Software · head to head
Basecamp vs Zeplin
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Basecamp the free tier allows one project and 1 GB of storage; Zeplin the free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
- They diverge on capability: Basecamp covers Message boards, Zeplin covers Design specs.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Basecamp and Zeplin actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Zeplin
- Design specs
- Asset export
- Code snippets
- Design tokens
- Comments
- Version control
- Handoff workflow
- Accessibility checks
Both cover
- Slack
- GitHub
- 2FA
- SOC2
- 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 Zeplin
- Message boards and chat alongside to-dosnot Zeplin
- Client collaboration, since guests are not chargednot Zeplin
- Flat-rate project management for a larger team on Pro Unlimitednot Zeplin
Zeplin
- Handing off design specs from Figma or Sketch to developersnot Basecamp
- Sharing screens, assets and style guides with an engineering teamnot Basecamp
- Reviewing and commenting on design versionsnot 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
Zeplin
- The free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
- Free plan AI reviews are capped at 3 per week
- Role based permissions require the Advanced plan or higher
- Single sign on, multi factor authentication, activity logs and invoiced billing are Enterprise only
- Priority 24 hour support is Enterprise only
- Basic plan caps screens at 1,000 per project and is priced per project rather than per seat
- Enterprise pricing is by quote with no published rate
Pricing, plan by plan
Basecamp
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.
Zeplin
Free- FreeFree
- 1 project
- 1 workspace
- Basic specs
- Starter$19/month
- Unlimited projects
- Multiple workspaces
- Advanced specs
- Professional$49/month
- Everything in Starter
- Team collaboration
- Admin controls
Which should you pick?
Choose Basecamp if
- You need message boards.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want to-do lists.
Choose Zeplin if
- You need design specs.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
- You also want asset export.
Questions people ask
- Is Basecamp or Zeplin better?
- Neither clearly leads. Basecamp starts at Free and Zeplin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Basecamp or Zeplin?
- Basecamp starts at Free and Zeplin at Free.
- Does Basecamp or Zeplin run on more platforms?
- Basecamp runs on Web. Zeplin runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
- Can I use Basecamp for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 Zeplin is typically brought in for.
- What can Basecamp do that Zeplin cannot?
- Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. Zeplin covers Design specs, Asset export, Code snippets, Design tokens. Both handle Slack, GitHub, 2FA, SOC2.
Related pages
Keep looking
Other head to heads
- Basecamp vs Clockwise
- Basecamp vs Reclaim.ai
- Basecamp vs Trello
- Basecamp vs Roadmunk
- Basecamp vs Toggl Plan
- Basecamp vs GanttPRO
- Basecamp vs MeisterTask
- Basecamp vs Sunsama
- Basecamp vs Craft Docs
- Basecamp vs Freedcamp
- Basecamp vs Hive
- Basecamp vs Kanbanize
- Basecamp vs LiquidPlanner
- Basecamp vs Nifty
- Basecamp vs Paymo
- Basecamp vs Pipefy
- Basecamp vs Podio
- Basecamp vs ProofHub
- Basecamp vs Adobe Illustrator
- Basecamp vs Affinity Designer
- Basecamp vs Gravit Designer
- Basecamp vs Linearity Curve
- Basecamp vs ProtoPie
- Basecamp vs Rive
- Basecamp vs Spline
- Basecamp vs Abstract
- Basecamp vs Balsamiq Wireframes
- Basecamp vs Canva
- Basecamp vs Krea
- Basecamp vs Magnific
- Basecamp vs Marvel
- Basecamp vs Subframe
- Basecamp vs Vectr
- Zeplin vs Clockwise
- Zeplin vs Reclaim.ai
- Zeplin vs Trello
- Zeplin vs Roadmunk
- Zeplin vs Toggl Plan
- Zeplin vs GanttPRO
- Zeplin vs MeisterTask
- Zeplin vs Sunsama
- Zeplin vs Craft Docs
- Zeplin vs Freedcamp
- Zeplin vs Hive
- Zeplin vs Kanbanize
- Zeplin vs LiquidPlanner
- Zeplin vs Nifty
- Zeplin vs Paymo
- Zeplin vs Pipefy
- Zeplin vs Podio
- Zeplin vs ProofHub
- Zeplin vs Adobe Illustrator
- Zeplin vs Affinity Designer
- Zeplin vs Gravit Designer
- Zeplin vs Linearity Curve
- Zeplin vs ProtoPie
- Zeplin vs Rive
- Zeplin vs Spline
- Zeplin vs Abstract
- Zeplin vs Balsamiq Wireframes
- Zeplin vs Canva
- Zeplin vs Krea
- Zeplin vs Magnific
- Zeplin vs Marvel
- Zeplin vs Subframe
- Zeplin vs Vectr


