Linear alternatives: 4 free & open-source picks
Curated, verified, and actually free. No trials, no crippled tiers. Star counts and last-activity dates checked by hand, not scraped and forgotten.
Linear with more knobs and a server you now own.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted signup, or the official Docker/Kubernetes self-hosting stack
dataSelf-hosted Plane keeps workspaces, projects, work items, users, comments, and settings in PostgreSQL; attachments, images, and exports live in MinIO or another S3-compatible object store, with RabbitMQ and optional OpenSearch alongside them. Plane Cloud stores the equivalent data in Plane's infrastructure.
the catch vs LinearPlane is the closest feature match, but it remains slower and more configurable than Linear, with less polished keyboard navigation, sync behavior, triage, and integration quality.
setupSelf-hosting is a multi-service deployment: Docker or Kubernetes plus PostgreSQL, RabbitMQ, object storage, a domain, TLS, and usually email configuration.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Issues, docs and chat in one stack; the hosted service is closing, so this means self-hosting.
licenseEPL-2.0
runsyour server
installRun the official Huly Selfhost Docker Compose stack on Linux, using its setup script plus Nginx/TLS for production
dataThe self-host stack uses CockroachDB for account/workspace data, Elasticsearch for search indexes, Redpanda for event streams, and persistent volumes for uploaded files; optional services may add MongoDB. The public hosted Huly service announced its shutdown, so new use means self-hosting.
the catch vs LinearHuly is a much broader and heavier workspace that now requires self-hosting, and it does not match Linear's speed, keyboard discipline, issue triage, or mature integration reliability.
setupThe first obstacle is the production-sized stack: Linux, Docker Compose, Nginx and certificates plus CockroachDB, Redpanda, Elasticsearch, storage volumes, backups, and enough RAM.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Linear's sober older cousin, complete with Gantt charts.
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted Enterprise Cloud signup, or Community Edition via Docker Compose/all-in-one Docker or supported Linux packages
dataSelf-hosted application data lives in PostgreSQL; uploaded attachments live on a persistent filesystem volume or configured S3-compatible object storage, while configuration and any linked repositories must be backed up separately. Cloud data lives in OpenProject's hosted infrastructure.
the catch vs LinearOpenProject replaces Linear's instant, opinionated workflow with a dense enterprise project suite whose menus, configuration, and administration slow down small product teams.
setupThe free Community Edition needs a Linux server; the recommended Docker setup still requires persistent database/file volumes, a hostname, TLS, and mail configuration.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Project planning for people who do not collect project-management jargon.
licenseAGPL-3.0+
runsyour machine or their cloud
installPaid hosted signup, or the free open-source edition via Docker Compose/official image or a PHP release archive plus MySQL/MariaDB
dataSelf-hosted project data lives in MySQL 8 or MariaDB 10.6+, while uploaded files use the local filesystem or configured S3-compatible storage; hosted-account data lives in Leantime's cloud.
the catch vs LinearLeantime is approachable for planning, but it is not keyboard-first and its issue triage, cycles, product roadmaps, and developer integrations are much less refined than Linear's.
setupThere is no longer a permanent free hosted tier: the free route means operating PHP, MySQL/MariaDB, persistent storage, backups, and a web-facing Docker or LAMP stack.
facts verified 2026-08-10
last updated 2026-08-10 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plane | AGPL-3.0 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 55,600 | 2026-08 |
| Huly | EPL-2.0 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 27,246 | 2026-08 |
| OpenProject | GPL-3.0 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 15,767 | 2026-08 |
| Leantime | AGPL-3.0+ | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 11,300 | 2026-08 |
An issue tracker is only worth anything when everyone uses it, and people only use one that never makes them wait. Linear sells speed and shared context, not features: the whole team sees the same board update instantly, GitHub PRs close issues on merge, and the roadmap stays honest because filing is faster than complaining. A solo copy tracks your own work fine and settles no arguments. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $120 a year.
Is there a free alternative to Linear?
Yes: Plane, Huly, OpenProject and 1 more. Every tool on this page is either open source or genuinely free to use long-term: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Should I just build my own Linear?
Our verdict is PARCIAL. The object model is small: issues, states, labels, cycles, projects. A keyboard-first single-player tracker with a board, cycles, and one-way GitHub sync is a weekend build. What does not survive the copy is the sync engine, real-time multiplayer, and the integration surface (GitHub two-way, Slack, Figma, Sentry) that make Linear the place a team actually agrees on what is being built. If you'd rather build, the exact one-shot prompt is free at puedovibecodearlo.app/linear.
