Basecamp vs ClickUp

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Our analysts compared Basecamp vs ClickUp based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Project Management Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Basecamp is a cloud-based solution for team collaboration and management. It allows users to create to-dos, assign them to one or more people, add shared and searchable file attachments and more. It makes it easier to stay organized when there are multiple concurrent projects, each with its own team and needs. Streamline project communication by keeping specific teams together, with all project-related files in one location. It gives each project its own separate space, avoiding clutter and other confusion between projects.

It is suitable for all sizes of teams like SMBs to groups in large companies. Subscriptions are scalable, with levels for different storage amounts and number of users. It also offers a free tier and application for iPad/iPhone and Android.
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ClickUp is an all-in-one cloud-based solution designed to help users streamline project cycles with collaboration, customization and visibility. It allows you to assign comments and tasks to specific team members or groups of team members and view time spent on those tasks. Other collaboration features include reminders, docs, calendars, goals, scheduling and an inbox.

An activity stream displays tasks in real time in the order of their creation and completion. Businesses can configure team-specific notifications while viewing projects on an Agile dashboard. It sends alerts to relevant employees in a discussion thread while allowing them to edit and post comments. You can create a personalized workspace with no-code automations, customizations for statuses, fields and views and ClickApps.

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$15/User, Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
$7/User, Monthly, Freemium
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Tailored to your specific needs
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On-Premise
Mobile
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On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
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Live Online
Videos
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Email
Phone
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FAQ
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Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
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24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Organized Projects: Divide work into separate projects, and each project is organized by default. It includes everything related to the project; all the individuals involved, each discussion, document, file, assignment, significant date and more. 
  • Inbuilt Chat Features: Avoid wasting money on external communication platforms with its built-in chat features. Gather around Campfire, a group chat for casual conversations, fast Q&As, sharing links, quick riffs or work discussions. Pings allow private chat with one or multiple people. 
  • Add Team Members: Add assigned team members and their details to a project. Client team members can also be added to help keep them in the loop and increase the project’s transparency. 
  • Centralized Notification: Its Hey! Menu feature centralizes notifications from new messages and assigned tasks to minimize notification interruptions. Helps users focus on work and access all notifications from one box. 
  • Streamline Work Process: Integrate the system with third-party tools to increase efficiency and effectiveness of work processes. 
  • Any Device: Available on iOS, Android, iPad, Mac, Windows and browser, users can access the system from anywhere at any time to send messages, share and collaborate on files and documents, define deadlines and provide feedback. 
  • Solve Problems: Users can use hill charts to sequence work and decide which problems to solve in which order; it also shows where the work stands and how it is moving. 
  • Basecamp Personal: The free tier provides space for up to three projects with one-gigabyte of data storage and access to 20 users. Freelancers can use it to organize their work and collaborate, or small businesses can use it on projects that involve few people. 
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  • Customize Your Workspace with ClickApps: Create a personalized environment for your business by enabling ClickApps for specific spaces or the entire organization. Enable apps like time tracking, custom fields, dependency warnings, time estimates and sprints. We loved the custom fields with multiple drop-downs for statuses and teams and the dependency warnings, so nothing slips through the cracks.
  • Create No-Code Automations and Workflows: Click on the Automations tab on the right-hand side of your screen to create your own custom automations using prebuilt templates with conditions, actions and triggers or build your own. We tested building our own workflow automation for status changes with more than one action and found it was simple to execute.
  • Collaborate Better via Various Channels: Communicate more efficiently via comment threads in the card, user mentions, screen recordings, native docs and group chats. We appreciated the accountability of comment threads and how you can assign comments to users that show up differently from a regular mention. The ability to link internal documents and add checklists to cards is a great way to enforce processes and brand guidelines — a big plus in our eyes.
  • View Projects in Multiple Ways: Set up multiple views for each of your spaces so you can zoom in a particular step in your project or get an overview of your progress. We liked the variety of views, including Kanban, list and calendar, and also that you can pin certain views, say urgent tasks, so it’s front and center for all team members.
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  • To-Do Lists: Assign to-dos to one or more people, add notes and file attachments for all work or projects. It automatically follows up with team members if tasks are overdue. 
  • Hey! Menu: Supports a single inbox for notifications, mentions, to-do assignments, new messages and project completion. Set working hours to keep notifications on hold until the user is back on the clock. 
  • Client Access: Share and get feedback with customers about information and files. Communications can be kept private, and email correspondence is maintained to keep project data and communication organized in one place. 
  • Pings: Direct messages or private conversations can be held with other users on the same account. Users can ping an individual or a group of people, and the conversation is visible to only selected people. 
  • Schedules: Each project includes a schedule showing any dated to-dos and events for that project. Sync schedules with Google Calendar, iCal and Outlook to get reminders in the project and personal calendars. 
  • Activity: The Activity button will display any to-dos, late assignments, upcoming deadlines and other assignment information and reports. 
  • File Storage: A space for sharing documents, files and images is included in every project. Use drag-and-drop functionality to upload files from Google Docs or a computer. Each file contains a complete version history, reorder and color code files to keep it organized. 
  • Message Boards: Post messages or announcements, embed pictures or files and share with everyone or selected individuals. Viewers can applaud and comment on these messages for instant feedback. 
  • Search and Bookmarking: Enter a keyword or name using the search feature to locate a project, ping history or find pictures, files or individuals without rummaging through the entire program. Important data can also be bookmarked. 
  • Automated Check-In: Setup customized questions throughout the day or a chosen time instead of holding a status meeting. Meetings can help remote teams collaborate and share work updates or what they were up to on the weekend.  
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  • Multiple Views: Get a bird’s eye view of your business with the everything view. Check your project’s progress in over 15 ways, including Kanban, board, Gantt, calendar, chat and activity views.
  • Custom Workspaces: Create (work)spaces for each project with your own set of workflow rules, automations, statuses, fields and even assignees. Move tasks in-between spaces and change priority, receive pop-ups if statuses are different and control space accessibility.
  • Task Management: Keep track of tasks using cards that you can build from scratch or create using custom templates and fields. Assign tasks, post points, due dates, assignees and statuses. View and add comments, create alerts for overdue tasks, use custom checklists and add task dependencies.
  • Sprint Management: Create sprints using templates from ClickUp or your workspace. Manage your sprint cycles by setting custom sprint dates, priority levels and points to your work. Auto-add unfinished tasks to your next sprint, duplicate sprint views and integrate sprints with GitHub, GitLab and Bitbucket. Pace your sprints against a target using burndown charts and use burnup charts to see completed and pending work. Organize and manage sprint-specific settings via the sprint folder.
  • No-Code Automations: Create custom automations for tasks and processes without coding expertise. Use built-in recipes, ClickApps or build-your-own automations in each space using actions, triggers and conditions custom to your workflow and processes using drop-down menus.
  • Dashboards and Reporting: Click on the home icon to view a personalized dashboard of your recent projects, assigned tasks, reminders and comments. Create custom dashboards and reports from specific spaces using templates or by selecting the start from scratch option.
  • Time Tracking: Track time from multiple assignees using the built-in tracker in each card. Get an overview of user activity in your company and see when users are active using Pulse and the timesheets feature.
  • Document Creation: Create documents within the program’s word processor that are directly integrated into projects and tasks. Import documents from other word processors to add tags and use a robust tool library.
  • Goals and Targets: Set and organize goal trackers in folders to keep track of multiple projects at once. Set goal targets by monetary value, True/false conditions, or by number of units.
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Product Ranking

#16

among all
Project Management Software

#14

among all
Project Management Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

65
92
30
100
60
100
75
88
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Team Collaboration
Integrations and Extensibility
Customizations
Dashboards and Reporting
Platform Security
Task Management
Team Collaboration

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Basecamp
ClickUp
+ Add Product + Add Product
Customizations Dashboards And Reporting Mobile Capabilities Platform Features Project Planning And Scheduling Project Tracking Task Management Team Collaboration Time Tracking And Management 30 60 75 62 49 27 66 99 43 100 100 88 94 89 79 100 95 71 0 25 50 75 100
14%
14%
72%
100%
0%
0%
40%
0%
60%
100%
0%
0%
57%
0%
43%
71%
0%
29%
50%
4%
46%
92%
4%
4%
25%
8%
67%
92%
0%
8%
0%
14%
86%
71%
0%
29%
58%
8%
34%
100%
0%
0%
92%
8%
0%
92%
0%
8%
0%
0%
100%
71%
0%
29%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

89%
0%
11%
83%
0%
17%
63%
0%
37%
100%
0%
0%

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 19492 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 15441 reviews
85%
of users recommend this product

Basecamp has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 85% when considering 19492 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

94%
of users recommend this product

ClickUp has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 94% when considering 15441 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (35)
4.3 (15)
4.1 (4950)
4.7 (9774)
4.3 (13386)
n/a
n/a
4.7 (4231)
n/a
4.5 (178)
4.2 (1121)
4.5 (1243)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Basecamp and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Team Collaboration.

Team Collaboration Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated ClickUp and concluded it deserves the award for the Best Overall Project Management Software available today and earns best-in-class honors for Customizations, Dashboards and Reporting, Mobile Capabilities, Task Management and Platform Security. ClickUp stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

Analysts' Pick Award
User Favorite Award
Customizations Award
Dashboards and Reporting Award
Mobile Capabilities Award
Task Management Award
Platform Security Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

General Accessibility: It is intuitive and user-friendly, as observed by 70% of users who referred to its general accessibility.
Project Management: Provides robust functionality for planning, progress tracking, managing and organizing projects, as noted by nearly 100% of users who mentioned project management.
Communication: Its built-in chat features for sending important messages to members, direct messages, sharing data and updates ease communication across departments and teams, as stated by nearly 98% of users who refer to communication.
Scheduling: Nearly 100% of users who specified scheduling said that the scheduling project module has led to increased operational efficiency.
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Easy To Use: Reviewers appreciated how easy the solution was to use and set up, even without extensive training or customer support.
Customization: Extensive customization options like task views, priority levels, color coding, and automations to create a unique product for their specific team were a plus for many users.
Collaboration: Users liked how easy it is to collaborate by assigning tasks, subtasks, comments and due dates with automated email notifications.
What Users Like
Versatility: “ClickUp lets you tailor tasks, projects, and views down to the smallest detail, which was perfect for our team since each project can look totally different. For example, we used its automation features to auto-assign tasks when certain stages were reached, which cut down on a ton of back-and-forth and kept everyone aligned.” - Victor André Enselmann, Founder of digital marketing firm Modeva
Centralization and Collaboration: “With offices across major U.S. cities, aligning everyone can be challenging. However, ClickUp’s customizable dashboards allow each team to organize tasks based on project demands while keeping a high-level view of overall progress. This flexibility has significantly reduced the back-and-forth between teams, saving time and ensuring that our large-scale projects stay on track.” - Steve Morris, Founder and CEO of NEW MEDIA
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Administrator Navigation: Over 91% of users who mentioned administrator navigation reported that it is not easy for task managers to add tasks, move them around or control access.
Integration: Around 90% of the reviewers who specified integration said that its software integrations are limited, and some are slow to adapt.
Notification: The system has limited notifications that can be delayed, as noted by 77% of reviewers who mention notifications.
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Cost: Reviewers mentioned expensive renewal fees after the free trial and upselling.
Learning Curve: Users noted it takes time for new users to get familiarized with so many features and how its navigation and customization work.
Notifications: An influx of email notifications for every change can cause some important alerts to get lost, according to some users.
What Users Dislike
Too Many Features: “We ended up with a cluttered dashboard full of features we didn’t need, and it actually slowed us down. Once we simplified and focused on just the core tools, it was a lot smoother. So, with ClickUp, the trick is to use what you need and ignore the rest, or it can overwhelm more than it helps." - Victor André Enselmann, Founder of digital marketing firm Modeva
Time-Based Automations: “Initially, the learning curve was steep, which led to some confusion and delays as we adapted. To address this, we created a custom onboarding process for new hires that guides them through the platform’s essentials before diving into more advanced functions.” - Steve Morris, Founder and CEO of NEW MEDIA
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Basecamp provides members with access to the same project, even if they are in different time zones. Team members can share their ideas via the platform through its connectivity functions, including a forum. Suggestions can be worked out, and conversations can be saved to ensure that all members are on the same page. Reviewers noted that there are limited ways to activate notifications and integrate software. Overall, it is an efficient tool for managing projects, tracking progress, monitoring schedules and sharing updates among team members.

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ClickUp is an all-in-one project management solution designed to help businesses in any industry optimize project cycles with a highly customizable interface, robust automation capabilities and extensive collaboration features. It helps you visualize tasks and project optimally with over 15 views including options like Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and calendars.No-code automation with templates and drop-down menus for increased personalization mean you can build effective workflows. Other notable features include in-card comments, custom dashboards, sprint management, in-built documents and time tracking.However, ClickUp’s feature-rich platform can also be a pitfall with some reviewers noting a steep learning curve associated with mastering its various functionalities. Additionally, the platform's tiered pricing structure might be a concern for smaller teams or organizations with limited budgets.During our test run, ClickUp scored points for its easy automation, customization to the nth level, reporting views and collaborative tools. We found it incredibly easy to build custom workflows, implement templates for a new space and keep assignees accountable with the activity stream in each card. Overall, we think ClickUp is a fantastic option for businesses of all sizes, especially if you’re looking for a highly customizable and collaborative project management platform.

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