Making sure you are using the best software for your projects is incredibly important not just from a productivity standpoint but a financial one – why spend money on functionality that you don’t use, and why settle for a program or application that doesn’t offer you everything you need to run your project as effectively as possible?

Choosing the proper project management tool can be tough however, as the amount of programs, apps and services available to the modern business can be overwhelming. In this article, we will review the best Basecamp alternatives for you and your team.

While Basecamp has been in the project management software space from the very beginning and offers a high quality service, it is expensive (starting at $99/month) and may not necessarily fill all of the niches your business needs to thrive. There are newer, and cheaper, alternatives built to specifically address the problems facing the modern business.

So if you feel like Basecamp isn’t filling your needs and that it might be time to level-up your productivity system, we’re here to help. Here are the best Basecamp alternatives on the market in 2023. 

1. Hive

If you’re looking for a Basecamp alternative that has more functionality, then you’ll want to check out Hive. Hive walks the fine line between customization and usability, so you can not only have access to a whole host of tools, reports and functions, but you can also get set up and get started with very little downtime. Basecamp is definitely lacking in the customization arena, and does not offer custom charts, fields, or reporting, whereas Hive offers all of those. Check out a breakdown of Hive vs Basecamp here. 

It’s also worth bearing in mind the focus on integration – you can integrate Hive with over 1,000 apps and programs, including native integrations with Salesforce and Gmail. And because integration is based on an app by app basis, you’re able to select which you’d like to integrate, and which you’d rather keep separate.

Because of the clean, scalable user interface Hive is a great pick for any size team. Smaller teams will love Hive chat and its emphasis on collaboration, and larger teams will appreciate how easy it is for the manager to define and display specific tasks, keeping communication clear and easy to follow at all times. We’re convinced that Hive is the top of the list for best Basecamp alternatives. 

👉 Did you know that Hive just made Capterra’s list of top 9 project management platforms in the world? Get started for free today to see why Hive scored 100 out of 100 in popularity among its customers – the highest score of all tools on the market. It’s the only project management platform built for users, by users.

2. Trello

Trello is a simple, straightforward project management tool that has a clean, open user interface and hundreds of great collaborative integrations like Slack, Dropbox and Google calendar, similar to Basecamp. These tools help encourage teams to collaborate and discuss their way through the problems that the project needs to resolve. Trello uses boards and individual to-dos to organize tasks in a simple visual style — which can be a huge help when you need to know quickly what work is outstanding.

However, unlike Basecamp, Trello is free to use, which is great for smaller teams and individual users. But if you’re a  medium to large sized business and you feel like you’re outgrowing Basecamp, you’ll likely run into similar issues with Trello, as the board view can be limiting and it’s hard to work cross-functionally.

To see how Trello stacks up against another tools on the market, check out our full guide to Trello alternatives.

3. Nifty

Nifty is a powerful, yet easy to use Basecamp alternative, and for good reason. Nifty’s range of features include built-in chat, roadmaps, document collaboration along with customizable task management — making it one of the most popular free agile project management tools in the space.

While Nifty includes a wide array of features you’d expect in a robust project management solution, its award-winning ease of use and collaboration options make it a popular tool for client facing teams as well. The free Guest role can participate in client projects by weighing in via chat and even completing tasks to give formal approvals. Nifty brings your team together with powerful set of features.

4. Podio

Moving on to a more scalable platform, Podio is worth considering as an alternative to Basecamp if you’re looking for a slightly more formal structure. Podio offers users a clean interface that is relatively customizable, and a focus on team collaboration and transparency. You’ll find it easier to generate and display reports, have your team display and discuss work via chat, and create project tasks.

As one of our top Basecamp alternatives, you’ll enjoy a wider range of customizable elements with Podio, particularly when it comes to individual team management and assignment to specific project tasks. This could become a downside however, as project management software needs to be something you can pick up and run with immediately — you don’t want to spend too much time customizing and setting up individual elements.

5. Wrike

If you’re a mid to large-sized business, Wrike is a great option to take a look at. One of its primary concerns as a management suite is ensuring that new users can pick it up and put it to use as quickly as possible, and it has a great default layout with an emphasis on daily and weekly planning. All of your information is displayed in a series of neatly laid out information feeds, so you can tell at a glance what needs to be done and when.

As one of our top Basecamp alternatives, it’s a good choice if you’re in the market for additional features like custom reporting and custom forms. It’s also a cheaper alternative, and can be used for free for teams of up to five people. However, there are a few areas where Wrike is lacking, specifically in the chat and communication field, as it doesn’t have native chat.

To see how Wrike stacks up against another tools on the market, check out our full guide to Wrike alternatives.

6. Asana

Asana is a comprehensive and visually appealing project management tool used by over 50,000 organizations around the world including National Geographic, Airbnb, Lyft and Spotify. The tool is built on tasks, which can be grouped into larger projects and assigned out to individual team members. Team objectives allow you to view progress on key initiatives over time, and “Workload,” a newer feature, allows you to map out each member’s workload over time.

If you’re looking for a less expensive option than Basecamp, Asana does have free accounts, and their paid accounts start around $9.99. Asana, similar to Hive, also offers much more extensive customization than Basecamp, including custom fields, charts and reporting. Asana also offers progress reporting and tracking, which are very useful when looking at project performance over time, which is part of the reason it tops our list of best Basecamp alternatives.

To see how Asana stacks up against another tools on the market, check out our full guide to Asana alternatives.

7. Liquidplanner

If integrations and increase functionality are what you want, then Liquidplanner is a very good choice. It offers users a huge range of tools aimed at filling the needs of larger businesses — if it can be tracked, planned, logged or listed you’ll be able to cover it in Liquidplanner. Large teams love it because it can be customized to a significant degree, allowing you to make detailed plans and define every aspect of your project in minute detail.

So if you’re ditching Basecamp because you’ve outgrown it, then Liquidplanner is a definite contender. However, this does mean it is not the proper choice for smaller, more creative teams, and if you’re looking for a more collaborative tool with a chat functionality, then Liquidplanner may not be for you. It’s also all too easy to drown in the details with Liquidplanner, making it easy to turn your project management software into a project of its own.

8. Monday

Basecamp and Monday are very similar at their core: they both help teams collaborate and stay organized online. In comparison to Basecamp, however, Monday differs mainly in its features and user experience. In terms of features, Monday has budget tracking, CRM functionalities, workload tracking, and reporting options that Basecamp does not have. In addition, Monday has more features built into the tool, where as Basecamp relies in integrations for most added functions.

Monday also has more viewing options than Basecamp does, which is helpful for teams who look at project developments in different ways. Both tools offer a variety of integrations, including common business tools like Zapier.

Both tools are in a similar price range, but Basecamp charges a flat $99 monthly fee for unlimited access, where as Monday has 4 different pricing plans based on number of users and custom features – that’s why it’s on our top Basecamp alternatives list.

9. Jira

Jira is part of our list of best Basecamp alternatives because it works well for teams that need a more advanced project management tool, especially one that supports the agile development method. Jira offers several project views that Basecamp does not, include Kanban boards, Scrum boards, and roadmaps. This software is also great for software development teams, as it lets you connect issues directly to a certain aspect of code. It also integrates with many common developer tools, making it easy to trace your progress from beginning to end.

Unlike Basecamp, Jira offers a free basic software version for up to 10 team members. For larger teams and more advanced features, monthly subscription packages start at $7 per user per month. There is also an option to pay annually if that is your preference.

To see how Jita stacks up against another tools on the market, check out our full guide to Jira alternatives.

10. ClickUp

ClickUp is part of our list of best Basecamp alternatives for a few reasons. First, it is free forever — this is great if you’re working with a limited budget. Second, Basecamp can get cluttered, and ClickUp is very streamlined and straightforward. ClickUp also has many features that Basecamp doesn’t have, including custom statuses, email capabilities, goals, slash commands, and checklists.

To see how ClickUp stacks up against another tools on the market, check out our full guide to ClickUp alternatives.

11. Workfront

Workfront is a highly customizable Basecamp alternative that helps users to manage their projects. Features include setting up priorities for tasks, assigning them to specific team members, managing an entire project, and reviewing its progress. Besides automating the whole workflow, this project management software also provides a centralized platform for digital collaboration and integration with various other services.

If you want a tool made for true enterprise use, Workfront is a great Basecamp alternative. Workfront also has settings that allow for ample agile PM as well as budget tracking, which is why it’s on our list of best Basecamp alternatives.

12. Flow

Flow is a great Basecamp alternative that helps teams knit together tasks, projects, timelines, and conversations in one central platform. With Flow, you can set priorities and track tasks throughout their lifecycle, or use project dashboards to take a macro-level look at how your team is working towards goals within several projects.

In terms of views, you can utilize timeline, workload, or Gantt views to glean insight into team workload and overall timelines. When communicating with teammates, you can attach files to comments and even turn comments into tasks themselves. Overall, Flow is really easy to use and fun to work with, which is why it’s on our list of best Basecamp alternatives.

13. Proofhub

ProofHub is a delightful yet powerful cloud based project management and team collaboration software. Proofhub makes it easier for teams to plan, collaborate and deliver projects on time. From the day-to-day tasks to scheduling important events, it helps teams handle almost everything in one place. 

If you’re looking for Basecamp alternatives, ProofHub offers all of Basecamp’s core project management tools as well as additional collaboration tools such as time tracking, team chat, and more. It’s easy to setup and use, 100% web-based with access from anywhere, mobile-friendly with a great app for iOS and Android devices — and it’s pricing model is a set monthly cost, no matter how many users you have.

14. ProProfs Project

ProProfs Project is considered a strong Basecamp alternative due to its robust project visualization capabilities. Its interactive Gantt charts provide a high-level overview of all your projects from start to finish, while its Kanban board offers increased visibility into tasks in real-time. In addition, its Calendar view lets you keep an eye on all your scheduled tasks at a glance.

The tool’s time tracking ability also comes in handy to monitor team performance and project progress on the go. Moreover, its customizable dashboard allows you to make changes and adjust project workflows on the fly. However, if you’re looking for a solution that offers a mobile-friendly application, ProProfs might not fit the bill for you as it lacks multi-device sync capabilities. 

In terms of pricing, ProProfs Project is more affordable than Basecamp, with plans starting at $2 and $4 per user per month. You can even try its 15-day free trial version and see whether it suits your project and team needs.

15. Indy

Are there any other great tools that you’d recommend people try out as a one of the best Basecamp alternatives? Let us know in the comments below.