Project management software · ranked #9 of 11
Basecamp: review, pricing and alternatives
Ninth because a flat monthly price and a simple structure suit small teams, but dependencies, workload views and deep reporting are missing.
Basecamp at a glance
- Rank
- #9 of 11 in project management software
- Best for
- Small teams and light coordination
- Pricing
- Flat monthly
- Free option
- Free plan
- Headquarters
- Oak Park, United States
- Key features
- To-do lists, Message boards, Docs and files, Schedule, Group chat
- Last checked
- 2026-11-11
Where Basecamp wins
- Basecamp is a calm place to keep one project's to-dos, messages, files and schedule.
- It charges a flat monthly fee, so adding a client or an intern does not raise the bill, and the Pro Unlimited plan has no user cap.
- Check-ins reduce status meetings.
- The company, 37signals LLC, publishes its address in its privacy policy.
Where it falls short
- There are no task dependencies, workload planning or portfolio roll-ups, and customization is limited by design.
- The lower plans cap active projects and users, and the free plan allows one project and three users.
- Managers wanting a cross-project overview will find little to work with.
- PMOs, agencies that track budgets and any team running complex, dependent plans should choose Smartsheet, Wrike or Teamwork.com.
Our verdict on Basecamp
Basecamp is a calm place to keep one project's to-dos, messages, files and schedule. It charges a flat monthly fee, so adding a client or an intern does not raise the bill, and the Pro Unlimited plan has no user cap. Check-ins reduce status meetings.
The company, 37signals LLC, publishes its address in its privacy policy. It ranks ninth because it deliberately skips dependencies, resource planning and heavy reporting that a project office would expect.
Where Basecamp falls short
There are no task dependencies, workload planning or portfolio roll-ups, and customization is limited by design. The lower plans cap active projects and users, and the free plan allows one project and three users. Managers wanting a cross-project overview will find little to work with.
Who should look elsewhere
PMOs, agencies that track budgets and any team running complex, dependent plans should choose Smartsheet, Wrike or Teamwork.com. Software teams will want sprint tooling.
Basecamp pricing
Flat monthly price instead of per user: Free (3 users), Freelancer $29, Pro $79, Pro Plus $99, Pro Unlimited $199 a month on annual billing.
Pricing as published by the vendor on the date above; check the vendor's pricing page before you buy.
Basecamp fact sheet
| Rank | #9 of 11 in project management software |
|---|---|
| Category | Project management software |
| Best for | Small teams and light coordination |
| Pricing model | Flat monthly |
| Free option | Free plan |
| Headquarters | Oak Park, United States |
| Company | 37signals LLC |
| Address | 137 N. Oak Park Avenue, Suite 208, 60301, Oak Park, United States |
| Vendor size | Independent or mid-sized vendor |
| Website | basecamp.com |
| Last checked | 2026-11-11 |
Key features
- To-do lists
- Message boards
- Docs and files
- Schedule
- Group chat
- Automatic check-ins
- Hill charts
- Client access
Alternatives to Basecamp
ProductiveAgency operations with budgets and resourcing. Per user / month.
Zoho ProjectsProject planning inside the Zoho suite. Per user / month.
OpenProjectOpen source project management with Gantt. Open source + paid tiers.Also ranked in
- #9 of 11 in project management software
- #12 of 12 in Work management software
Sources checked
- 37signals LLC, 137 N. Oak Park Avenue, Suite 208, Oak Park, IL 60301, privacy policy contact address Source
- Flat monthly plans: Free (3 users, 1 project), Freelancer $29, Pro $79, Pro Plus $99, Pro Unlimited $199 a month on annual billing Source
Basecamp: common questions
What is Basecamp?
Basecamp is simple project hub with flat monthly pricing. Ninth because a flat monthly price and a simple structure suit small teams, but dependencies, workload views and deep reporting are missing.
How much does Basecamp cost?
Flat monthly price instead of per user: Free (3 users), Freelancer $29, Pro $79, Pro Plus $99, Pro Unlimited $199 a month on annual billing.
Does Basecamp have a free plan?
Free plan. Flat monthly price instead of per user: Free (3 users), Freelancer $29, Pro $79, Pro Plus $99, Pro Unlimited $199 a month on annual billing.
What is Basecamp best for?
Basecamp is best for small teams and light coordination. Ninth because a flat monthly price and a simple structure suit small teams, but dependencies, workload views and deep reporting are missing.
Where is Basecamp based?
Basecamp is published by 37signals LLC, headquartered in Oak Park, United States.
Who should not use Basecamp?
PMOs, agencies that track budgets and any team running complex, dependent plans should choose Smartsheet, Wrike or Teamwork.com. Software teams will want sprint tooling.
What are the best alternatives to Basecamp?
In our project management software ranking the closest alternatives are Productive, Zoho Projects, OpenProject. See the full ranking for the other options.