COMPARISON
Eigenfocus vs Linear
Linear is a great issue tracker for engineering teams. Eigenfocus adds time tracking, custom fields, and self-hosting, with no per-user fees.
Built for different contexts
Linear is fast and keyboard-driven, purpose-built for engineering sprints.
Eigenfocus covers more ground with time tracking, custom fields, and flexible hosting.
E
Eigenfocus
- Built-in time tracking with timesheets and CSV export
- Custom fields per project: text, number, date, select, and more
- 4 views: Board, Grid, List, Timeline
- Self-hosted via Docker or cloud option
- One-time payment or flat monthly, no per-user fees
L
Linear
- Fast, keyboard-driven interface with polished design
- Cycles with automatic rollover for sprint planning
- Deep GitHub and GitLab integration with automatic PR linking
- AI triage, auto-labeling, and summaries
- Roadmap and initiative tracking for stakeholder visibility
See it in action
Board, Grid, List, and Timeline views. Linear offers board, list, and a roadmap timeline.
Eigenfocus and Linear side by side
| Eigenfocus | Linear | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | One-time payment (self-hosted) or flat monthly (cloud) | Per user/month, annual billing required |
| Per-user fees | None | $8-12/user/month (annual) |
| Free plan limits | Unlimited projects, boards, issues | 250 active issues, 2 teams |
| Time tracking | Built-in (all editions) | Not available. Requires third-party tools. |
| Custom fields | 7 field types with colored badges (Pro) | Labels and fixed properties only |
| Views | Board, List, Grid, Timeline | Board, List, Roadmap timeline |
| Hosting | Self-hosted (Docker) or cloud | Cloud only |
| SSO | Google, GitHub, Microsoft, custom OIDC (Pro) | Google on paid plans. SAML on Enterprise only. |
| Guest accounts | Included on paid plans (no per-user fees) | Business/Enterprise, billed as full members |
| Data export | Full database access (self-hosted) | CSV export (250-2,000 issues depending on role) |
| Custom statuses | Yes (Essential+) | Yes |
| Best for | Teams that need time tracking, custom fields, and data ownership | Engineering teams focused on sprints and GitHub workflows |
Eigenfocus vs Linear: cost over 3 years
Linear Basic vs Eigenfocus PRO for a 10-person team
Eigenfocus PRO
One-time payment
$389.00
2-year total
$0
3-year total
$389.00
Unlimited users included. Time tracking and custom fields included.
Linear Basic (10 users)
Year 1
$960.00
2-year total
$1,920.00
3-year total
$2,880.00
Based on $8.00/user/month (annual billing). Does not include third-party time tracking tools.
Which one fits you?
Eigenfocus is a good fit if you...
- Need built-in time tracking for workload visibility or client reporting
- Want custom fields to track project phases, priorities, or effort estimates
- Prefer to self-host on your own infrastructure
- Want to avoid recurring per-user fees
- Have teams beyond engineering that also need project management
Linear might be a better fit if you...
- Run an engineering team deeply integrated with GitHub or GitLab
- Use sprint cycles with automatic rollover and capacity planning
- Want AI-powered triage and auto-labeling for incoming issues
- Do not need time tracking or custom field types beyond labels
- Need roadmap-level initiative tracking across multiple teams
See if Eigenfocus fits your workflow
Try the live preview or start with the free edition.