The Problem
Why teams leave Linear
Engineering-focused — non-dev teams need separate tools
Per-seat cost compounds across the whole org
Limited reporting and analytics at scale
No time tracking or resource management
Roadmap features are basic
What We Build Instead
Your custom project management tool
Fast issue tracker with Linear-quality UX for your whole org
Engineering and non-engineering workflows in one tool
Built-in roadmapping, capacity planning, and analytics
Custom integrations with your CI/CD and dev tools
Unlimited seats on your infrastructure
The Math
Linear vs. custom build
Based on 40 seats at $10/seat/month, with ~10% annual SaaS price increases.
Keep paying Linear
Build with 86 SaaS
3-year savings with 40 seats
-$27,660
-175% less than Linear
Pricing Breakdown
Linear tier pricing vs. one-time custom build
Compare what you pay per seat across Linear's tiers against a single investment in software you own forever.
| Tier | Monthly/Seat | Annual/Seat | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free | Unlimited issues, Up to 250 issues, Basic integrations, Roadmap view |
| Standard | $8/mo | $8/mo | Unlimited issues, All integrations, Triage features, Custom workflows |
| Plus | $14/mo | $14/mo | Initiatives, Advanced insights, Custom analytics, Priority support |
| Custom Build by 86 SaaS | $20,000–$40,000 one-time | $0/seat | Unlimited users, full ownership, no recurring fees |
Migration Timeline
From Linear to ownership — week by week
A structured migration plan to move off Linear in 5-9 weeks with zero downtime.
Discovery & Audit
1 weekMap Linear teams, projects, cycles, and integrations. Identify workflow patterns and custom labels.
Architecture & Design
1-2 weeksDesign fast issue tracker with Linear-quality UX for both engineering and non-engineering teams.
Core Development
2-4 weeksBuild issue tracker, agile cycles, roadmapping, capacity planning, and analytics. Optimize for speed.
Data Migration & Testing
1-2 weeksMigrate issues, projects, labels, and cycle data from Linear. Verify workflow integrity.
Deployment & Training
1 weekDeploy platform, connect dev tools, train engineering and product teams.
Total build time
5-9 weeks
Feature Comparison
What you keep, what you skip, and why
A transparent comparison of Linear features vs. your custom-built alternative.
| Feature | Linear | Custom Build | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issue Tracking | |||
| Cycles & Sprints | |||
| Roadmap Views | |||
| Custom Workflows | |||
| Fast, Keyboard-First UX | |||
| Git Integration | |||
| Built-in Time Tracking | Added — Linear lacks native time tracking | ||
| Non-Engineering Workflows | Added — extend to marketing, ops, and support teams | ||
| Capacity Planning | |||
| Analytics & Insights | |||
| Unlimited Seats | No per-seat pricing — add your entire org | ||
| Data Ownership | Your infrastructure, full data control |
Your custom build focuses on the features your team actually uses — typically 15-20% of what Linear offers — built exactly for your workflow.
How It Works
From Linear to ownership in 5-9 weeks
Free Audit
We analyze your Linear usage and identify exactly which features your team actually uses.
Scope & Build
We build your custom project management tool with only the features you need. 5-9 weeks.
Deploy & Migrate
We deploy to your infrastructure, migrate your data from Linear, and train your team.
You Own It
Full source code, documentation, and optional maintenance retainer. No vendor lock-in. Ever.