L
Linear4.8/5vsSm
Smartsheet4.4/5Linear vs Smartsheet (March 2026)
| LLinear | SmSmartsheet | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $9/mo |
| Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Free Tier | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Best For | Product teams, Startups | Enterprise project and portfolio management, Marketing and creative team coordination |
Quick Verdict
Linear edges ahead with a 4.8/5 rating versus Smartsheet's 4.4/5, offering stronger value for most teams.
Quick Overview
L
Linear
Fast and beautiful issue tracking for software teams building great products.
- Best for: Product teams, Startups
- Starting price: Free
- Category: Project Management Software
- Founded: 2019
- Pricing model: freemium
Sm
Smartsheet
AI-enhanced enterprise work management platform that enables organizations to plan, capture, manage, automate, and repor...
- Best for: Enterprise project and portfolio management, Marketing and creative team coordination
- Starting price: $9/mo
- Category: Project Management Software
- Founded: 2005
- Pricing model: subscription
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Linear | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Task Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Kanban Boards | ✓ | ✗ |
| Gantt Charts | ✗ | ✗ |
| Time Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| File Sharing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile App | ✓ | ✗ |
| Integrations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Roadmaps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Task Assignment & Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Project Progress Monitoring | ✗ | ✓ |
| Calendar Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Document Sharing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Configurable Dashboards | ✗ | ✓ |
| Workflow Automation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Generative AI Features | ✗ | ✓ |
| Resource Planning | ✗ | ✓ |
| Portfolio Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Microsoft Office Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Azure Active Directory Support | ✗ | ✓ |
| Formula Generation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Content Summarization | ✗ | ✓ |
Pricing Comparison
Prices last verified: March 16, 2026
Linear
Free
Starting price
freemium · 4 plans
Free
FreeStandardPopular
$10/moPlus
$16/moEnterprise
FreeSmartsheet
$9/mo
Starting price
subscription · 3 plans
Pro
$9/moBusinessPopular
$19/moEnterprise
$39/moPros & Cons
Linear
Pros
- Beautiful design
- Lightning fast
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Great for devs
Cons
- Software-focused only
- Less flexible
- Limited customization
- No time tracking on free
Smartsheet
Pros
- Enterprise-grade reliability trusted by Fortune 500 companies
- AI-enhanced capabilities for improved productivity
- Strong Microsoft Office integration
- Scalable platform for organizations of all sizes
Cons
- Steeper learning curve for enterprise features
- Can be complex for simple project needs
- Higher pricing compared to basic alternatives
Which Is Best for You?
L
Choose Linear if:
- Product teams
- Startups
- Engineering teams
- Modern software companies
- You want to start with a free plan
- Budget is a priority (Free vs $9)
- Higher user rating matters to you (4.8 vs 4.4)
Sm
Choose Smartsheet if:
- Enterprise project and portfolio management
- Marketing and creative team coordination
- Strategic transformation initiatives
- Organizations requiring workflow automation
Our Verdict
🏆
LLinear — WinnerSmSmartsheet — Runner-up
After thorough analysis, Linear takes the lead in this comparison with a higher rating of 4.8/5 versus Smartsheet's 4.4/5.
Linear is best for Product teams and Startups. Beautiful design.
Smartsheet remains a strong alternative, especially for Enterprise project and portfolio management and Marketing and creative team coordination. Enterprise-grade reliability trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Pricing-wise, Linear is the more affordable starting option. Evaluate free trials of both before committing.
Explore More
Linear Alternatives
Smartsheet Alternatives
Category Resources
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Frequently Asked Questions
Linear edges ahead with a 4.8/5 rating versus Smartsheet's 4.4/5, offering stronger value for most teams.
Linear starts at Free/mo (free tier available), while Smartsheet starts at $9/mo.
Yes. Most users can migrate data between the two. Check both platforms for import/export tools before switching.
Linear integrates with GitHub, GitLab, Slack, Figma. Smartsheet integrates with Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, Azure Active Directory, Slack. Both offer solid third-party connectivity, though the best choice depends on your existing tech stack.
Both tools are designed for ease of use. Linear is best for Product teams and Startups, while Smartsheet excels for Enterprise project and portfolio management and Marketing and creative team coordination. Consider trying both free trials to judge which interface suits your workflow.
Linear has a 4.8/5 rating from 1,800 reviews, while Smartsheet scores 4.4/5 from 2,847 reviews. Higher review counts generally indicate a more established support ecosystem.
For small businesses, Linear may be more budget-friendly starting at Free. However, Smartsheet ($9/mo) could offer better value depending on the features you need most.
For enterprise use, consider which offers more advanced plans. Linear has 4 plans while Smartsheet has 3 plans. Evaluate each tool's enterprise features, security compliance, and team management capabilities before committing.
Check each tool's website for the latest mobile app availability. Both Linear and Smartsheet offer web-based access, and many modern SaaS tools provide companion mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Choose Linear if you prioritize beautiful design and want to start free. Choose Smartsheet if you value enterprise-grade reliability trusted by fortune 500 companies.