Best Open Source Alternatives to Linear in 2026
Linear Is Great — Until the Invoice Arrives
Linear earned its reputation by being the issue tracker developers actually enjoy using. The keyboard-first interface is fast. The design is clean. Cycles, roadmaps, and triage workflows feel like they were built by people who've lived in the trenches of software development.
But Linear is a closed-source SaaS product, and the pricing reflects it:
| Plan | Price (per user/month) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 250 issues, limited integrations |
| Standard | $8 | Unlimited issues, up to 5 teams |
| Plus | $16 | Advanced features, SAML SSO, audit logs |
| Enterprise | Custom | Dedicated support, custom contracts |
For a 20-person engineering team on Standard, that is $1,920/year. On Plus, $3,840/year. And there is no self-hosting option. Your issues, roadmaps, and sprint data live entirely on Linear's servers. You cannot run it behind your firewall, inspect the source code, or control where your data resides.
Open source alternatives have caught up. The best ones now offer the same keyboard-driven speed, cycle-based workflows, and clean design that made Linear popular — with full data ownership and self-hosting. Here are the five strongest options in 2026.
TL;DR
Plane is the closest open source equivalent to Linear — fast UI, keyboard shortcuts, cycles, modules, and a mature feature set with 46K+ GitHub stars. For teams that need more than just issue tracking, Huly bundles project management with real-time chat, documents, and time tracking in a single platform. If your workflow already centers on Git hosting, Gitea adds solid issue tracking to a lightweight GitHub alternative without requiring a separate tool.
Key Takeaways
- Plane (46K+ GitHub stars) is the most popular open source Linear alternative with a near-identical UX — keyboard-driven, fast, and visually clean. Cycles, modules, custom views, and built-in pages. Free Community Edition, Pro at $6/seat/month.
- Huly (18K+ stars across repos) is an all-in-one platform combining issue tracking with real-time chat, collaborative docs, time tracking, and HR features. Unlimited users on every tier. Free self-hosted via Docker Compose.
- Gitea (54K+ stars) is a lightweight, self-hosted Git forge with built-in issue tracking, project boards, milestones, and scoped labels. One binary, minimal resources, no separate PM tool needed.
- Codeberg is a community-run, non-profit hosting platform powered by Forgejo (a Gitea fork). Issue tracking, CI/CD, and Pages hosting included for free — no self-hosting required.
- Kaneo (2K+ stars) is a newer, minimalist issue tracker built with TypeScript and focused on speed and simplicity. MIT-licensed, self-hostable, and designed for teams that want the essentials without bloat.
- Linear has no self-hosting option. If data ownership or infrastructure control matters to your team, these alternatives are your path forward.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Plane | Huly | Gitea | Codeberg | Kaneo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keyboard Shortcuts | Extensive | Yes | Basic | Basic | Yes |
| Cycles/Sprints | Cycles + Modules | Sprints | Milestones | Milestones | Boards |
| Roadmaps | Initiatives + Gantt | Sprint planning | Project boards | Project boards | No |
| Real-time Collab | Yes | Built-in chat | No | No | No |
| Git Integration | GitHub, GitLab | GitHub (bi-directional) | Native (is a Git forge) | Native (is a Git forge) | GitHub |
| Time Tracking | Pro plan | Built-in | Built-in | No | No |
| API | REST API | REST API | REST + Swagger | REST + Swagger | REST API |
| Self-Hosting | Docker Compose | Docker Compose | Single binary | Hosted (no self-hosting) | Docker |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 | MIT | GPL-3.0 (Forgejo) | MIT |
| GitHub Stars | 46K+ | 18K+ (combined) | 54K+ | N/A (on Codeberg) | 2K+ |
| Free Tier | Unlimited (CE) | Free self-hosted | Fully free | Fully free | Fully free |
| Paid Plans | From $6/seat/month | Resource-based cloud | Gitea Cloud pricing | Donations only | None |
Plane — The Closest Open Source Match to Linear
Plane is the tool most often cited as "Linear but open source," and the comparison is earned. The interface is fast, minimal, and built around keyboard navigation. If you can use Linear, you can use Plane — the mental model is nearly identical.
What It Does Well
Issues work exactly how you would expect from a Linear-class tool. Custom states, priorities, labels, assignees, due dates, estimates, and sub-issues. The keyboard shortcut system is comprehensive — press C to create, / to search, Ctrl+K for the command palette.
Cycles are Plane's answer to Linear's cycles. Time-boxed iterations where you plan work, track progress with burndown analytics, and carry incomplete items forward. Modules group related issues across cycles, functioning as epics or project-level containers.
Views support list, board (kanban), spreadsheet, Gantt, and calendar display modes with filters and grouping. Pages provide built-in documentation alongside your project work — specs, meeting notes, and design docs without switching tools.
The Community Edition deploys via Docker Compose with unlimited users and projects. The Pro plan ($6/seat/month) adds custom work item types, time tracking, epics, initiatives, and SSO/SAML.
Self-Hosting Requirements
- Plane app — Next.js frontend + Django API backend
- PostgreSQL — primary database
- Redis — caching and background workers
- MinIO — file storage
Four services, well-documented Docker Compose, and an active community. Plane charges the same price whether you deploy on the cloud or self-host.
Limitations
Plane is younger than established tools like Gitea. Advanced custom fields, complex workflow automations, and deep permission hierarchies are still evolving. There is no plugin ecosystem; extensibility comes through the API. Time tracking and advanced analytics require the paid Pro plan.
Best for: Engineering and product teams who want a Linear-grade experience with self-hosting. The strongest choice for teams that would use Linear if it offered data ownership.
Huly — Best All-in-One Platform
Huly takes a different approach. Instead of being just an issue tracker, it bundles project management, real-time chat, collaborative documents, time tracking, and even basic HR features into a single open source platform. Think of it as Linear + Slack + Notion in one self-hosted package.
What It Does Well
The issue tracker is fast and keyboard-friendly. Kanban boards, list views, sprint planning, and backlog management all feel snappy. Issues support custom states, priorities, labels, relations, and sub-tasks with velocity tracking and burndown charts.
Real-time chat is built in with channels, direct messages, and threads — deeply integrated, not bolted on. Create an issue from a chat message. Reference issues in conversations. The feedback loop between discussion and task tracking eliminates the context-switch between Slack and your issue tracker.
Documents are collaborative and real-time, with rich text editing, code blocks, and syntax highlighting. GitHub integration is bi-directional — changes sync in real time between Huly and GitHub.
The entire platform is Apache 2.0 licensed with no feature restrictions on self-hosted deployments. The cloud version charges based on consumed resources (storage, network, compute) rather than per-user headcount.
Self-Hosting Requirements
- Huly platform — TypeScript application
- MongoDB — primary database
- MinIO — object storage
- Elastic — search
Docker Compose deployment is documented and works on a VPS in the $20-40/month range for small-to-mid teams. The unlimited-users model means your infrastructure costs scale with data volume, not headcount.
Limitations
The all-in-one approach means more services to manage. The deployment is heavier than a focused tool like Plane or Kaneo. If you already have Slack and Notion and just need an issue tracker, Huly's bundled chat and docs may feel like unnecessary overhead.
The project is newer and the community is smaller than Plane's. Documentation, while improving, is not as comprehensive as what you'll find for established tools. Some enterprise features (advanced permissions, audit logs) are still in development.
Best for: Teams that want to consolidate issue tracking, team chat, and documentation into a single self-hosted platform. Especially strong for teams paying for Linear + Slack + Notion separately and looking to reduce both cost and context-switching.
Gitea — Best for Git-Centric Teams
Gitea is not a Linear clone. It is a lightweight, self-hosted Git forge — a GitHub/GitLab alternative — that happens to include solid issue tracking. If your team's workflow revolves around repositories, pull requests, and code review, Gitea gives you project management without adding a separate tool.
What It Does Well
Issue tracking is straightforward and effective. Issues support labels (including scoped labels), milestones, assignees, due dates, templates, and cross-references to pull requests and commits. Mention an issue number in a commit message and it links automatically. Close issues via PR merges.
Project boards provide kanban-style views at the repository, organization, or user level. Combined with milestones, you get basic sprint planning without a dedicated PM tool. Gitea Actions adds CI/CD compatible with GitHub Actions syntax, meaning Gitea now covers code hosting, issue tracking, and CI/CD in one application.
Performance is Gitea's signature. A single binary compiled in Go, running comfortably on a Raspberry Pi or a $5/month VPS with around 100MB of memory. Compare that to GitLab, which demands gigabytes just to idle.
Self-Hosting Requirements
- Gitea binary — single Go binary
- Database — SQLite, PostgreSQL, or MySQL
That is it. Two components. SQLite works for small teams, meaning you can run Gitea with literally one binary and zero external services. For larger deployments, PostgreSQL is recommended but still trivial to set up.
Limitations
Gitea is a Git forge first and a project management tool second. There are no cycles, no roadmaps, no burndown charts, and no time tracking beyond basic stopwatch functionality.
The UI is functional but not designed for keyboard-first workflows. Navigation is page-based rather than SPA-style — no command palette, no bulk keyboard actions, and no Linear-style triage queue. Teams managing complex multi-team projects with sprints and cross-project dependencies will outgrow it.
Best for: Development teams that want Git hosting and issue tracking in one lightweight, self-hosted package. The ideal choice for teams whose workflow already centers on repositories and PRs.
Codeberg — Best Free Hosted Option
Codeberg takes the Gitea/Forgejo approach and removes the self-hosting requirement entirely. It is a community-run, non-profit platform based in Berlin, Germany, offering free Git hosting with issue tracking, CI/CD, and static site hosting. No account limits, no paywalls, no tracking.
What It Does Well
Zero-cost, zero-ops issue tracking. Sign up, create a repository, and start filing issues. Labels, milestones, project boards, assignees, and templates — all available without deploying or maintaining anything.
Forgejo-powered. Codeberg runs on Forgejo, a hard fork of Gitea with community-driven governance. Forgejo v14.0 (January 2026) added inline issue filters, a lighter web editor, and improved Actions with finer-grained trust controls. Codeberg Pages provides free static site hosting, and Codeberg CI runs Forgejo Actions workflows in GitHub Actions-compatible syntax.
Data sovereignty. All infrastructure is hosted in the EU by a registered non-profit (Codeberg e.V.). No third-party cookies, no tracking, no ads, no corporate acquisition risk.
Self-Hosting Requirements
None. That is the point. Codeberg is a hosted service. If you want self-hosting, deploy Forgejo or Gitea directly instead.
Limitations
You are using someone else's infrastructure. Codeberg is reliable, but you cannot control uptime, backup schedules, or hardware. The issue tracking capabilities match Forgejo/Gitea — solid but basic compared to dedicated tools. No cycles, sprints, roadmaps, or advanced analytics.
Codeberg is community-funded through donations. While the non-profit model removes acquisition risk, resources are limited and feature development depends on volunteer contributors.
Best for: Open source projects, small teams, and individuals who want free, ethical hosting with issue tracking and CI/CD. The strongest choice for teams that value data sovereignty and non-profit governance over feature density.
Kaneo — Best for Minimalist Teams
Kaneo is the newest tool on this list and the most focused. Built entirely in TypeScript, it is a self-hosted project management platform that deliberately limits scope — kanban boards, task management, and team collaboration with nothing extra.
What It Does Well
Speed and simplicity. Kaneo's interface is clean, responsive, and designed for developer workflows. If you find Plane too feature-rich or Huly too all-encompassing, Kaneo strips project management to its core.
Kanban boards are the primary interface. Tasks have statuses, priorities, descriptions, and assignments. Create a board, add columns, populate with tasks, drag to track progress. No configuration overhead, no workflow wizards.
MIT-licensed and fully free. No paid tiers, no feature gates. The entire codebase is open, permissively licensed, and self-hostable. Built entirely in TypeScript, making contributions approachable for JavaScript teams.
Self-Hosting Requirements
- Kaneo app — TypeScript application
- Database — SQLite or PostgreSQL
Docker deployment is available. The footprint is small, and the setup is fast. A minimal VPS handles it comfortably.
Limitations
Kaneo is early-stage. The feature set is deliberately minimal — no cycles, no sprints, no roadmaps, no time tracking, no Gantt charts, no advanced reporting. If you need more than kanban boards and basic task management, you will outgrow it quickly.
The community is small (2K+ stars) compared to Plane or Gitea. Documentation is limited. Plugin and integration ecosystems do not exist yet. You are adopting an early project, with the risks and rewards that entails.
Best for: Small teams and solo developers who want a clean, fast, self-hosted kanban board without the overhead of a full project management suite. A good starting point for teams that find other tools overwhelming.
How to Choose the Right Linear Alternative
"I want the closest thing to Linear, but self-hosted" — Start with Plane. Keyboard shortcuts, cycles, modules, command palette, and a design philosophy clearly inspired by Linear. The Community Edition is free with no user limits.
"I want to replace Linear, Slack, and Notion with one tool" — Huly bundles issue tracking, real-time chat, and collaborative docs in a single platform. If you are paying for three SaaS subscriptions, Huly can replace all of them.
"My team lives in Git — I just need issues alongside code" — Gitea or Codeberg. Gitea if you want to self-host. Codeberg if you want free hosting with zero maintenance. Both give you issues, project boards, and CI/CD integrated with your repositories.
"I want the simplest possible thing" — Kaneo. Kanban boards, task management, nothing else. MIT-licensed, TypeScript-based, and fast to deploy.
"Data sovereignty is non-negotiable" — Codeberg is EU-hosted by a non-profit. Plane and Huly give you full self-hosting with data that never leaves your infrastructure. Gitea runs on a single binary on any server you control.
"Cost is the primary driver" — Every tool on this list has a free option. Plane CE, Gitea, Codeberg, and Kaneo are fully free. Huly's self-hosted deployment has no license cost. Your only expense is server infrastructure and admin time.
Methodology
We evaluated these tools based on:
- UX parity with Linear — Speed, keyboard navigation, visual design, and the overall feel of the interface. Linear set the bar for fast, clean issue tracking UX.
- Feature coverage — Issues, cycles/sprints, roadmaps, views, integrations, and API quality compared to Linear's feature set.
- Self-hosting viability — Docker availability, documentation quality, required services, resource footprint, and real-world deployment complexity.
- Community health — GitHub stars, commit frequency, release cadence, issue responsiveness, and contributor count as of March 2026.
- Licensing and cost — Open source license type, free tier limitations, paid plan pricing, and long-term commercial risk.
We did not accept payment or sponsorship from any project listed. Tools were evaluated via self-hosted Docker deployments and public documentation review.
Find Your Alternative
Linear built the issue tracker that developers actually want to use. The open source ecosystem has responded with tools that match that standard — and add data ownership, self-hosting, and cost control on top.
Whether you are leaving Linear because of pricing, data residency requirements, or philosophical commitment to open source, the alternatives in 2026 are real and production-ready. Start with Plane if you want the closest match. Branch out to Huly, Gitea, or Codeberg if your needs extend beyond pure issue tracking.
Browse all Linear alternatives on OSSAlt to see detailed feature comparisons, deployment guides, and community reviews.