Linear vs ClickUp
Linear and ClickUp represent two popular approaches to project management. My team has used both for real projects, and we've learned that the "best" tool often depends on your team's working style. Linear scores 9.1/10, but team adoption matters more than features.
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Quick Answer
Linear beats ClickUp for most users. It scores 9.1/10 vs 9/10 and incredibly fast ui (50ms interactions). Choose ClickUp if you need extremely feature-rich.
Linear
WinnerBlazing-fast issue tracking for modern dev teams
Starting from
$8/mo
ClickUp
All-in-one productivity with generous free tier
Starting from
$7/mo
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.1/10 | 9.0/10 |
| Starting Price | $8/mo | $7/mo |
| User Reviews | ||
| Capacity | ||
| Users | Unlimited | Unlimited (free) |
| Boards | ||
| File Storage | Unlimited | 100MB (free) |
| Views & Planning | ||
| Kanban View | ||
| Gantt Chart | ||
| Time Tracking | ||
| Features | ||
| Automations | ||
| Integrations | 50+ | 1000+ |
| Mobile App | ||
| API Access | ||
Pros & Cons Breakdown
Linear
- Incredibly fast UI (50ms interactions)
- Beautiful, modern design
- Real-time collaboration
- Deep GitHub/GitLab integration
- Cycles for sprint planning
- Powerful keyboard shortcuts
- AI-powered semantic search
- Free plan limited to 250 issues
- Less customizable than Jira
- Focused on software teams only
- Fewer integrations than competitors
ClickUp
- Extremely feature-rich
- Generous free plan
- Built-in docs, goals, and chat
- Highly customizable
- Multiple view options
- Competitive pricing
- Can feel cluttered
- Steep learning curve
- Performance can lag
Key Difference
The core difference lies in approach: Linear focuses on incredibly fast ui (50ms interactions), while ClickUp emphasizes extremely feature-rich. Both philosophies have merit depending on your priorities.
Which Should You Choose?
Linear
Choose Linear if you prioritize incredibly fast ui (50ms interactions), want to start with a free tier, need unlimited usage, or value beautiful, modern design.
ClickUp
Choose ClickUp if you prioritize extremely feature-rich, want to start with a free tier, need unlimited usage, or value generous free plan.
Our Verdict
After thorough testing, Linear is our winner with a rating of 9.1/10 compared to ClickUp's 9/10. Linear stands out for its incredibly fast ui (50ms interactions) and beautiful, modern design. While ClickUp is more affordable, Linear's advantages justify the price difference for most users. However, ClickUp remains an excellent choice if extremely feature-rich is your priority. There's no universally "wrong" choice here - both are quality options that serve their target audiences well.
Thinking of Switching?
Switching project management tools affects your whole team. Most tools offer data export, but workflows and automations won't transfer. Plan for a transition period where you might run both systems briefly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Linear better than ClickUp?
Linear scores higher in our testing (9.1/10 vs 9/10). Linear excels at incredibly fast ui (50ms interactions), while ClickUp is better for extremely feature-rich.
Which is cheaper, Linear or ClickUp?
ClickUp is more affordable at $0.00/mo vs $0.00/mo. ClickUp offers NaN% savings.
Linear vs ClickUp: which should I choose?
Choose Linear if you prioritize incredibly fast ui (50ms interactions). Choose ClickUp if you need extremely feature-rich. Both are solid project management options.
What's the main difference between Linear and ClickUp?
The main difference is Linear offers blazing-fast issue tracking for modern dev teams, while ClickUp focuses on all-in-one productivity with generous free tier.