Linear
Trello
| Feature | Linear | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $8/mo | Free / from $5/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | software-teams, startups, product-teams, engineering-teams | small-teams, individuals, beginners, simple-projects |
| Founded | 2019 | 2011 |
| Issues | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cycles | ✓ | ✗ |
| Roadmaps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Projects | ✓ | ✗ |
| Views | ✓ | ✗ |
| Git Integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Kanban | ✗ | ✓ |
| Calendar | ✗ | ✓ |
| Power Ups | ✗ | ✓ |
| Automations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Templates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Due Dates And Labels | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Linear Pros
- Incredibly fast
- Beautiful design
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Git integration
✗ Linear Cons
- Limited customization
- Opinionated workflow
- No time tracking
✓ Trello Pros
- Dead simple to use
- Great free plan
- Power-Ups ecosystem
- Mobile friendly
✗ Trello Cons
- Limited views
- Not great for complex projects
- Basic reporting
The Verdict
Linear is built for software teams and startups, with a focus on issues and cycles. Trello targets small teams and individuals and leads with kanban and calendar.
Pricing is close: Trello starts at $5/mo versus $8/mo for Linear — 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 4.3). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Bottom line: Linear has a slight overall edge — but if dead simple to use matters most to you, Trello may still be the right call.
