Basecamp

Overview

Basecamp takes a fundamentally different approach to project management. Created by 37signals (now Basecamp), it embodies their philosophy of calm work and intentional simplicity. Rather than adding features endlessly, Basecamp focuses on doing a few things exceptionally well.

Philosophy of Simplicity

What Basecamp Doesn’t Have (By Design)

• Gantt charts
• Time tracking
• Custom fields
• Workflow automation
• Resource management
• Dependencies

Why This Matters

Basecamp believes most teams don’t need these features, and their presence creates:

• Unnecessary complexity
• Busywork
• Micromanagement
• Feature overwhelm

Core Organization

Projects

Everything lives in projects:

• Clear boundaries
• Focused conversations
• Relevant participants
• Archived when complete

Six Core Tools

1. Message Board

• Announcements
• Discussions
• Decisions
• Updates

2. To-dos

• Task lists
• Assignments
• Due dates
• Notes

3. Schedule

• Shared calendar
• Events
• Milestones
• Important dates

4. Docs & Files

• Document storage
• Version control
• Folder organization
• Google Docs integration

5. Campfire Chat

• Quick conversations
• Real-time discussion
• File sharing
• @mentions

6. Check-in Questions

• Automated questions
• Team pulse checks
• Recurring prompts
• Response tracking

Unique Features

Hill Charts

Basecamp’s innovative progress visualization:

• Shows work momentum
• Uphill = problem solving
• Downhill = execution
• No percentages needed

Card Tables

Simple Kanban boards:

• Drag and drop cards
• Customizable columns
• Assignment tracking
• Due date visibility

My Schedule

Personal dashboard showing:

• Your assignments
• Upcoming events
• Recent activity
• Overdue items

Team Features

HQ (Basecamp 4)

Company-wide space for:

• Company announcements
• Employee directory
• Shared resources
• Organization-wide chat

Doors (Basecamp 4)

One-on-one spaces for:

• Manager check-ins
• Private conversations
• Personal notes
• Direct collaboration

Client Access

• Free guest users
• Limited visibility
• Project-specific access
• No training needed

Workflow Examples

Marketing Campaign

Message Board: Campaign brief and goals
To-dos: Task lists for each phase
Schedule: Key dates and deadlines
Campfire: Quick questions and updates
Docs & Files: Assets and deliverables

Software Release

Message Board: Release notes drafts
To-dos: Feature checklists
Hill Charts: Feature progress
Schedule: Release milestones
Check-ins: Daily standups

Client Project

Message Board: Project updates
To-dos: Deliverable tracking
Card Table: Work pipeline
Docs & Files: Shared documents
Schedule: Meeting calendar

Pricing Model

Personal (Free)

• 1 project
• 20 users
• 1GB storage
• All features

Plus ($15/user/month)

• 50 projects
• 500GB storage
• Priority support
• Advanced client access

Pro Unlimited ($299/month flat)

• Unlimited projects
• 5TB storage
• Unlimited users
• Priority support

Integration Approach

Email Forwards

• Forward emails to projects
• Automatic filing
• Maintains context

Calendar Sync

• Subscribe to project calendars
• iCal/Google Calendar
• One-way sync

Zapier

• 1000+ app connections
• Basic automation
• Data sync

API

• RESTful design
• Webhooks
• Read/write access
• Third-party apps

Mobile Experience

Optimized Apps

• Full feature parity
• Offline access
• Push notifications
• Native feel

Mobile-First Features

• Quick task creation
• Photo uploads
• Voice notes
• Location check-ins

Team Adoption

Why Teams Love It

1. Zero Training: Intuitive from day one
2. Clear Structure: Obvious organization
3. Focused Work: Less noise, more signal
4. Transparency: Everything in one place
5. Respect: No surveillance features

Common Concerns

1. Too Simple: May lack needed features
2. No Customization: Fixed structure
3. Limited Reporting: Basic analytics only
4. Integration Gaps: Fewer connections

Basecamp vs Competitors

vs Asana

• Basecamp: Simpler, opinionated, calmer
• Asana: More features, customizable, complex

vs Trello

• Basecamp: More structured, better discussions
• Trello: More visual, flexible boards

vs Monday

• Basecamp: Simpler pricing, easier setup
• Monday: More customizable, visual

Best Practices

Project Setup

1. Clear, descriptive names
2. Invite only necessary people
3. Post welcome message
4. Set expectations
5. Archive when done

Daily Use

1. Check My Schedule first
2. Post in Message Board (not chat)
3. Break work into small to-dos
4. Update Hill Charts weekly
5. Use check-ins for status

Communication

1. Write thoughtfully
2. Use Message Board for decisions
3. Campfire for quick questions
4. Avoid notification overload
5. Respect off-hours

Who Shouldn’t Use Basecamp

Not Ideal For:

• Complex dependency tracking
• Resource capacity planning
• Time tracking needs
• Heavy customization
• Gantt chart requirements
• Agile/Scrum teams

Better Alternatives:

• Need Gantt? Try TeamGantt or MS Project
• Need Time Tracking? Consider Harvest or Toggl
• Need Agile? Look at Jira or Azure DevOps
• Need Customization? Check Monday or ClickUp

The Basecamp Way

Core Principles:

1. Organized Over Elaborate
2. Clear Over Clever
3. Calm Over Busy
4. Progress Over Perfection
5. Trust Over Surveillance

Verdict

Basecamp is a breath of fresh air in an industry obsessed with feature creep. It’s perfect for teams that value clarity, simplicity, and getting actual work done over managing project management software. The flat-rate Pro plan makes it extremely cost-effective for larger teams. However, teams needing advanced features, heavy customization, or specific methodologies should look elsewhere. Basecamp proves that sometimes, less truly is more.