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Basecamp vs OmniFocus 3

Basecamp logo

Basecamp

All industries

Project management & team collaboration software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OmniFocus 3 logo

OmniFocus 3

Productivity

Professional task management for complex workflows

From
$39.99/year
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; OmniFocus 3 apple platforms only apart from the web client: macOS 14, iOS or iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 or visionOS 2 and newer are required, with no Windows or Android app
  • They diverge on capability: Basecamp covers Message boards, OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Basecamp and OmniFocus 3 actually diverge.

Attributes where Basecamp and OmniFocus 3 differ
AttributeBasecampOmniFocus 3
Starting priceFree$39.99/year
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebMacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web
CategoryAll industriesProductivity
Founded20041993

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 OmniFocus 3

  • GTD-based task organization
  • Projects and subprojects
  • Contexts and tags
  • Custom perspectives
  • Automation
  • Quick entry
  • Sync across devices
  • Deferred and due dates

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 OmniFocus 3
  • Message boards and chat alongside to-dosnot OmniFocus 3
  • Client collaboration, since guests are not chargednot OmniFocus 3
  • Flat-rate project management for a larger team on Pro Unlimitednot OmniFocus 3

OmniFocus 3

  • Getting Things Done style task and project management on Apple devicesnot Basecamp
  • Capturing tasks with contexts, defer dates and review cyclesnot Basecamp
  • Syncing a personal task database across Mac, iPhone, iPad and Watchnot 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

OmniFocus 3

  • Apple platforms only apart from the web client: macOS 14, iOS or iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 or visionOS 2 and newer are required, with no Windows or Android app
  • Web access is not included with a perpetual licence and costs an extra $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year
  • The Pro perpetual licence costs $149.99 against $74.99 for Standard
  • Future major upgrades are a paid discount rather than free for perpetual licence holders
  • The $99.99 per year subscription is the only option that bundles Pro plus web access

Pricing, plan by plan

Basecamp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.

OmniFocus 3

$39.99/year
  • Standard$39.99/year
    • Mac and iOS apps
    • Cloud sync
    • Core features
  • Pro$99.99/year
    • Everything in Standard
    • Advanced automation
    • Perspective management

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 OmniFocus 3 if

  • You need gtd-based task organization.
  • You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web.
  • You also want projects and subprojects.
OmniFocus 3 review

Questions people ask

Is Basecamp or OmniFocus 3 better?
Neither clearly leads. Basecamp starts at Free and OmniFocus 3 at $39.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Basecamp or OmniFocus 3?
Basecamp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Basecamp and $39.99/year for OmniFocus 3.
Does Basecamp or OmniFocus 3 run on more platforms?
Basecamp runs on Web. OmniFocus 3 runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web.
Can I use Basecamp for free?
Yes. Basecamp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OmniFocus 3 starts at $39.99/year.
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 OmniFocus 3 is typically brought in for.
What can Basecamp do that OmniFocus 3 cannot?
Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization, Projects and subprojects, Contexts and tags, Custom perspectives.
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