Shortcut
Free / from ~$8.50 per user/mo
Linear
Free / from ~$8 per user/mo
Shortcut is a software project tracker balancing stories, sprints, roadmaps, and docs in an approachable package. Linear is a fast, keyboard-driven issue tracker with a refined engineering workflow. Shortcut wins on built-in docs and structure; Linear wins on speed and polish.
Pick Shortcut if you want structured stories, sprints, roadmaps, and built-in docs in one approachable tracker.
Pick Linear if you want the fastest, most polished, keyboard-driven issue-tracking experience.
Shortcut and Linear both target software teams that want to track work without bloat, and they are close competitors. Shortcut (formerly Clubhouse) balances stories, epics, sprints (iterations), roadmaps, and built-in docs, giving teams a structured but approachable home for planning and delivery. Linear is famous for speed and craft: a keyboard-first interface, a snappy, opinionated workflow, and a refined design that engineering teams love.
On price, both have free tiers; Shortcut's paid plans start around $8.50 per user per month and Linear's around $8. The choice is mostly structured stories, sprints, and built-in docs (Shortcut) versus the fastest, most polished issue-tracking experience (Linear).
We compare speed, stories and sprints, docs, pricing, and workflow.
| Quick facts | Shortcut | Linear |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Starting paid price | From ~$8.50/user/mo | From ~$8/user/mo |
| Speed / keyboard UX | Good | Best-in-class |
| Built-in docs | Best-in-class | Good |
| Best for | Stories + sprints + docs | Fast, polished tracking |
Each row reflects the feature on each product's current public release.
| Feature | S Shortcut | L Linear |
|---|---|---|
| Stories / epics / iterations | Best-in-class | Strong |
| Keyboard-first speed | Good | Best-in-class |
| Built-in docs / wiki | Best-in-class | Good |
| Roadmaps & cycles | Strong | Best-in-class |
| Git / dev integrations | Strong | Best-in-class |
| Polished, refined design | Good | Best-in-class |
| Reporting & burndown | Strong | Good |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Pricing and features change often. Always verify the current details on each product's official site. Last reviewed 2026-06-26.
Things neither product's marketing page leads with.
Shortcut offers more built-in structure and docs, but it is not quite as fast or refined as Linear.
Linear is the speed-and-polish leader, but its docs and some reporting are lighter than Shortcut's.
For structure and docs Shortcut appeals; for raw speed and craft Linear wins.
The average person juggles a dozen subscriptions and forgets at least one. Subkept is a privacy-first subscription tracker: add Shortcut, Linear, and everything else, then get renewal reminders, price-hike alerts, and a clear monthly total, with no bank connection, ever. Free for up to 5 subscriptions, no time limit.