Developer Tools8 deals available

Free Developer Tools for Startups — GitHub, Linear, Retool & More

Great developer tools are a force multiplier for small teams. The right issue tracker, search API, internal tool builder, or authentication provider can save hundreds of engineering hours in your first year alone.

Leading developer tool companies understand this, which is why programs from GitHub, Linear, Retool, and Atlassian provide months or even years of free access specifically for startups. Many also include partner credits and community access that extend well beyond the core product.

Explore every developer tool credit program below and stack them together to build a world-class engineering stack at a fraction of the cost.

Total category value

$18.1M+

Programs

All Developer Tools deals

Retool

Up to $60,000

1 year free (up to $60K value) plus $200K+ in partner deals for internal tools and customer portals

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Algolia

$10,000

$10,000 in Grow Plan credits for search and discovery platform, plus 20% off committed plans after

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Top Pick

GitHub

20 seats free Enterprise

20 seats free GitHub Enterprise for 1 year plus 50% off Advanced Security, in a 30K+ startup network

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Linear

Up to 6 months free

Up to 6 months free — the issue tracker 45% of YC companies and 66% of top AI startups build with

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Atlassian

12 months free (50 users)

Premium edition free for 12 months (up to 50 users) with Jira, Confluence, Rovo AI, and dedicated CSM

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Auth0

$9,000 value

$9,000 value B2B Professional Plan for 12 months with 100K MAU, MFA, and 50+ integrations

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ClickUp

$3,000

$3,000 in credits for all-in-one project management with unlimited storage and AI features

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Airtable

$1,000-$2,000

$1,000-$2,000 in credits for no-code database and workflow automation platform

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Frequently Asked Questions

What free developer tools can startups get?

Startups can access a comprehensive set of free developer tools: GitHub Enterprise (20 seats free for 1 year), Linear (up to 6 months free), Retool (up to $60,000 in value for internal tools), Atlassian Premium (12 months free for 50 users with Jira and Confluence), Auth0 ($9,000 value for authentication), Algolia ($10,000 for search), ClickUp ($3,000 for project management), and Airtable ($1,000-$2,000 for no-code databases). Combined, these programs represent over $100,000 in developer tooling.

Is GitHub Enterprise worth it for an early-stage startup?

If you can get it free through the GitHub for Startups program, absolutely. GitHub Enterprise adds advanced security features (code scanning, secret scanning, Dependabot), SAML SSO, audit logs, and GitHub Advanced Security. Even if you don’t need enterprise features immediately, having them set up from the start means you won’t have to migrate later. The program also gives you access to a 30,000+ startup network across 145 countries.

How do I choose between Linear, Jira, and ClickUp for project management?

Linear is the most popular choice among YC startups (45% adoption) and top AI companies (66%), known for its speed, keyboard-first design, and minimal interface. Jira (via Atlassian) offers more customization and scales to complex enterprise workflows with Rovo AI agents. ClickUp is the most feature-rich all-in-one platform with unlimited storage and views. Since all three offer free startup programs, many teams try two before committing. Linear is best for fast-moving engineering teams, Jira for larger organizations, and ClickUp for teams that want one tool for everything.