Figma
Linear
| Feature | Figma | Linear |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $15/mo | Free / from $8/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 |
| Best For | designers, design-teams, product-teams, developers | developers, engineering-teams, startups |
| Founded | 2012 | 2019 |
| Vector Editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Prototyping | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dev Mode | ✓ | ✗ |
| Plugins | ✓ | ✗ |
| Components | ✓ | ✗ |
| Auto Layout | ✓ | ✗ |
| Issues | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cycles | ✗ | ✓ |
| Roadmaps | ✗ | ✓ |
| Projects | ✗ | ✓ |
| Git Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Figma Pros
- Real-time collaboration
- Free for students
- Huge plugin ecosystem
- Dev handoff
✗ Figma Cons
- Needs internet
- Can be slow with large files
- Learning curve
✓ Linear Pros
- Blazing fast
- Beautiful UI
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Git integration
✗ Linear Cons
- Dev-focused only
- Limited customization
- No docs feature
The Verdict
Figma is best for designers and design-teams who need real-time collaboration. Linear is ideal for developers and engineering-teams looking for blazing fast. Both tools offer free plans, so try each to see which fits your workflow.