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Basecamp vs Google Workspace

Basecamp logo

Basecamp

All industries

Project management & team collaboration software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Google Workspace logo

Google Workspace

All industries

Everything you need to get work done, all in one place

From
€3.4/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; Google Workspace starter tier storage limited to 30 GB per user, requiring upgrade to Standard or higher for adequate document storage
  • They diverge on capability: Basecamp covers Message boards, Google Workspace covers Gmail business email.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Basecamp and Google Workspace actually diverge.

Attributes where Basecamp and Google Workspace differ
AttributeBasecampGoogle Workspace
Starting priceFree€3.4/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20042006

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (All industries).

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 Google Workspace

  • Gmail business email
  • Google Drive storage
  • Google Docs, Sheets, Slides
  • Google Calendar
  • Google Meet video conferencing
  • Google Chat
  • Google Forms
  • Google Sites

Both cover

  • Slack
  • 2FA

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

Google Workspace

  • Business email and calendar managementnot Basecamp
  • Collaborative document editingnot Basecamp
  • Video conferencing and meetingsnot Basecamp
  • Secure document storage and sharingnot 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

Google Workspace

  • Starter tier storage limited to 30 GB per user, requiring upgrade to Standard or higher for adequate document storage
  • Starter and Standard tiers both capped at maximum 300 users per organisation
  • Video meetings limited to 100 participants on Starter tier, 150 on Standard tier
  • Recording capabilities only available on Standard tier and above
  • eDiscovery, Vault, and advanced security features only available on Plus and Enterprise tiers

Pricing, plan by plan

Basecamp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.

Google Workspace

€3.4/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Workspace 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 Google Workspace if

  • You need gmail business email.
  • You also want google drive storage.
Google Workspace review

Questions people ask

Is Basecamp or Google Workspace better?
Neither clearly leads. Basecamp starts at Free and Google Workspace at €3.4/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Basecamp or Google Workspace?
Basecamp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Basecamp and €3.4/month for Google Workspace.
Does Basecamp or Google Workspace run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Basecamp for free?
Yes. Basecamp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Google Workspace starts at €3.4/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 Google Workspace is typically brought in for.
What can Basecamp do that Google Workspace cannot?
Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. Google Workspace covers Gmail business email, Google Drive storage, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Google Calendar. Both handle Slack, 2FA.
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Related pages

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