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Software · head to head

Basecamp vs Paragon

Basecamp logo

Basecamp

Software

Project management & team collaboration software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Paragon logo

Paragon

Software

Embedded integration platform for SaaS

From
$299/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; Paragon no price is published for either plan, and both require a quote
  • They diverge on capability: Basecamp covers Message boards, Paragon covers Embedded workflows.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Basecamp and Paragon actually diverge.

Attributes where Basecamp and Paragon differ
AttributeBasecampParagon
Starting priceFree$299/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Embedded
Founded20042021

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 Paragon

  • Embedded workflows
  • Native integrations
  • Workflow builder
  • Error handling
  • Monitoring
  • Analytics
  • Webhooks
  • 500+ apps

Both cover

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

Paragon

  • Embedding third party integrations into a SaaS productnot Basecamp
  • Managing customer facing connectors without building each onenot 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

Paragon

  • No price is published for either plan, and both require a quote
  • Cost scales with the number of customer tenants using the integrations, so the bill follows an end customer count rather than the vendor's own usage
  • SAML SSO, self hosting, dynamic field mapping and SLAs are all Enterprise only

Pricing, plan by plan

Basecamp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.

Paragon

$299/month
  • Starter$299/month
    • 50 integrations
    • Basic support
  • Growth$999/month
    • 200 integrations
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$5000/month
    • Unlimited integrations
    • Dedicated support

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 Paragon if

  • You need embedded workflows.
  • You work on Web, Embedded.
  • You also want native integrations.
Paragon review

Questions people ask

Is Basecamp or Paragon better?
Neither clearly leads. Basecamp starts at Free and Paragon at $299/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Basecamp or Paragon?
Basecamp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Basecamp and $299/month for Paragon.
Does Basecamp or Paragon run on more platforms?
Basecamp runs on Web. Paragon runs on Web, Embedded.
Can I use Basecamp for free?
Yes. Basecamp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paragon starts at $299/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 Paragon is typically brought in for.
What can Basecamp do that Paragon cannot?
Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. Paragon covers Embedded workflows, Native integrations, Workflow builder, Error handling. Both handle Slack, GDPR.
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