Introducing Linear Integration for Planning Poker - Streamline Your Modern Agile Workflow

Sprint planning should feel as fast and elegant as Linear itself. Our new Linear integration brings your unestimated issues directly into Planning Poker, enables real-time collaborative estimation, and syncs story points back to Linear automatically—no context switching, no manual data entry.

Why Linear Teams Need This

Linear revolutionized issue tracking with speed, keyboard shortcuts, and beautiful design. But when estimation time comes, many teams still find themselves juggling between tools. Open Linear, find an issue, copy the identifier, paste it into your planning tool, estimate, write down the points, switch back to Linear, locate the issue, update the estimate field. Repeat for every backlog item.

That workflow contradicts everything Linear stands for: speed, efficiency, and removing friction from your development process.

Our integration eliminates the context switching. Pull issues directly from Linear, estimate them collaboratively with your team in real-time, and watch story points sync back automatically.

Key Features

Direct Issue Import from Linear

Pull unestimated issues from your Linear workspace into your planning session in seconds. The integration fetches:

Issue identifiers and titles (e.g., "ENG-245: Add authentication flow")
Issue descriptions and acceptance criteria
Current estimate values (if any exist)
Priority levels and status information
Project and team associations

The import respects Linear's powerful filtering capabilities, so you only see the issues that matter for your current planning session.

Automatic Two-Way Sync

Reach consensus on an estimate, and the story points write back to Linear instantly. No review step, no batch operations, no delays. The integration updates Linear's estimate field in real-time as your team agrees on values.

Team and Project Filtering

Linear's organizational structure maps perfectly to Planning Poker:

Select specific teams: Only pull issues from the teams participating in your session
Filter by project: Focus on a single project or initiative
Status-based filtering: Automatically excludes completed and canceled issues
Unestimated focus: By default, only issues without estimates appear

Smart Workflow Integration

The integration understands Linear's workflow states. Issues that are already completed or canceled don't appear in your import list, keeping your planning focused on actionable work.

OAuth 2.0 Security

Connect using Linear's official OAuth flow. We never see or store your Linear password, and you can revoke access instantly from Linear's settings or directly from Planning Poker.

Why Linear Integration Matters

Built for Speed

Linear users choose Linear because it's fast. Our integration maintains that speed philosophy:

Issue import completes in under 2 seconds for typical backlogs
Real-time sync means no waiting for batch operations
Keyboard shortcuts work throughout the planning session
No page refreshes or loading states between operations

Preserves Your Workflow

Linear teams often have specific workflows and processes. The integration adapts to your setup:

Works with any team structure (single team or multiple)
Supports Linear's project hierarchy
Respects your existing estimate format and workflow states
Doesn't modify issues beyond the estimate field

Reduces Tool Fatigue

Every tool switch costs time and mental energy. The Linear integration means:

One tab instead of two during planning sessions
No copying and pasting identifiers or values
No hunting for issues in Linear after estimation
Your team stays focused on the conversation, not the tools

How It Works: Step-by-Step

1. Connect Your Linear Workspace

Navigate to your Planning Poker session settings and click "Connect Linear". You'll be redirected to Linear's OAuth authorization page, where you can grant Planning Poker access to read issues and update estimates.

The authorization uses Linear's official OAuth 2.0 flow. We request minimal permissions:

Read access to teams and issues
Write access to update estimate fields only

We never access other Linear data, and we never see your Linear password. All access tokens are encrypted at rest in our database.

2. Select Your Team

After connecting, choose which Linear team's issues you want to import. If your Linear workspace has multiple teams, you can filter to exactly the team(s) participating in your planning session.

3. Import Unestimated Issues

Click "Import from Linear" in your session. You'll see a list of unestimated issues from your selected team, automatically filtered to exclude completed and canceled items.

The interface shows:

Issue identifier (e.g., "ENG-245")
Full issue title
Current priority level
Associated project (if any)

Select the issues you want to estimate, then click "Add to Session". The issues appear as estimation items in your Planning Poker session.

4. Estimate Together

Run your planning poker session as usual:

Facilitator selects an issue
Team members discuss scope and complexity
Everyone votes simultaneously using Planning Poker's card interface
Cards reveal when all votes are in
Team discusses any variance and re-votes if needed

The estimation item displays the full Linear issue description and acceptance criteria, so your team has complete context during discussion.

5. Automatic Sync to Linear

Here's where the magic happens: When consensus is reached on an estimate, Planning Poker automatically pushes the story points back to Linear. No "Sync" button to remember, no batch operation to run later.

The estimate appears in Linear's estimate field within seconds. If you have Linear open in another tab, you'll see the value update in real-time thanks to Linear's own real-time sync.

6. Continue Planning

Move to the next issue and repeat. The integration handles all the syncing in the background, letting your team maintain flow and momentum during the planning session.

Linear vs. Jira: What Makes Linear Different

We also offer a Jira integration, and teams often ask about the differences. Both integrations provide similar core functionality (import issues, sync estimates), but they're optimized for different workflows.

Speed and Simplicity

Linear's API is significantly faster than Jira's. Issue imports that might take 5-10 seconds in Jira complete in under 2 seconds with Linear. If your team values speed, Linear's integration delivers.

Modern Development Workflows

Linear was built for modern software teams using continuous delivery and fast iteration cycles. The integration reflects this:

Cleaner issue data structure (no custom fields to configure)
Simpler team/project hierarchy
More predictable API responses
Better real-time capabilities

Developer Experience

Linear's SDK and API are developer-friendly, which translates to a more reliable integration:

Type-safe GraphQL API reduces errors
Consistent data models across all operations
Better error messages when issues occur
More comprehensive API documentation

When to Choose Linear

Choose Linear integration if:

Your team uses Linear as your primary issue tracker
Speed and real-time updates are critical
You prefer simpler tools over feature-heavy ones
Your development process emphasizes continuous delivery

Choose Jira integration if:

Your organization standardizes on Jira
You need extensive custom field support
You work with complex project hierarchies
Enterprise compliance requires Jira

Many teams use both tools in different contexts. Our integrations work independently, so you can connect whichever tool matches your current project.

Security and Privacy

Your data security matters. Here's how we protect your Linear integration:

OAuth 2.0 Only

We use Linear's official OAuth authorization flow. This means:

We never see or store your Linear password
Linear controls what permissions we receive
You authorize the connection explicitly
Tokens are scoped to minimum necessary permissions

Minimal Permissions

We request only what we need:

Read: Teams, issues, projects, workflow states
Write: Issue estimate field only

We cannot and do not:

Create or delete issues
Modify issue descriptions or comments
Change workflow states or assignments
Access other Linear data beyond issues

Encrypted Token Storage

All Linear access tokens are encrypted at rest using industry-standard AES-256 encryption. Tokens are decrypted only during API calls and never logged or exposed.

Automatic Token Refresh

Linear access tokens can expire. Our integration handles refresh automatically using Linear's refresh token flow, ensuring uninterrupted sync without requiring re-authorization.

Instant Disconnect

Revoke access anytime from either:

Planning Poker session settings ("Disconnect Linear" button)
Linear's authorized applications settings

Disconnecting immediately invalidates all tokens and stops all sync operations.

Data Retention

When you disconnect Linear:

All access tokens are permanently deleted
Previously imported issues remain in your Planning Poker sessions (but won't sync to Linear)
No Linear data persists beyond issue identifiers and titles

Getting Started

The Linear integration is available on Starter, Team, and Enterprise plans. Here's how to set it up:

Prerequisites

Active Linear workspace with issues to estimate
Planning Poker Starter, Team, or Enterprise plan (view pricing)
Facilitator or admin role in your Planning Poker workspace

Setup Steps

Upgrade if needed: If you're on the Free plan, upgrade to Starter, Team, or Enterprise
Create or open a session: Navigate to any Planning Poker session where you're the facilitator
Access session settings: Click the settings icon in the session header
Connect Linear: Click "Connect Linear" and authorize the integration
Select your team: Choose which Linear team to import from
Start importing: Click "Import from Linear" to begin

The entire setup takes less than 2 minutes from start to first imported issue.

Advanced Usage Tips

Tip 1: Filter Before Importing

Before clicking "Import from Linear", use Linear's own filtering to prepare your backlog:

In Linear, filter issues to those ready for estimation
Apply labels, projects, or status filters as needed
The integration respects these filters when importing

Tip 2: Use Consistent Estimate Units

Linear's estimate field is flexible (it accepts any number). Before connecting the integration, align your team on units:

Story points (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13...)
Ideal hours (1, 2, 4, 8, 16...)
T-shirt sizes mapped to numbers (XS=1, S=2, M=3, L=5, XL=8)

Configure Planning Poker's card set to match your chosen unit, ensuring estimates sync with appropriate values.

Tip 3: Leverage Real-Time Updates

Both Linear and Planning Poker support real-time updates. Use this to your advantage:

Keep Linear open in another window during estimation
Watch estimates appear in Linear as your team reaches consensus
Immediately verify synced values match expectations

Tip 4: Batch Import by Project

If you're estimating multiple projects, create separate Planning Poker sessions for each:

Session focus remains clear
Different teams can estimate simultaneously
Results group naturally by project
Easier to track estimation velocity per project

Tip 5: Re-Estimation Workflow

Need to re-estimate an issue? The integration handles it smoothly:

Import the issue again (even if previously estimated)
Run the estimation process
New estimate overwrites the old value in Linear
Linear's history preserves the previous estimate for reference

Tip 6: Comments Stay in Context

Planning Poker supports commenting on estimation items. Use this for:

Recording assumptions made during estimation
Noting blockers or dependencies discovered
Capturing reasons for estimate variance

These comments stay in Planning Poker (they don't sync to Linear), giving you estimation-specific context separate from Linear's development-focused discussions.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue: "Linear integration expired" Error

Cause: Access token has expired and refresh failed.

Solution:

Go to session settings
Click "Disconnect Linear"
Click "Connect Linear" again to re-authorize
Continue importing and syncing

Issue: Imported Issues Show Wrong Team

Cause: Selected wrong team during import or workspace has multiple teams with similar names.

Solution:

Check team selection in the import dialog
Verify team name matches your intended Linear team
Re-import with correct team selected

Issue: Estimates Not Syncing to Linear

Cause: Several possible reasons - network issues, Linear API rate limits, or permission problems.

Solution:

Verify Linear connection is active (check session settings)
Check browser console for error messages
Confirm issue wasn't deleted or moved to another team in Linear
Try disconnecting and reconnecting the integration
Contact support at hello@planning-poker.app if issue persists

Issue: Duplicate Issues After Import

Cause: Same Linear issue imported multiple times into the session.

Solution:

Planning Poker allows this by design (for re-estimation)
Delete duplicate estimation items if unintended
Only the most recent estimate syncs to Linear

Issue: Can't See Some Linear Issues

Cause: Issues are already estimated, completed, or canceled.

Solution:

The integration only shows unestimated, active issues by default
Check issue status in Linear
If the issue needs re-estimation, update or clear the estimate in Linear first, then re-import

Issue: Slow Import Performance

Cause: Large number of unestimated issues or slow network connection.

Solution:

Filter issues in Linear before importing (use projects, labels, or cycles)
Import in smaller batches
Check network connection speed
Linear's API occasionally experiences slowdowns - try again in a few minutes

Best Practices for Linear + Planning Poker

Keep Your Backlog Groomed

Before planning sessions:

Ensure issues have clear descriptions and acceptance criteria in Linear
Apply appropriate labels and project assignments
Remove or complete stale issues
Update priorities to reflect current goals

Well-groomed backlogs make estimation sessions faster and more productive.

Establish Estimation Guidelines

Document your team's estimation approach:

Which card set you're using (Fibonacci, T-shirt sizes, Powers of 2)
What each value represents (story points, hours, complexity levels)
Criteria for common estimates (what makes a "5" vs. an "8"?)
How to handle unknowns and dependencies

Share these guidelines in Linear (pin a doc issue) and reference them during Planning Poker sessions.

Run Regular Estimation Sessions

Consistency improves estimation accuracy:

Weekly backlog estimation for upcoming sprints
Quarterly roadmap estimation for projects
Ad-hoc estimation when urgent issues arise

Regular sessions help teams calibrate their estimates and build shared understanding of complexity.

Review Estimation Accuracy

Use Linear's analytics to track:

Estimated vs. actual cycle time
Which types of issues are consistently over/under-estimated
Team velocity trends over time

Feed these insights back into your estimation process, adjusting your approach as needed.

Combine with Linear's Cycles

Linear's cycle feature pairs perfectly with Planning Poker:

Create a new cycle in Linear for your upcoming sprint
Assign unestimated issues to the cycle
Import cycle issues into Planning Poker (filter by cycle in Linear first)
Estimate all issues
Story points sync back to Linear
Review total cycle points to verify capacity

This creates a seamless workflow from backlog grooming to sprint planning to execution.

What's Coming Next

We're actively developing additional Linear features based on user feedback. Here's what's on our roadmap:

Planned Features

Custom Field Support

Sync additional fields beyond estimates (T-shirt sizes, complexity ratings)
Map Planning Poker votes to custom Linear fields
Support for multiple estimation dimensions

Two-Way Comment Sync

Push Planning Poker estimation comments to Linear issues
Maintain discussion context in both tools
Automatic comment threading

Advanced Filtering

Visual filter builder for complex queries
Save filter presets for common estimation scenarios
Filter by labels, assignees, cycles, and custom fields

Linear Webhooks

Real-time notifications when Linear issues change
Automatic re-import when new issues are added to relevant projects
Sync updates when Linear estimates change outside Planning Poker

Cycle-Based Sessions

Auto-create Planning Poker sessions from Linear cycles
Bulk import all unestimated issues in a cycle
Track estimation completion percentage per cycle

Analytics Integration

Historical estimation accuracy tracking
Velocity charts combining Linear and Planning Poker data
Team performance insights

Share Your Ideas

Using the Linear integration? We want to hear from you:

What features would make your estimation process smoother?
Which Linear capabilities should we integrate more deeply?
What friction points remain in your workflow?

Email us at hello@planning-poker.app with feedback, suggestions, or bug reports.

Comparison: Linear vs. Other Tools

Why Teams Choose Linear for Estimation

Speed: Linear's performance makes frequent estimation sessions feel effortless rather than tedious.

Developer Focus: Built by developers for developers, Linear's workflow matches how modern engineering teams actually work.

Keyboard-First: Power users can navigate entirely via keyboard, making bulk estimation sessions faster.

Beautiful Design: Aesthetics matter for tool adoption. Linear's interface reduces friction and cognitive load.

API Quality: Linear's GraphQL API is among the best in the project management space, enabling more reliable integrations.

When Linear Might Not Fit

Linear isn't perfect for every team. Consider alternatives if:

You need extensive custom workflows (Jira offers more flexibility)
Regulatory compliance requires specific features Linear doesn't provide
Your organization has standardized on a different tool
You work in industries beyond software development (Linear is optimized for engineering teams)

Our Jira integration provides an alternative for teams using Atlassian's ecosystem.

Real-World Usage Scenarios

Scenario 1: Fast-Growing Startup

Challenge: Engineering team grows from 5 to 25 developers. Estimation sessions that took 30 minutes now take 2+ hours due to larger backlog and more voices in the discussion.

Solution with Linear Integration:

Product manager filters Linear issues by upcoming milestone
Engineering lead creates Planning Poker session
Imports filtered issues (typically 20-30 items)
Teams estimate in parallel (front-end and back-end)
Estimates sync back to Linear immediately
Product manager reviews total story points for milestone feasibility

Result: Estimation sessions return to 30-45 minutes despite team growth. No manual data entry required.

Scenario 2: Remote-First Team Across Time Zones

Challenge: Team members in San Francisco, London, and Singapore can't find overlapping time for synchronous estimation. Async estimation attempts via Linear comments become lengthy and inconclusive.

Solution with Linear Integration:

Facilitator imports issues and schedules Planning Poker session for overlap window (limited to 2 hours)
Team uses Planning Poker's real-time voting to reach consensus quickly
Discussion focuses on significant variance, not every issue
Estimates sync automatically - no follow-up required
Recording of estimation discussion available for team members who couldn't attend

Result: Effective estimation in available overlap time. No timezone-based communication overhead.

Scenario 3: Multiple Product Teams Sharing Engineering Resources

Challenge: Three product teams share one engineering team. Each product team maintains backlogs in separate Linear teams. Monthly planning requires estimating issues across all three teams.

Solution with Linear Integration:

Create three separate Planning Poker sessions (one per Linear team)
Import issues from each team independently
Estimate in focused batches by product area
Story points sync to respective Linear teams automatically
Planning Poker's export feature allows comparing total commitments across products

Result: Clear separation of product areas with centralized estimation process. No confusion about which estimates belong to which team.

Pricing and Plans

The Linear integration is available on Starter, Team, and Enterprise plans:

Starter Plan

Linear Integration: ✅ Included
Features:
- Up to 10 participants per session
- Up to 10 active sessions
- Linear integration (import & sync)
- Custom voting scales
- Private rooms
- 90-day session history

Team Plan (Most Popular)

Linear Integration: ✅ Included
Jira Integration: ✅ Included
Features:
- Unlimited participants
- Unlimited sessions
- Linear + Jira + GitHub + Slack integrations
- Analytics dashboard
- Export data
- Priority support
- Unlimited session history

Enterprise Plan

Linear Integration: ✅ Included with enhanced features
Features:
- Everything in Team plan
- White-labeling
- Dedicated support
- Custom workflows
- Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Audit logs
- API access
- Custom integrations
- SLA guarantees

View full pricing details

Free Plan Limitations

The Free plan does NOT include Linear integration. Free plan features:

Up to 5 participants per session
Up to 3 active sessions
Manual issue entry (no integrations)
Public rooms only
30-day session history

Start free session to try Planning Poker before upgrading.

Technical Details

For developers and technical leaders evaluating the integration:

API Usage

The integration uses Linear's official GraphQL API with:

OAuth 2.0 for authentication
Automatic token refresh
Rate limiting compliance (respects Linear's API limits)
Retry logic for transient failures

Data Security

All data transmitted over HTTPS (TLS 1.3)
Access tokens encrypted at rest (AES-256)
Tokens scoped to minimum necessary permissions
Regular security audits of integration code

Performance

Typical operation times:

OAuth authorization: < 3 seconds
Import 50 issues: < 2 seconds
Single estimate sync: < 1 second
Batch sync 20 estimates: < 5 seconds

Reliability

99.9% uptime SLA for Enterprise customers
Automatic retry for failed sync operations
Graceful degradation if Linear API is unavailable
Detailed error logging for troubleshooting

Privacy

We store only:

Linear access and refresh tokens (encrypted)
Issue identifiers and titles for imported items
Mapping between Planning Poker items and Linear issues

We do not store:

Issue descriptions or acceptance criteria (fetched on-demand)
Linear user information beyond what's required for OAuth
Historical Linear data beyond current session scope

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Linear integration on the Free plan?

No, Linear integration requires Starter, Team, or Enterprise plan. Upgrade here.

Does the integration work with Linear's free tier?

Yes, the integration works with all Linear plan tiers, including Linear's Free plan. Planning Poker's plan requirements are independent of your Linear plan level.

Can multiple team members connect their Linear accounts?

Yes, each team member can connect their own Linear account. However, only one connection is needed per session - the facilitator's connection handles all imports and syncs.

What happens if I disconnect Linear mid-session?

Previously imported issues remain in the Planning Poker session, but estimates will no longer sync to Linear. Reconnecting restores sync functionality.

Can I import already-estimated issues?

By default, the integration shows only unestimated issues. You can modify filters to include estimated issues if you want to re-estimate.

Does the integration support Linear's API rate limits?

Yes, we respect Linear's rate limits and automatically throttle requests. For very large imports (100+ issues), we batch requests to stay within limits.

Can I import issues from multiple Linear teams?

Yes, but you'll need to import from each team separately. We recommend creating separate Planning Poker sessions for different Linear teams to keep context clear.

What Linear permissions do I need?

You need at least "Member" role in Linear teams you want to import from. Guest users cannot connect the integration.

Does this work with Linear's mobile app?

The Planning Poker web app works on mobile browsers. While Linear has native mobile apps, our integration operates through web-based Planning Poker, which is mobile-responsive.

Can I sync estimates to Linear custom fields?

Currently, estimates sync to Linear's built-in estimate field only. Custom field support is on our roadmap.

Try It Now

Ready to streamline your Linear workflow? Start a Planning Poker session and connect your Linear workspace in under 2 minutes.

New to Planning Poker? Create a free account and explore the tool before upgrading. The Free plan includes all core estimation features - you can always add Linear integration later.

Get Help

Questions about the Linear integration? We're here to help:

Email: hello@planning-poker.app
Documentation: Check our help center (coming soon)
Feature Requests: Email your ideas to hello@planning-poker.app

We typically respond within 24 hours on business days, and within 4 hours for Enterprise customers.

The Linear integration represents our commitment to building tools that match how modern engineering teams work. Fast, elegant, and friction-free - just like Linear itself.