Octoboard vs Linear
Linear is fast and polished. But if your team already uses GitHub Issues, you don't need to pay for another tool.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Octoboard | Linear |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free forever | $8/user/month (Standard) |
| Setup time | 5 minutes | 30+ minutes |
| GitHub native | Yes — reads Issues, PRs, Actions | Separate system with GitHub sync |
| Context switching | None — works with GitHub | Issues live in Linear, not GitHub |
| DORA metrics | Built in | Not available |
| AI insights | Built in (BYO key) | Limited AI features |
| Kanban boards | GitHub-synced | Proprietary boards |
Why teams switch from Linear
Another paid tool your team doesn't need
Linear costs $8/user/month. If your team already tracks work in GitHub Issues, you're paying for a duplicate system. Octoboard works with what you already have — for free.
Issues live in two places
Linear syncs with GitHub but issues originate in Linear. Developers end up managing work in two systems. Octoboard uses GitHub as the single source of truth.
No GitHub Actions visibility
Linear tracks issues and projects but has no insight into your CI/CD pipelines. Octoboard shows workflow runs, durations, and failures alongside your issues.
No DORA metrics
Linear doesn't track deployment frequency or lead time. Octoboard includes DORA metrics out of the box so you can measure engineering performance.
Get started in 3 steps
Connect GitHub — Sign in with GitHub OAuth and select your organization.
Auto-sync your data — Octoboard pulls Issues, PRs, Actions, and milestones automatically.
See everything — Dashboards, DORA metrics, AI summaries, risk detection, and kanban boards are ready instantly.