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Project Management · head to head

Basecamp vs Zoho Projects

Basecamp logo

Basecamp

Project Management

Project management & team collaboration software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoho Projects logo

Zoho Projects

Project Management

Project management software for smart teams

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Zoho Projects the free plan allows 5 users, 3 projects and 5 GB of storage
  • They diverge on capability: Basecamp covers Message boards, Zoho Projects covers Tasks.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Basecamp and Zoho Projects actually diverge.

Attributes where Basecamp and Zoho Projects differ
AttributeBasecampZoho Projects
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20041996

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Project Management).

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 Zoho Projects

  • Tasks
  • Gantt charts
  • Time tracking
  • Kanban
  • Blueprints
  • Zoho CRM
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Google Workspace

Both cover

  • Slack
  • 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 Zoho Projects
  • Message boards and chat alongside to-dosnot Zoho Projects
  • Client collaboration, since guests are not chargednot Zoho Projects
  • Flat-rate project management for a larger team on Pro Unlimitednot Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects

  • Project planning, task tracking and time logging for teamsnot Basecamp
  • Running projects alongside other Zoho business applicationsnot 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

Zoho Projects

  • The free plan allows 5 users, 3 projects and 5 GB of storage
  • Custom profiles, roles and fields require the Enterprise plan
  • Read only users are rationed by tier, at 10 on Enterprise and 100 on Ultimate
  • Ultimate allocates storage per user with a 150 GB organisation minimum, so small teams pay for capacity they cannot use
  • The pricing page does not display per user costs for any paid tier

Pricing, plan by plan

Basecamp

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 active project
    • 1 GB storage
    • 5 maximum users
  • Freelancer$25/month
    • 3 active projects
    • 5 GB storage
    • 20 maximum users
  • Studio$59/month
    • 10 active projects
    • 25 GB storage
    • Unlimited users
  • Pro$99/month
    • 25 active projects
    • 100 GB storage
    • Unlimited users

Zoho Projects

On request
  • FreeFree
    • 3 users
    • 2 projects
    • Basic features
  • Premium$5/month
    • 50 users
    • Unlimited projects
    • Advanced features

Which should you pick?

Choose Basecamp if

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

Choose Zoho Projects if

  • You need tasks.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want gantt charts.
Zoho Projects review

Questions people ask

Is Basecamp or Zoho Projects better?
Neither clearly leads. Basecamp starts at Free and Zoho Projects at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Basecamp or Zoho Projects?
Basecamp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Basecamp and On request for Zoho Projects.
Does Basecamp or Zoho Projects run on more platforms?
Basecamp runs on Web. Zoho Projects runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Basecamp for free?
Yes. Basecamp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zoho Projects starts at On request.
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 Zoho Projects is typically brought in for.
What can Basecamp do that Zoho Projects cannot?
Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. Zoho Projects covers Tasks, Gantt charts, Time tracking, Kanban. Both handle Slack, GDPR.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Basecamp: Does Basecamp charge per user?

No, Studio tier and higher include unlimited users at no additional charge. The Free plan supports up to 5 users, and Freelancer supports up to 20 users.

Source
Zoho Projects: Do I need to provide a credit card to start?

No, Zoho Projects doesn't require credit card information during signup. You begin with the free plan and can upgrade whenever you choose.

Source
Basecamp: How much storage does each Basecamp plan include?

Free includes 1 GB; Freelancer includes 5 GB; Studio includes 25 GB; Pro includes 100 GB; Unlimited includes 1 TB and can be expanded to 6 TB for an additional $100/month.

Source
Zoho Projects: Are there long-term contracts required?

No, licenses are not contract-based. You may cancel your account at any time.

Source
Basecamp: What trial periods does Basecamp offer?

30-day free trial is available for all plans except Unlimited, which offers a 45-day free trial. No credit card required.

Source
Zoho Projects: What happens to my data if I downgrade?

Your data remains safe when downgrading. You simply lose access to higher-tier features. Data becomes accessible again if you upgrade later. Downgrading to the free plan limits you to two projects with restricted functionality.

Source
Zoho Projects: What security measures does Zoho use?

Zoho emphasizes 24/7 monitoring, biometric access controls, and the latest encryption and intrusion detection/prevention technologies.

Source
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