Raycast is Sean's recommendation for most people reading this comparison. Score: 9.4/10. Free tier replaced 5 paid utilities. Highest ROI free tool in Sean's stack.
Linear (9.1/10) is the right choice for a specific situation: engineering and product teams. If that describes you, the full review has the complete math.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Linear or Raycast?
Raycast (9.4/10) wins for most people. Free tier replaced 5 paid utilities. Highest ROI free tool in Sean's stack. Linear is the right choice if: engineering and product teams.
What is Sean's score for Linear?
Sean rates Linear 9.1/10. Verdict: Fastest PM interface available. Sean tested 4 alternatives.
What is Sean's score for Raycast?
Sean rates Raycast 9.4/10. Verdict: Free tier replaced 5 paid utilities. Highest ROI free tool in Sean's stack.
Who should choose Linear?
Engineering and product teams.
Who should choose Raycast?
Mac users who want to reduce app switching.
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Head to head, by the numbers
Linear
Raycast
Sean's score
9.1/10
9.4/10
Price
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Top strength
Fastest interface in the project management category
Free tier replaces multiple paid utilities
Biggest drawback
Opinionated structure — less flexible than Notion or Asana
Mac only
The case for Linear
Fastest interface in the project management category
Raycast takes this one on the numbers (9.4/10 vs 9.1/10). Highest ROI free tool Sean uses. Replaced Spotlight, Alfred, and three other utilities in one application.
That said, Linear isn't a loser — it's a different answer. The fastest project management interface available. Sean has used four alternatives. Nothing is faster than Linear.