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Software · head to head

Basecamp vs Paymo

Basecamp logo

Basecamp

Software

Project management & team collaboration software

From
Free
Rated
-
Paymo logo

Paymo

Software

Work & project management for teams

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; Paymo every advertised price rises after 3 months, with Plus going from $10.90 to $15.90 per user and Pro from $16.90 to $23.90
  • They diverge on capability: Basecamp covers Message boards, Paymo covers Task management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Basecamp and Paymo actually diverge.

Attributes where Basecamp and Paymo differ
AttributeBasecampPaymo
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android, Desktop
Founded20042008

Identical on both: pricing model (freemium), 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 Paymo

  • Task management
  • Time tracking
  • Invoicing
  • Gantt charts
  • Resource scheduling
  • Google Workspace
  • SSL encryption
  • Web support

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Zapier

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

Paymo

  • Project management with time tracking and invoicing for agenciesnot Basecamp
  • Tracking billable hours and project profitabilitynot 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

Paymo

  • Every advertised price rises after 3 months, with Plus going from $10.90 to $15.90 per user and Pro from $16.90 to $23.90
  • The free plan allows 1 user, 1 client and 2 projects
  • The Solo plan is still capped at 3 clients and 5 projects
  • Gantt charts, task dependencies and scheduling require the Plus plan
  • Integrations are excluded from both the free and Solo plans

Pricing, plan by plan

Basecamp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.

Paymo

On request
  • FreeFree
    • 1 user
    • Basic features
  • Starter$4.95/month
    • Time tracking
    • Kanban
    • Invoicing

Which should you pick?

Choose Basecamp if

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

Choose Paymo if

  • You need task management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want time tracking.

Questions people ask

Is Basecamp or Paymo better?
Neither clearly leads. Basecamp starts at Free and Paymo at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Basecamp or Paymo?
Basecamp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Basecamp and On request for Paymo.
Does Basecamp or Paymo run on more platforms?
Basecamp runs on Web. Paymo runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
Can I use Basecamp for free?
Yes. Basecamp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paymo 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 Paymo is typically brought in for.
What can Basecamp do that Paymo cannot?
Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. Paymo covers Task management, Time tracking, Invoicing, Gantt charts. Both handle Slack, Zapier.

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