Warning: Linear is built for software development teams
Linear is amazing for dev teams shipping software, but if you need time tracking, CRM, or aren't building code, it's not built for you. It does one thing perfectly - everything else is missing.
Overview
Linear has become the gold standard for issue tracking among modern software teams. Created by former Uber engineers frustrated with Jira's complexity, it's built on the principle that software tools should be fast and beautiful. Linear is known for its sub-100ms response times, extensive keyboard shortcuts, and opinionated workflow (Backlog → Todo → In Progress → Done). It integrates deeply with GitHub/GitLab, automatically linking issues to PRs and updating statuses. While perfect for dev teams shipping software, it completely lacks features like time tracking, CRM, or general business management - making it narrow in scope.
Pricing
Best for: Software development teams
The Good
- Incredibly fast and responsive - best-in-class performance
- Beautiful, minimal, distraction-free design
- Best keyboard shortcuts in any PM tool
- Deep GitHub/GitLab integration with auto-close
- Cycles and roadmaps built-in
- Opinionated workflow reduces decisions
- Loved by developers and designers
The Bad
- Focused only on dev teams - limited scope
- No time tracking whatsoever
- No CRM or financial features
- No habits or personal goals
- Overkill for non-dev solopreneurs
- Limited views compared to competitors
- No native docs or wikis
Best For
Software development teams
Linear is amazing for dev teams shipping software, but if you need time tracking, CRM, or aren't building code, it's not built for you. It does one thing perfectly - everything else is missing.
Key Features
- 01Sub-100ms UI performance
- 02Comprehensive keyboard shortcuts (cmd+k everything)
- 03Deep GitHub/GitLab integration with auto-linking
- 04Cycles for sprint planning
- 05Roadmaps for product planning
- 06Triage mode for inbox zero
- 07Public roadmap feature for transparency
Integrations
Use Cases
- Software Development
- Product Teams
- Design Teams
Not sure if Linear is right for you?
See how it compares to an all-in-one solution.