Skip to main content
Project Management

Bonsai vs Linear: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Bonsai and Linear. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Bonsai starts at Custom pricing and Linear starts at $10/mo. Compare all 8 pricing tiers side by side.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

Bonsai vs Linear: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureBonsaiLinear
Starting PriceCustom pricing$10/mo
Number of Plans44
Free TierNoYes
Pricing Modelper-seatper-seat
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Bonsai and Linear are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Project Management tools. Together they offer 8 pricing plans with 57 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.

Linear stands out with a free plan for getting started.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Project Management needs.

Pricing Plans
Tier 1
Basic
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Time tracking
  • Task management
  • Unlimited projects
  • CRM
  • Service library
  • iOS & Android app
  • Unlimited clients
Start with Basic
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Unlimited members
  • 2 teams
  • 250 issues
  • Slack and GitHub
  • AI agents
Start with Free
Tier 2
Essentials
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Everything in Basic plus
  • Invoices & Payments
  • Proposals & Contracts
  • All templates
  • Forms & Questionnaires
  • Scheduling
  • Client portal
  • Expense tracking
  • Income tracking
Start with Essentials
Basic
$10/monthCheapest
Includes
  • All Free features +
  • 5 teams
  • Unlimited issues
  • Unlimited file uploads
  • Admin roles
Start with Basic
Tier 3
PremiumPopular
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Everything in Essentials plus
  • Project insights
  • Workload management
  • Gantt view
  • Deals pipeline
  • Custom fields & properties
  • Client tasks & messaging
  • Profit & Productivity reports
  • Remove Bonsai branding
  • Integrations (QuickBooks, Zapier, Calendly, Google)
Start with Premium
BusinessPopular
$16/monthCheapest
Includes
  • All Basic features +
  • Unlimited teams
  • Private teams and guests
  • Triage Intelligence
  • Linear Insights
  • Linear Asks
  • Issue SLAs
  • Zendesk and Intercom integrations
Start with Business
Tier 4
Elite
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Everything in Premium plus:
  • Custom permissions
  • Timesheet locking
  • Add markup to expenses
  • Xero integration
  • Custom data import
Start with Elite
Enterprise
Custom pricing
Includes
  • All Business features +
  • Sub-initiatives
  • Advanced Linear Asks
  • Dashboards
  • SAML and SCIM
  • Advanced security
  • Migration and onboarding support
Start with Enterprise

Swipe to compare plans →

Bonsai

Business management for freelancers with contracts and invoicing

View all Bonsai plans

Linear

Streamlined issue tracking and project management for software teams

View all Linear plans

What Reviewers Say

Our Pick

Linear

Linear offers a free plan.

Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.

Best value: Linear

Try Linear free

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Bonsai if:

  • You want more features built-in—Bonsai offers 7 additional features across its plans
  • You prioritize Bonsai's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
  • You want Bonsai's approach to incremental feature unlocking across its 4 pricing tiers

Choose Linear if:

  • You need a free plan with Unlimited members, 2 teams—Linear offers no-cost access with no credit card required
  • You prioritize Linear's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
  • You need predictable billing — Linear's per-seat model avoids surprise overages

Linear offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Bonsai requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Linear a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Linear's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $16/mo provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Bonsai's tiering starting at Custom pricing to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Linear's 4 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Bonsai's 4 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Linear is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.

ShareShare

Frequently Asked Questions: Bonsai vs Linear

How many pricing plans does Bonsai have vs Linear?
Bonsai offers 4 pricing plans, while Linear offers 4 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Bonsai or Linear offer a free plan?
Linear offers a free plan, while Bonsai does not. If budget is a concern, Linear lets you get started at no cost.
What is the most popular Bonsai plan?
The Premium plan is Bonsai's most popular tier, priced at Custom pricing. Key features include Everything in Essentials plus, Project insights, Workload management.
What is the most popular Linear plan?
The Business plan is Linear's most popular tier, priced at $16/mo. Key features include All Basic features +, Unlimited teams, Private teams and guests.
Does Bonsai or Linear offer custom enterprise pricing?
Yes, both Bonsai and Linear offer custom enterprise pricing tiers with quote-based pricing. Contact each vendor for a tailored quote.
How do Bonsai and Linear compare for Project Management?
Both Bonsai and Linear are Project Management tools. Bonsai offers 4 plans starting at Custom pricing, while Linear offers 4 plans starting at $10/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Project Management needs.

Sources

  1. Bonsai Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. Linear Official PricingVendor pricing page

Related Articles

Track Price Changes

Get notified when pricing changes for these tools.