Linear
Smartsheet
| Feature | Linear | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $8/mo | Free / from $9/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | software-teams, startups, product-teams, engineering-teams | enterprise, pmo-teams, operations, construction, it-teams |
| Founded | 2019 | 2005 |
| Issues | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cycles | ✓ | ✗ |
| Roadmaps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Projects | ✓ | ✗ |
| Views | ✓ | ✗ |
| Git Integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Grid View | ✗ | ✓ |
| Gantt | ✗ | ✓ |
| Card View | ✗ | ✓ |
| Automations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Reports | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dashboards | ✗ | ✓ |
| Resource Management | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Linear Pros
- Incredibly fast
- Beautiful design
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Git integration
✗ Linear Cons
- Limited customization
- Opinionated workflow
- No time tracking
✓ Smartsheet Pros
- Familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve
- Powerful automation with no-code workflows
- Enterprise-grade permissions and governance
- Excellent for resource management at scale
✗ Smartsheet Cons
- Can feel overwhelming for simple projects
- Expensive at enterprise scale
- Mobile experience is limited
The Verdict
Linear is built for software teams and startups, with a focus on issues and cycles. Smartsheet targets enterprise and pmo teams and leads with grid-view and gantt.
Pricing is close: Linear starts at $8/mo versus $9/mo for Smartsheet — not a deciding factor on its own.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Linear edges out on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.2). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Smartsheet offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Linear takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Linear has a slight overall edge — but if familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve matters most to you, Smartsheet may still be the right call.