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Software · head to head

Basecamp vs Bitbucket

Basecamp logo

Basecamp

Software

Project management & team collaboration software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bitbucket logo

Bitbucket

Software

Git code management for professional teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Basecamp the free tier allows one project and 1 GB of storage; Bitbucket limited build minutes compared to GitHub Actions - free tier capped at 50 minutes/month vs unlimited on GitHub

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Basecamp and Bitbucket actually diverge.

Attributes where Basecamp and Bitbucket differ
AttributeBasecampBitbucket
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWebWeb, Data Center
Founded20042008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Bitbucket

Nothing recorded that Basecamp does not also cover.

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 Bitbucket
  • Message boards and chat alongside to-dosnot Bitbucket
  • Client collaboration, since guests are not chargednot Bitbucket
  • Flat-rate project management for a larger team on Pro Unlimitednot Bitbucket

Bitbucket

  • Hosting Git repositories for a software teamnot Basecamp
  • Running CI and deployments with Bitbucket Pipelinesnot Basecamp
  • Code review with branch permissions and access controlsnot Basecamp
  • Linking commits to Jira issues and updating their status automaticallynot Basecamp
  • Security scanning through Snyk and partner integrationsnot 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

Bitbucket

  • Limited build minutes compared to GitHub Actions - free tier capped at 50 minutes/month vs unlimited on GitHub
  • Reliability issues with frequent outages reported by users
  • No native way to execute Bitbucket Pipeline YAML files locally for testing
  • Smaller ecosystem and community compared to GitHub

Pricing, plan by plan

Basecamp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.

Bitbucket

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 5 users
    • Unlimited repositories
    • 1 GB storage
  • Standard$3.65/month
    • 2,500 pooled build minutes
    • All Bitbucket features
  • Premium$7.25/month
    • 3,500 build minutes
    • Merge checks
    • IP allowlisting

Which should you pick?

Choose Basecamp if

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

Choose Bitbucket if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Data Center.
Bitbucket review

Questions people ask

Is Basecamp or Bitbucket better?
Neither clearly leads. Basecamp starts at Free and Bitbucket at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Basecamp or Bitbucket?
Basecamp starts at Free and Bitbucket at Free.
Does Basecamp or Bitbucket run on more platforms?
Basecamp runs on Web. Bitbucket runs on Web, Data Center.
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 Bitbucket is typically brought in for.
What can Basecamp do that Bitbucket cannot?
Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bitbucket: Does Bitbucket offer a free tier?

Yes. The Free plan supports up to 5 users with 1 GB of file storage for LFS, 50 build minutes per month, and unlimited public and private repositories. The plan can be upgraded anytime.

Source
Bitbucket: Can I self-host Bitbucket?

Yes. Bitbucket Data Center is available for self-hosted deployments starting at $2,300 per year. It provides teams with complete control of their environments and disaster recovery capabilities.

Source
Bitbucket: How many build minutes do I get with Bitbucket Pipelines?

Free plan includes 50 build minutes per month. Standard plan ($3.65/user/month) includes 2,500 pooled build minutes. Premium plan ($7.25/user/month) includes 3,500 build minutes. Additional minutes can be purchased in $10 packs for 1,000 minutes.

Source
Bitbucket: Does Bitbucket integrate with Jira?

Yes. Bitbucket integrates natively with Jira, allowing you to track associated builds and deployments to Jira work items. It also integrates with Slack, Compass, and VS Code.

Source
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Related pages

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