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Software · head to head

Basecamp vs Buildkite

Basecamp logo

Basecamp

Software

Project management & team collaboration software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Buildkite logo

Buildkite

Software

CI/CD pipelines that run on your own compute

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; Buildkite free plan caps at 5 users and 10 concurrent jobs, with 2,000 Linux vCPU minutes per month and 30 day build retention

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Basecamp and Buildkite actually diverge.

Attributes where Basecamp and Buildkite differ
AttributeBasecampBuildkite
Founded2004Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 Buildkite

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

Buildkite

No use cases recorded yet. See the Buildkite review.

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

Buildkite

  • Free plan caps at 5 users and 10 concurrent jobs, with 2,000 Linux vCPU minutes per month and 30 day build retention
  • Pro plan is $30 per active user per month, capped at 50 users, with only 10 of the up to 250 concurrent agents included before extra usage
  • Enterprise plan enforces a 30 user minimum even though pricing itself is custom
  • Hosted compute beyond included minutes is metered at $0.004 per vCPU minute on Linux and $0.02 per vCPU minute on Mac

Pricing, plan by plan

Basecamp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.

Buildkite

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Buildkite review.

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 Buildkite if

  • You want to start without paying.
Buildkite review

Questions people ask

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

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