Side-by-side comparison · Productivity & Notes
Linear vs Todoist vs Trello
Everything that matters when choosing between them, in one place: our rating, what each can do, what they cost, and the trade-offs.
Comparing 3 tools, the maximum.
At a glance
Pick it if: Startups and product teams who build software and want a fast, clean place to plan and track the work.
Pick it if: Anyone who wants a dependable task list that is fast to use and stays out of the way.
Pick it if: Individuals and small teams who want a simple visual to-do list without learning a big project tool.
Linear scores highest overall, but Todoist gives you more for your money. Which one is right comes down to what you value most.
Overview
| Attribute | Linear | Todoist | Trello |
|---|---|---|---|
| In one line | Fast project tracker for product teams, with an AI agent that can code your issues. | A simple to-do list that works everywhere and understands due dates like 'every Monday'. | Simple drag-and-drop boards for tasks and projects, with AI that tidies cards for you. |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $0 | $7/mo | $0 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Works with Claude Code | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Rating breakdown
Our scores out of 5. The higher bar in each row is highlighted.
| Attribute | Linear | Todoist | Trello |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.5Winner | 4.3 | 4.1 |
| Ease of useHow quickly someone non-technical gets value from it. | 4.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| FeaturesHow completely it covers its own job, and how well the pieces fit together. | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Output qualityHow good the results are before you fix them. | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Value for moneyWhat you get for the price, including the free plan. | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Speed & reliabilityHow fast it is and how often it falls over. | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
Feature comparison
A tick means it does this today. A dash means we haven't checked.
| Attribute | Linear | Todoist | Trello |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access & platform | |||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop app | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Browser extension | No | Yes | No |
| API access | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Teams & business | |||
| Team workspace | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Enterprise plan or SSO | Yes | No | Yes |
| Connects to other apps | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Open source or self-hosted | No | No | No |
| AI abilities | |||
| Works with your files | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Understands images | – | No | – |
| Makes images | No | No | Yes |
| Makes video | No | No | No |
| Writes code | Yes | No | No |
| Runs agents or automations | Yes | No | No |
| Learns your brand or style | – | No | – |
| Works in many languages | No | Yes | Yes |
| Capabilities score | 10/ 17 | 9/ 17 | 10/ 17 |
Pricing
Plans as listed on each vendor's site when we last checked. Confirm before you buy.
| Attribute | Linear | Todoist | Trello |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plans | Free $0 Small teams getting started. | Beginner Free Anyone with a simple list. | Free $0 Personal use and small teams getting started. |
BasicOur pick $10/user/mo billed yearly Small product teams. | ProOur pick $7/mo, or $5/mo billed yearly Anyone who wants more projects and the calendar view. | StandardOur pick $5/user/mo billed yearly ($6 monthly) Small teams that want AI and unlimited boards. | |
Business $16/user/mo billed yearly Growing teams with support requests and private work. | Business $10/user/mo, or $8/user/mo billed yearly Small teams sharing a workspace. | Premium $10/user/mo billed yearly ($12.50 monthly) Teams that need more ways to see the work. | |
Enterprise Custom Large companies with security needs. | Enterprise $17.50/user/mo billed yearly Large organisations. | ||
| Which plan to pick | Start free, then move to Basic when you pass 250 issues. Go to Business when you want AI triage, support-tool integrations or private teams. Add AI credits only if you plan to have Linear Agent write code; top-ups start at $10. | Beginner is fine until you hit the five-project wall. Pro on the yearly plan is the obvious move after that. Business is for teams who want a shared space; it is not a substitute for a real project tool. | Free is enough for personal use. Small teams that want AI and unlimited boards should take Standard. Go to Premium only if you need calendar or timeline views. |
Key features
| Attribute | Linear | Todoist | Trello |
|---|---|---|---|
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Pros and cons
| Attribute | Linear | Todoist | Trello |
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Who each one is for
| Attribute | Linear | Todoist | Trello |
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Questions people ask
Which is better, Linear, Todoist or Trello?
Linear scores highest overall in our ratings (Linear 4.5/5, Todoist 4.3/5 and Trello 4.1/5). Linear is best for tracking bugs and feature requests and planning product roadmaps and sprints. Todoist is best for personal task management and recurring reminders. Trello is best for A simple visual to-do list and small team projects and checklists.
Which is cheaper, Linear, Todoist or Trello?
Linear: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $0. Todoist: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $7/mo. Trello: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $0.
How we compare
Ratings are our own, from using each tool, across ease of use, features, output quality, value for money, speed & reliability.
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