Linear vs Shortcut (2026): Which Issue Tracker Should Your Team Use?

A factual comparison of Linear and Shortcut covering pricing, features, and migration steps for software teams choosing an issue tracker.

Updated 2026-09 · 2026

Linear

Fast, opinionated issue tracking for software teams

Free / $8 / $14 per user/mouser/month (Basic & Business billed annually)

Strengths

+Extremely fast, keyboard-driven UI
+Clean cycle/sprint planning with automatic rollovers
+Strong Git integration (branch names, PR linking, auto-close)

Weaknesses

-Free plan capped at 250 issues total
-Less flexible custom fields/workflows than competitors
-No built-in time tracking

Best for

Engineering-first teams that want speed and a strict, opinionated workflow

Shortcut

Project management built for software teams, formerly Clubhouse

Free / $8.50 / $12 per user/mouser/month (Team & Business billed annually)

Strengths

+Free plan supports up to 10 users with no issue cap
+Flexible custom fields and workflow states
+Built-in Kanban, Gantt-style Iteration timeline, and docs

Weaknesses

-UI feels less polished/fast than Linear
-Business plan needed for SSO and advanced permissions
-Smaller integration ecosystem than larger PM tools

Best for

Small-to-mid teams that want a generous free tier and more workflow flexibility

Feature Comparison

Feature	Linear	Shortcut
Free plan user limit	Unlimited users, 250 issues	Up to 10 users, unlimited issues
Entry paid tier price	$8/user/mo	$8.50/user/mo
Cycles/Sprints	Built-in Cycles with auto-rollover	Iterations with timeline view
Roadmaps	Native Projects & Roadmap view	Roadmap via Objectives/Epics
Git integration	Deep (branch naming, auto PR linking)	Good (GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket linking)
Custom workflow states	Limited, opinionated	Fully customizable per team
Docs/Wiki	Linear Docs (built-in)	Docs (built-in)
API access	GraphQL API on all plans	REST API on all plans
SSO / SAML	Business plan and up	Business plan and up
Keyboard shortcuts	Extensive, core to UX	Available, less central
Import tools	Jira, GitHub, Asana, CSV	Jira, Trello, Asana, GitHub, CSV

The Verdict

Linear wins on raw speed and polish for engineering-heavy teams that don't mind its opinionated structure, but its free plan's 250-issue cap makes it impractical for most teams long-term without paying. Shortcut's free plan (up to 10 users, no issue cap) is the better deal for small teams on a budget, and its flexible workflows suit teams mixing engineering with product/design. Choose Linear for speed and Git-native workflows; choose Shortcut to stay free longer and get more workflow customization.

How to switch from Linear to Shortcut

Full Linear export guide →

1Export your Linear data: go to Settings > Workspace > Import/Export, download the CSV of issues, and if you need full comment history and attachments, pull it via Linear's GraphQL API as JSON.
2Create a Shortcut workspace and use its built-in importer (Settings > Import) to upload the CSV, mapping Linear's statuses and labels to Shortcut's workflow states.
3Manually recreate any Linear Cycles as Shortcut Iterations and rebuild Projects/Roadmap items as Shortcut Epics and Objectives, since these don't map 1:1 in the import.
4Reconnect your GitHub/GitLab repos in Shortcut's VCS integration settings and re-establish branch-naming conventions and PR auto-linking rules.
5Set up Slack or Zapier integrations in Shortcut to replace any Linear automations (e.g., status-change notifications) that didn't carry over in the import.
6Run both tools in parallel for one sprint, have the team log new issues in Shortcut only, then archive the Linear workspace once everyone has confirmed access and history.

Linear vs Shortcut: common questions

How do I export my data from Linear before switching?+

In Linear, go to Settings > Workspace > Import/Export and use the CSV export for issues, or query the GraphQL API to pull full data including comments and attachments as JSON. CSV export covers titles, descriptions, statuses, and assignees but not full comment threads, so use the API if you need complete history.

What do I lose by moving from Linear to Shortcut?+

You'll lose Linear's automatic cycle rollovers, its tighter Git branch-naming automation, and its faster, keyboard-first UI. Shortcut's workflow customization partly compensates, but expect a slower day-to-day interaction speed.

Is Shortcut's free plan enough for a small team?+

Yes, if your team is 10 or fewer users — Shortcut's free plan has no issue cap, unlike Linear's 250-issue limit on its free tier. It's a solid choice for early-stage teams that want to delay paying as long as possible.

Does Shortcut integrate with the same tools as Linear?+

Shortcut integrates with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Slack, and Zapier, covering most common engineering workflows similarly to Linear. Linear has deeper native Git automation (auto branch naming, PR status sync), so you may need to configure Shortcut's integrations manually to match.

Is Shortcut actually cheaper than Linear over time?+

For teams over 10 users, Shortcut's Team plan ($8.50/user/mo) is close to Linear's Basic plan ($8/user/mo), so the cost difference is small at scale. The real savings come for teams of 10 or fewer, who can stay on Shortcut's free plan instead of hitting Linear's issue cap and being forced to upgrade.