Best Issue Tracking Software in 2026
Updated
In short: GitHub Codespaces is ranked #1 of 37 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of Linear and YouTrack. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Linear. The lowest first paid tier on this page is GitHub Codespaces at $0.07/mo.
Issue tracking tools help you capture bugs, requests, and other work, then follow each item through a team’s workflow. The ranking compares custom workflows and automation alongside roadmaps, time tracking, deployment, and single sign-on; free-plan availability and paid-from pricing are included too. Jira, YouTrack, and Linear are among the first entries, followed by OpenProject and Plane. Backlog, Zoho Sprints, and Shortcut also appear near the top. As you compare them, consider how much control you need over workflows, which planning and tracking features matter in daily use, and whether the listed deployment and access options fit your team.
37 issue tracking software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
11 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GitHub CodespacesWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · API · Extension | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $0.07/mo | 6.8 | |
| 2 | LinearWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone · API | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | $10/mo | 6.7 | |
| 3 | YouTrackWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $5.40/mo | 6.7 | |
| 4 | BacklogWeb · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $35/mo | 6.6 | |
| 5 | BugzillaWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 6 | BugseeWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $8.25/mo | 6.5 | |
| 7 | OpenProjectWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | €5.95/mo | 6.5 | |
| 8 | PlaneWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $6/mo | 6.5 | |
| 9 | ShortcutWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $8.50/mo | 6.3 | |
| 10 | TaigaWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | €5/mo | 6.3 | |
| 11 | Digital.ai TeamForgeWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 12 | TracWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 5.5 | |
| 13 | TuleapWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 14 | JTracWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 15 | Zoho SprintsWeb · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 16 | Bird Eats BugWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 17 | FlysprayWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 18 | The Bug GenieWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 19 | ValueOps InsightsWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 20 | Zoho BugTrackerWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 21 | MantisBTWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | RedmineWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | TraqWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 24 | UsersnapWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 25 | AxosoftWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which issue tracking software is ranked first on Freedom251?
GitHub Codespaces is ranked #1 of 37 with a score of 6.8. Linear is second and YouTrack third.
How many of these have a free plan?
11 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, GitHub Codespaces has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.07/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.