3 open source alternatives to Linear
Streamlined issue tracking built for software teams. Here are the open source projects real teams use instead — ranked by fit, with honest pros and cons for each.
What people don't love about Linear
- Opinionated — if Linear's model doesn't fit, there's friction.
- Cloud-only — no self-host option at any price.
- Minimal customization compared to Jira.
Current Linear pricing (for reference): Free up to 10 users; Standard from $8/user/month.
Quick comparison
| Alternative | Best for | License | Self-host | Hosted cloud? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Plane Open source JIRA alternative with cycles and modules. |
The closest drop-in for Linear's modern issue-tracking feel. | AGPL-3.0 | ★★★☆☆ | Yes |
|
Taiga Agile project management with Scrum and Kanban. |
Scrum-first teams that want a focused agile workflow. | Mozilla-2.0 | ★★★☆☆ | Yes |
|
OpenProject Enterprise-ready open source project management. |
Regulated teams needing audit trails and compliance. | GPL-3.0 | ★★★☆☆ | Yes |
1. Plane — The closest drop-in for Linear's modern issue-tracking feel.
Open source JIRA alternative with cycles and modules.
Strengths
- Modern UI inspired by Linear/Jira.
- Cycles, modules, and views.
- Active community and rapid updates.
Weaknesses
- Still adding features at pace — occasional rough edges.
- Self-hosted setup involves several services.
- Fewer integrations than mature incumbents.
2. Taiga — Scrum-first teams that want a focused agile workflow.
Agile project management with Scrum and Kanban.
Strengths
- Dedicated Scrum and Kanban flows.
- Clean, focused UI.
- Free cloud tier available.
Weaknesses
- Self-hosting is multi-service.
- Smaller integration ecosystem than Jira.
- Reporting features are lighter.
3. OpenProject — Regulated teams needing audit trails and compliance.
Enterprise-ready open source project management.
Strengths
- Strong Gantt, roadmaps, and budget features.
- BIM (Building Information Modeling) for construction industry.
- Active enterprise adoption.
Weaknesses
- Community edition lacks some premium features.
- Setup has more moving parts than lightweight tools.
- UI density can intimidate newcomers.
OpenProject homepage · Source on GitHub · Linear vs OpenProject →
Not what you're looking for?
Browse other tools in Project Management & Kanban, or check out open source projects by category on the full category index.
Other SaaS in Project Management & Kanban
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