Linear costs $10/mo.
These cost $0.
4 free alternatives to Linear, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Linear vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $10/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plane | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 56k | Linear vs Plane → |
| Huly | open source | EPL-2.0 | Self-host | ★ 27k | Linear vs Huly → |
| OpenProject | open source | GPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 16k | Linear vs OpenProject → |
| Leantime | open source | AGPL-3.0+ | Local or hosted | ★ 11k | Linear vs Leantime → |
The picks
4 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
Plane
open sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted56kaug 2026Linear with more knobs and a server you now own.
The catch vs LinearPlane is the closest feature match, but it remains slower and more configurable than Linear, with less polished keyboard navigation, sync behavior, triage, and integration quality.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Hosted signup, or the official Docker/Kubernetes self-hosting stack
- setup
- Self-hosting is a multi-service deployment: Docker or Kubernetes plus PostgreSQL, RabbitMQ, object storage, a domain, TLS, and usually email configuration.
- your data
- Self-hosted Plane keeps workspaces, projects, work items, users, comments, and settings in PostgreSQL; attachments, images, and exports live in MinIO or another S3-compatible object store, with RabbitMQ and optional OpenSearch alongside them. Plane Cloud stores the equivalent data in Plane's infrastructure.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 02
Huly
open sourceEPL-2.0Self-host27kaug 2026Issues, docs and chat in one stack; the hosted service is closing, so this means self-hosting.
The catch vs LinearHuly is a much broader and heavier workspace that now requires self-hosting, and it does not match Linear's speed, keyboard discipline, issue triage, or mature integration reliability.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Run the official Huly Selfhost Docker Compose stack on Linux, using its setup script plus Nginx/TLS for production
- setup
- The first obstacle is the production-sized stack: Linux, Docker Compose, Nginx and certificates plus CockroachDB, Redpanda, Elasticsearch, storage volumes, backups, and enough RAM.
- your data
- The self-host stack uses CockroachDB for account/workspace data, Elasticsearch for search indexes, Redpanda for event streams, and persistent volumes for uploaded files; optional services may add MongoDB. The public hosted Huly service announced its shutdown, so new use means self-hosting.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 03
OpenProject
open sourceGPL-3.0Local or hosted16kaug 2026Linear's sober older cousin, complete with Gantt charts.
The catch vs LinearOpenProject replaces Linear's instant, opinionated workflow with a dense enterprise project suite whose menus, configuration, and administration slow down small product teams.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Hosted Enterprise Cloud signup, or Community Edition via Docker Compose/all-in-one Docker or supported Linux packages
- setup
- The free Community Edition needs a Linux server; the recommended Docker setup still requires persistent database/file volumes, a hostname, TLS, and mail configuration.
- your data
- Self-hosted application data lives in PostgreSQL; uploaded attachments live on a persistent filesystem volume or configured S3-compatible object storage, while configuration and any linked repositories must be backed up separately. Cloud data lives in OpenProject's hosted infrastructure.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 04
Leantime
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Local or hosted11kaug 2026Project planning for people who do not collect project-management jargon.
The catch vs LinearLeantime is approachable for planning, but it is not keyboard-first and its issue triage, cycles, product roadmaps, and developer integrations are much less refined than Linear's.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Paid hosted signup, or the free open-source edition via Docker Compose/official image or a PHP release archive plus MySQL/MariaDB
- setup
- There is no longer a permanent free hosted tier: the free route means operating PHP, MySQL/MariaDB, persistent storage, backups, and a web-facing Docker or LAMP stack.
- your data
- Self-hosted project data lives in MySQL 8 or MariaDB 10.6+, while uploaded files use the local filesystem or configured S3-compatible storage; hosted-account data lives in Leantime's cloud.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Linear open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Linear?+
The top free alternative to Linear is Plane (open source, AGPL-3.0). Linear with more knobs and a server you now own. Other popular Linear replacements include Huly, OpenProject, Leantime.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Linear?+
Yes. Of the 4 free alternatives to Linear, 4 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Plane (AGPL-3.0), Huly (EPL-2.0), OpenProject (GPL-3.0), Leantime (AGPL-3.0+).
How much does switching from Linear to a free alternative save?+
Linear starts at $10/month per seat ($120/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Plane saves $600 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Linear clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Linear is KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no). The object model is small: issues, states, labels, cycles, projects. A keyboard-first single-player tracker with a board, cycles, and one-way GitHub sync is a weekend build. What does not survive the copy is the sync engine, real-time multiplayer, and the integration surface (GitHub two-way, Slack, Figma, Sentry) that make Linear the place a team actually agrees on what is being built.
What is the catch when switching from Linear to Plane?+
Plane is the closest feature match, but it remains slower and more configurable than Linear, with less polished keyboard navigation, sync behavior, triage, and integration quality.
