Basecamp review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Basecamp suits teams that want a calm project workspace with a free plan to try before paying, and paid entry starts at $25. Firms shopping mainly for accounting may find Qonto at €9 or Accountable at €9.90 the cheaper way in each month.
Key facts
- Best for
- Small teams that want a free project workspace before paying $25.
- Price from
- $25 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free trial length
- 30 days (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Users included
- 5 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- iOS (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- 37signals LLC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 1999 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Free plan, Free trial
- Official website
- basecamp.com
Business tools
- Price from
- $25 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Usage limits
- Free: 1 project, 1 GB, 5 users (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free trial length
- 30 days (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Tool type
- Project-management (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- 37signals LLC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 1999 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Free plan, Free trial
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App StoreGoogle Play
Pros and cons
Pros
- A free plan sits next to a 30 day free trial, so a team can weigh the tool before any payment.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community, so a written answer, a help centre and a community are within reach.
- The free plan covers a single project, which suits a team running one job at a time.
- The maker is 37signals LLC, founded in 1999 and based in the United States.
Cons
- Entry at $25 sits above Qonto at €9 and Accountable at €9.90.
- On starting price Basecamp places 119 among 200, so cheaper entries are common in this group.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community, so no phone line is listed.
- Apps are listed for ios, so no desktop or Android build is named.
Who it suits
- Teams that want a free project workspace before committing to a paid plan.
- Small crews who can work within 5 included users on the paid tier.
- Readers who prefer email, a help centre and a community over a phone line.
Who should look elsewhere
- Cost-first buyers: Qonto at €9 and Accountable at €9.90 start lower than Basecamp at $25.
- Teams that need spoken support, since Basecamp runs on email, help centre and community.
Where it sits among rivals
Trial length places 9 of 166 brands compared here, while starting price places 119 of 200. Readers weighing entry cost will read the weaker of the two positions, and the trial ranking is the friendlier one for anyone testing before paying. Cheaper entries are plentiful in this group, so the price line is the one to scrutinise.
Free plan and trial
A free plan is offered, so a team can start with the core tool and move up only when the work needs it. A free trial also runs for 30 days, which puts a paid tier test window on top of the no-cost tier. Between the two, most small groups can evaluate the product without committing money to a subscription.
What it does well
Paid plans include 5 users, which is sized for a small crew sharing one workspace. A mobile app is listed for ios, so the project list can be checked away from a desk. Between the included seats and the listed app, the everyday needs of a small team are covered in the core product.
Plans and pricing
The paid tier starts at $25, and that entry price is the figure to weigh. The free plan lets a team hold off on the payment while the no-cost tier still fits the work, and a 30 day trial bridges the gap, letting a team test the paid tier before committing. Budget for the first year from the starting price and the free tier together.
Who runs it
Basecamp is run by 37signals LLC, a company founded in 1999 and based in the United States. Support runs on email, help centre and community, so the routes in are email, a help centre and a community. A long operating history and a named legal entity are useful details for buyers who check the paperwork before a subscription.
How Basecamp compares
9.4 vs 8.7- 9.4 vs 9.3
- 9.4 vs 9.1
9.4 vs 9.1- 9.4 vs 9.2
- 9.4 vs 9.3
9.4 vs 9.4
9.4 vs 9.5
9.4 vs 8.5- 9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.0Qonto starts at €9, a lower entry price than Basecamp at $25.
- 9.4 vs 8.7
- 9.4 vs 8.0
- 9.4 vs 9.5
9.4 vs 9.4
9.4 vs 9.4- 9.4 vs 9.3
9.4 vs 9.1
9.4 vs 9.1
9.4 vs 9.1- 9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 8.9- 9.4 vs 8.9
9.4 vs 8.9
9.4 vs 8.8
9.4 vs 8.8
9.4 vs 8.8
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.0
9.4 vs 8.0
Frequently asked questions
What does Basecamp cost to start?+
Paid plans start at $25. A team can stay on the free plan while the work fits inside it, and a 30 day free trial gives a window on the paid tier before a decision is made. Set against the alternatives here, Qonto starts at €9 and Accountable at €9.90.
Is there a free plan, and what does it cover?+
Yes, a free plan is offered. It holds a single project, a single gigabyte of storage and a small set of users, so a small team can run one job without paying. Work wider than that needs a paid plan, and a 30 day trial is there for testing the paid tier first.
How long is the free trial?+
The free trial lasts 30 days, and the model lists a free plan and a free trial together, so the two sit side by side. A team can work on the free tier within its limits, then use the trial window to judge the paid tier. The trial is a short test; the free plan is the longer arrangement.
Which platforms does Basecamp run on?+
A mobile app is listed for ios, and the tool type is project management, so the product is aimed at planning and tracking work rather than bookkeeping or payroll. Teams that work mostly at a desk can still use the core product, while the listed app covers checking a project from a phone.
How many seats come with a paid plan?+
Paid plans include 5 users, which is sized for a small crew on shared work. The free plan is narrower, holding a single project, a single gigabyte of storage and a small set of users. A roster larger than the included count is worth checking before anyone signs up.
Who runs Basecamp and where is it based?+
The product comes from 37signals LLC, founded in 1999 and based in the United States. That legal entity is the name to check on a contract, and the US base is worth noting for teams that buy across borders. Buyers outside the US may want to confirm the commercial terms first.
How do you get help from Basecamp?+
Support runs on email, help centre and community, so email, a help centre and a community are the routes in. Written answers suit questions that can be described in full, and the community covers questions other users have already asked. A team needing a spoken conversation has fewer options here than with a vendor listing phone support.
Who is Basecamp for?+
It suits a small team that wants a free plan to test and a paid tier at $25 to grow into, with the free plan covering a single project and a small storage allowance. It suits teams less well if you need phone support, since support runs on email, help centre and community, or if price leads the decision, since Qonto at €9 and Accountable at €9.90 start lower.
Sources
- apps.apple.com/us/app/basecamp-project-management/id10156... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Platforms
“trackName=Basecamp - Project Management; sellerName=37Signals LLC”
- basecamp.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Tool type
“Basecamp is project management without all the nonsense”
- basecamp.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Pricing model
“A free plan + paid upgrades”
- basecamp.com/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free plan, Free trial length, Price from, Usage limits, Users included
“One free project for personal use.”
- basecamp.com/support checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Legal entity, Support channels
“© 37signals LLC. All rights reserved”
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Fried checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Founded
“American web software company based in Chicago, Illinois”
Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Local compliance.