Software · head to head
Basecamp vs Bill.com
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Basecamp the free tier allows one project and 1 GB of storage; Bill.com limited customization of approval workflows and user permissions for complex business needs
- They diverge on capability: Basecamp covers Message boards, Bill.com covers AP automation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Basecamp and Bill.com actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), 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 Basecamp
- Message boards
- To-do lists
- Schedules
- Documents & files
- Group chat
- Check-in questions
- Hill Charts
- Email forwards
Only in Bill.com
- AP automation
- AR automation
- Payment processing
- Approval workflows
- Document management
- Vendor management
- Cash flow insights
- Mobile approvals
Both cover
- SOC2
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Basecamp
- Project management for a small team in one placenot Bill.com
- Message boards and chat alongside to-dosnot Bill.com
- Client collaboration, since guests are not chargednot Bill.com
- Flat-rate project management for a larger team on Pro Unlimitednot Bill.com
Bill.com
- Invoice processingnot Basecamp
- Bill paymentsnot Basecamp
- Vendor paymentsnot Basecamp
- Cash flow managementnot Basecamp
- Financial automationnot Basecamp
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Bill.com
- Limited customization of approval workflows and user permissions for complex business needs
- Limited international payment capabilities compared to specialists like Tipalti
- Customer support response times are slow, with agents often lacking product expertise
Pricing, plan by plan
Basecamp
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.
Bill.com
Free- Essentials$49/month
- Core AP and AR functionality
- Manual CSV import/export
- Team$65/month
- Automatic 2-way sync with QuickBooks Online, Xero
- Corporate$89/month
- Procurement features
- Custom approval policies
- Sync with NetSuite, Dynamics
Which should you pick?
Choose Basecamp if
- You need message boards.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want to-do lists.
Choose Bill.com if
- You need ap automation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want ar automation.
Questions people ask
- Is Basecamp or Bill.com better?
- Neither clearly leads. Basecamp starts at Free and Bill.com at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Basecamp or Bill.com?
- Basecamp starts at Free and Bill.com at Free.
- Does Basecamp or Bill.com run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Basecamp for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Basecamp best used for?
- Basecamp is most often used for project management for a small team in one place, message boards and chat alongside to-dos, client collaboration, since guests are not charged, flat-rate project management for a larger team on pro unlimited. Of those, project management for a small team in one place and message boards and chat alongside to-dos are not what Bill.com is typically brought in for.
- What can Basecamp do that Bill.com cannot?
- Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. Bill.com covers AP automation, AR automation, Payment processing, Approval workflows. Both handle SOC2.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Bill.com: What payment methods does Bill.com support?
Bill.com supports ACH transfers, checks, corporate cards, and international transfers. ACH payments cost $0.59 per transaction, checks cost $1.99, and card payments incur a 2.9% fee.
SourceBill.com: Does Bill.com offer a free tier?
Yes. Bill.com offers a free Spend & Expense plan for access to credit lines from $1,000-$5M with corporate cards, budgets, and expense tracking.
SourceBill.com: Which accounting systems does Bill.com integrate with?
Bill.com integrates with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Enterprise, Oracle NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Microsoft Dynamics, and Xero, with automatic two-way syncing on most plans.
Source