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Software · head to head

Basecamp vs Expensify

Basecamp logo

Basecamp

Software

Project management & team collaboration software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Expensify logo

Expensify

Software

Expense management for receipts, bills & more

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Basecamp has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Basecamp the free tier allows one project and 1 GB of storage; Expensify minimal offline expense entry capabilities hamper use in areas with unstable internet
  • They diverge on capability: Basecamp covers Message boards, Expensify covers SmartScan receipts.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Basecamp and Expensify actually diverge.

Attributes where Basecamp and Expensify differ
AttributeBasecampExpensify
Starting priceFree$5/month
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20042008

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 Basecamp

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

Only in Expensify

  • SmartScan receipts
  • Expense reports
  • Corporate cards
  • Reimbursements
  • Travel booking
  • Mileage tracking
  • Multi-currency
  • Real-time syncing

Both cover

  • Slack
  • SOC2
  • GDPR

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

Expensify

  • Expense reportingnot Basecamp
  • Receipt managementnot Basecamp
  • Travel expensesnot Basecamp
  • Corporate card managementnot Basecamp
  • Reimbursementsnot 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

Expensify

  • Minimal offline expense entry capabilities hamper use in areas with unstable internet
  • OCR receipt data extraction requires manual review and correction for accuracy
  • Per-user pricing model increases costs for larger organizations

Pricing, plan by plan

Basecamp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.

Expensify

$5/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Expensify 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 Expensify if

  • You need smartscan receipts.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want expense reports.
Expensify review

Questions people ask

Is Basecamp or Expensify better?
Neither clearly leads. Basecamp starts at Free and Expensify at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Basecamp or Expensify?
Basecamp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Basecamp and $5/month for Expensify.
Does Basecamp or Expensify run on more platforms?
Basecamp runs on Web. Expensify runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Basecamp for free?
Yes. Basecamp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Expensify starts at $5/month.
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 Expensify is typically brought in for.
What can Basecamp do that Expensify cannot?
Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. Expensify covers SmartScan receipts, Expense reports, Corporate cards, Reimbursements. Both handle Slack, SOC2, GDPR.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Expensify: How does Expensify capture receipts?

Expensify uses SmartScan technology with OCR to automatically extract data from receipt images, reducing manual data entry. Users can photograph receipts with their phone to quickly create expense entries.

Source
Expensify: What reimbursement methods does Expensify support?

Expensify supports ACH reimbursement via direct deposit after setting up a direct deposit account. Next-day reimbursement is available, or standard processing takes 3-5 business days.

Source
Expensify: How does Expensify offline mode work?

Expensify has limited offline capabilities. Users can capture receipts offline, but data syncs when internet connectivity is restored. Full functionality requires online access.

Source
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Related pages

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