Employment Hero vs Linear
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Employment Hero
Employment Hero is an all-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits platform with a strong presence in Australia and New Zealand. It offers a free HR plan alongside paid payroll and benefits modules, making it accessible for businesses at any stage. Employment Hero also operates a job marketplace called Swag for employees.
Linear
Linear is a modern project management tool built for high-performance software teams. It is known for its speed, keyboard-first interface, and opinionated workflows that help engineering teams move fast. Linear has become popular with startups and tech companies as a modern alternative to Jira that prioritizes developer experience.
Pros
- ✓Free HR plan available with core employee management features
- ✓Strong compliance tools for Australian and NZ employment law
- ✓All-in-one platform covering HR, payroll, and benefits
- ✓Employee benefits marketplace with discounts and perks
Cons
- ✗Payroll module costs extra and is best suited for AU/NZ companies
- ✗Limited support and compliance coverage outside Australia and New Zealand
- ✗Some users report the platform can feel complex to navigate
Pros
- ✓Incredibly fast and responsive interface
- ✓Keyboard-first design loved by developers
- ✓Clean and modern interface with no clutter
- ✓Strong GitHub and GitLab integration for engineering workflows
Cons
- ✗Built specifically for software teams — limited use for non-technical projects
- ✗Less feature-rich than Jira for complex enterprise workflows
- ✗Smaller integration ecosystem than established tools
- ✗Limited reporting compared to enterprise tools
Employment Hero vs Linear: Side by Side
| Factor | Employment Hero | Linear |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | Project Management |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Best For | Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite | High-performance software and engineering teams wanting a fast, modern alternative to Jira |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
Linear Features
- ✓Issue tracking
- ✓sprint cycles
- ✓roadmaps
- ✓GitHub and GitLab integration
- ✓keyboard shortcuts
- ✓API access
- ✓automations
- ✓project insights
Pricing Comparison
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Employment Hero if...
- →Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Choose Linear if...
- →High-performance software and engineering teams wanting a fast, modern alternative to Jira
Our Take
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Linear if high-performance software and engineering teams wanting a fast, modern alternative to jira.
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Best For
High-performance software and engineering teams wanting a fast, modern alternative to Jira
Also Consider
If neither Employment Hero nor Linear is the right fit, Justworks is worth evaluating.
Justworks
Small businesses wanting Fortune 500 benefits
From $59/employee/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Employment Hero and Linear?
Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Linear is best for high-performance software and engineering teams wanting a fast, modern alternative to jira.
Which is better, Employment Hero or Linear?
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Linear if high-performance software and engineering teams wanting a fast, modern alternative to jira.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Linear cost?
Linear starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Who should use Linear?
High-performance software and engineering teams wanting a fast, modern alternative to Jira