What Linear's terms say about your data

Who owns the data the customer puts in?

The customer · covers user submissions (issues, comments, projects, documents, files)

1. Headline Every plan covers user submissions (issues, comments, projects, documents, files)

   The customer

   Except for the limited rights and licenses granted in this Agreement, Customer will own all right, title and interest in and to the User Submissions and there are no implied licenses under this Agreement.

   Terms of Service (terms), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Terms 10.2. Same section: Linear's license is "for the sole purpose of providing the Service to Customer." The Terms cover every plan, Free included (accepted by "signing up for a free access plan").

2. Supporting Every plan covers workspace data reachable through the API

   The customer

   You own your data in Linear and our GraphQL API lets you query that data.

   API and webhooks (help article), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   API and webhooks, Basics. Help text, not the contract.

3. Detail Every plan covers AI prompts and outputs

   The customer

   As between Customer and Linear, Customer retains ownership of Customer Data.

   AI Services Addendum (terms), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   AI Services Addendum 13.1: Customer Data here includes prompts sent to the AI services and the output they generate. Linear keeps ownership of its own system prompts and templates.

Does the vendor train AI on it?

No · covers all customer data, including AI prompts and outputs

1. Headline Every plan covers all customer data, including AI prompts and outputs

   No

   Linear will not use Customer Data, including Prompts or Outputs, to train, fine-tune, or otherwise improve Linear’s own AI models.

   AI Services Addendum (terms), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   AI Services Addendum 13.2, part of the Terms on every plan. "Train, fine-tune, or otherwise improve" with no model type named, so both parts are no. No opt-in or opt-out is described for training; 13.4 covers turning AI features off, not training. Usage-type Service Data (Terms 10.3) is a separate class; see aggregate_use and the AI at Linear detail.

2. Detail Every plan covers customer data sent to third-party AI model providers

   Generative: no

   Linear’s agreements with such providers require that Customer Data not be used by such providers to train such providers’ own AI models.

   AI Services Addendum (terms), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   AI Services Addendum 13.3. Providers are on Linear's subprocessor list (linked from the DPA). Next sentence: providers must also process customer data "in a zero-data-retention manner, where such processing is commercially available and technically supported by the subprocessor."

3. Supporting Every plan covers data processed for Linear's AI features (Triage Intelligence FAQ)

   No

   Linear does not utilize your data to train its own AI models.

   Triage Intelligence (docs, AI privacy FAQ) (ai policy), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Triage Intelligence docs, FAQ "AI privacy". Next sentence: data is shared with AI subprocessors "exclusively to deliver those AI functionalities to you without permission to train on provided data."

4. Detail Every plan covers approve or dismiss feedback on AI suggestions (Product Intelligence)

   Other models: yes^*

   Each suggestion you approve or disapprove will refine the overall quality of the suggestions.

   AI at Linear (docs guide, unlisted in the docs menu) (ai policy), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Our reading. The same undated guide says "we want to maintain a human in the loop while we train the model." It reads like a draft (several FAQ answers say "tbd") and is not in the docs menu. It may mean feedback signals (Service Data under Terms 10.3) improve suggestions, which the contract allows, or it may conflict with Addendum 13.2. The contract controls; recheck on the second read.

Does the vendor keep a right to use it aggregated, de-identified or as usage data?

Reserved · covers service data (performance and operation measures, not user submissions)

1. Headline Every plan covers service data (performance and operation measures, not user submissions)

   Reserved

   Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary herein, provided that the Service Data is aggregated and anonymized, and no User Information, User Submissions, or any other personal identifying information of Customer is revealed to any third party, the parties agree that Linear is free to use the Service Data in any manner.

   Terms of Service (terms), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Terms 10.3. Next sentence: "Linear owns all right, title, and interest in and to such Service Data." Service Data is "data pertaining to the performance of the Service and measures of the operation of the Service"; the clause reserves no aggregated use of issue content itself.

2. Supporting Every plan covers personal data Linear collects about users

   Reserved

   We may use such aggregated, de-identified or anonymized data and share it with third parties for our lawful business purposes, including to analyze, build and improve the Services and promote our business, provided that we will not share such data in a manner that could identify you.

   Privacy Policy (privacy policy), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Privacy Policy, Data that is not personal data.

3. Supporting Every plan covers personal data, including account and usage data Linear holds as controller

   Reserved

   Linear may also de-identify or anonymize Personal Data to further Linear’s legitimate interests.

   Data Processing Agreement (data processing addendum), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   DPA, Linear's role as a controller: Linear is an independent controller of customer account data and customer usage data. The docs Security page says analytics data is stored in the US and that Linear removes "issue titles and descriptions, comments, project and team names, and document and initiative content" from it.

What can the customer export, and who can run it?

1. Headline Free, Basic, Business covers issues across all teams (fields listed in the help article; no comments or attachment files)

   Part of it by an admin through an admin screen or the API^*

   Export workspace issue data in CSV format from Settings > Administration > Import Export and click Export data at the bottom.

   Exporting data (help article), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Scope partial is our reading: the article lists the CSV's issue fields (title, description, status, dates and more) and comments are not among them; "CSV exports don't include attachment files." A toggle includes private teams; a download link is emailed and expires after 12 hours. "Workspace admins can export this data." On Free every user is an admin (Billing and plans: "all users are Admins on free plans"). The GraphQL API reaches the rest (see detail). Pricing lists "Import and export" and "API and webhook access" among core features.

2. Headline Enterprise covers issues across all teams (fields listed in the help article; no comments or attachment files)

   Part of it by the owner through an admin screen or the API^*

   On Enterprise plans, only owners can do this.

   Exporting data (help article), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Same workspace CSV export as other plans, but on Enterprise only owners can run it (and the member list export). Scope partial is our reading of the field list (no comments, no attachment files). API route as on other plans.

3. Detail Every plan covers all workspace entities the API key's user can access

   Everything by an admin or any member through the API^*

   You own your data in Linear and our GraphQL API lets you query that data.

   API and webhooks (help article), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Scope all is our reading: the article says the public API "is the same API we use internally" and Linear "has full support for mutating all entities"; the Exporting data article says "you can also export data from issues, projects and more using our API." Admins choose whether members may create API keys. JSON because the API is GraphQL. The best route to comments and full history.

4. Detail Every plan covers issues in one view, project or list (same CSV fields)

   Part of it by any member through a self-serve screen

   Members can export up to 250 issues at a time while Admins (Owners, on Enterprise plans) can export views with up to 2,000 issues.

   Exporting data (help article), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Next sentence: "Guest users cannot export issues from a Linear workspace." Project, initiative, member list and customer request lists also export as CSV; teams cannot be exported (FAQ). Single issues print to PDF.

5. Supporting Every plan covers customer data (contract)

   Part of it by any member through a support request^*

   Following completion of the Services, at Customer’s choice, Linear shall return or delete Customer’s Personal Data, unless further storage of such Personal Data is required or authorized by applicable law.

   Data Processing Agreement (data processing addendum), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Our reading: the Terms give no export right; the only contract wording is this DPA return-or-delete clause, which covers personal data, not all workspace content. The docs Security FAQ says: "You can export your workspace data. For help deleting data or with other data requests, contact support@linear.app."

How much history does the plan keep?

All of it^* · covers issues on the Free plan (a cap on count, not on age)

1. Headline Every plan covers issues, projects, cycles and documents (closed issues are archived, not deleted)

   All of it^*

   Restore archived issues, projects, or cycles from your team’s archives to edit them.

   Delete and archive issues (help article), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Our reading: no page states a time limit on issue history on any plan. Closed issues are auto-archived after a period the team sets, and archived items stay in the team's archives and can be restored. The pricing page caps Free at 250 issues (see the Free headline); paid plans list unlimited issues.

2. Headline Free covers issues on the Free plan (a cap on count, not on age)

   All of it^*

   If you have over 250 issues, you will no longer be able to create new issues.

   Billing and plans (incl. change or cancel a subscription) (help article), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Billing and plans, change or cancel a subscription; the sentence before is "When cancelling a subscription: Nothing will be deleted." Our reading: Free keeps existing history and limits only new issues (pricing: Free "250 issues"). Terms 5.3: "If Customer is using the Free Version, Linear will retain User Submissions and User Information to facilitate such use," but may delete them if the Free account "is not usedfor a period of one (1) year or more" (sic). Whether archived issues count toward 250 is not stated.

3. Detail Every plan covers deleted issues (Recently deleted)

   30 days, older data deleted

   Recently deleted issues are stored in the archives for 30 days, after which they’ll be permanently removed from your workspace.

   Delete and archive issues (help article), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Next sentence: "It is not possible to restore deleted issues after they have been permanently removed." Deleted projects, initiatives and documents can also be recovered for up to 30 days.

4. Detail Enterprise covers audit log events

   90 days, older data deleted^*

   All audit logs are retained for 90 days.

   Audit log (help article), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Audit log is "available to workspaces on our Enterprise plan". deletes_older=true is our reading of "retained for 90 days".

How long is data kept after the account ends, and can it still be exported?

Kept 30 days, no export^* · covers all customer data after the agreement ends or the workspace is deleted

1. Headline Every plan covers all customer data after the agreement ends or the workspace is deleted

   Kept 30 days, no export^*

   Upon any termination of this Agreement, all rights and licenses granted by Linear hereunder will immediately terminate; Customer will no longer have the right to access or use the Service.

   Terms of Service (terms), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Terms 5.3. days=30 from the next sentence (see supporting): Linear deletes user information and submissions within 30 days of termination for cause, on request, or when the workspace is deleted. export_window=false is our reading: access ends at once and no retrieval period is offered. Cancelling a paid plan is not termination: the workspace drops to Free and keeps its data (see detail).

2. Supporting Every plan covers user information, files and user submissions

   Kept 30 days, no export

   Within thirty (30) days of termination of this Agreement for cause, upon Customer’s request following termination, or if Customer deletes its workspace within the Service, Linear will delete Customer’s User Information, including passwords and all related information, files, and User Submissions, unless Customer requests an earlier deletion in writing.

   Terms of Service (terms), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Terms 5.3. The DPA adds that at the end of the services Linear will return or delete personal data at the customer's choice.

3. Detail Basic, Business, Enterprise covers workspace after a paid plan is cancelled or not renewed

   No fixed window; export on request

   If Customer cancels or does not renew its paid subscription to the Service, Customer’s subscription will be accessible but will automatically be downgraded to a version of the Service with diminished features and functionality that Linear offers to unpaid subscribers (“Free Version”).

   Terms of Service (terms), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Terms 5.1. Billing and plans: "Nothing will be deleted." Above 250 issues no new issues can be created. Terms 5.2: "Linear may terminate Customer's access to the Free Version at any time upon notice to Customer."

4. Detail Every plan covers workspace deleted from settings

   Kept 2 days; export not stated

   After they enter it, the workspace is scheduled for deletion in 48 hours and all admins are notified by email.

   Workspaces (incl. delete workspace) (help article), read 2026-10-23 · link to this fact

   Workspaces, Delete workspace. Any admin can cancel during the 48 hours; "Once it elapses, the workspace and all its data are permanently deleted." The Terms' 30-day deletion window also names workspace deletion. Unused AI credits are forfeited on deletion (AI Services Addendum 7.3).

What the read couldn't settle

• Plans are the four on linear.app/pricing (Free, Basic, Business, Enterprise). One Terms of Service covers all four; export differs only in who can run it (admins on Free, Basic, Business; owners on Enterprise), so export has two plan groups. AI credits are a usage add-on, not a plan.
• Workspace CSV export scope: the field list has no comments and no attachment files, so scope partial is our reading; the GraphQL API is the full route. Which plans get the API is not readable from the pricing page text (the plan columns are icons); it sits in the core features list.
• AI at Linear (docs/ai-at-linear, undated, draft-like with tbd answers, not in the docs menu) says suggestion feedback refines suggestions and "we train the model"; the AI Services Addendum 13.2 says no training on customer data. Headline follows the contract; settle on the second read.
• No page states an issue history time limit on any plan; retention headlines are our reading (archived issues stay restorable). Whether archived issues count toward Free's 250-issue cap is not stated.
• No export window after termination is stated; export_window=false rests on Terms 5.3 (access ends at once). Cancelling a paid plan keeps the data on Free, which is the practical route for a closing company to export, but Linear may end Free access on notice and may delete an unused Free workspace after a year.
• The AUP (linear.app/legal/aup) and the subprocessor list on the trust center were not read; neither is expected to answer these six questions.
• Help articles show no visible updated date, so their version is null; Terms and AI Addendum show effective date June 09, 2026, DPA "signed" May 31, 2025, Privacy Policy effective March 17, 2025.

Documents

14 of 14 read. Each fact above names the one it comes from.

1. Terms of Service Terms · version 2026-06-09 · read 2026-10-23
2. AI Services Addendum Terms · version 2026-06-09 · read 2026-10-23
3. Data Processing Agreement Data processing addendum · version 2025-05-31 · read 2026-10-23
4. Privacy Policy Privacy policy · version 2025-03-17 · read 2026-10-23
5. Triage Intelligence (docs, AI privacy FAQ) AI policy · read 2026-10-23
6. AI at Linear (docs guide, unlisted in the docs menu) AI policy · read 2026-10-23
7. Security (docs: data regions, analytics data) Help article · read 2026-10-23
8. Exporting data Help article · read 2026-10-23
9. API and webhooks Help article · read 2026-10-23
10. Delete and archive issues Help article · read 2026-10-23
11. Audit log Help article · read 2026-10-23
12. Billing and plans (incl. change or cancel a subscription) Help article · read 2026-10-23
13. Workspaces (incl. delete workspace) Help article · read 2026-10-23
14. Linear pricing (plan comparison) Plans page · read 2026-10-23