No per-project fees, no seat minimums.

Jira Cloud Pricing

Jira uses per-user-per-month for Cloud with a free tier that covers small teams:

• Free: Up to 10 users, 2GB storage, basic workflows
• Standard: $7/user/month — 10+ users, advanced workflows, 250GB storage
• Premium: $14/user/month — automation, custom fields, analytics
• Enterprise: Custom pricing — 100+ users, advanced security

Hidden costs: Storage overages ($0.25/GB beyond plan limit). Marketplace apps (Tempo, Comala, etc.) add $10-200+/mo. Jira Automation can incur additional charges on Premium.

GitHub Projects Pricing

GitHub Projects is included free with any GitHub plan. You only pay for GitHub users:

• Free: Unlimited projects on public repos, basic columns/cards
• Pro: $4/user/month — private repos with Projects, custom fields
• Team: $21/user/month (org) — includes code scanning, security advisories

Hidden costs: GitHub Projects is free, but you pay for GitHub seats (often already budgeted). No overage fees. Works best if you already use GitHub for code hosting.

Real Cost Models for Different Team Sizes

5-Person Team (early-stage startup)

Verdict for 5-person teams: GitHub Projects is free if you already use GitHub; Linear Pro is $300/yr if you don't. Jira Free if you stay under 10 users.

10-Person Team (growing SaaS/agency)

Verdict for 10-person teams: Linear is 20% cheaper than Jira. GitHub Projects + Pro is cheapest if you already host code on GitHub.

20-Person Team (scale-up/enterprise)

Verdict for 20-person teams: Linear is 3x cheaper than Jira Premium. Even Jira Standard + Tempo costs more than Linear Pro.

Feature Comparison

Key Insights: When to Choose Each Tool

Choose Linear If:

Choose Jira If:

Choose GitHub Projects If:

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

Linear Gotchas:

• No time tracking: If you need time estimates, you'll need a separate tool (Tempo, Toggl). Cost: $10-50/mo.
• No mobile app: Mobile users need web-only access. Okay for most teams, but a gap vs Jira/GitHub.
• Slack integration: Free, but limited. Full workflow automation requires GitHub/GitLab integration.

Jira Gotchas:

• Marketplace apps are expensive: Tempo (time tracking) $15-50/mo, Comala (approval workflows) $10-50/mo. Easy to spend $100+/mo on essential add-ons.
• Automation rules can cost: Premium+ plan automation can incur per-rule charges on some plans.
• Storage overages: Beyond 250GB (Standard), you pay $0.25/GB. Teams with 10+ years of issue history can hit $50-100/mo in overages.
• Server EOL: Jira Server is end-of-life. Must migrate to Cloud (same pricing) or Data Center ($15K+ setup). Existing customers should budget migration time.
• Per-seat billing scales fast: Jira at $7-14/user means a 50-person team is $3,500-7,000/mo without apps. This is where many teams switch to Linear.

GitHub Projects Gotchas:

• Not a replacement for Jira: GitHub Projects is good for simple kanban workflows. If you need complex custom fields, multiple workflows, or time tracking, it's not enough.
• You pay for GitHub seats: Projects are free, but you still pay GitHub's per-user cost ($4-21/user/mo). If you have 100 developers, that's $400-2,100/mo just for GitHub.
• Limited roadmap features: No built-in roadmap view like Linear. You'd use GitHub Milestones or a separate tool.
• No analytics/reporting: GitHub Projects doesn't have burndown charts, velocity reports, or cycle time analytics. Teams needing metrics need Jira or a separate tool.

Cost Optimization Tips

For Linear Teams:

• Start with Pro ($5/user). Scale plan ($10/user) is only needed if you have 20+ people and need SSO.
• Use Linear's native Slack integration instead of paying for a separate automation tool.
• For time tracking, use lightweight tools like Toggl ($7/mo) instead of heavy Jira add-ons.

For Jira Teams:

• Use the free tier if you're under 10 users. It's genuinely sufficient for small teams.
• Avoid marketplace apps that overlap with native features. Choose 1-2 essential add-ons, not 5.
• If you're paying $300+/mo in Jira + apps, evaluate switching to Linear. You'll save 40-50%.
• Don't buy Jira Data Center unless you have 500+ users. Cloud is 90% as good for 10% the cost.

For GitHub Projects Teams:

• If you need advanced issue tracking, upgrade to Linear or Jira. Don't force GitHub Projects to do complex workflows.
• If you're already on GitHub Team ($21/user), the marginal cost for Projects is $0. Use it.
• For small teams (under 10 people), GitHub Projects + Pro ($4/user) is unbeatable at $40/mo.

Migration Considerations

If you're thinking about switching tools, consider:

• Data export: Linear and Jira both support CSV/JSON exports. GitHub doesn't have a built-in export, but you can use their API.
• Integration reconfig: Moving from Jira to Linear requires reconfiguring Slack, GitHub, and webhook integrations. Budget 1-2 hours.
• Team training: Linear and GitHub Projects have a much gentler learning curve than Jira. Budget 1-2 days for team onboarding.
• Workflow mapping: If you have custom Jira workflows, map them to Linear or GitHub before switching. Some complex Jira workflows don't have direct equivalents.
• Historical data: It's usually not worth migrating 5+ years of old issues. Archive in Jira, start fresh in Linear/GitHub.

Related Pricing Guides

Want more tool comparisons? Check out these posts:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Linear cheaper than Jira?

Yes, for most team sizes 10+. Linear Pro ($5/user) vs Jira Standard ($7/user) — Linear is 30% cheaper. Once you add Jira marketplace apps (Tempo, Comala), Jira easily becomes 2-3x more expensive.

Q: Can I use GitHub Projects for a large team?

GitHub Projects can work for teams under 50 people if you don't need advanced reporting or complex workflows. For larger teams or complex processes, use Linear or Jira. GitHub Projects is best for engineering-only teams who want simplicity.

Q: Do I have to pay for all three tools?

No. These are mutually exclusive. Pick one based on your team size and needs. Most teams use only one issue tracker.

Q: What if I'm already using Jira?

Evaluate switching to Linear if: (1) You're paying $300+/mo in Jira+apps, (2) Your team is 20-100 people, or (3) Your workflows are simple enough that Jira is overkill. Many teams find Linear's $100-500/mo cost saves them money vs $1,000+/mo in Jira+Tempo+Comala.

Q: Is GitHub Projects worth it if we already use GitHub?

Yes. If you're already paying for GitHub (which most dev teams do), Projects is free to use. It's worth it for small engineering-only teams. For product/design involvement, you'll outgrow it quickly.

Q: Which tool has the best integration with Slack?

Linear and GitHub both have excellent Slack integrations (free). Jira's Slack integration is good but often requires marketplace apps for advanced workflows.

Q: Can I use multiple tools at once?

Avoid it. Pick one issue tracker. Using Jira + Linear + GitHub Projects creates confusion, duplication, and wasted time. Pick one, master it, stick with it.