Linear vs Timely: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Linear and Timely to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Linear
6.8/10
Linear is an issue tracking and project planning tool built for software product and engineering teams, with cycles, roadmaps, triage and AI agents.
Timely
6.4/10
AI-powered automatic time tracking and project budgeting software for agencies, consultancies and knowledge-work teams that bill or plan by the hour.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.8/10 | 6.4/10 |
| Integration | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Analytics | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Customization | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Ease of Use | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Scalability | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | $10/user/mo Basic | $11/user/mo Starter |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Free | $200/mo Premium |
| Features | ||
| App integrations | ||
| Task lists | Not listed | |
| Timeline view | Not listed | |
| Task management | ||
| Time tracking | ||
| Workflow automation | Not listed | |
| Dashboards | ||
| Kanban boards | Not listed | |
| Collaboration tools | Not listed | |
| Reporting | ||
| Goals and OKRs | Not listed | |
| Scheduling | Not listed | |
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Linear
- Has a free plan (Timely does not)
- Lower estimated cost for 10 users: Free vs $200/mo
- Higher Scalability score (8/10 vs 6/10)
- Higher Ease of Use score (9/10 vs 8/10)
- Better fit for developers (10/10 vs 4/10)
Why choose Timely
- Higher Analytics score (7/10 vs 6/10)
- Higher Support score (7/10 vs 6/10)
- Better fit for agencies (9/10 vs 3/10)
- Better fit for small business (7/10 vs 5/10)
- Includes Time tracking, which Linear lacks
Pros & Cons
Linear
Pros
- Reviewers repeatedly name the interface as one of the fastest in the category, with interactions that feel instant.
- The Free plan includes unlimited members, the API and webhooks, and Linear Agent.
- Built-in AI features include triage routing, MCP access and coding agent sessions.
- The security page lists SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001, and a HIPAA BAA is available on request.
Cons
- The workflow is built for software teams and fits non-engineering use poorly.
- There is no native time tracking, and G2 reviewers say epic management is weak.
- Dashboards, SAML and SCIM require the custom-priced Enterprise plan.
- Some AI features use separate AI credits, so the per-seat price can understate the total cost.
Timely
Pros
- The background Memory app records app, web, document and meeting activity, so users do not have to start and stop timers.
- AI-drafted timesheets make it fast to log billable hours from captured activity.
- The privacy-first design keeps tracking data private to each user, with no screenshots or keystroke logging.
- Budgets, billable rates and capacity planning sit alongside tracking, which suits client-billing firms.
- ISO 27001:2022 certified, with AWS hosting in the EU and AES-256 encryption at rest.
Cons
- No free plan, and Starter is capped at 5 users and 20 projects.
- Task management is a paid add-on, and there are no Gantt charts, docs or boards.
- Reviewers report the AI sometimes misidentifies tasks when drafting entries.
- Reviewers describe the mobile app as glitchy and say tracking does not work offline.
- Not SOC 2 certified, which may matter for some US enterprise buyers.
