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Software · head to head

15Five vs Basecamp

15Five logo

15Five

Software

Performance management that drives results

From
$4/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Basecamp logo

Basecamp

Software

Project management & team collaboration software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Basecamp has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 15Five split across three tiers, so performance reviews, OKRs and 360 feedback need Perform at $11 per user per month rather than the $4 Engage tier; Basecamp the free tier allows one project and 1 GB of storage
  • They diverge on capability: 15Five covers Weekly check-ins, Basecamp covers Message boards.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 15Five and Basecamp actually diverge.

Attributes where 15Five and Basecamp differ
Attribute15FiveBasecamp
Starting price$4/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, ApiWeb
Founded20112004

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 15Five

  • Weekly check-ins
  • 1-on-1 meetings
  • OKRs & goal tracking
  • Performance reviews
  • High fives recognition
  • Engagement surveys
  • Pulse surveys
  • Manager effectiveness

Only in Basecamp

  • Message boards
  • To-do lists
  • Schedules
  • Documents & files
  • Group chat
  • Check-in questions
  • Hill Charts
  • Email forwards

Both cover

  • Slack
  • GDPR

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

15Five

  • Running engagement surveys with heat maps and benchmarkingnot Basecamp
  • Performance reviews and continuous feedback cyclesnot Basecamp
  • Setting and tracking OKRsnot Basecamp
  • 360 degree feedback and talent matrix reviewsnot Basecamp
  • Compensation review cycles as a paid add-onnot Basecamp

Basecamp

  • Project management for a small team in one placenot 15Five
  • Message boards and chat alongside to-dosnot 15Five
  • Client collaboration, since guests are not chargednot 15Five
  • Flat-rate project management for a larger team on Pro Unlimitednot 15Five

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

15Five

  • Split across three tiers, so performance reviews, OKRs and 360 feedback need Perform at $11 per user per month rather than the $4 Engage tier
  • Manager training microlearnings are only in Total Platform at $16 per user per month
  • Compensation is a paid add-on at $9 per user per month, rising to $11 with benchmarking
  • The Kona meeting assistant is a further $2 per employee per month and Kona Coach $19 per manager per month
  • Advertised prices are the annual rates

Basecamp

  • The free tier allows one project and 1 GB of storage
  • Pro is $15 per user per month, so cost scales with headcount unlike the flat Pro Unlimited at $299 a month billed annually
  • Storage beyond the plan costs $50 a month per additional terabyte
  • Timesheet and the Admin Pro Pack are paid upgrades on Pro and only bundled with Pro Unlimited

Pricing, plan by plan

15Five

$4/month
  • Engage$4/month
    • Engagement surveys
    • Pulse surveys
    • Action planning
  • Perform$10/month
    • Weekly check-ins
    • 1-on-1s
    • Performance reviews
  • Total Platform$16/month
    • Everything in Engage & Perform
    • Career paths
    • Competencies

Basecamp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.

Which should you pick?

Choose 15Five if

  • You need weekly check-ins.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want 1-on-1 meetings.
15Five review

Choose Basecamp if

  • You need message boards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want to-do lists.
Basecamp review

Questions people ask

Is 15Five or Basecamp better?
Neither clearly leads. 15Five starts at $4/month and Basecamp at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 15Five or Basecamp?
Basecamp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $4/month for 15Five and Free for Basecamp.
Does 15Five or Basecamp run on more platforms?
15Five runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. Basecamp runs on Web.
Can I use Basecamp for free?
Yes. Basecamp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 15Five starts at $4/month.
What is 15Five best used for?
15Five is most often used for running engagement surveys with heat maps and benchmarking, performance reviews and continuous feedback cycles, setting and tracking okrs, 360 degree feedback and talent matrix reviews. Of those, running engagement surveys with heat maps and benchmarking and performance reviews and continuous feedback cycles are not what Basecamp is typically brought in for.
What can 15Five do that Basecamp cannot?
15Five covers Weekly check-ins, 1-on-1 meetings, OKRs & goal tracking, Performance reviews. Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. Both handle Slack, GDPR.
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