Founded in 1999, Basecamp is a popular and long-established project management software provider. However, its pricing plans and features may not be a suitable choice for your needs.
In this article, we’ll discuss the key shortcomings of Basecamp and how certain alternatives may be better suited for your business. We’ll then introduce our list of the top 10 best Basecamp alternatives for 2024. We’ll discuss their key features, pros and cons, integrations, and pricing.
What is Basecamp?
Basecamp is a project management software known for its flat pricing and versatile features. It lets you manage projects and collaborate through real-time messaging and other features.
Basecamp’s founding duo also has a reputation for taking controversial stances. For example, CEO Jason Fried opted to ban employees from speaking about political and social issues in 2021.
Features of Basecamp
Real-time messaging
Task management — task cards, assignments, deadlines, notifications, etc.
Notes and threaded comments
File sharing and storage — up to 500 GB.
Calendar management
What are the shortcomings of Basecamp?
Basecamp is a good option for some teams, but it’s not a good fit for everyone. Basecamp’s 4.1/5 G2 rating and the mixed reviews show this. The platform has several shortcomings that many users highlight.
If you’re considering Basecamp alternatives, you may already have noticed some of these:
Dated and unintuitive interface
Over two decades in the business make Basecamp an experienced PM software provider. However, optimizing and streamlining software is hard when dealing with backward compatibility.
This has led to a dated interface that’s not easy to use. It can be especially challenging for employees who are already used to more modern project management tools. There’s a sense that tools were separately developed and later “glued” together. (Which is true since Basecamp was originally launched as multiple separate products).
Limited advanced project management features
Basecamp has also historically been focused mostly on smaller businesses, which means that it severely lacks some advanced features:
For example, Basecamp doesn’t feature:
Built-in time tracking
Built-in Gantt chart visualizations
Worker hierarchy tools
OKR goal tracking
High price point
When Basecamp raised its Unlimited plan price from $99 to $299, it became an unaffordable option for many smaller teams.
If you pay per user monthly, $15 is also not cheap, considering the lack of advanced features like time tracking and Gantt charts.
Limited integration options
Another issue with Basecamp is its lack of native integrations with third-party platforms. Most other productivity platforms integrate with a range of tools, like CRMs. Basecamp mostly integrates with other collaboration tools through third-party apps.
As a result, it can be hard to integrate it with the rest of your tech stack. Many Basecamp users highlight this issue in their reviews.
You can set up third-party integrations through solutions like custom apps or Zapier. However, the setup is often clunky, and they don’t always support the necessary features. Plus, the integration support isn’t from Basecamp, which makes technical issues a headache.
Clunky in large teams
Because of the lack of worker hierarchy controls, Basecamp can become clunky in large teams. You have to manually set permissions for every single employee on Basecamp. You can’t create a set of permissions attached to a role or team.
Steep learning curve
The dated interface and lack of premade integrations make Basecamp hard to master. It’s a lot more challenging to get started with than certain other tools on the market.
10 best Basecamp alternatives for 2024
Looking to replace Basecamp with a more intuitive or complete project management platform? Here are our top 10 suggestions:
1. Lark Base — Best overall alternative
Lark is a comprehensive, all-in-one collaboration and productivity platform. It’s a true all-in-one solution that gives you the functionality of multiple business tools in a single package.
Imagine the power of Slack, Google Docs, Outlook, and Zoom in one platform. That’s what Lark brings to the table.
Key features
Lark has robust task and project management features, including task cards, assignments, deadlines, notifications, Gantt views, and more.
Manage team calendars with our integrated calendar that automatically adds tasks assigned to each user.
Our smart workflow automation builder helps you automate menial tasks like data entry and align your business across teams.
Lark’s messaging tab combines email with real-time chat in an intuitive interface that makes communication easy.
Even our free plan includes video conferencing for up to 50 participants.
Foster real-time collaboration through virtual whiteboards and live document editing.
Form-based issue tracking helps you handle client requests and inquiries faster.
Advanced permission controls help you securely manage who has access to which data.
Lark includes file sharing with up to 100 GB in free plans.
Pros
A cohesive interface makes it easy to get started and delivers a smooth user experience.
Replaces multiple different tools, reducing the risk of data silos and greatly lowering monthly SaaS costs.
Fosters actual collaboration through video calls, virtual whiteboards, and live document editing.
Cons
Doesn’t feature as extensive integrations as some alternatives.
Integrations
Lark integrates with various apps, including Google Drive, Trello, Asana, Office 365, Jira, and other tools through Zapier.
Pricing
When it comes to pricing, Lark may offer the best value in the project management industry. Our free plan offers powerful features that other platforms only include in expensive premium plans.
Free: includes unlimited projects, tasks, boards, Gantt views, workflow automation, chat, video calls, advanced search, and more for up to 50 users and 100 GB of storage.
Pro ($12/user/month): includes custom workplace templates, advanced permission controls, and more for up to 500 users.
Enterprise (custom pricing): features single sign-on (SSO), dynamic user groups, secure labels, advanced security features, and more.
2. ClickUp — Good option for approval workflows and Scrum management
ClickUp is a project and workflow management tool with a focus on automation. With color-coded task statuses and multi-step checklists, it can help teams manage complex projects.
It is a strict PM platform with no universal team chat (only project-specific), video, or live collaboration tools.
Key features
Create custom workflows for your team, including multiple checklists and substeps.
Use the workflow automation builder to automate menial steps like moving tasks to the next stage.
Project dashboards can help every team member understand the progress of a project.
Built-in Scrum sprint management tools help your team stay on track during sprints.
Pros
ClickUp has robust features for managing complex approval workflows.
It includes several features — like sprint management — that make it a good fit for Agile teams.
Cons
Because it has limited built-in communication features, you need to use it in addition to other platforms.
The interface is difficult to learn compared to many simpler PM tools.
Integrations
ClickUp has 80+ native integrations with other apps, including Slack, HubSpot, Loom, Zendesk, and more.
Pricing
ClickUp offers a free plan and multiple tiers of premium plans for businesses with more advanced requirements:
Free: basic features for project management and collaborative docs with up to 100MB of storage.
Basic ($10/user/month): includes unlimited storage, unlimited tasks, unlimited boards, form views, user groups, time tracking, and more.
Business ($19/user/month): includes timesheets, timeline views, workload management, Google SSO, and more.
Enterprise (custom pricing): includes advanced permissions, custom roles, SSO, universal search, and more.
3. Wrike — Good option for creative agencies
Wrike is a project management platform with a dedicated solution for creative agencies. It offers basic PM features like task boards, calendars, and checklists.
It also includes a creative approval workflow tool to edit images and other content in the platform.
Key features
Basic project management tools for creating, assigning, and prioritizing tasks.
Gantt charts help you visualize project progress and adjust your deadlines.
Built-in time tracking helps you log and analyze the work hours your team puts into each project.
Directly make corrective suggestions to creative within the platform with asset management tools.
Pros
Wrike’s advanced approval tools make working together in creative teams easy.
Cons
Advanced features are only included in expensive plans, like the Business plan and above.
Limited communication functionality beyond workflow tools.
Integrations
Wrike has 400+ native integrations, including Power BI, Salesforce, Tableau, and Microsoft Teams.
Pricing
Wrike offers a limited free plan and several different premium and enterprise plans:
Free: offers basic task management with unlimited users and two GB of storage per account.
Team ($9.80/user/month): includes Gantt charts, project dashboards, and custom workflows for up to 25 users.
Business ($24.80/user/month): includes folder hierarchy, project portfolio management, and more for up to 200 users.
Enterprise (custom pricing): SAML-based SSO, two-factor verification, advanced user access controls, and more.
Pinnacle (custom pricing): includes detailed resource planning, Power BI integration, and more.
4. Trello — Best option for simple Kanban boards
Trello is a project management app that started as a Kanban-only tool. It has expanded with other features, but its templates and workflows are still Kanban-centric.
Key features
Use a variety of Kanban boards to manage day-to-day tasks and high-level planning.
Task assignments, deadlines, and notifications help keep team members up to date.
Choose from hundreds of community-generated templates to get started with your Kanban board.
Pros
Trello’s simplicity makes it an easy platform to get started with.
The Kanban format gives everyone an overview of the project's progress at all times.
Cons
Trello lacks advanced project management features like Gantt charts and resource management.
Without other apps for collaboration and communication, your team can’t work together effectively.
Integrations
Trello integrates natively with 200+ apps, including Google Drive, Slack, and Salesforce.
Pricing
Trello offers a freemium plan and three standardized premium plans:
Free: offers basic Kanban boards with unlimited users, unlimited cards, and up to 10 boards per workspace.
Standard ($6/user/month): includes unlimited boards, advanced checklists, and single-board guests.
Premium ($12.50/user/month): includes calendar, timeline, dashboard views, unlimited workspace command runs, and more.
Enterprise ($17.50/user/month): includes advanced permission controls, SSO, organization-wide boards, and more.
5. Asana — Good option for smaller teams
Asana is a popular project management platform with various task and workflow management features. It offers a basic free plan and more advanced features in premium plans.
Key features
Control workflows across boards, Gantt, timelines, and calendar views.
Workflow automation tools and Asana intelligence help you automate and speed up menial tasks.
Quickly find the right task or instructions using advanced search filters.
Manage client requests using forms and custom workflows.
Pros
Asana has robust native integrations that help teams work together across apps.
Asana’s interface and the limited features in the free plan make it easy for beginners to get started.
Cons
Asana has no built-in team chat or video conferencing tools.
If you want to collaborate on documents, use third-party tools.
Paid plans are significantly more expensive than most competitors.
Integrations
Asana integrates with 200+ tools, including Evernote, ServiceNow, Google Drive, and Coview.
Pricing
Asana offers a free plan as well as several premium plans:
Free: includes unlimited projects, tasks, and messages in board and calendar views for up to 10 users.
Starter ($13.49/user/month): includes Gantt and timeline views, a workflow builder, Asana intelligence, forms, custom fields, and more.
Premium ($30.49/user/month): includes portfolio management, workload balancing tools, time tracking, approvals, and more.
Enterprise (custom pricing): includes advanced permission controls, SAML-based SSO, project admin controls, and more.
Enterprise+ (custom pricing): audit log, audit log API, data loss prevention support, HIPAA compliance, and more.
6. Podio — Good for customizable workflows
Podio is a low-code platform that lets you create digital workspaces or project management tools that suit your needs. It’s suitable for companies with complex workflows and many moving parts.
Key features
Basic task management functionality makes it easy to get started.
Pre-made apps and templates help you create custom workflows.
Automate outreach with a cloud phone system and power dialer.
Custom workflow automation helps you speed up business processes.
Pros
Extensive customizability helps you streamline your workflows.
You can accommodate the needs of different teams with different apps.
Cons
It’s harder to get started with more complete PM platforms.
Custom apps leave more room for communications to get lost through developer error.
You need the most expensive plan to access advanced reporting like analytics and dashboards.
Integrations
Podio features 16 native integrations, including Microsoft Exchange, Evernote, and OneDrive.
Pricing
Podio offers a limited freemium plan with only task management features and two paid plans.
Free: includes basic task management features and apps with a maximum of 100 items.
Plus ($14/user/month): includes unlimited items, unlimited clients, automated workflows, and basic permission access.
Premium ($34/user/month): includes visual dashboards, analytics, and advanced automations.
7. monday.com — Solid integrations for cross-app workflows
monday.com is a project management platform focused on integrations and automations. It suits project managers and teams that rely on a large tech stack.
Key features
Create and manage projects and tasks, including task priority, deadlines, assignees, and more.
Project views include tables, Gantt, timelines, calendars, charts, and dashboards.
Custom workflows powered by multiple integrations can help bridge data silo gaps.
Pros
The workflows and project tables are highly customizable.
You can use various views to break down and analyze projects and workflows.
Cons
The analytics and reporting are not in-depth enough for project managers at some companies.
Getting started can be a challenge for companies with various employees. You need a certain level of tech literacy to use it effectively.
The basic plan is very limited, even at a fairly high price point. Detailed reports and multi-board dashboards are locked behind expensive plans.
Integrations
monday.com integrates with 250+ tools natively, including platform-specific automation templates.
Pricing
monday.com has no real freemium plan, instead offering three standard premium plans. It also has a custom plan for larger teams.
Basic ($10/user/month): includes unlimited boards, items, and free viewers. You can access 200+ templates but only a 1-week activity log.
Standard ($12/user/month): includes views like Gantt charts and project timelines, guest access, multi-board dashboards, automations, integrations, and more.
Pro ($20/user/month): features private boards, chart views, built-in time tracking, formula columns, and more.
Enterprise (custom pricing): includes SAML-based SSO, multi-level permission controls, advanced analytics, and more.
You can try any plan during a 7-day free trial.
8. Teamwork — Robust time tracking and resource management
Teamwork is a project management app with built-in time tracking and resource planning tools. It’s a good choice for project managers with hourly workers who need to track working hours.
Key features
Built-in time tracking helps you track how many employees work on complex projects.
User rates let you calculate and generate invoices for team members automatically.
Resource planning tools help you optimize the utilization of your workers and tools.
Pros
Keep track of contractors and freelance hires across projects with built-in time tracking.
Invoice generation makes payroll easier for small companies.
Cons
Lacks many advanced collaboration and team communication features.
Project templates are limited to two on more affordable plans.
Integrations
Teamwork integrates natively with 13 tools, including QuickBooks, Google Drive, and Dropbox.
Pricing
Teamwork offers a heavily limited free plan, three premium plans, and an enterprise plan:
Free: basic project management, time tracking, timesheets, and more for up to five users.
Starter ($8.99/user/month): collaborative docs, custom branding, more integrations, and Gantt and portfolio views for up to 100 users.
Deliver ($13.99/user/month): burndown reports, team chat, and access to the QuickBooks integration.
Grow ($25.99/user/month): includes all integrations, change history, critical path analysis, and more.
Scale (custom pricing): advanced user access controls and increased security features.
9. Nifty — Suitable for smaller projects
Nifty is a lightweight project management app with features suitable for smaller teams.
Key features
Built-in team chat helps your project team members communicate.
Project management features include dependencies, milestones, recurring tasks, and more.
Collaborative docs let your team work together on projects in real time.
Pros
Nifty also offers flat pricing, which makes it an affordable option for mid-sized teams.
Team chat is integrated into the platform, making collaboration smoother.
Cons
Lacks certain advanced project management features. You have to use workarounds to manage intricate projects.
Limited customizability to adapt the platform to your company’s workflows.
Integrations
Nifty integrates with 15 third-party tools, including Harvest, Miro, and Zoom.
Pricing
Nifty offers a limited free plan for up to two projects and several fixed-price plans (not per-user pricing).
Free: tasks, docs, team chat, portfolios, milestones, dependencies, and 100 MB storage space for up to two projects and unlimited users.
Starter ($49/month): time tracking, 2FA, custom fields, and budget tracking for 40 projects and 100 GB storage.
Pro ($99/month): file proofing, cross-project overviews, workflow automations, and Google SSO for 20 team members and unlimited projects.
Business ($149/month): goal tracking, workload balancing, and custom permissions for up to 50 team members.
Unlimited ($499/month): unlimited team members, storage, and clients with SAML-based SSO.
10. Airtable — Suitable for data management
Airtable is a low-code platform with templates for creating project management apps. It’s a suitable tool for teams experienced in creating custom apps using data from various sources.
Key features
Project management templates make it easy to create workflow-specific apps.
Centralize feedback and client inquiries in tables.
Create workflows based on these tables that accommodate multiple stakeholders.
Pros
Very high degree of customizability — create your own custom digital workspace.
Cons
Getting started is a lot more time-consuming than with pre-built platforms.
The templates are limited in out-of-the-box features. You often need to create functionality from scratch.
Integrations
Airtable integrates with 35 apps, including Asana, Eventbrite, and Stripe.
Pricing
Airtable has a robust free plan as well as several premium plans:
Free: includes unlimited databases, 1,000 records per base, 1 GB storage per base, and up to five database editors.
Team ($20/month): includes sync integrations, 25,000 automation runs, and 20 GB per database,
Premium ($45/user/month): includes an admin panel, verified data, 100,000 runs, 100 GB of attachments, premium integrations, and SAML-based SSO.
Enterprise (custom pricing): includes on-premises sync integrations, enhanced security controls, API, audit logs, and more.
Why Lark is the best Basecamp alternative for most companies
This section will compare Basecamp and Lark and explain why Lark is the perfect replacement.
If you look at Basecamp’s customer reputation, you’ll quickly find recurring complaints:
Missing features: no video calls, user hierarchies or custom roles, task dependencies, etc.
Limited customizability
A clunky interface
Poor navigation
Disappointing mobile apps
These complaints coincide with some of Lark’s strongest points.
An intuitive interface with built-in collaboration tools
With Lark, you can easily switch between workplace views, chat, calendar, video meetings, and docs. The collaboration tools are built straight into the same interface.
The clear icons in the right-hand menu help beginners easily navigate our app. You’ll never get lost when you’re using Lark.
It’s not just easier to use the Lark app itself for project management. The project deliverables are a lot easier to keep track of. The built-in tools help you collaborate while keeping all the data in the same place.
For example, Lark’s Magic Share lets your team work on shared documents from inside the video call window in real time.
Superior mobile apps
We think our mobile apps are one of our strongest points, and our users agree — Lark has a 4.9/5 rating in the App Store.
We used our experience to develop mobile-first apps instead of retrofitting web app functionality into a mobile package. And you can feel the difference. Our apps are more intuitive, faster, and easier to use.
Customizability and user controls
Finally, Lark also has better user controls and a higher level of customizability. Lark Base is a no-code platform that makes creating custom apps for complex workflows easy. You can create what you need from scratch without a big development team.
With a pro plan, you can create custom user roles to simplify management and improve data security. You can even set permissions by departments or individual teams with an enterprise plan.
Get the functionality of Basecamp and other apps in a single platform
What makes Lark such a powerful alternative to Basecamp is its wide functionality. Not only can Lark replace Basecamp, but it can also replace multiple other SaaS tools. You’ll get advanced project management features, plus the power of Slack, Zoom, and Google Docs.
Lark is truly an all-in-one platform for project management and collaboration.
That’s what makes Lark stand out from the other alternatives to Basecamp. Yes, you can use other platforms for various use cases with success. However, you must still rely on other tools to manage your workflow.
Lark gives you everything you need in a single package. This not only reduces running costs but streamlines collaboration and ensures you avoid data silos and minimize mistakes.
