Software · head to head
Todoist vs Basecamp
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Todoist no built-in time tracking for tasks; requires third-party integration like Toggl; Basecamp the free tier allows one project and 1 GB of storage
- They diverge on capability: Todoist covers Natural language input, Basecamp covers Message boards.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Todoist and Basecamp 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 Todoist
- Natural language input
- Recurring tasks
- Projects and sub-tasks
- Labels and filters
- Priority levels
- Productivity tracking
- Templates
- Notifications
Only in Basecamp
- Message boards
- To-do lists
- Schedules
- Documents & files
- Group chat
- Check-in questions
- Hill Charts
- Email forwards
Both cover
- Slack
- Zapier
- 2FA
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Todoist
- Personal task managementnot Basecamp
- Team project coordinationnot Basecamp
- Goal trackingnot Basecamp
- Habit buildingnot Basecamp
- Daily planningnot Basecamp
Basecamp
- Project management for a small team in one placenot Todoist
- Message boards and chat alongside to-dosnot Todoist
- Client collaboration, since guests are not chargednot Todoist
- Flat-rate project management for a larger team on Pro Unlimitednot Todoist
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Todoist
- No built-in time tracking for tasks; requires third-party integration like Toggl
- Free plan limited to 5 personal projects only
- No Gantt charts, resource allocation, or advanced project management features for large enterprises
- Phone support not available; email and help center only
- Calendar view and advanced filtering only available on paid plans
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
Todoist
Free- BeginnerFree
- 5 personal projects
- Smart Quick Add
- Task reminders
- Pro$5/month
- 300 personal projects
- Calendar layout
- Custom task reminders
- Business$8/month
- Everything in Pro
- Shared team workspace
- Up to 500 team projects
Basecamp
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Todoist if
- You need natural language input.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- You also want recurring tasks.
Choose Basecamp if
- You need message boards.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want to-do lists.
Questions people ask
- Is Todoist or Basecamp better?
- Neither clearly leads. Todoist starts at Free and Basecamp at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Todoist or Basecamp?
- Todoist starts at Free and Basecamp at Free.
- Does Todoist or Basecamp run on more platforms?
- Todoist runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. Basecamp runs on Web.
- Can I use Todoist for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Todoist best used for?
- Todoist is most often used for personal task management, team project coordination, goal tracking, habit building. Of those, personal task management and team project coordination are not what Basecamp is typically brought in for.
- What can Todoist do that Basecamp cannot?
- Todoist covers Natural language input, Recurring tasks, Projects and sub-tasks, Labels and filters. Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. Both handle Slack, Zapier, 2FA.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Todoist: Does Todoist work offline?
Basic editing and task management work offline, but advanced features like syncing reminders and shared updates require internet connectivity.
SourceTodoist: Does Todoist have a free plan and what does it include?
Yes, Todoist offers a free Beginner plan with 5 personal projects, Smart Quick Add, task reminders, flexible layouts, 3 filter views, and 1 week activity history. More advanced features require the Pro or Business plans.
SourceTodoist: Can I use Todoist on mobile devices?
Yes, Todoist offers native apps for both iOS and Android with over 30 million downloads. Mobile apps provide full task management functionality across devices.
SourceTodoist: What integrations does Todoist support?
Todoist integrates with over 100 apps including Slack, Google Calendar, Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Gmail, and Toggl Track. Additional integrations are available through Zapier, Make, and IFTTT automation platforms.
SourceTodoist: How much does Todoist cost?
Free plan is $0. Pro plan costs $5/month (billed annually) or $7/month (monthly billing). Business plan costs $8/month per user (annual) or $10/month per user (monthly), as of December 2025.
Source