True cost comparison — not just what the pricing page says
Quick Verdict
Linear saves you 100%
Best for Zoom
Modern issue tracking for software teams. Free for up to 250 issues, then $8-$14/user/mo. Clean and
Best for Linear
Video conferencing and collaboration platform. Free plan has a 40-minute meeting limit. Add-ons for
Video conferencing and collaboration platform. Free plan has a 40-minute meeting...
Advertised
$13
/month
True Cost
$161
/month (typical)
40-Minute Free Meeting Limit
Free plan limits group meetings (3+ participants) to 40 minutes. Meetings cut off abruptly. Must res...
Zoom Phone Add-On
Zoom Phone (VOIP) is NOT included in any Workplace plan. Metered at $10/user/mo or Unlimited at $15/...
Zoom Rooms Add-On
Conference room hardware/software integration costs $49/room/mo. A 10-room office adds $490/mo. Hard...
Webinar & Events Add-On
Zoom Webinars start at $79/mo/license (500 attendees). Zoom Events at $99/mo. These are per-license,...
Cloud Recording Storage
Workplace Business includes limited cloud storage. Additional storage packs cost extra. Heavy record...
Modern issue tracking for software teams. Free for up to 250 issues, then $8-$14...
Advertised
$0
/month
True Cost
$12
/month (typical)
250 Active Issue Limit on Free
Free plan limits to 250 active issues. Fast-moving engineering teams hit this in weeks. Standard at ...
Guest Access Requires Plus
External guest access for contractors and clients requires Plus plan at $14/user/mo — 75% more than ...
Advanced Features on Plus Only
Triage responsibility, SLA tracking, and advanced GitHub/GitLab integrations require Plus at $14/use...
Linear advertises $0/mo. Zoom advertises $13.32/mo.
Linear has 3 documented hidden fees. Zoom has 5.
Linear confidence: 78%. Zoom confidence: 83%.
| Metric | Zoom | Linear | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertised Price | $13.32/mo | $0/mo | Linear |
| True Monthly Cost | $161/mo | $12/mo | Linear |
| Hidden Fee Total | +$148/mo | +$12/mo | Linear |
| # Hidden Fees | 5 | 3 | Linear |
| Confidence Score | 83% | 78% | Zoom |
| Pricing Tiers | 4 | 3 | — |
| Affiliate Program | No public affiliate program | None | — |
Zoom advertises $13.32/mo and Linear advertises $0/mo. However, when you include hidden fees, Zoom has 5 documented hidden fees adding +$148/mo, while Linear has 3 hidden fees adding +$12/mo. Based on true cost, Linear is typically 100% cheaper.
Zoom has 5 documented hidden fees: 40-Minute Free Meeting Limit, Zoom Phone Add-On, Zoom Rooms Add-On, Webinar & Events Add-On, Cloud Recording Storage. These add approximately +$148/mo on top of the $13.32/mo advertised price.
Linear has 3 documented hidden fees: 250 Active Issue Limit on Free, Guest Access Requires Plus, Advanced Features on Plus Only. These add approximately +$12/mo on top of the $0/mo advertised price.
Choose Zoom if: Modern issue tracking for software teams. Free for up to 250 issues, then $8-$14/user/mo. Clean and . Choose Linear if: Video conferencing and collaboration platform. Free plan has a 40-minute meeting limit. Add-ons for . The right choice depends on your team size, usage volume, and which features you need most.
This comparison is based on manual research of official pricing pages, terms of service, and user reports. Zoom data has a 83% confidence score and Linear has 78%. Prices were last verified in April 2026. For the most accurate estimate, enter your specific usage in our calculator.
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