Let’s face it, project management tools can make or break your team’s productivity. If you started with Linear for its slick interface and speed, you’re not alone. But here’s the million-dollar question:
What happens when your team grows, your needs evolve, and Linear just can’t keep up?
That’s where Jira steps in.
Understanding Linear
What Makes Linear Appealing?
Linear is the startup darling of the project management world. It’s fast, minimal, and purpose-built for developers. Its clean UI and snappy performance make it feel almost magical during the early stages of a product. If your team is small and heavily technical, Linear delivers exactly what you need, until it doesn’t.
Where Linear Falls Short
As soon as you start adding marketing, customer success, QA, or compliance teams into the mix, Linear’s rigid structure starts to show its cracks. Here are a few reasons why:
- No robust role-based permissions
- No workflow customization
- No real reporting or analytics
- Limited integrations
- Virtually no support for non-engineering teams
You’re left with a powerful but narrow tool that can’t grow with you.
Meet Jira: The Scalable Powerhouse
Why Jira Is Built for Growth
Jira was designed to handle complexity. Whether you’re scaling from 10 to 10,000 users or expanding from a dev-only tool to an enterprise-wide solution, Jira’s got what you’re looking for. It can be used for software development teams to organize new features and bugs to be fixed, IT teams to track requests for support, marketing teams to organize and track marketing campaigns, and HR teams to track onboarding and offboarding.
Trusted by Enterprises Worldwide
Jira powers 80% of the Fortune 500. When global enterprises need to align business and engineering teams, manage risk, and scale operations, they choose Jira. Companies like Rivian, United, DropBox, Reddit, and Mercedes-Benz are using Jira to manage many different aspects of their business. If you’re a regulated industry such as Medical Device, Automotive, or Aerospace, or a large organization with strict security needs, Jira delivers:
- Robust role-based access for Cloud products
- Audit logs
- Encryption at rest and in transit
- Data residency
- Identity federation with SAML/SSO with Atlassian Guard
Jira’s built-in automation engine and Atlassian Intelligence take the heavy lifting off your team. Set up no-code rules for issue creation, automation of workflows, content summaries, and status updates. Let Jira work for you. The best part is that Jira includes Rovo, Atlassian’s AI chat agent and search capability, for free.
Linear vs. Jira: A Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Unlocking the Atlassian Ecosystem
Unified Workflows for Tech and Business Teams
Did you know that Jira already has up to 70% developer adoption in key markets? That’s a massive head start in driving cross-functional alignment. Jira bridges the gap between engineering and business, making it the ultimate platform for collaboration. Dev teams love the integrations with GitLab, Bitbucket, and CI/CD tools. Business teams, like HR, marketing, and finance, love the visual boards and automation.
Seamless Integration with Confluence, Loom, and Rovo
Create a Confluence page right from a Jira ticket. Record a Loom walkthrough. Tap into Rovo’s AI assistant for fast answers. It’s all connected, and that saves time.
The Power of the Atlassian Marketplace
3,000+ Apps to Extend Jira’s Functionality
Whether you need Gantt charts, time tracking, test case management, or budget controls, there’s an app for that. From DevOps to HR, ITSM to Marketing, Jira adapts to your process, not the other way around. Here are some of our favorite marketplace apps that help empower users:
Should You Switch from Linear to Jira?
Here are some questions to ask before switching.
- Do we need to involve teams beyond just developers?
- Are we struggling with workflow limitations?
- Do we need more robust reporting or analytics?
- Is security or compliance becoming a concern?
- Could you benefit from AI capabilities in your projects?
If the answer to any of those is “yes,” Jira is the next logical step. Startups love Jira’s free tier and scalability. You can start with Jira Cloud with less than 10 users for free. You can easily scale to small Standard or Premium plans when ready without any migration. Large enterprises also love its security, flexibility, and partner ecosystem. Either way, you’re covered.
Migrating from Linear to Jira
Migration doesn’t have to be painful. Jira offers import tools, and Atlassian partners like SPK and Associates can help design the right setup from day one. Our approaches normally go beyond the simple CSV data imports to looking at work items, sub-tasks, attachments, comments, permissions and more. These areas can create real complex workflow needs to get moving in Jira, but our team has the right approach to help you with a smooth, and budget-conscious migration.
After the migration, you can use Jira templates and onboarding playbooks to help utilize the new features of Jira Cloud.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jira only for developers?
No! While Jira is loved by developers, it’s designed for cross-functional teams across IT, HR, marketing, and operations. Check out this on-demand webinar to learn more about non-technical teams using Jira.
Can Jira be used for non-technical teams?
Absolutely. With customizable workflows and templates, non-technical teams can use Jira for task management, campaign planning, onboarding, and more.
What makes Jira more secure than Linear?
Jira offers enterprise-grade security, including SOC 2 Type II, SAML SSO, and granular permission settings that Linear doesn’t support.
How long does it take to migrate from Linear to Jira?
Most teams can migrate in 1-2 weeks with proper planning. SPK offers services to speed up the process, and get the most out of Jira when you get there.
Do I need technical knowledge to use Jira effectively?
Not at all. Jira’s no-code configurations and intuitive UI make it accessible to non-technical users as well.
Final Thoughts on Linear and Jira
Linear is a great tool for a while. However, if you’re hitting its limits, it’s not you, it’s the tool. Jira gives you the room to grow, the controls to manage risk, and the power to unify your team. Whether you’re scaling fast or just thinking ahead, Jira is the smart move. If you’re interested in learning how SPK can provide you benefits for the migration or discounts on your Jira licenses, contact our team today!
