Basecamp

What does Basecamp do?

Basecamp provides a set of built-in tools for running projects: message boards for announcements, to-do lists for tracking work, Card Tables for Kanban-style process tracking, Campfires and Pings for group and direct chat, a shared scheduling calendar, Docs & Files storage, and automatic check-in reports. It was originally built internally by a design firm to manage client projects before becoming a standalone product about 23-27 years ago. The company also offers developer tools including an API, CLI, and AI agent integrations with ChatGPT and Claude.

Who is Basecamp a good fit for?

Basecamp is used by companies, teams, and non-profits across every industry, including marketing agencies, universities, realty firms, churches, and genomics companies, based on the customer testimonials on its site. It also explicitly supports freelancers and bootstrapped small businesses, as well as K-12 schools, homeschoolers, university classwork, and students.

What services does Basecamp offer?

Message Boards

A tool for posting internal company or project announcements.

To-dos

Task lists for tracking work and assigning accountability.

Card Tables

A Kanban-style board for organizing ideas and tracking workflows.

Campfires & Pings

Group chat rooms and direct messaging between teammates.

Scheduling

A shared calendar for deadlines, milestones, and events.

Docs & Files

Centralized storage for project documents and assets.

Reports & Automatic Check-ins

Automated status reports and check-in prompts to keep teams updated on progress.

How much does it cost?

Basecamp offers a Free plan limited to 1 project, 1 GB storage, and 5 users. Paid tiers include Freelancer (3 projects, 5 GB storage), Studio (10 projects, 25 GB storage, 20 users max), Pro (25 projects, 100 GB storage, unlimited users), and the Unlimited Edition (unlimited projects, 1 TB storage, unlimited users) which is described as a flat $300/month regardless of user count. Additional storage beyond the Unlimited Edition's 1 TB costs $100/month for an extra 5 TB. Registered 501(c)(3) non-profits get a 10% discount, and K-12 schools, homeschoolers, and university classwork use is free. Paid trials run 30 days (45 days for Unlimited Edition) and require no credit card upfront.

Details worth knowing

• The company (37signals) has been running for 27 years and describes itself as profitable, debt-free, and privately held.
• Basecamp reports 99.99% historical uptime.
• Over 84 million people have Basecamp accounts, and customers have managed more than 60 million projects.
• Over 1.7 billion to-dos, 350 million message board posts, and 2.7 billion comments have been logged on the platform.
• More than 5 petabytes of customer data is stored.
• Customer service team members have stayed with the company for an average of 9 years.
• Cancellation is self-serve at any time with no long-term contracts.
• The CEO, Jason Fried, lists his email for direct customer contact.
• Basecamp offers free live classes to walk prospective users through setup.

How do you get in touch?

Prospective customers can sign up directly on the website for a free plan or free trial, or join a free live class for a walkthrough and Q&A. The site also lists direct emails: jason@basecamp.com for general contact with the CEO, nonprofits@basecamp.com and teachers@basecamp.com/students@basecamp.com for discount verification.

Common questions

Can I try Basecamp without a credit card?

Yes, no credit card is required for the Free plan or for any paid-tier free trial; you only enter payment details if you choose to continue after the trial.

Will I be charged automatically when my trial ends?

No, since no credit card is collected during the trial, Basecamp cannot charge you automatically; you must enter a card yourself to continue after the trial.

Do non-profits or schools get a discount?

Yes, registered 501(c)(3) non-profits receive 10% off, and K-12 schools, homeschoolers, and universities can use Basecamp for free for class work, after emailing verification documents.

Can I downgrade or cancel my plan anytime?

Yes, you can upgrade anytime and downgrade between paid packages as long as your usage fits the lower tier's limits, though you cannot downgrade from a paid plan back to the free plan. Cancellation is self-serve at any time with no forms or retention calls.

Are clients and guests counted as users?

Yes, every person added counts toward the user limit, but the Studio plan and all higher tiers include unlimited users at no extra per-user cost.

Can I buy more storage if I run out?

Yes, each plan includes more storage than the last, and Unlimited Edition customers can add an extra 5 TB of storage for $100 per month.