ToolsRanks

The best Shortcut alternatives in 2026

Quick answer: The strongest Shortcut alternatives are Jira, Linear and Height. Jira is the closest match for most users; the others trade off on price, features or focus. All 3 are compared below on pricing, strengths and best use case.

Shortcut is a solid software development pm tool — Project management for software teams balancing simplicity and power, with stories, epics, iterations, roadmaps and built-in docs (formerly Clubhouse). But maybe the pricing no longer fits, or you want a feature Shortcut doesn't prioritise. Here are the strongest alternatives worth a look, with what sets each apart.

Each option below works in the same broad space as Shortcut; the right swap depends on which trade-off matters most to you.

Alternatives at a glance

AlternativePricingBest for
JiraFree up to 10 users; Standard from ~$7.53/user/mo; Premium ~$13.53/user/mo; Enterprise custom (billed annually; scales down at higher seat counts).Software development teams
LinearFree plan; Basic from ~$8/user/mo; Business ~$14/user/mo; Enterprise custom (billed annually).Engineering and product teams
HeightFree tier; paid Team plans for Height 2.0 with AI features (per-user pricing, verify current rate on signup).Product and engineering teams

The alternatives in detail

Jira software development PM

Industry-standard issue and sprint tracker for software teams, with Scrum/Kanban boards, backlogs, roadmaps and deep Atlassian Marketplace integrations. Consider it if software development teams is your priority.

The default issue and sprint tracker for software teams, backed by a 10,000+ app marketplace.

Stands out for:

Pricing: Free up to 10 users; Standard from ~$7.53/user/mo; Premium ~$13.53/user/mo; Enterprise custom (billed annually; scales down at higher seat counts). · Best for: Software development teams, Agile/Scrum at scale, Atlassian ecosystem users

Full Jira overview

More on Jira →

Linear software development PM

Fast, keyboard-driven issue tracker and project planner built for modern software teams, with sleek UX, cycles, roadmaps and strong Git integrations. A good swap when you care most about engineering and product teams.

A blazing-fast, keyboard-first issue tracker with a design polish that engineering teams rave about.

Stands out for:

Pricing: Free plan; Basic from ~$8/user/mo; Business ~$14/user/mo; Enterprise custom (billed annually). · Best for: Engineering and product teams, Startups valuing speed/UX, Issue tracking with Git workflows

Full Linear overview

More on Linear →

Height software development PM

AI-native project management tool that automates triage, backlog grooming and updates, positioning itself as an autonomous project manager for product teams. A good swap when you care most about product and engineering teams.

An early autonomous-AI project manager for product teams, now shut down (service ended Sept 2025).

Stands out for:

Pricing: Free tier; paid Team plans for Height 2.0 with AI features (per-user pricing, verify current rate on signup). · Best for: Product and engineering teams, Teams wanting AI automation, Lean startups

Full Height overview

More on Height →

FAQ

What is the best Shortcut alternative?

Jira is our pick for most users looking to move on from Shortcut, though the best fit depends on your needs.

Is there a free Shortcut alternative?

Several alternatives above offer a free tier or trial, so you can test them without upfront cost.

Why switch from Shortcut?

Common reasons are pricing, a specific feature, or a workflow that another tool handles more naturally.