Best Project Management for Developers (2026)
Quick Take
Developer teams need issue tracking, sprint planning, Git integration, and keyboard shortcuts. These tools are built for engineering workflows, not marketing teams.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
| # | Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jira | Industry standard for software teams | $0/mo | 8.2/10 |
| 2 | Linear | Speed and developer experience | $Custom/mo | 8.1/10 |
| 3 | Shortcut | Clean and developer-friendly | $0/mo | 7.8/10 |
| 4 | ClickUp | Dev teams that collaborate cross-functionally | $0/mo | 8.8/10 |
| 5 | Height | AI-first issue management | $0/mo | 8.1/10 |
1. Jira | Industry standard for software teams
The industry standard for software development project tracking. Powerful issue tracking, sprint planning, and dev workflow management. Part of the Atlassian ecosystem.
Our take: Jira remains the industry standard for software development. Sprint planning, backlogs, and the Atlassian ecosystem are hard to beat.
Jira Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | — |
| Standard | $8 | — |
| Premium | $16 | — |
2. Linear | Speed and developer experience
Fast, keyboard-driven issue tracker designed for modern software teams. Known for exceptional UX, speed, and opinionated workflows. Growing fast among startups and dev teams.
Our take: Linear is the fastest, most keyboard-driven issue tracker available. Rapidly gaining ground among startups and modern dev teams.
Linear Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Plus | Custom | — |
| Free | $0 | — |
| Standard | $8 | — |
3. Shortcut | Clean and developer-friendly
Project management for software teams that balances ease of use with power. Clean interface, deep GitHub/GitLab integration, and a focus on reducing PM overhead for developers.
Our take: Shortcut balances simplicity with power. Deep GitHub/GitLab integration and a clean interface that developers love.
Shortcut Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | — |
| Team | $8 | — |
| Business | $12 | — |
4. ClickUp | Dev teams that collaborate cross-functionally
All-in-one productivity platform combining tasks, docs, goals, whiteboards, and chat. Aggressive pricing with a generous free tier and extensive feature set.
Our take: ClickUp works for dev teams that also need to collaborate with non-engineering departments. More versatile but less focused.
ClickUp Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free Forever | $0 | — |
| Unlimited | $10 | $7/mo |
| Business | $19 | $12/mo |
5. Height | AI-first issue management
Autonomous project management tool with deep AI integration. Designed for product and engineering teams. AI auto-triages, labels, and prioritizes issues without manual input.
Our take: Height's AI auto-triage and autonomous features reduce PM overhead for engineering teams. Young product but innovative.
Height Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | — |
| Team | $8 | — |
How We Ranked These Tools
We weighted developer-specific features: Git integration, sprint/iteration support, API quality, keyboard shortcuts, and developer community satisfaction.
Read our full scoring methodology for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should developers use Jira or Linear?
Jira if you need the Atlassian ecosystem, marketplace plugins, and enterprise features. Linear if you value speed, keyboard-driven workflows, and a modern UX. Linear is gaining share fast.
Is ClickUp good for developers?
ClickUp works for dev teams that need to collaborate with non-engineering departments. For pure engineering workflows, Jira or Linear offer better developer-specific features.