Linear vs Trello: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Linear and Trello side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Trello leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Linear
Issue tracking for software teams
Best for you if:
- • You want extremely fast and responsive
Trello
Organize your projects visually with boards, lists, and cards
Best for you if:
- • You want very easy to use
| At a Glance | Trello | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $10/mo, billed monthly Basic plan | Free plan, paid from $5/mo, billed monthly Standard plan |
Category | Task Management Project Management | Project Management Task Management |
Rating | n/a | 4.1/5 Capterra 4.5 · G2 4.4 · Trustpilot 3.0 37,904 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | 250-issue cap on Free: once you hit 250 active issues, you must upgrade or archive old issues. Growing teams hit this within 2-3 months of real usage | Butler automation on Free (250 runs/mo) depletes fast, a single rule on a busy board with 10 card moves/day burns 300 runs in a month, forcing an upgrade or disabling automations entirely |
Choose Linear or Trello?
Choose Linear if
- You want extremely fast and responsive
- You want beautiful interface
- You work in task management, not project management
Choose Trello if
- You want very easy to use
- You want visual organization
- Budget matters ($5/mo, billed monthly vs $10/mo, billed monthly)
- You work in project management, not task management
In-Depth Analysis
Linear
Issue tracking for software teams
Linear is the fastest, most polished issue tracker available, and its pricing is refreshingly simple.
Watch out
250-issue cap on Free: once you hit 250 active issues, you must upgrade or archive old issues. Growing teams hit this within 2-3 months of real usage
Strengths
- Pro: Extremely fast and responsive
- Pro: Beautiful interface
- Pro: Excellent keyboard shortcuts
- Pro: Good GitHub integration
Weaknesses
- Con: Limited customization vs Jira
- Con: Focused on software teams only
- Con: No time tracking built-in
Key features
Trello
Organize your projects visually with boards, lists, and cards
Trello remains the simplest kanban board on the market, and its pricing reflects that simplicity.
Watch out
Butler automation on Free (250 runs/mo) depletes fast, a single rule on a busy board with 10 card moves/day burns 300 runs in a month, forcing an upgrade or disabling automations entirely
Strengths
- Pro: Very easy to use
- Pro: Visual organization
- Pro: Good free tier
- Pro: Many integrations
Weaknesses
- Con: Limited for complex projects
- Con: Basic reporting
- Con: Can get cluttered
Key features
Plans and prices: Linear vs Trello
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Linear |
| linear.app/pricingread Oct 3, 2026 |
| Trello |
| trello.com/pricingread Oct 14, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Linear pricing and Trello pricing.
Key Takeaways
Linear
- Choose if you want issue tracking for software teams
Trello
- Lower entry price: $5/mo, billed monthly vs $10/mo, billed monthly
What the data shows
On the data below, Trello leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Trello has a published user rating (4.1/5 from 37,904 reviews); Linear has none we can show.
- Trello has the lower entry price: $5/mo, billed monthly (Standard) against $10/mo, billed monthly (Basic) for Linear.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Linear and Trello compare in 2026?
On the data below, Trello leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Trello has a published user rating (4.1/5 from 37,904 reviews); Linear has none we can show. Trello has the lower entry price: $5/mo, billed monthly (Standard) against $10/mo, billed monthly (Basic) for Linear. Both have a free plan.
What are Linear and Trello used for?
Linear: Issue tracking for software teams. Trello: Organize your projects visually with boards, lists, and cards.
What does Linear cost vs Trello?
Linear's cheapest paid plan is Basic at $10/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Trello's cheapest paid plan is Standard at $5/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 14, 2026.
What's the main difference between Linear and Trello?
Linear's main strength: extremely fast and responsive. Trello's main strength: very easy to use.