All industries · head to head
Google Workspace vs Basecamp
Google Workspace
All industries
Everything you need to get work done, all in one place
- From
- €3.4/month
- Rated
- -
Basecamp
All industries
Project management & team collaboration software
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Basecamp has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Google Workspace starter tier storage limited to 30 GB per user, requiring upgrade to Standard or higher for adequate document storage; Basecamp the free tier allows one project and 1 GB of storage
- They diverge on capability: Google Workspace covers Gmail business email, Basecamp covers Message boards.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Workspace and Basecamp actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Workspace | Basecamp |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | €3.4/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Founded | 2006 | 2004 |
Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (All industries).
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 Google Workspace
- Gmail business email
- Google Drive storage
- Google Docs, Sheets, Slides
- Google Calendar
- Google Meet video conferencing
- Google Chat
- Google Forms
- Google Sites
Only in Basecamp
- Message boards
- To-do lists
- Schedules
- Documents & files
- Group chat
- Check-in questions
- Hill Charts
- Email forwards
Both cover
- Slack
- 2FA
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Google Workspace
- Business email and calendar managementnot Basecamp
- Collaborative document editingnot Basecamp
- Video conferencing and meetingsnot Basecamp
- Secure document storage and sharingnot Basecamp
Basecamp
- Project management for a small team in one placenot Google Workspace
- Message boards and chat alongside to-dosnot Google Workspace
- Client collaboration, since guests are not chargednot Google Workspace
- Flat-rate project management for a larger team on Pro Unlimitednot Google Workspace
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Google Workspace
- Starter tier storage limited to 30 GB per user, requiring upgrade to Standard or higher for adequate document storage
- Starter and Standard tiers both capped at maximum 300 users per organisation
- Video meetings limited to 100 participants on Starter tier, 150 on Standard tier
- Recording capabilities only available on Standard tier and above
- eDiscovery, Vault, and advanced security features only available on Plus and Enterprise tiers
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Google Workspace
€3.4/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Google Workspace review.
Basecamp
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Google Workspace if
- You need gmail business email.
- You also want google drive storage.
Choose Basecamp if
- You need message boards.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want to-do lists.
Questions people ask
- Is Google Workspace or Basecamp better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Workspace starts at €3.4/month and Basecamp at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Google Workspace or Basecamp?
- Basecamp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at €3.4/month for Google Workspace and Free for Basecamp.
- Does Google Workspace or Basecamp run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Basecamp for free?
- Yes. Basecamp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Google Workspace starts at €3.4/month.
- What is Google Workspace best used for?
- Google Workspace is most often used for business email and calendar management, collaborative document editing, video conferencing and meetings, secure document storage and sharing. Of those, business email and calendar management and collaborative document editing are not what Basecamp is typically brought in for.
- What can Google Workspace do that Basecamp cannot?
- Google Workspace covers Gmail business email, Google Drive storage, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Google Calendar. Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. Both handle Slack, 2FA.