ClickUp vs Linear: Which One Fits Your Solo Dev Stack?
Free tier limits, real costs for 1-10 users, and honest "not for" warnings. The Solo Dev decision guide for ClickUp vs Linear.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Linear edges ahead with a 4.9/5 rating. However, the best choice depends on your team size, budget, and workflow needs. Read on for the full breakdown.
💰 Cost by Team Size
| Team Size | ClickUp | Linear |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 user) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Small (5 users) | $35/mo | $40/mo |
| Growing (10 users) | $70/mo | $80/mo |
| Free Tier | ✅ 100MB storage. Unlimited tasks. Unlimited members. Limited integrations. No Gantt charts. | ✅ Unlimited members. 2 teams max. 250 issues. Slack and GitHub integration. AI agents included. |
Pricing Plans
| Plan | ClickUp | Linear |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Unlimited | $7/mo | $8/mo |
| Business | $12/mo | $14/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ClickUp | Linear |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| AI Features | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Pros & Cons
ClickUp
✅ Pros
- Most feature-rich PM tool — tasks, docs, whiteboards, goals in one app
- Free tier includes unlimited tasks AND unlimited members
- Built-in time tracking (no add-ons needed)
- ClickUp Brain AI for task summaries and writing
- Highly customizable views (List, Board, Gantt, Calendar)
❌ Cons
- Can feel overwhelming — too many features for simple needs
- Performance can be sluggish with large workspaces
- Steep learning curve to configure properly
- Mobile app is less polished than desktop
- Free tier has only 100MB storage
Linear
✅ Pros
- Blazingly fast UI — feels instant even with thousands of issues
- Keyboard-first design loved by developers
- Built-in AI agents for auto-triage and workflows
- Excellent GitHub and Slack integration out of the box
- Free tier includes unlimited members (rare)
❌ Cons
- Free tier capped at 250 issues — fills up fast for active projects
- Limited document/wiki features — need Notion or similar alongside
- No built-in time tracking
- Not ideal for non-engineering teams (marketing, ops)
- Fewer integrations than ClickUp or Monday
Who Should Use What?
✅ Choose ClickUp if...
- You are a teams wanting one tool to replace notion + jira + trello
- You are a project managers who need gantt charts and time tracking
- You are a budget-conscious teams (free tier is generous)
🚫 Skip if...
- Solo devs who want simplicity (Linear is better)
- Teams that value speed over features
- Minimalists who find feature bloat distracting
✅ Choose Linear if...
- You are a software engineering teams (2-20 people)
- You are a solo devs who want a fast, opinionated tracker
- You are a teams using github-centric workflows
🚫 Skip if...
- Non-technical teams (marketing, HR)
- Teams needing built-in docs/wiki
- Large organizations needing extensive customization
🏆 Our Verdict
Both ClickUp (4.6/5) and Linear (4.9/5) are excellent tools in their category. Linear takes a slight edge overall, but the best choice ultimately depends on your team's specific needs, budget, and existing tool ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ClickUp better than Linear?
It depends on your needs. ClickUp excels in some areas while Linear has its own strengths. Read our full comparison above to see which tool fits your specific requirements.
How does ClickUp pricing compare to Linear?
ClickUp starts at Free / $7/mo, while Linear starts at Free / $8/mo. Both offer different value propositions — check our pricing comparison section for a detailed breakdown.
Can I migrate from ClickUp to Linear?
Yes, most B2B tools offer data import/export features. Linear typically provides migration guides and sometimes even dedicated support for switching from ClickUp.
Which is easier to use, ClickUp or Linear?
Ease of use depends on your team's experience and workflow preferences. We evaluated both tools on usability — see our feature comparison scores above for details.
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