Plane vs Shortcut: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Plane and Shortcut comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Plane
Open-source project management
Best for you if:
- • Plane is an open-source project management tool for product teams
- • It provides issue tracking, cycles, and roadmaps with simplicity
Shortcut
Project management for software teams
Best for you if:
- • Project management platform purpose-built for software teams with boards, sprints, roadmaps, and docs in one workspace
- • Auto-syncs with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket so stories update as code ships
| At a Glance |  Plane |  Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $8/moPro | $8.5/moTeam |
Best For | Project Management | Project Management |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Plane or Shortcut?
Choose Plane if
Open-source project management
- Open source
- Self-hostable
- Modern UI
- Budget matters ($8/mo vs $8.5/mo)
Choose Shortcut if
Project management for software teams
- Fast and responsive UI with extensive keyboard shortcuts
- Deep VCS integration auto-updates stories from Git activity
- Free tier supports up to 10 users with core features
| Feature | Plane | Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.4/5 15 reviews | ★4.4/5 175 reviews |
| Categories | Project ManagementTask Management | Project ManagementTask Management |
In-Depth Analysis
Plane
Open-source project management
Strengths
- +Open source
- +Self-hostable
- +Modern UI
Weaknesses
- -Newer project
- -Fewer integrations
Key features
Shortcut
Project management for software teams
Strengths
- +Fast and responsive UI with extensive keyboard shortcuts
- +Deep VCS integration auto-updates stories from Git activity
- +Free tier supports up to 10 users with core features
- +Clean, intuitive interface with minimal learning curve
- +Combines roadmaps, docs, and issue tracking in one tool
Weaknesses
- -Limited to one workspace on Free and Team plans
- -Advanced custom fields and OKRs require the Business plan
- -No built-in time tracking or resource management
- -Smaller integration ecosystem compared to Jira or Linear
- -Storage capped at 250 GB even on paid plans
Key features
Pricing: Plane vs Shortcut
| Plan | Plane | Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $8 Pro | $8.5 Team |
| Tier 3 | $13 Business | $12 Business |
| Tier 4 | N/A | Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Plane pricing and Shortcut pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Plane
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Plane
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Shortcut
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are project management tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Shortcut
- Larger review base (175 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Plane
- Choose if you want open-source project management
The Bottom Line
Shortcut is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Plane or Shortcut better?
Shortcut is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Plane and Shortcut used for?
Plane: Open-source project management. Shortcut: Project management for software teams.
What does Plane cost vs Shortcut?
Plane is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Shortcut is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.