Is Linear worth it for a 5-person team, or is it overkill?

Detailed Answer

For a 5-person team, GitHub Issues and GitHub Projects are free, well-integrated with your code, and good enough for most early work. The case for Linear is: faster UI, better keyboard shortcuts, opinionated cycles, and a more pleasant experience for non-engineers on the team (PM, design). The honest math: at 5 people, the productivity gain of Linear is real but maybe 10-20 minutes per person per week. At 20+ people, the math flips because Linear's opinionated workflow and Triage inbox prevent process debt that compounds. If you have budget, the upgrade feels good. If you don't, GitHub Projects will carry you for a long time.