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Software · head to head

Basecamp vs Groove

Basecamp logo

Basecamp

Software

Project management & team collaboration software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Groove logo

Groove

Software

Simple, powerful support for growing businesses

From
$12/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; Groove billed per ticket at $1 rather than per agent, so support cost scales with how many customers get in touch
  • They diverge on capability: Basecamp covers Message boards, Groove covers Shared inbox.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Basecamp and Groove actually diverge.

Attributes where Basecamp and Groove differ
AttributeBasecampGroove
Starting priceFree$12/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20042011

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 Groove

  • Shared inbox
  • Knowledge base
  • Live chat
  • Automation rules
  • Reporting
  • Collision detection
  • Salesforce
  • Trello

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Zapier
  • SSL
  • 2FA
  • 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 Groove
  • Message boards and chat alongside to-dosnot Groove
  • Client collaboration, since guests are not chargednot Groove
  • Flat-rate project management for a larger team on Pro Unlimitednot Groove

Groove

  • Shared inbox and help desk ticketing for small support teamsnot Basecamp
  • Handling email, chat and messaging support in one queuenot 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

Groove

  • Billed per ticket at $1 rather than per agent, so support cost scales with how many customers get in touch
  • A minimum of 250 tickets a month applies, which is a $3,000 annual commitment before any usage
  • A quiet month still pays the 250 ticket floor
  • No mailbox limit is published

Pricing, plan by plan

Basecamp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.

Groove

$12/month
  • Standard$12/month
    • 1 mailbox
    • Knowledge base
    • Live chat
  • Plus$20/month
    • 5 mailboxes
    • Full reporting
    • Rules
  • Pro$35/month
    • 25 mailboxes
    • Salesforce
    • Enterprise SSO

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 Groove if

  • You need shared inbox.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want knowledge base.
Groove review

Questions people ask

Is Basecamp or Groove better?
Neither clearly leads. Basecamp starts at Free and Groove at $12/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Basecamp or Groove?
Basecamp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Basecamp and $12/month for Groove.
Does Basecamp or Groove run on more platforms?
Basecamp runs on Web. Groove runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Basecamp for free?
Yes. Basecamp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Groove starts at $12/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 Groove is typically brought in for.
What can Basecamp do that Groove cannot?
Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. Groove covers Shared inbox, Knowledge base, Live chat, Automation rules. Both handle Slack, Zapier, SSL, 2FA.
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Related pages

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