ClickUp offers significantly more customization, automation, and integrations with 1000+ connected apps, while Basecamp prioritizes simplicity with a flatter learning curve and lower pricing, making them suited for different team sizes and complexity needs.
Basecamp vs ClickUp — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Simple, communication-focused project management tool with messaging and to-do lists
All-in-one workspace combining project management, docs, CRM, and time tracking with 1000+ integrations.
Monthly Cost (Small Team). Custom Fields & Automation. Third-Party Integrations. Learning Curve (Hours). Mobile App Quality. Team Size Sweet Spot. Built-in Time Tracking
Choose Basecamp if you have a small team (under 30 people), prioritize simplicity over features, and want predictable flat-rate pricing without per-user costs. Choose ClickUp if you need extensive customization, automation capabilities, enterprise integrations, or manage a larger organization that requires sophisticated project management workflows.
Basecamp: $99 (unlimited users) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: Basic task automation only | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: Optimal for under 50 users | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: 2 (Kanban, List) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: Not available | ClickUp: Yes, with billable rates
Basecamp: Basic admin controls | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: $99 (unlimited users) | ClickUp: $99 (unlimited users)
Basecamp: 3 views (To-Do Lists, Message Boards, Schedule) | ClickUp: 7+ views (List, Board, Calendar, Gantt, Timeline, Table, Whiteboards)
Basecamp: ~50 integrations | ClickUp: 200+
Basecamp: 30-60 minutes to start using | ClickUp: 4-8 hours for optimal configuration
Basecamp: Basic progress tracking within individual projects only | ClickUp: Advanced dashboards, burndown charts, custom metrics across projects
Basecamp: Message boards and real-time updates as primary hub | ClickUp: Chat and threaded comments; separate from tasks
Basecamp: Limited; no native automation or Zapier support | ClickUp: 1000+ Zapier integrations + native automation builder
Basecamp: Mobile-optimized interface with core features (2024-2026 updates) | ClickUp: Full-featured mobile app with most desktop capabilities
Basecamp: 2-20 users; suited for small teams | ClickUp: 10+ users; scales to enterprise
Basecamp: $1,470-3,675 (per user plan) | ClickUp: $99 (unlimited included)
Basecamp: 0.3-0.5 weeks (1-2 days) | ClickUp: 2-4 weeks
Basecamp: 500+ | ClickUp: 1,000+ integrations
Basecamp: 3 (To-Do, Message Board, Schedule) | ClickUp: 10+ (List, Board, Calendar, Timeline, Gantt, Table, Workload, etc.)
Basecamp: Unlimited | ClickUp: Unlimited
Basecamp: $299 (flat-rate for unlimited users) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: $299 (unlimited users) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: Message boards, campfire chats, built-in messaging | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: Low (focused on simplicity) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: $349 (unlimited users) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: Yes - messaging, discussions, announcements | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: ~50-100 integrations | ClickUp: 1,000+ including native connectors
Basecamp: Native with task dependencies | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: High - comprehensive feature set | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: $99/month (unlimited users) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: $99/month (flat rate) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: 500-2000ms typical | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: 3 (text, checkbox, date) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: Message boards, DMs, comments, announcements | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: No free tier | ClickUp: Yes, unlimited tasks
Basecamp: Basic (task assignment, reminders only) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: 3 (List, Board, Calendar) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: Unlimited (all messages searchable) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: Yes (to-do lists, schedules, message boards) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: 1,000-3,000ms (batch updates) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: 100GB per account | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: $99 flat (unlimited users) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: Flat rate after 1 user | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: Yes: to-do lists, timelines, milestones, dependencies | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: 3 million+ (2024 estimate) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: $99/month (flat) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: $299/month (flat) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: 1-2 days | ClickUp: 120-240 minutes (2-4 hours with customization)
Basecamp: 5 (chat, threads, message boards, pings, notifications) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: 0 (no native databases) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: 85% of desktop features | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: ~25 major integrations | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: Basic (comments and threads only) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: Webhooks only; manual setup required | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: Message boards, notifications, email integration | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: 5-50 person teams optimal | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: iOS and Android with offline support | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: $99/month (flat rate, unlimited users) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: 0.25 hours (5 minutes) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: 5 standard field types | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: 95% feature parity with desktop | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: $99 flat rate | ClickUp: $95-$190 (mid-tier plan)
Basecamp: $99 flat rate | ClickUp: $475-$950
Basecamp: Limited (3-5 standard) | ClickUp: Unlimited
Basecamp: 0 (manual only) | ClickUp: 100+
Basecamp: No | ClickUp: Yes (with Business plan+)
Basecamp: Not published | ClickUp: 99.9%
Basecamp: No | ClickUp: Yes (ClickUp Docs)
Basecamp: Yes - Campfire real-time chat included | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: No - 30-day free trial only | ClickUp: Yes, unlimited tasks but limited features
Basecamp: Unlimited (designed for simpler task lists) | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: 35+ integrations via Zapier | ClickUp: N/A
Basecamp: $99 flat (unlimited users) | ClickUp: $5-$19 (tiered plan)
Basecamp: 3 (Message Board, To-Do, Schedule) | ClickUp: 15+ (List, Board, Calendar, Gantt, Timeline, Table, Workload, etc.)
Basecamp: Not available; requires third-party integration | ClickUp: Native time tracking, estimates, Pomodoro timer included
Basecamp: 3.8 stars (basic functionality) | ClickUp: 4.3 stars (full-featured)
Basecamp: 1-2 hours to get started | ClickUp: 5-10 hours of training required
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Visual timelines & Gantt
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Customizable dashboards
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Strong priority
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Native integration
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Kanban, Timeline, Map, Calendar, Board, List
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Small to mid-size teams
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: AI summaries for tasks, smart automation suggestions, AI search
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Basic docs feature; secondary to task management
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 100+ advanced templates
Base Monthly Price (Individual/Starter Plan)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: $14-$33 (optional add-on)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 5 stars (Brain: Enterprise Search, AI Notetaker, Autopilot)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 20+ integrated tools in workspace
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Steep (highly customizable, many features)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Yes (connects to task work directly)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Yes (with custom roles)
Annual Cost for Full Stack (Single User with AI)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: $234-$410 (base + AI)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Full-featured with most desktop functions
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 5/10 - Moderate curve
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 5/10 - Basic doc support
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: All-in-One Workspace
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Feature-Rich & Dense
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Yes (100 MB storage, unlimited tasks)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: $7/month (Teams)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Via Zapier - third-party automation
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 16-40 hours for full setup and customization
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Comprehensive - wiki, docs, and page builder included
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 1000+ integrations via Zapier + 200+ native
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 8+ views (list, board, calendar, timeline, table, gantt, workload, map)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Unlimited - scales to enterprise
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Unlimited tasks
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 14-28 days (2-4 weeks optimal)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Tasks, docs, chat, time tracking, whiteboards, AI
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: High complexity (requires customization)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Baseline comparison
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Limited via webhooks
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: iOS, Android, native apps
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: List, board, timeline, calendar, table, gallery, custom
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: ClickUp Docs (full-featured)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: $0 (unlimited users, core features)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Yes (native feature)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 7+ (List, Board, Calendar, Timeline, Gantt, Docs, Whiteboard)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Chat, docs, tasks, and team collaboration
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Built-in automations and workflow builder
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Free tier available
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: $9/month (Business plan)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 4.2/5 (45K reviews)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Yes, with timesheet reporting
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 200+ integrations
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: $5 (Free plan available)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: $5 (Team), $9 (Business)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Yes (all paid tiers)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 1,000+ native + Zapier
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: No, basic gantt only
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Yes, Enterprise tier only
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 100 MB per space
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 10+ (Kanban, Gantt, Calendar, Board, Table, List, Mind Map, Timeline)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: $9 (Free plan available)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 15+ views (List, Board, Calendar, Gantt, etc.)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 150+ pre-built automations
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 4 types (one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many, rollups)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 8-12 hours to learn core features
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Yes (granular role-based access, audit logs)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Yes, timeline view
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 5-500 (SMB-Mid Market)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 15+ (list, board, calendar, gantt, workload, timeline, sheet, etc.)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Unlimited members
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Limited AI (search and basic summaries only)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Yes (with dependencies and critical path)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Task-based structure (limited relational querying)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 7-10 days (due to complexity)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 60% parity with desktop
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: $5/user/month (Teams plan)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 2000-3000ms (complex workspaces)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 100+ features, unlimited tasks, 5GB storage
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: 20-500+ (cross-functional)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Extensive (40+ field types, complex automation workflows)
Basecamp: N/A | ClickUp: Standard (2-way sync, but not native)
How to choose between Basecamp and ClickUp
Basecamp vs ClickUp — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Basecamp vs ClickUp. Contains 234 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Basecamp vs ClickUp — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Basecamp vs ClickUp.
Which tool is better for a startup with 8 people?
Basecamp is the clear winner for a small startup. At $99/month flat rate, you pay the same regardless of team size, and the simple interface means your team can be productive within hours, not days. ClickUp's $50-90/month cost for 10 people is comparable, but the complexity overhead isn't justified unless you need advanced automation or 1000+ integrations.
Which has better mobile apps for remote teams?
ClickUp's mobile app is significantly more capable, offering offline access, time tracking, and nearly full feature parity with the desktop version. Basecamp's mobile app is more basic, limited to messaging, status updates, and simple to-do management, making it less suitable for teams that work primarily on mobile devices.
Can I automate workflows in either tool?
ClickUp has native automation with 100+ rules (e.g., auto-assign tasks, update status based on conditions, send notifications). Basecamp has zero native automation—all workflow management is manual. If automation is critical, ClickUp is the only option; for simpler workflows, Basecamp's manual approach is acceptable.
What if I need to integrate with Salesforce, Slack, or HubSpot?
ClickUp connects to both via native integrations or Zapier (1000+ total options). Basecamp supports Slack but lacks Salesforce and HubSpot integrations. For teams with complex tech stacks, ClickUp is essential; Basecamp requires workarounds like manual data entry or third-party bridges.
How long does it take to switch from another tool to each platform?
Basecamp typically takes 1-2 weeks due to its simplicity—teams can migrate basic projects and get productive quickly. ClickUp migrations take 3-6 weeks because teams need to plan custom fields, set up automation, and train on the platform's advanced features. Both platforms offer migration support.
How to Choose Between Basecamp and ClickUp
Monthly Cost (Small Team): Basecamp has $99/month for unlimited users, while ClickUp has $5-9 per user/month.
Custom Fields & Automation: Basecamp has Limited native customization, while ClickUp has Unlimited custom fields, 100+ automation rules.
Third-Party Integrations: Basecamp has 40+ integrations, while ClickUp has 1000+ integrations via Zapier and native.
Learning Curve (Hours): Basecamp has 2-4 hours for full adoption, while ClickUp has 8-12 hours for power user capabilities.
Mobile App Quality: Basecamp has Basic messaging and status updates, while ClickUp has Full-featured with offline access and time tracking.
Team Size Sweet Spot: Basecamp has 5-30 person teams, while ClickUp has 10-500+ person enterprises.
Built-in Time Tracking: Basecamp has Not included, while ClickUp has Included with all paid plans.