5 Best Shortcut Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 17 min read
Shortcut is a popular tool for small to mid-size software teams. While it offers a free tier (Up to 10 users), its paid plans start at $8.50/user/mo. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 5 best Shortcut alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 5
- Free alternatives: 5 (Linear, Jira, Asana)
- Open-source options: Plane
- Best overall: Linear
- Best free: Linear
Why Look for Shortcut Alternatives?
People commonly look for Shortcut alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While Shortcut has a free tier, its paid plans starting at $8.50/user/mo can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: Limited views and less known are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find Shortcut overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Data ownership: Organizations wanting data sovereignty prefer open-source, self-hosted alternatives.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shortcut | ✓ Up to 10 users | $8.50/user/mo | ⭐ 4.2 | No | Small to mid-size software teams |
| Linear | ✓ Up to 250 issues | $8/user/mo | ⭐ 4.6 | No | Software development teams |
| Jira | ✓ Up to 10 users | $8.15/user/mo | ⭐ 4 | No | Large software development teams |
| Asana | ✓ Up to 10 users | $10.99/user/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Mid-size teams managing complex projects |
| ClickUp | ✓ Unlimited tasks and members | $7/user/mo | ⭐ 4.2 | No | Teams wanting an all-in-one solution on a budget |
| Plane | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | $4/user/mo | ⭐ 4.2 | ✓ Yes | Teams wanting open-source Jira alternative |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Linear
Streamlined issue tracking built for modern software teams.
Linear has quickly become the favorite project management tool for software development teams. Built with a focus on speed and developer experience, Linear offers keyboard-first navigation, a clean UI, and integrations with GitHub, GitLab, and other developer tools. It's designed to make issue tracking feel fast and enjoyable.
Pros
- ✓ Blazingly fast
- ✓ Beautiful design
- ✓ Developer-focused
- ✓ Great keyboard shortcuts
Cons
- ✗ Limited non-dev features
- ✗ Smaller ecosystem
- ✗ No free plan for teams
- ✗ Limited reporting
Jira
Industry-standard issue and project tracking for software teams.
Jira by Atlassian is the most widely used project tracking tool for software development. With powerful features for agile development including Scrum and Kanban boards, sprint planning, and advanced reporting, Jira is the default choice for many engineering teams. While powerful, its complexity is often cited as a drawback.
Pros
- ✓ Industry standard
- ✓ Powerful for dev teams
- ✓ Deep customization
- ✓ Extensive marketplace
Cons
- ✗ Complex and overwhelming
- ✗ Slow performance
- ✗ Expensive at scale
- ✗ Steep learning curve
Asana
Work management platform for teams to organize, track, and manage work.
Asana is a leading work management platform that helps teams orchestrate their work, from daily tasks to strategic initiatives. Founded in 2008 by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, Asana has grown to serve over 100,000 organizations worldwide. The platform offers multiple project views including lists, boards, timelines, and calendars, making it versatile for different work styles and project types.
Pros
- ✓ Intuitive interface
- ✓ Powerful automation
- ✓ Great for cross-team projects
- ✓ Excellent mobile app
Cons
- ✗ Expensive for large teams
- ✗ Can be overwhelming for simple projects
- ✗ Limited free tier
- ✗ No built-in time tracking
ClickUp
All-in-one productivity platform that replaces multiple work apps.
ClickUp positions itself as the 'one app to replace them all' — combining project management, docs, goals, chat, and whiteboards in a single platform. Known for its feature density and competitive pricing, ClickUp has rapidly grown to compete with established players. It offers an impressive free tier and is popular among startups and growing teams.
Pros
- ✓ Feature-rich free plan
- ✓ All-in-one platform
- ✓ Highly customizable
- ✓ Affordable paid plans
Cons
- ✗ Can feel cluttered
- ✗ Steep learning curve
- ✗ Performance issues reported
- ✗ Frequent UI changes
Plane
Open-source project planning tool as an alternative to Jira.
Plane is an open-source project management tool that aims to be a simpler, more accessible alternative to Jira. It supports issues, cycles, modules, and pages, with a clean modern interface. Being open-source, teams can self-host it for complete data control.
Pros
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Self-hostable
- ✓ Modern UI
- ✓ Active development
- ✓ Free to self-host
Cons
- ✗ Young product
- ✗ Fewer integrations
- ✗ Limited documentation
- ✗ Smaller community
🏆 Our Recommendations
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to Shortcut?
The best free alternative to Shortcut is Linear, which offers Up to 250 issues.
Is there an open-source alternative to Shortcut?
Yes! Plane is open-source alternative to Shortcut that you can self-host for free.
What is the cheapest alternative to Shortcut?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Linear, Jira, Asana. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $4/mo.
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