Basecamp

What is Basecamp?

Basecamp is a project management and team collaboration platform designed to help teams organize their work, communicate effectively, and complete projects without the chaos of scattered emails, chats, and to-do lists. Founded in 1999 by Jason Fried, Carlos Segura, and Ernest Kim as 37signals, the company launched Basecamp in 2004 and has since helped millions of teams work more efficiently.

What makes Basecamp unique is its opinionated approach to project management. Rather than offering endless customization options, Basecamp provides a structured, proven methodology for organizing work that reduces the overhead of deciding how to use the tool. This philosophy of “less is more” has attracted teams frustrated with the complexity of competing solutions.

Basecamp is known for pioneering remote work practices and has operated as a fully distributed company since its early days. The company, now officially renamed Basecamp (formerly 37signals), has also authored influential books on business and software development including “Rework” and “Remote,” sharing their unconventional approaches to building products and companies.

Key Features

• Project Organization: Keep everything related to a project—messages, files, tasks, schedules—in one dedicated space.
• Message Board: Async communication that keeps discussions organized and searchable, replacing cluttered email threads.
• To-dos: Simple, flexible task lists with assignments, due dates, and the ability to add comments and attachments.
• Schedule: Project calendar showing milestones, events, and to-do due dates in one view.
• Docs & Files: Centralized document storage with versioning and easy organization by project.
• Campfire: Real-time group chat for quick conversations when async isn’t enough.
• Automatic Check-ins: Scheduled recurring questions like “What did you work on today?” to keep teams aligned.
• Hill Charts: Unique visual progress tracking that shows where work is in the problem-solving process.
• Card Table: Kanban-style boards for visual workflow management added in recent updates.
• Client Access: Invite clients to projects with controlled access to keep them informed without overwhelming them.

Latest Updates

Basecamp continues to refine its platform while maintaining its focused, simple approach.

• Card Table: Added kanban-style card boards for visual project management workflows.
• Improved Mobile: Enhanced mobile apps with better offline support and faster performance.
• Mission Control: New dashboard showing activity across all projects in one view.
• Line-up: Portfolio view for seeing the status of multiple projects simultaneously.
• Enhanced Notifications: More granular control over notification preferences and quiet hours.
• Doors: New feature for extending Basecamp with integrations and custom tools.
• Better Search: Improved search functionality across all project content.
• Performance: Continued platform optimization for faster loading and responsiveness.

System Requirements

Web Browser

• Google Chrome (latest version)
• Mozilla Firefox (latest version)
• Safari 12 or later
• Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based)
• JavaScript enabled

iOS

• Operating System: iOS 14.0 or later
• Compatible with iPhone and iPad
• Storage: 100 MB available space

Android

• Operating System: Android 8.0 or later
• Storage: 80 MB available space

Desktop Apps

• macOS 10.14 or later
• Windows 10 or later

How to Install Basecamp

Web Setup

1. Visit basecamp.com and click “Try it Free”
2. Enter your name, email, and company information
3. Create your first project
4. Invite team members via email
5. Configure notification preferences
6. Start adding to-dos, messages, and files
7. Explore the HQ area for company-wide communication

Mobile Installation

1. Download Basecamp from App Store or Google Play
2. Sign in with your Basecamp credentials
3. Allow push notifications for updates
4. Configure notification preferences
5. Access all your projects on the go

Desktop App

1. Visit basecamp.com/via to download desktop apps
2. Install for macOS or Windows
3. Sign in with your account
4. Enable desktop notifications
5. App runs independently of browser

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Simplicity: Intentionally simple design reduces time spent configuring and learning the tool.
• All-in-One: Projects, communication, files, and tasks in one place eliminates tool sprawl.
• Flat Pricing: Unlimited users for one price makes budgeting predictable and scales well.
• Async-First: Designed for asynchronous work, reducing meeting overload and interruptions.
• Reliable: Extremely stable platform with strong uptime and consistent experience.
• Opinionated: Structured approach helps teams adopt good practices without extensive setup.
• No Ads: Company doesn’t sell data or run ads; funded entirely by customers.

Cons

• Limited Customization: Opinionated design means less flexibility for teams with specific workflows.
• Basic Reporting: No advanced analytics, time tracking, or resource management features.
• No Gantt Charts: Lacks traditional project management views like Gantt or complex dependencies.
• Limited Integrations: Fewer third-party integrations compared to competitors like Asana or Monday.
• Not for Complex Projects: Large, multi-team projects with dependencies may need more robust tools.

Basecamp vs Alternatives

Who Should Use Basecamp?

Basecamp is ideal for:

• Small to Medium Teams: Teams of 10-50 people get excellent value from flat-rate pricing.
• Remote Teams: Distributed teams benefit from async-first communication tools.
• Agencies: Client-facing teams can easily collaborate with external stakeholders.
• Simplicity Seekers: Teams frustrated with complex project management tools appreciate the focused approach.
• Growing Teams: Flat pricing means adding team members doesn’t increase costs.
• Non-Technical Teams: Marketing, creative, and operations teams find Basecamp easy to adopt.

Basecamp may not be ideal for:

• Enterprise Organizations: Large companies with complex needs may require more robust solutions.
• Complex Projects: Projects with many dependencies and resource constraints need more sophisticated tools.
• Agile Teams: Software development teams using Scrum or Kanban may prefer Jira or Linear.
• Reporting Needs: Organizations requiring detailed analytics and time tracking should look elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Basecamp cost?

Basecamp offers flat-rate pricing at $99/month for unlimited users, projects, and storage. There’s also Basecamp Personal, a free tier for personal projects and light use with limitations. The flat pricing model is unusual but beneficial for growing teams, as costs don’t increase with team size.

Is Basecamp good for small teams?

Yes, Basecamp works well for small teams, though the $99/month may be expensive for very small teams. The break-even point versus per-user pricing is typically around 5-10 users. For teams smaller than 5, per-user tools might be more economical. Basecamp Personal offers a free option for freelancers.

Does Basecamp integrate with other tools?

Basecamp offers integrations but fewer than competitors. Native integrations include email forwarding, calendar sync (iCal), and RSS. Third-party integrations are available through Zapier for connecting to other apps. The company’s philosophy favors simplicity over extensive integration complexity.

What happened to Basecamp Personal?

Basecamp Personal is a free tier designed for freelancers, students, and personal projects. It includes 3 projects, 20 users total, and 1GB storage. It’s limited compared to full Basecamp but provides a way to use the platform for simple needs without cost.

Is Basecamp suitable for software development?

Basecamp can work for software projects but lacks features development teams often need like Git integration, sprint planning, bug tracking, and code review workflows. Many development teams prefer Jira, Linear, or GitHub Projects for software-specific workflows while using Basecamp for broader company collaboration.

Final Verdict

Basecamp offers a refreshingly simple approach to project management in a market full of increasingly complex tools. For teams tired of configuring features they don’t need and paying per-user fees that balloon as they grow, Basecamp’s opinionated simplicity and flat-rate pricing provide welcome relief.

The platform excels at organizing team communication and keeping projects on track without overwhelming users with options. The async-first philosophy aligns well with modern remote work practices, and the all-in-one approach eliminates the need to juggle multiple collaboration tools.

However, Basecamp’s simplicity is also its limitation. Teams with complex project management needs, detailed reporting requirements, or extensive integration dependencies may find it too constrained. For small to medium teams who value simplicity and predictable pricing, Basecamp delivers a focused, reliable platform that helps teams stay organized and work together effectively.