Linear vs Todoist: Which One Fits Your Solo Dev Stack?
Free tier limits, real costs for 1-10 users, and honest "not for" warnings. The Solo Dev decision guide for Linear vs Todoist.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Linear edges ahead with a 4.9/5 rating. However, the best choice depends on your team size, budget, and workflow needs. Read on for the full breakdown.
💰 Cost by Team Size
| Team Size | Linear | Todoist |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 user) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Small (5 users) | $40/mo | $30/mo |
| Growing (10 users) | $80/mo | $60/mo |
| Free Tier | ✅ Unlimited members. 2 teams max. 250 issues. Slack and GitHub integration. AI agents included. | ✅ 5 active projects, 5 collaborators per project, basic filters. |
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Linear | Todoist |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Basic | $8/mo | $4/mo |
| Business | $14/mo | $6/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom | — |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Linear | Todoist |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Integrations | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Pros & Cons
Linear
✅ Pros
- Blazingly fast UI — feels instant even with thousands of issues
- Keyboard-first design loved by developers
- Built-in AI agents for auto-triage and workflows
- Excellent GitHub and Slack integration out of the box
- Free tier includes unlimited members (rare)
❌ Cons
- Free tier capped at 250 issues — fills up fast for active projects
- Limited document/wiki features — need Notion or similar alongside
- No built-in time tracking
- Not ideal for non-engineering teams (marketing, ops)
- Fewer integrations than ClickUp or Monday
Todoist
✅ Pros
- Lightning fast natural language input
- Beautiful, minimalist design across all platforms
- Excellent mobile apps (iOS, Android)
- Affordable Pro plan ($4/mo)
❌ Cons
- Limited project views (no Kanban on free)
- Lacks time tracking and advanced features
- Team collaboration feels basic vs ClickUp
Who Should Use What?
✅ Choose Linear if...
- You are a software engineering teams (2-20 people)
- You are a solo devs who want a fast, opinionated tracker
- You are a teams using github-centric workflows
🚫 Skip if...
- Non-technical teams (marketing, HR)
- Teams needing built-in docs/wiki
- Large organizations needing extensive customization
✅ Choose Todoist if...
- You are a personal task management
- You are a gtd practitioners
🚫 Skip if...
- Teams needing project management features
- Complex workflow automation
🏆 Our Verdict
Both Linear (4.9/5) and Todoist (4.6/5) are excellent tools in their category. Linear takes a slight edge overall, but the best choice ultimately depends on your team's specific needs, budget, and existing tool ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Linear better than Todoist?
It depends on your needs. Linear excels in some areas while Todoist has its own strengths. Read our full comparison above to see which tool fits your specific requirements.
How does Linear pricing compare to Todoist?
Linear starts at Free / $8/mo, while Todoist starts at Free / $4/mo. Both offer different value propositions — check our pricing comparison section for a detailed breakdown.
Can I migrate from Linear to Todoist?
Yes, most B2B tools offer data import/export features. Todoist typically provides migration guides and sometimes even dedicated support for switching from Linear.
Which is easier to use, Linear or Todoist?
Ease of use depends on your team's experience and workflow preferences. We evaluated both tools on usability — see our feature comparison scores above for details.
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