Connect Linear to Shift so you can merge all your web apps into your browser
Download ShiftWhat is Linear?
Linear is an issue tracking and product development platform designed for engineering and product teams. It organizes work into issues, teams, projects, cycles, milestones, and initiatives, providing structured workflows for managing work from initial intake through development and release.
Linear includes backlog and triage views, roadmaps, project documents, analytics, and cycle tracking. It integrates with development and communication tools such as GitHub and Slack, allowing teams to connect issues with branches, commits, pull requests, and related discussions. Linear also provides AI-assisted functionality for tasks such as issue triage, summarization, drafting, and other product-development workflows, with availability depending on the current plan and configuration.
How Linear works in Shift
Add Linear from the Shift App Directory to give it a dedicated app tile in the Shift sidebar. Create a Space for a product or engineering team and group Linear with GitHub, Slack, documentation, monitoring tools, or other apps used for the same project.
For example, open an issue in Linear and keep the corresponding GitHub repository or pull request alongside it using a side-by-side view. From Linear, you can review the issue description and status, assign it to a cycle, update its priority or assignee, and follow linked development activity. When a branch or pull request is connected through Linear's Git integration, keep the Linear issue and GitHub PR visible together while reviewing implementation or preparing the issue for completion.
For daily planning, create a Space containing Linear's Triage or Cycle view, Slack, and GitHub. Review incoming issues in Triage, move accepted work into the appropriate project or cycle, and then switch to the related Slack discussion or code review from the same Space. App tiles in the sidebar provide direct access to each tool, while Focus Mode can limit the visible workspace to the project or engineering task you're currently working on.
Shift's multi-account functionality can keep separate Linear accounts or organizations signed in when you work across different teams or projects. Session persistence keeps supported signed-in sessions available after restarting Shift so you can return to the same Linear environment and related development tools without recreating the workspace.
Alternatives to Linear
- ClickUp — An all-in-one work management platform combining tasks, documents, goals, dashboards, and multiple project views; consider ClickUp when engineering work needs to share the same system with marketing, operations, design, or other business teams.
- Jira — Atlassian's issue tracking and agile project management platform with configurable workflows, permissions, reporting, automation, and a large integration ecosystem; consider Jira when detailed workflow configuration, administration, and enterprise project management are priorities.
- Shortcut — An engineering-focused project management platform organized around Stories, Epics, Iterations, and development integrations; consider Shortcut when you want structured software development workflows without the level of configuration typically associated with larger project management systems.
- Plane — An open-source project management platform with issues, cycles, modules, views, and other software-development workflows, including self-hosting options; consider Plane when open-source deployment or greater control over hosting is important.
- Asana — A cross-functional work management platform built around tasks, projects, timelines, portfolios, and workflow automation; consider Asana when product and engineering work needs to be coordinated with broader business projects and teams.
- Height — A project management platform with task tracking, collaboration, automation, and AI-assisted functionality; consider Height when evaluating project-management tools that combine structured task workflows with automation. Check its current product availability and feature set when comparing it with Linear.
FAQ
1. How does Linear pricing work?
Linear offers subscription tiers with features and limits that vary by plan. Paid plans are generally structured around organization and user requirements, while enterprise options add capabilities intended for larger organizations. Because pricing, limits, and included features can change, check Linear's official pricing page for current rates and its enterprise information for security, administration, and support options.
2. Does Linear have a free plan?
Yes. Linear offers a free plan intended for teams that can work within its included usage and feature limits. Paid plans increase available functionality and may add capabilities such as additional administration, security, analytics, or support features. Review Linear's current plan comparison before choosing a tier.
3. How do Linear cycles work?
Cycles are Linear's time-based method for organizing planned work and are similar to sprints in other agile development systems. Teams can assign issues to a cycle, track progress during that period, and move unfinished work according to their workflow. Cycle settings and available functionality are managed within the Linear workspace.
4. How does Linear connect issues to GitHub pull requests?
Linear's GitHub integration can associate development activity with Linear issues. Teams can connect branches, commits, and pull requests to issues using supported integration workflows and naming conventions, allowing issue status and development activity to remain connected. Exact automation behavior depends on the GitHub integration and workflow settings configured by the organization.
5. What is the difference between Linear and Jira?
Linear and Jira both support issue tracking and software-development workflows. Linear uses a more opinionated structure around issues, projects, cycles, and initiatives, while Jira provides extensive configuration for issue types, workflows, fields, permissions, and reporting. Which structure fits better depends on the team's development process and administrative requirements.
6. Can I use multiple Linear accounts in Shift?
Yes. Shift's multi-account functionality can keep separate Linear accounts or organizations signed in simultaneously. You can organize each environment into a separate Space with the corresponding GitHub, Slack, documentation, and development tools used by that team.
