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Software · head to head

Trello vs Basecamp

Trello logo

Trello

Software

Organize anything, together

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Basecamp logo

Basecamp

Software

Project management & team collaboration software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Trello free tier limited to 10 boards and 10 collaborators per workspace; Basecamp the free tier allows one project and 1 GB of storage
  • They diverge on capability: Trello covers Kanban boards, Basecamp covers Message boards.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Trello and Basecamp actually diverge.

Attributes where Trello and Basecamp differ
AttributeTrelloBasecamp
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, MacosWeb
Founded20112004

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 Trello

  • Kanban boards
  • Cards & lists
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Activity feed
  • Due dates & reminders
  • File attachments
  • Comments & mentions
  • Power-Ups ecosystem

Only in Basecamp

  • Message boards
  • To-do lists
  • Schedules
  • Documents & files
  • Group chat
  • Check-in questions
  • Hill Charts
  • Email forwards

Both cover

  • Slack
  • GitHub
  • Zapier
  • SOC2
  • 2FA

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Trello

  • Project trackingnot Basecamp
  • Content calendarsnot Basecamp
  • Sales pipelinesnot Basecamp
  • Onboarding processesnot Basecamp
  • Personal task managementnot Basecamp

Basecamp

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

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Trello

  • Free tier limited to 10 boards and 10 collaborators per workspace
  • Free tier automation capped at 250 monthly Butler runs
  • No offline access; web-based platform requires internet connection
  • Advanced views (timeline, table, dashboard) not available on Standard plan
  • SSO only available on Enterprise plan

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

Trello

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 10 boards/workspace
    • Up to 10 collaborators
    • 250 monthly Butler automation runs
  • Standard$5/user/month
    • Unlimited boards
    • Unlimited Power-Ups
    • 1,000 monthly Butler runs
  • Premium$10/user/month
    • All Standard features
    • Timeline, table, dashboard, calendar views
    • Unlimited automation
  • Enterprise$17.5/user/month
    • All Premium features
    • Unlimited workspaces
    • SSO and user provisioning

Basecamp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Trello if

  • You need kanban boards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Macos.
  • You also want cards & lists.
Trello review

Choose Basecamp if

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

Questions people ask

Is Trello or Basecamp better?
Neither clearly leads. Trello 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, Trello or Basecamp?
Trello starts at Free and Basecamp at Free.
Does Trello or Basecamp run on more platforms?
Trello runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Macos. Basecamp runs on Web.
Can I use Trello for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Trello best used for?
Trello is most often used for project tracking, content calendars, sales pipelines, onboarding processes. Of those, project tracking and content calendars are not what Basecamp is typically brought in for.
What can Trello do that Basecamp cannot?
Trello covers Kanban boards, Cards & lists, Drag-and-drop interface, Activity feed. Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. Both handle Slack, GitHub, Zapier, SOC2.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Trello: What are the free tier limitations for Trello?

Trello Free supports up to 10 boards per workspace, unlimited cards, 250 monthly Butler automation runs, and up to 10 Power-Up attachments. Limited to 10 collaborators per workspace.

Source
Trello: What features are included in the Standard plan?

Standard ($5-6/user/month) adds unlimited boards, custom fields, advanced checklists, 1,000 monthly automation runs, list colors, and calendar view access.

Source
Trello: Does Trello offer SSO and on which plan?

SSO through Atlassian Guard is included only on the Enterprise plan ($17.50/user/month or $210/year per user).

Source
Trello: How many file attachment options are available?

Free tier includes 2 Power-Ups per board, Standard adds unlimited Power-Ups, and Premium and above offer full Power-Up marketplace access with custom integration options.

Source
Trello: Is there offline access to Trello boards?

Trello is a web-based application requiring internet connection. Mobile apps are available for iOS and Android but do not support true offline editing.

Source
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Related pages

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