All industries · head to head
Basecamp vs Private Internet Access

Basecamp
All industries
Project management & team collaboration software
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -

Private Internet Access
Security & Cybersecurity
Long-standing VPN service with a large server network and flexible multi-year plans
- From
- $11.99/month
- 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; Private Internet Access monthly plan is priced noticeably higher than the discounted multi-year commitments, penalizing short-term users.
- They diverge on capability: Basecamp covers Message boards, Private Internet Access covers Split tunneling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Basecamp and Private Internet Access actually diverge.
| Attribute | Basecamp | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $11.99/month |
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web | windows, mac, linux, ios, android |
| Category | All industries | Security & Cybersecurity |
| Founded | 2004 | Unknown |
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 Private Internet Access
- Split tunneling
- Kill switch
- Ad and tracker blocking
- Dedicated IP add-on
- Bundled antivirus add-on
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 Private Internet Access
- Message boards and chat alongside to-dosnot Private Internet Access
- Client collaboration, since guests are not chargednot Private Internet Access
- Flat-rate project management for a larger team on Pro Unlimitednot Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access
- Encrypting traffic on public Wi-Fi with a kill switchnot Basecamp
- Blocking ads and trackers network-wide via MACEnot Basecamp
- Maintaining a consistent connection identity with a dedicated IP add-onnot Basecamp
- Committing to a long-term plan for a lower effective monthly ratenot 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
Private Internet Access
- Monthly plan is priced noticeably higher than the discounted multi-year commitments, penalizing short-term users.
- Dedicated IP and antivirus are paid add-ons rather than included features.
- Headquartered in a jurisdiction whose privacy reputation some competitors market against, despite audited no-logs claims.
- App interface is less streamlined than some higher-priced premium VPN competitors.
Pricing, plan by plan
Basecamp
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.
Private Internet Access
$11.99/month- Monthly$11.99/month
- Billed month to month
- Full server network access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 1-Year$3.1/month
- Billed annually at $37.19
- Full server network access
- 2-Year$2.19/month
- Lowest advertised rate, billed every 2 years
- Full server network access
Which should you pick?
Choose Basecamp if
- You need message boards.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want to-do lists.
Choose Private Internet Access if
- You need split tunneling.
- You work on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
- You also want kill switch.
Questions people ask
- Is Basecamp or Private Internet Access better?
- Neither clearly leads. Basecamp starts at Free and Private Internet Access at $11.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Basecamp or Private Internet Access?
- Basecamp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Basecamp and $11.99/month for Private Internet Access.
- Does Basecamp or Private Internet Access run on more platforms?
- Basecamp runs on Web. Private Internet Access runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
- Can I use Basecamp for free?
- Yes. Basecamp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Private Internet Access starts at $11.99/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 Private Internet Access is typically brought in for.
- What can Basecamp do that Private Internet Access cannot?
- Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. Private Internet Access covers Split tunneling, Kill switch, Ad and tracker blocking, Dedicated IP add-on.
Related pages
More on Private Internet Access
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- Private Internet Access vs Avast One
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- Private Internet Access vs ESET NOD32 Antivirus
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- Private Internet Access vs IVPN
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- Private Internet Access vs Microsoft Intune
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