The SteelSync alternative for client-ready Linear portals
SteelSync got to the Linear-portal space first. Helium is the alternative that is still being actively built: configurable views, white-label branding, login-protected client accounts, and responsive support. Here is an honest comparison, current as of June 2026.
Free tier · No credit card · Official Linear integration
The original, and the one that is still shipping
SteelSync was the first mover in the Linear-portal space, and it shows up first in a lot of searches because of that head start. If you found this page by searching for SteelSync, its SEO is doing its job.
The product itself, though, has gone quiet. As of June 2026 it has published roughly one blog post in five months, we could find no public customer reviews, and its layout is fixed. For a team that wants the display to bend to its workflow, or that simply wants confidence the tool is still being improved, that matters.
Helium Rooms is the actively-developed alternative on the same Linear-native foundation: configurable rooms, label filtering, white-label branding, login-protected client accounts, and client request intake, all on transparent flat pricing and backed by responsive support.
Helium Rooms vs SteelSync, feature by feature
Where a cell is text rather than a check, it captures a real difference rather than a simple yes or no.
| Helium | SteelSync | |
|---|---|---|
| Native Linear sync | Real-time (webhook) | |
| Configurable room layout | Fixed layout | |
| Include / exclude issues by label | Limited | |
| White-label branding (logo + colors) | Yes (Pro) | Limited |
| Login-protected client accounts | Public link | |
| Public, flat pricing | 39 euro/mo flat | From 29 dollars/mo |
| Client issue requests (intake) | Board only | |
| Active development (June 2026) | Active | Cadence slowed |
| Public reviews or named customers | None found (June 2026) |
Competitor details reflect public information as of June 2026. Pricing and features change, so verify current details on steelsync.io before deciding.
Where SteelSync is genuinely a good pick
SteelSync’s entry price of 29 dollars per month undercuts Helium’s 39 euro (verify current pricing on steelsync.io), and its content library quietly answers a lot of the how-do-I-share-Linear questions before you even sign up.
Being the original, its core board sharing is mature and stable for what it does. If your only need is a fixed, read-only board at the lowest possible price, it remains a reasonable choice, and you should not pay more than you have to.
What teams come to Helium for
Make the portal yours
On Pro, Helium renders in your logo and brand colors with a custom domain, so clients see your service rather than a generic third-party tool. The portal reads as part of your offering.
Bend the view to the work
SteelSync’s layout is fixed. Helium rooms are configurable, with label filtering that hides internal-only issues, so each client sees a view shaped around their project rather than a one-size board.
More than a static board
Beyond the read-only board, Helium adds client issue requests so clients can submit work straight into your Linear workflow, plus login-protected accounts. It is a working client space rather than a fixed status page.
Active development and responsive support
Reliability is the reason customers most often cite for choosing Helium over the older players. One of our first paying customers evaluated SteelSync and others, then chose Helium specifically because the alternatives were no longer reliable. Helium ships continuously and answers support questions quickly.
Moving from SteelSync to Helium
- 1
Connect Linear
Authorize the official Linear integration from Helium. Helium reads only the projects you pick, so there is nothing to migrate out of SteelSync and your Linear workspace is unaffected.
- 2
Shape the view SteelSync kept fixed
Add your projects, then configure the room: filter by label, choose what each client sees, and arrange the board around the work. This is the step a fixed-layout tool does not offer.
- 3
Add your brand and your domain
On Pro, render the portal in your logo and colors and point a custom domain at it, so the page reads as part of your service rather than a third-party tool.
- 4
Go live without a data migration
Share the room link. Linear remains the source of truth for both tools, so there is nothing to export or import. Keep SteelSync running in parallel until you are ready to move fully.
Which one should you choose?
An honest decision framework. Both are Linear-native, so this comes down to what you need from the portal.
SteelSync may be the better fit if
- A lower entry price matters more to you than configurability
- A fixed, read-only board is all you need
- You do not need branding, client logins, or configurable views
Helium is the better fit if
- You want a branded, on-domain portal
- You want flexible, configurable boards with label filtering
- You need client accounts and client intake requests
- You want responsive support and active development
Frequently asked
- Is SteelSync still maintained?
- We can only speak to public signals. As of June 2026, SteelSync has published roughly one blog post in five months and we found no public reviews. Verify the current status on steelsync.io. Helium ships updates continuously.
- Is Helium more expensive than SteelSync?
- Helium Pro is 39 euro per month versus SteelSync from 29 dollars per month. For the difference you get configurable boards with label filtering, white-label branding on your own domain, login-protected client accounts, client intake requests, and support that answers quickly.
- Can I migrate from SteelSync without losing anything?
- Yes. Linear is the source of truth for both tools, so there is nothing to export or import. You connect your Linear workspace to Helium, choose what to show, and share the room. It takes a few minutes.
- Do my clients need a Linear account?
- No. Helium mirrors your Linear data into a separate client-facing portal. Clients open a link or log in with their own email. They never enter your Linear workspace, so there are no guest seats.
- Can clients submit work through the portal?
- Yes. Helium rooms can include a request module: clients submit requests from the portal and they land in your Linear workflow for your team to triage. SteelSync’s portal is a read-only board as of June 2026.
Get a Linear portal that is still moving forward
Connect Linear, brand your room, and share it with clients in minutes. Free to start, no credit card.