Softwr

Software · head to head

Basecamp vs Mattermost

Basecamp logo

Basecamp

Software

Project management & team collaboration software

From
Free
Rated
-
Mattermost logo

Mattermost

Software

Channel-centric collaboration for secure workflows

From
On request
Rated
-

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; Mattermost no prices are published for any of the three paid tiers (Professional, Enterprise, Enterprise Advanced); all require contacting sales

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Basecamp and Mattermost actually diverge.

Attributes where Basecamp and Mattermost differ
AttributeBasecampMattermost
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
Founded2004Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Mattermost

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

Mattermost

No use cases recorded yet. See the Mattermost 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

Mattermost

  • No prices are published for any of the three paid tiers (Professional, Enterprise, Enterprise Advanced); all require contacting sales
  • Professional is capped at a maximum of 250 users, forcing a move to Enterprise for larger teams
  • Licenses are sold only as prepaid annual subscriptions, and organizations that exceed their licensed seat count must purchase additional seats on a prorated quarterly basis

Pricing, plan by plan

Basecamp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.

Mattermost

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Mattermost review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Basecamp if

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

Choose Mattermost if

Nothing in the data separates Mattermost from Basecamp on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Questions people ask

Is Basecamp or Mattermost better?
Neither clearly leads. Basecamp starts at Free and Mattermost at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Basecamp or Mattermost?
Basecamp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Basecamp and On request for Mattermost.
Does Basecamp or Mattermost 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. Mattermost starts at On request.
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 Mattermost is typically brought in for.
What can Basecamp do that Mattermost cannot?
Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files.

Related pages

Other head to heads