devBoard vs Linear

By Darko Bačić, founder of App Tube · 9 October 2026 · Facts checked 9 October 2026

Pick Linear if you are a product team that wants a fast issue tracker in the browser, with cycles and projects. Pick devBoard if you are a small studio or a freelancer and want a timer on each task. Linear has no built-in time tracking, and devBoard has no web app. We make devBoard, so keep that in mind as you read. Where Linear is better, we say so.

The main difference: time on the task

Linear estimates work in points, not hours. It has no built-in time tracking. Teams that need hours add a tool such as Everhour or Harvest.

devBoard puts a timer on every task and subtask. Estimates are in minutes, and each task shows its total next to its estimate. Work has three levels: epic, task and subtask. An epic is a big piece of work split into smaller tasks. A subtask is one small step inside a task.

An example: Luka, Mira and Ivan

Luka, Mira and Ivan are a three-person studio shipping a mobile app. They want to know how long the onboarding work really took.

In Linear, they plan the work in a cycle, which is a repeating sprint. They estimate in points. To see hours, they add a time tool through a browser extension.

In devBoard, Mira makes an epic called "Onboarding" with tasks under it. Each of them presses Start on the task they pick up and Stop when they are done. At the end, each task shows its time next to its estimate. They put the tasks for the next version in a release. A release is a named set of tasks with a target date. More on time tracking in devBoard.

Side by side

MCP is the open standard that lets an AI assistant use other tools. A token is a secret key that lets such a tool act as you.

What Linear does better

It runs in a browser and on Windows

Linear works in a browser. It has desktop apps for Mac and Windows. Its iPhone and Android apps are written in Swift and Kotlin, each phone's own language. devBoard has no web app, and its Windows and Linux apps are not out yet.

Planning above the project

Linear has initiatives, projects with milestones, and cycles that repeat like sprints. A timeline shows projects and initiatives over time. devBoard stops at epics and releases.

Docs next to the work

Linear has shared documents on projects, initiatives, issues and cycles, with version history. devBoard has task descriptions and comments, but no docs.

Imports and exports, even on Free

Linear's free plan can import and export. It imports from Jira, GitHub Issues, Asana and Shortcut. devBoard has no importer and no export.

What devBoard does better

Time tracking built in

Press Start on a task or subtask, and Stop when you are done. If you forget, log the minutes for today. Your AI assistant can add notes and log past days. In Linear, you need a second tool for any of this.

Your AI assistant can start the work

Say "start APP-42" to Claude Code or Cursor. devBoard assigns you, moves the card to In progress, starts your timer and gives you a branch name. A branch is a separate line of code changes. Linear's server can update issues too, but Linear has no timer to start.

A view-only guest role

A guest can see the workspace but cannot change anything or comment. That lets a client look at the board. In Linear, guests come with the Business plan and up.

What devBoard does not have

• A web app.
• Windows and Linux apps, for now. They are coming.
• Sprints or portfolios.
• Docs, a wiki or chat.
• Timeline, calendar or Gantt views.
• Automations or custom fields.
• Dependencies, checklists or recurring tasks.
• An importer or an export.
• A timesheet screen. Your AI assistant makes the weekly table.
• Full-text search, email notifications, or links to tools besides GitHub.

Who should stay on Linear

• Product teams that plan in cycles and track initiatives.
• Teams that need a browser or a Windows app.
• Teams that estimate in points and do not track hours.
• Teams that write their specs in Linear's documents.

If Linear fits but you need hours, a time tool on top may be enough. For other picks, see our list of Linear alternatives.

Who should try devBoard

• Freelancers and small studios that bill or plan by the hour.
• Small teams on Mac, iPhone and Android.
• Teams who want their AI assistant to start the timer too.

Also read devBoard vs Jira and devBoard vs ClickUp, or see all our comparisons.

What it costs

Linear's pricing page shows yearly prices only. Monthly billing exists, but the monthly price is not on that page. Prices are per user per month, as of October 2026.

Source: the pricing page.

For devBoard, the price is one line. Free while in early access; paid plans will be one plain number, posted here first.

Moving from Linear

devBoard has no importer, so you move open work by hand. Make an epic for each project and a task for each open issue. Your AI assistant can do most of the typing. Our guide to creating epics, tasks and subtasks shows how.