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Project Management · head to head

Basecamp vs Keycloak

Basecamp logo

Basecamp

Project Management

Project management & team collaboration software

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Keycloak logo

Keycloak

Developer Tools

Open-source identity and access management server.

From
Free
Free plan
Yes

The short version

  • Basecamp is a project management and team collaboration tool; Keycloak is an open-source IAM platform supporting OpenID Connect, OAuth 2.
  • Keycloak is free; Basecamp starts at $25/mo.
  • Where Basecamp falls short: the free tier allows one project and 1 GB of storage.
  • Where Keycloak falls short: requires self-hosted deployment and operational expertise to install, configure and maintain.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Basecamp and Keycloak actually diverge.

Attributes where Basecamp and Keycloak differ
AttributeBasecampKeycloak
Pricing modelSubscriptionOpen-source
PlatformsWebSelf-hosted, Linux, Windows, API
CategoryProject ManagementDeveloper Tools

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

Not yet recorded: founded for Keycloak.

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 Keycloak

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

Keycloak

  • Organisations requiring self-hosted identity infrastructure for compliance or data residencynot Basecamp
  • Companies with existing LDAP/Active Directory systems needing federated authenticationnot Basecamp
  • Open-source projects and communities requiring free IAM without licensing costsnot Basecamp
  • Enterprises building custom identity workflows requiring fine-grained authorisationnot Basecamp
  • Teams with sufficient operational expertise to manage infrastructurenot 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

Keycloak

  • Requires self-hosted deployment and operational expertise to install, configure and maintain
  • No managed cloud option provided by Red Hat; organisations must operate infrastructure themselves or use third-party distributions
  • Clustering and high-availability configurations require additional operational knowledge
  • Community support only; commercial support requires third-party vendors or distributions

Pricing, plan by plan

Basecamp

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 active project
    • 1 GB storage
    • 5 maximum users
  • Freelancer$25/mo
    • 3 active projects
    • 5 GB storage
    • 20 maximum users
  • Studio$59/mo
    • 10 active projects
    • 25 GB storage
    • Unlimited users
  • Pro$99/mo
    • 25 active projects
    • 100 GB storage
    • Unlimited users

Keycloak

Free
  • Open-sourceFree
    • Full platform functionality
    • Self-hosted deployment
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Basecamp if

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

Choose Keycloak if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Self-hosted, Linux, Windows, API.

Questions people ask

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

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Basecamp: Does Basecamp charge per user?

No, Studio tier and higher include unlimited users at no additional charge. The Free plan supports up to 5 users, and Freelancer supports up to 20 users.

Source
Keycloak: What protocols does Keycloak support?

Keycloak supports OpenID Connect, OAuth 2.0 and SAML 2.0 protocols for authentication and authorisation.

Source
Basecamp: How much storage does each Basecamp plan include?

Free includes 1 GB; Freelancer includes 5 GB; Studio includes 25 GB; Pro includes 100 GB; Unlimited includes 1 TB and can be expanded to 6 TB for an additional $100/month.

Source
Keycloak: Can Keycloak integrate with existing user directories?

Yes. Keycloak supports user federation with LDAP and Active Directory systems, allowing organisations to leverage existing user directories.

Source
Basecamp: What trial periods does Basecamp offer?

30-day free trial is available for all plans except Unlimited, which offers a 45-day free trial. No credit card required.

Source
Keycloak: Is Keycloak free?

Yes. Keycloak is fully open-source and free to deploy and use. No licensing fees are required.

Source
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