Basecamp vs Monday.com: Full Comparison (2026)

Basecamp vs Monday.com: two very different answers to the same project management problem, and neither one covers what happens after the project plan is set.

Both platforms handle team collaboration and task tracking, but the philosophies behind them are almost opposite. One strips features away to keep things simple. The other adds views, automations, and dashboards until the workspace fits whatever workflow a team throws at it. The result is that teams choosing between them are really choosing between structure and customization, not just comparing feature lists.

Basecamp gives every team message boards, campfire chat, to-do lists, and automatic check-ins in a single interface. The opinionated design means fewer decisions during setup, but there are no Gantt charts, no task dependencies, no time tracking, no automation, and no native invoicing or proposals, so teams needing those capabilities end up adding other tools anyway.

Monday.com offers Kanban, Gantt, timeline views, dashboards, 200+ integrations, and workflow automations. The range of views handles complex project structures, but per-seat pricing adds up quickly at scale, time tracking is locked behind a higher tier, and there are no proposals, contracts, invoicing, e-signatures, or client portals, so service businesses still need separate billing software.

Plutio handles project management, proposals, contracts, invoicing, time tracking, and client portals in one subscription with no per-user fees. If the workflow spans from proposal to final invoice... check out Plutio and skip the comparison.

Last updated February 2026

4.6

Quick comparison (TLDR)

Basecamp is an opinionated project management tool that bundles message boards, to-do lists, campfire chat, file storage, and automatic check-ins into a flat-rate subscription. The design philosophy removes choices: every project gets the same six tools, and the interface stays the same regardless of team size. For teams that want a single, consistent workspace without configuring views or automations, the simplicity works. But that same simplicity means no Gantt charts, no task dependencies, no time tracking, and no workflow automation, so complex projects often outgrow the platform.

Monday.com takes the opposite approach. Kanban boards, Gantt charts, timeline views, dashboards, and 200+ integrations give teams the options to build almost any workflow. Automations handle repetitive tasks, and the visual interface makes it easy to switch between views. The trade-off is per-seat pricing that climbs fast with team growth, a learning curve that comes with all those options, and time tracking locked behind the Pro tier at $19/user/month.

Key differences at a glance

Project philosophy: Basecamp is opinionated, giving every project the same structure. Monday.com is configurable, letting teams build custom workflows with multiple views and automations.
Pricing model: Basecamp charges $15/user/month or $349/month flat for unlimited users. Monday.com charges $9-19/user/month with a 3-seat minimum on paid plans, so a 10-person team on Standard costs $120/month vs Basecamp's $150 (or $349 flat).
Task views: Monday.com offers Kanban, Gantt, timeline, calendar, and chart views. Basecamp has to-do lists and a Hill Chart for progress tracking, but no Kanban, Gantt, or timeline views.
Communication: Basecamp includes message boards, campfire group chat, and automatic check-ins as core features. Monday.com has comments on items and integrates with Slack, but has no native chat or async communication tools.
Automation: Monday.com includes workflow automations on Standard plans and above, with custom triggers and actions. Basecamp has no automation at all.
Integrations: Monday.com connects with 200+ apps natively plus Zapier. Basecamp has a limited set of native integrations and relies on third-party bridges for most connections.

The verdict? Basecamp has opinionated simplicity and async communication, but no Gantt charts, no task dependencies, and no automation. Monday.com has visual project views and automations, but per-seat pricing adds up and time tracking requires the Pro tier. If the work also involves proposals, contracts, invoicing, and a client portal alongside project completion, Plutio handles all of it for $19/month with no per-user fees.

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Project philosophy and setup

A new team signs up and needs to organize their first project. How much configuration is required, and how does the platform shape the way work gets structured from day one?

Basecamp

Opinionated design that removes decisions. Every Basecamp project gets the same six tools: message board, to-dos, schedule, campfire chat, docs & files, and automatic check-ins. There are no templates to choose from, no views to configure, and no automations to set up. A new project is ready in under a minute. The trade-off is that every project looks and works the same way, regardless of whether the team is managing a product launch or a weekly editorial calendar. For teams that want consistency across projects, this works. For teams where different projects need different structures, the rigidity becomes a limitation within weeks.

New project ready in under a minute
Six core tools in every project
Consistent experience across all projects
No templates for different project types
No customization of project structure
Same layout whether it is a sprint or a retainer

Monday.com

Configurable workspace with a setup learning curve. Monday.com starts with a blank board and offers 200+ templates spanning marketing, development, HR, CRM, and project management. Each board can be viewed as Kanban, Gantt, timeline, calendar, or table. Columns are customizable: status, priority, date, people, formula, and dozens more. The range of options means the platform molds to almost any workflow, but the initial setup takes longer. Most teams spend a few hours configuring their first workspace, and the number of options can feel overwhelming early on. Once configured, the boards handle complex multi-phase projects that Basecamp cannot represent.

200+ templates for different industries
Multiple board views (Kanban, Gantt, timeline)
Custom columns and formulas
Setup takes hours for first workspace
Option overload for smaller teams
Learning curve steeper than simpler tools

Task management and views

Tasks are assigned, deadlines are set, and progress needs tracking. Can the platform show the same work in different ways depending on who is looking, and does it handle dependencies between tasks?

Basecamp

To-do lists and Hill Charts without visual project views. Basecamp organizes tasks as to-do lists within projects. Each to-do can have an assignee, a due date, and notes. To-do lists can be grouped by category (like "Design" or "Development"), but there is no way to view tasks as a Kanban board, Gantt chart, or timeline. Hill Charts show progress as a curve from "figuring things out" to "making it happen," which gives a sense of momentum without requiring percentage updates. For small teams running 2-3 concurrent projects, the to-do lists cover the basics. For anyone managing multi-week projects with sequential phases, the lack of dependencies means delays in one task do not automatically shift downstream dates.

Simple to-do lists with assignees and due dates
Hill Charts for progress visualization
Grouped to-do lists by category
No Kanban board view
No Gantt chart or timeline
No task dependencies

Monday.com

Multiple views with dependencies and automations. Monday.com shows the same set of tasks as a Kanban board, Gantt chart, timeline, calendar, table, or chart. Task dependencies link items so that shifting one deadline automatically adjusts everything downstream. Subtasks, status columns, priority flags, and custom fields give each item as much or as little detail as needed. The downside is that boards with 200+ items can slow down, and teams sometimes build overly complex structures that become hard to maintain. Platforms with built-in task management and time tracking handle the task-to-billing connection that Monday.com leaves out.

Kanban, Gantt, timeline, calendar, and table views
Task dependencies with auto-rescheduling
Subtasks, custom fields, and formulas
Large boards (200+ items) can slow down
Complex structures become hard to maintain
No native connection from tasks to invoicing

Team communication

A decision needs input from three team members. Can the conversation happen inside the project tool, or does it end up in Slack, email, or a video call with no record tied to the project?

Basecamp

Communication as a core feature, not an add-on. Basecamp puts async communication at the center of every project. Message boards work like long-form discussion threads where team members post updates and reply without real-time pressure. Campfire is a group chat room for quick conversations. Automatic check-ins ask recurring questions ("What did everyone work on today?") and collect responses in one place. Pings handle direct messages. The communication tools are what Basecamp is known for, and some teams cancel Slack after adopting them. Discussions stay attached to projects, so context does not get lost in a separate chat app. For remote teams that value written communication over meetings, Basecamp's communication tools cover most async needs. But there are no video calls, screen sharing, or whiteboarding built in.

Message boards for async discussions
Campfire group chat in every project
Automatic check-ins with recurring prompts
Direct messaging (Pings)
No video or voice calls built in
No screen sharing or whiteboarding

Monday.com

Comments on items but no dedicated communication layer. Monday.com handles communication through comments on individual items, @mentions, and update feeds. Each task or item has a conversation thread where team members can share files, tag colleagues, and track changes. The communication is tightly linked to specific work items, which keeps context close to the task. But there are no message boards, no group chat, and no check-in features. Most Monday.com teams run Slack or Microsoft Teams alongside for general discussion, status updates, and quick questions that do not fit into a specific task comment.

Comments and @mentions on every item
Update feed per board
File sharing in conversations
No group chat or message boards
No automatic check-ins
Slack or Teams needed for general discussion

Automation and workflows

Repetitive tasks eat into productive hours every week. When a status changes, a deadline passes, or a new item gets created, can the platform handle the follow-up actions automatically?

Basecamp

Manual workflows with no built-in automation. Basecamp does not include workflow automation. There are no triggers, no conditional actions, and no way to automatically move tasks between lists, send notifications based on status changes, or create recurring workflows. Automatic check-ins are the closest thing to automation: they send scheduled questions to team members and collect responses. But actual task automation, like changing a status when a due date passes or assigning a task when another one completes, requires a third-party tool like Zapier ($19.99/month for 750 tasks). For teams that handle repetitive workflows across multiple projects, the manual work adds up to several hours per week.

Automatic check-ins for recurring questions
No workflow automation
No triggers or conditional actions
No recurring task creation
Zapier needed for basic automation ($19.99/month)

Monday.com

Built-in automations with custom triggers. Monday.com includes workflow automations on Standard plans ($12/user/month) and above. The automation builder uses "when/then" logic: when a status changes to "Done," notify a team member and move the item to a different group. When a due date arrives, send a reminder. When a new item is created, assign it based on a formula. The Standard plan includes 250 automations per month, Pro gets 25,000. Custom automations can connect to external apps through integrations. The limitation is that the 250-action cap on Standard can run out quickly for active teams, and more complex automations require the Pro plan at $19/user/month.

When/then automation builder
Status, date, and item-based triggers
External app connections via integrations
Standard plan capped at 250 automations/month
Complex automations need Pro ($19/user/month)
Custom formula automations require learning curve

Pricing at scale

The team grows from 5 to 20 people over the next year. How does the monthly bill change, and what features get locked behind higher tiers as the team scales?

Basecamp

Flat rate for unlimited users on Pro Unlimited. Basecamp offers two pricing tiers. The standard plan costs $15/user/month, which works for small teams but scales linearly. Pro Unlimited costs $349/month flat regardless of team size, and includes priority support, 10x file storage (5TB), and admin controls. For a 25-person team, Pro Unlimited costs $349/month total. The same team on the per-user plan would cost $375/month. The breakeven point sits at about 24 users, where switching to Pro Unlimited starts saving money. Every feature comes with both plans, so there are no tier-locked capabilities. The downside: $349/month is steep for a platform that still lacks time tracking, invoicing, and deeper project management features.

Pro Unlimited: $349/month for unlimited users
All features available on every plan
No tier-locked capabilities
$15/user/month scales linearly on standard plan
$349/month is high for missing features like time tracking
No free plan available

Monday.com

Per-seat pricing with feature tiers. Monday.com has a free plan for 2 users (limited to 3 boards). Paid plans start at $9/user/month (Basic) with a 3-seat minimum, so the entry cost is $27/month. Standard ($12/user/month) unlocks automations, timeline view, and integrations. Pro ($19/user/month) adds time tracking, formula columns, and 25,000 automations. A 20-person team on Standard costs $240/month. The same team on Pro costs $380/month. The per-seat model means every new team member increases the bill, and key features like time tracking and higher automation limits are gated behind Pro. For growing teams, the cost curve steepens faster than Basecamp's flat rate.

Free plan for 2 users (3 boards)
Basic starts at $9/user/month (3-seat minimum)
Feature progression across tiers
Time tracking locked behind Pro ($19/user/month)
20-person team on Pro costs $380/month
Each new team member adds to the monthly bill

Integrations and ecosystem

The team uses Slack, Google Workspace, accounting software, and a few industry-specific tools. Can the project platform connect to all of them without paying for a separate integration layer?

Basecamp

Limited native integrations with a self-contained philosophy. Basecamp deliberately keeps its integration list short. The platform connects natively with a handful of apps: email forwarding, iCalendar feeds, Zapier, and a few others. The philosophy is that Basecamp itself should replace the need for separate tools rather than connecting to them. For teams already using Basecamp as their primary workspace, the built-in tools (chat, docs, scheduling) reduce the need for some integrations. But for teams that rely on Slack, Google Drive, Figma, GitHub, or accounting software, the connections run through Zapier or manual workarounds. The lack of native integrations is one of the most common complaints in Basecamp user reviews.

Email forwarding into projects
iCalendar feed for schedule sync
Zapier connection available
Few native integrations
No direct Slack, GitHub, or Figma connection
Self-contained philosophy limits ecosystem

Monday.com

200+ native integrations with an open ecosystem. Monday.com connects natively with Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Jira, GitHub, Salesforce, HubSpot, and hundreds more. The integration marketplace includes pre-built connectors that sync data between platforms without Zapier. Automations can trigger actions in connected apps, so a status change in Monday.com can post a Slack message, update a Google Sheet, or create a Jira ticket. The Standard plan includes 250 integration actions per month, Pro gets 25,000. For teams with an established tool stack, Monday.com fits in without forcing other apps out. The limitation is that integration actions count against the monthly cap, so high-volume teams may need the Pro plan.

200+ native integrations
Slack, Google, Microsoft, GitHub connectors
Automations trigger cross-app actions
Integration actions count against monthly cap
Standard plan limited to 250 actions/month
Some integrations require Pro plan

Business operations and client work

The project is done, and now an invoice needs to go out, a proposal needs signing, or a client needs access to review deliverables. Can the project tool handle the business side, or does that happen somewhere else?

Basecamp

Project collaboration only, with no client-facing tools. Basecamp handles project collaboration but stops completely at business operations. There are no proposals, no contracts, no invoicing, no e-signatures, no time tracking, no client billing, and no client portal with branded access. Service businesses, agencies, and freelancers using Basecamp still need separate tools for every client-facing business function: FreshBooks or QuickBooks for invoicing, DocuSign for contracts, Toggl for time tracking, and a spreadsheet or CRM for proposals. Basecamp focuses on internal team collaboration, not client-facing work. For businesses where finishing projects and client billing are connected, the gap between Basecamp and billing tools means manual data transfer on every project.

No proposals or contracts
No invoicing or e-signatures
No time tracking
No client portal with branded access
No CRM or lead tracking
Separate tools needed for all client billing

Monday.com

CRM add-on but no native billing tools. Monday.com offers a CRM product (Monday Sales CRM) that handles lead tracking, deal pipelines, and contact management. But there are no proposals, no contracts, no invoicing, no e-signatures, and no client portal for sharing project updates or collecting payments. Time tracking exists on the Pro plan but does not connect to any billing workflow. The CRM add-on costs extra and is a separate product from the project management workspace. Service businesses still need invoicing software, contract tools, and a client-facing portal alongside Monday.com. Platforms with built-in invoicing and proposal tools eliminate those separate subscriptions.

Monday Sales CRM available as add-on
Lead tracking and deal pipelines
No proposals or contracts
No invoicing or e-signatures
No client portal for project sharing
Time tracking does not connect to billing

Skip the comparison?

Get projects, proposals, and billing in one app

Basecamp handles communication. Monday.com handles task views. Plutio handles the entire workflow: proposals, project boards, time tracking, invoicing, and a white-labeled client portal.

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Basecamp vs Monday.com pricing breakdown

Basecamp and Monday.com use different pricing structures that affect teams differently depending on size. Basecamp offers a flat-rate option for large teams, while Monday.com charges per seat with features gated behind higher tiers.

Basecamp Pricing (2026)

Basecamp: $15/user/month. Message boards, to-dos, campfire chat, schedule, docs & files, automatic check-ins, Hill Charts. All features included.
Pro Unlimited: $349/month flat for unlimited users. Everything in Basecamp plus 5TB storage, priority support, admin pro pack, and 1:1 onboarding.

Monday.com Pricing (2026)

Free: Up to 2 users, 3 boards, 200+ templates. No timeline, no Gantt, no automations.
Basic: $9/user/month (3-seat minimum, $27/month entry). Unlimited items, 5GB storage, prioritized support.
Standard: $12/user/month. Timeline and Gantt views, 250 automations/month, 250 integration actions/month, guest access.
Pro: $19/user/month. Time tracking, formula columns, chart views, 25,000 automations/month, private boards.
Enterprise: Custom pricing. Enterprise security, audit log, SAML SSO, 250,000 automations/month.

The real cost: what teams actually pay

A 10-person team on Basecamp per-user costs $150/month. The same team on Monday.com Standard costs $120/month, and on Pro costs $190/month. At 24+ users, Basecamp Pro Unlimited ($349/month flat) becomes cheaper than both Monday.com tiers. But neither platform handles business operations, so most service teams add supplementary tools:

Invoicing: FreshBooks or QuickBooks ($15-30/month)
Proposals and contracts: PandaDoc or HoneyBook ($19-39/month)
Time tracking: Toggl or Harvest ($0-12/month per user) (Basecamp only; Monday.com Pro includes basic tracking)
Client portal: Custom solution or separate tool ($10-50/month)

A typical multi-tool stack runs $80-200 per month on top of the project management subscription. All-in-one platforms like Plutio start at $19/month for solo users with proposals, project boards, time tracking, and invoicing in one subscription with no per-user fees.

The verdict: Monday.com is cheaper for small teams (under 24 people) on Standard. Basecamp Pro Unlimited is cheaper per head for large teams (24+ users). Both require supplementary tools for service businesses, which inflates the total monthly cost well beyond either platform's sticker price.

Which tool fits your team type?

The choice between Basecamp and Monday.com depends on whether the team values opinionated simplicity or configurable customization, and whether the work is internal or client-facing.

Internal product teams

Monday.com handles product development workflows with Kanban boards, sprint-like structures, Gantt charts for release planning, and GitHub integration for linking code to tasks. Task dependencies keep timelines accurate when blockers appear. Basecamp covers the communication side with message boards and check-ins, but the lack of visual project views means product teams still need a separate tool for sprint planning and roadmap visualization.

Remote teams prioritizing async communication

Basecamp has built-in async communication tools. Message boards replace long email threads, automatic check-ins replace daily standups, and campfire chat handles quick questions without the noise of Slack. The entire platform centers on written, async communication where team members respond on their own schedule. Monday.com's communication is limited to item comments and @mentions, which works for task-specific discussions but does not replace a dedicated communication tool for general team updates.

Marketing and creative teams

Monday.com's visual boards, calendar views, and Gantt charts handle campaign planning, content calendars, and creative workflows with multiple approval stages. Automations can notify stakeholders when assets move through review stages. Basecamp can manage the communication around creative work, but the to-do list format does not represent multi-stage creative workflows well. Teams end up tracking tasks in a spreadsheet or Trello alongside Basecamp.

Agencies and service businesses

Neither platform covers the full agency workflow. Both handle project management (Monday.com more deeply), but neither includes proposals, contracts, invoicing, or a client portal. Service businesses need 2-4 additional tools regardless of which platform they choose. The cost of those supplementary tools often exceeds the project management subscription itself. Platforms with built-in project management and client billing handle the complete workflow without the supplementary stack.

Freelancers and solo consultants

Monday.com's free plan works for up to 2 users with 3 boards, but the feature limitations make it a trial rather than a long-term solution. Basecamp's $15/month per-user plan is reasonable for solo use, but paying $15/month for a tool without time tracking, invoicing, or proposals means adding other subscriptions immediately. Freelancers typically need a platform that handles the complete business workflow, not just task management.

What both tools are missing

Basecamp and Monday.com both handle project management for internal teams. But service businesses, agencies, and freelancers need more than task tracking, and both platforms leave the same critical gaps in client-facing work.

No proposals or contracts

Neither platform can generate a proposal, create a contract, or collect an e-signature. When a new client engagement starts, the proposal goes out through PandaDoc, Proposify, or a PDF attachment in email. The contract gets signed through DocuSign or a similar tool. None of that data flows into the project management workspace automatically, so someone manually creates the project after the paperwork is done. For agencies sending 5-10 proposals per month, the disconnect between sales documents and project setup wastes 2-3 hours weekly.

No invoicing or billing

Neither Basecamp nor Monday.com can send an invoice, collect a payment, or manage recurring billing. When the work is done, someone switches to FreshBooks, QuickBooks, or Stripe to create the invoice, often retyping project details and hours. Time tracked in Monday.com (Pro plan only) does not flow into an invoice automatically. Basecamp does not even have time tracking to start with. Platforms with built-in invoicing connect tracked hours directly to invoice line items.

No client portal

Basecamp allows guest access to projects, but the interface shows Basecamp branding and exposes the internal tool to clients. Monday.com has guest access on Standard plans and above, but guests see the Monday.com interface. Neither platform offers a white-labeled portal where clients see only the business's brand, access their project status, review documents, and pay invoices in one branded experience. For premium service providers, having clients interact with a third-party project tool undermines the brand experience.

No scheduling or booking

Neither platform includes appointment scheduling or booking pages. Teams that need clients to book meetings, consultations, or calls still use Calendly, Acuity, or Cal.com alongside. The booking data does not connect to the project timeline, so scheduled client calls do not appear in the project schedule automatically. Platforms with built-in scheduling keep client meetings and project timelines in one view.

Limited time tracking

Basecamp has no time tracking at all. Monday.com includes time tracking only on the Pro plan ($19/user/month), and the tracked time does not connect to any billing workflow. Neither platform offers task-level tracking where hours are tied to specific deliverables, rate-per-task customization, or automatic conversion of tracked hours into invoice line items. Teams billing hourly need Toggl, Harvest, or Clockify running alongside, with manual time transfers into invoicing software. Plutio tracks time at the task level and converts those hours directly into line-item invoices.

What teams do when neither tool is enough

When Basecamp or Monday.com cannot handle the full workflow alone, teams take one of two paths: build a multi-tool stack and accept the manual handoffs, or move to a platform designed for the complete client lifecycle.

The typical workaround stack

Most service teams end up assembling something like this:

Basecamp or Monday.com for project management ($12-349/month depending on plan and team size)
PandaDoc or Proposify for proposals and contracts ($19-49/month)
FreshBooks or QuickBooks for invoicing and accounting ($15-30/month)
Toggl or Harvest for time tracking ($0-12/month per user)
Calendly or Cal.com for scheduling ($0-16/month)

That is four or five subscriptions totaling $100-400 per month for a small team, with four or five logins to manage and constant manual data transfer between each tool.

The hidden cost: time spent on handoffs

The subscription cost is the visible expense. The hidden cost is the workflow friction. When a proposal gets signed in PandaDoc, someone has to manually create a project in Basecamp or Monday.com, set up time tracking in Toggl, then copy completed hours into FreshBooks when the work is done. Each handoff takes 5-15 minutes. Across 15-20 client projects per year, that is 25-50 hours annually spent on data transfer that software should handle automatically.

The single-platform alternative

All-in-one platforms exist that handle proposals, project management, time tracking, and invoicing in a single system. The question is whether learning a new interface is worth it versus maintaining an existing multi-tool setup. For teams that have invested time configuring Monday.com automations or building Basecamp workflows, migration feels like starting over. For teams already juggling four apps and spending hours on handoffs, switching to one platform can recover 3-5 hours per week.

What one platform looks like in practice

If the workflow needs to cover everything from proposal to final invoice: Plutio is one platform that covers the complete cycle. Proposals convert into projects with Kanban boards and timeline views. Time tracking happens at the task level and flows directly into invoice line items. Clients access a portal on a custom domain, not the software vendor's. The comparison table below shows exactly where Plutio fills the gaps that Basecamp and Monday.com leave open, and where each platform still has an edge.

Final verdict: Basecamp vs Monday.com

Basecamp and Monday.com represent two opposite philosophies for project management: opinionated simplicity vs configurable customization. The right choice depends on whether the team needs fewer decisions or more options, and whether the work is internal or client-facing.

Basecamp makes sense when:

Async communication matters more than task structure. Message boards and check-ins keep discussions inside projects. But there are no Gantt charts, no task dependencies, and no automation rules.
Project structures are consistent and do not need custom views. Every project gets the same six tools. But the rigidity means different project types cannot have different structures.
Flat-rate pricing for large teams is the priority. Pro Unlimited at $349/month covers unlimited users. But $349/month is steep for a platform without time tracking, invoicing, or visual project views.

Monday.com makes sense when:

Multiple project views are needed. Kanban, Gantt, timeline, and calendar views are available. But per-seat pricing means a 20-person team on Pro costs $380/month before adding invoicing or proposals.
Workflow automation reduces repetitive work. The automation builder handles triggers and actions. But the Standard plan caps at 250 automations/month, and complex automations require Pro ($19/user/month).
The team uses many external tools. 200+ integrations connect to Slack, Google, and Salesforce. But there are no proposals, contracts, invoicing, or client portals built in.

Consider switching to a unified platform if:

The workflow spans from proposal to final invoice, and three or more tools are currently handling different pieces of the client lifecycle.
Manual data transfer between project management, time tracking, and invoicing creates errors or delays in billing.
The team needs a white-labeled client portal where clients see the business brand, not the software vendor's.
Per-user pricing does not make sense for a growing team, and the business needs proposals, projects, and billing in one subscription.
Tracked hours need to flow directly into invoice line items without manual data entry.

The reality: Switching means learning a new system and migrating existing workflows. For most teams, the transition takes a focused weekend for core setup and a week for team onboarding. The ongoing time savings typically recover that investment within the first month.

The bottom line: Basecamp offers opinionated simplicity with strong async communication for teams that want fewer decisions. Monday.com offers visual customization with automations and integrations for teams that need configurable workflows. Both handle project management but stop there. Business operations, client billing, and everything between the project plan and the final invoice happens in other tools. If the workflow already spans multiple platforms and the handoffs feel like wasted time, the comparison table below shows how all-in-one platforms like Plutio stack up against both.

Research & Sources

This comparison is based on official documentation review, pricing page verification, and analysis of user feedback across review platforms. All data was verified in February 2026.

Research methodology

Each tool was evaluated through official feature documentation, pricing pages, and analysis of user reviews across G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, and product-specific communities. The focus was on common pain points from lower-rated reviews where users share honest limitations rather than promotional praise.

Platform ratings (February 2026)

Basecamp: 4.1/5 on G2 (5,000+ reviews). Praised for simplicity and async communication tools, criticized for lack of deeper project management features, no time tracking, and limited integrations.
Monday.com: 4.7/5 on G2 (12,000+ reviews). Praised for visual boards, customization, and integrations, criticized for per-seat pricing, learning curve, and features locked behind higher tiers.
Plutio: 4.6/5 on G2 (200+ reviews), praised for all-in-one coverage and white-labeling.

Common user complaints (from 1-3 star reviews)

Basecamp users frequently mention: "No Gantt charts or timeline views," "Can't track time natively," "To-do lists are too simple for complex projects," "Limited integrations with external tools," "Expensive for what it offers without time tracking or invoicing"

Monday.com users frequently mention: "Per-seat pricing gets expensive fast," "Too many features can be overwhelming," "Automations run out on Standard plan," "Time tracking only on Pro," "No native invoicing or proposal tools"

Pricing sources (verified February 2026)

Basecamp: Official pricing page
Monday.com: Official pricing page
Plutio: Official pricing page

Feature verification

If you find any inaccuracies or outdated information, please let us know so we can investigate and update.

Basecamp vs Monday.com vs Plutio: full feature comparison

See how all three tools compare on project management, communication, automation, time tracking, and client-facing business tools

PRICING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Starting price	$19/month (Core plan)	$15/user/month (Plus plan)	$9/user/month (Basic, 3 user min)
Free plan	No free plan (14-day trial available)	Free plan (1 project, 1GB storage)	Free plan for up to 2 users
Trial period	14-day free trial	Free trial available	Free trial available
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Manage projects and tasks	Fully flexible project and task setup you can shape to your workflow	Simple project organization only	Highly flexible project structures
Project roles and permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each part of a project	You can control who has access to each project	You can control access at board and item level
Multiple task boards	Unlimited boards to run parallel workflows in the same project	Basecamp does not use task boards	You can create unlimited boards
Embeddable project boards	Live project boards embedded into client portals or websites	Project views cannot be embedded	Boards can be embedded
Sharable project boards	Read-only public links for sharing progress without risk	Projects can be shared read-only via links	Boards can be shared publicly with limits
Project stages and milestones	Define custom project lifecycles for different types of work	You cannot define custom stages or milestones	You can define custom statuses and milestones
Connected proposals, contracts, and invoices	Everything related stays connected to the project automatically	Proposals, contracts, and invoices are not supported	Proposals, contracts, and invoices are not supported
Custom project data fields	Track, sort, filter, and report on custom project data	Custom fields not supported	Custom columns on boards
Kanban boards	Drag-and-drop tasks across customizable columns	Not supported	Boards can be viewed in Kanban style
Table view	Bulk-edit tasks like a spreadsheet	Tasks cannot be viewed in tables	Boards default to table view
List view	Clean task lists with clear hierarchy	Tasks are managed as simple to-do lists	Items can be viewed as lists
Calendar view	See tasks and deadlines on a calendar	You can see due dates on a project calendar	Calendar view is supported
Gantt view	Plan work visually with task order and dependencies	Gantt charts are not supported	Gantt view is supported on higher plans
Subtasks	Break work down into multiple nested levels	No subtasks (single-level to-dos only, sections for organization)	Subitems are supported
Email to task	Turn emails into tasks without manual copying	Included	Included
Task comments	Keep discussions tied directly to each task	You can comment on to-dos	You can comment on items
Task attachments	Store files directly on the task they belong to	You can attach files to to-dos	Files can be attached to items
Task priorities	Define priority levels that fit your workflow	Tasks cannot be prioritized natively	Priority columns are supported
Task labels & color coding	Use unlimited labels to visually organize tasks	Not supported	Status and label columns are supported
Multiple task assignees	Assign tasks to one or multiple teammates	Multiple assignees are not supported	Multiple assignees are supported
Task templates	Reuse task-level structures across projects	Task templates are not supported	Board and item templates are supported
Task permissions	Control access at the individual task level	Permissions are project-level only	Permissions depend on board setup
Task dependencies	Prevent work from starting out of order	Tasks cannot be linked together	Dependencies are supported
Recurring tasks	Automate repeating work with flexible schedules	Recurring tasks exist with limited options	Recurring items are supported
Custom task data fields	Add task-level fields for tracking custom details	Custom fields not supported	Custom columns on boards
TIME TRACKING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Time tracking system	Easily track time using timers or manual entries	Built-in Timesheet with start/stop timer and manual entry	Time tracking column (Pro and Enterprise plans only, $16/seat/month)
Task-level tracking	Log time directly against tasks and subtasks	Track time on individual to-dos and events	You can track time per item
Project-level tracking	See time spent per project and per client	Track total time per project with CSV export	Project time requires rollups
Billable time tracking	Clearly separate billable and non-billable time	Billable time is not supported	Billable logic is not supported
Billable time invoicing	Turn tracked time into invoices without extra steps	Invoicing is not supported	Invoices are not supported
Timesheet reports	View detailed time reports by task, project, or client	Timesheet reports with filters and CSV export	Time tracking add-on required
Team timesheets	See how each team member tracks their time	View time logged by each team member	Team views require dashboards
PROPOSALS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Create and send proposals	Create proposals clients can review, approve, and sign in one flow	Basecamp is for team collaboration only	Monday.com is for project management only
Drag-and-drop proposal builder	Create custom, branded proposals without layout limits or code	Not supported	Proposals are not supported
Reusable proposal templates	Reuse proven proposal layouts across clients	Not supported	Proposals are not supported
Real-time proposal analytics	See exactly when proposals are opened and reviewed	Not supported	Proposals are not supported
Live messenger on proposals	Answer questions directly while clients review proposals	Not supported	Proposals are not supported
Proposal flow automation	Move from proposal to contract, invoice, or booking automatically	Not supported	Not supported
Convert proposal to invoice	Create invoices directly from approved proposals	Proposals and invoices are not supported	Invoices are not supported
Packages and add-ons	Offer upsells and add-ons directly inside proposals	Pricing packages are not supported	Proposal pricing is not supported
Interactive pricing tables	Let clients choose options before approving	Not supported	Not supported
Dynamic data and variables	Auto-fill proposal content with client and project data	Dynamic variables are not supported	Not supported
Expiration dates	Automatically expire proposals after a set date	Not supported	Not supported
PDF Export	Download as branded PDFs	You can export discussions, not proposals	Included
Reusable content blocks	Create reusable proposal sections you can reuse on demand	Not supported	Not supported
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure electronic signatures on proposals	E-signatures are not supported	Monday.com has no e-signatures
Custom proposal data fields	Create custom proposal data you can sort, filter, and report on	Proposals are not supported	Proposals are not supported
CONTRACTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Create and sign contracts	Create, send, and sign contracts in one continuous flow	Basecamp does not handle contracts	Monday.com does not handle contracts
Drag-and-drop contract builder	Create fully custom contracts with flexible layouts, no code or formatting limits	Contracts are not supported	Form view is supported
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure signatures with audit trails and signer verification	E-signatures are not supported	E-signatures are not supported
Multi-signature / signees	Collect signatures from multiple people on the same contract	Not supported	Contracts are not supported
Reusable contract templates	Reuse contract structures to create new agreements faster	Not supported	Contracts are not supported
Auto-reminders automation	Automatically follow up until contracts are signed	Not supported	Contract reminders are not supported
Dynamic data/variables	Auto-fill contract content with client and project data	Not supported	Contracts are not supported
Contract automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a contract is signed	Contracts cannot trigger actions	Automations apply to items, not payments
View notifications	See when contracts are opened and reviewed	Not supported	Payment notifications are not supported
PDF download with signature certificate	Download signed contracts with official proof of signature	Not supported	Contracts are not supported
Custom signer data fields	Collect structured signer information during signing	Not supported	Contracts are not supported
Custom contract data fields	Create custom contract data you can sort, filter, and report on	Contracts are not supported	Contracts are not supported
INVOICES & PAYMENTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Create invoices and get paid	Send invoices and collect payments in one connected flow	Basecamp does not handle billing	Monday.com does not handle billing
Fully branded invoices	Match invoices to your brand with custom logos, colors, and layout	Invoices are not supported	Invoices are not supported
Drag and drop invoice builder	Create custom invoice layouts visually without formatting limits	Invoices are not supported	Invoices are not supported
Customizable line items	Edit pricing, quantities, descriptions, and structure freely	Invoices are not supported	Invoices are not supported
Item or invoice discounts	Apply discounts at the item or full invoice level	Invoices are not supported	Invoices are not supported
Customizable taxes	Create tax rules that match your location and use case	Invoices are not supported	Invoices are not supported
ACH payments	Accept bank transfers for lower-fee payments	Payments are not supported	Payments are not supported
Stripe integration	Accept credit and debit cards instantly	Payments are not supported	Stripe works via third-party tools
Square integration	Collect in-person payments when needed	Payments are not supported	Payments are not supported
PayPal integration	Let clients pay using PayPal	Payments are not supported	Possible via integrations only
Flexible partial payments	Collect deposits and split payments across milestones	Payments are not supported	Payments are not supported
Payment plans	Break invoices into scheduled installments	Invoices are not supported	Payments are not supported
Automated recurring invoices	Automatically send invoices on a recurring schedule	Invoices are not supported	Invoices are not supported
Subscription management	Manage ongoing client subscriptions and billing	Subscriptions are not supported	Subscriptions are not supported
Automated payment reminders	Follow up automatically until invoices are paid	Payments are not supported	Payments are not supported
Reusable invoice templates	Reuse invoice layouts without rebuilding each time	Invoices are not supported	Invoices are not supported
Multiple currency support	Bill clients globally in their local currency	Payments are not supported	Board currency columns exist
Invoice automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when invoices are sent or paid	Contracts cannot trigger actions	Automations apply to items, not payments
View notifications	See when invoices are opened and paid	Not supported	Payment notifications are not supported
Built-in expense tracking	Track project-related costs alongside invoices	Not supported	Expenses are not supported
Invoice deposits	Collect upfront payments before work starts	Not supported	Invoices are not supported
Auto-invoice billable time	Turn tracked time into invoices automatically	Basecamp has no invoicing	Monday.com has no invoicing
Custom invoice data fields	Create custom invoice data you can sort, filter, and report on	Invoices are not supported	Invoices are not supported
INBOX Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Centralized unified inbox	Manage email, chat, and messages from one shared inbox	Each project has a central message board	Updates inbox exists for board activity
Full email integration	Connect and manage all your email accounts in one place	You can post to Basecamp via email	Email-to-board is supported
Embeddable live chat	Add real-time chat to your website and client portals	Live chat is not supported	Live chat is not supported
Instant direct messages	Message teammates privately without leaving your workspace	Direct messages are supported	Direct messages are supported
Contextual project conversations	Keep conversations tied directly to the project they belong to	Messages stay tied to projects	Comments stay tied to items
Team channels	Create shared spaces for team-wide discussions	Channel-based chat does not exist	Updates act like channels
Customized channels	Organize channels by team, topic, or workflow	Channels are not supported	Board updates can be organized
@mentions	Notify teammates instantly inside conversations	You can mention people in messages	@mentions are supported
Message read receipts	See when messages are read	You can see who has read messages	Seen indicators exist in updates
File sharing in chat	Share files directly inside conversations	Files can be shared in messages	Files can be shared in updates
Shared email inbox	Collaborate on incoming emails as a team	Not supported	Not supported
Inbox mobile app	Access and respond to messages on mobile	Mobile app includes messages	Mobile app includes inbox
Email reply to inbox	Reply from your email client and keep conversations synced	Email replies post to projects	Email replies create board items
FILES Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Store and manage files	Keep all client and project files in one organized place	Files are stored per project	Files are item-based, not a file system
Advanced folder organization	Organize files by project, client, or structure you choose	Color-coded folders in Docs section	3-level folder hierarchy within workspaces
Folder permissions	Control who can view or edit folders	Project-level permissions only	Board-level permissions only
People folders	Group files by person when needed	Files are project-attached only	Files are item-attached, not person-based
Project folders	Keep files scoped to each project	Docs & Files section per project	Files organize within board folders
In-app previews	Preview files instantly without downloading	In-app previews supported	Files Gallery preview view
Custom file data fields	Capture file metadata you can sort and filter	Custom fields are not supported	Custom form fields are supported
Built-in documents	Create and edit documents directly inside Plutio	No built-in document editor	WorkDocs for embedded editing
Comments on files and docs	Leave comments directly on files and documents	Comments in Docs section	File annotation and comments
Bulk file actions	Move, tag, or manage many files at once	No bulk file operations	Bulk select in Files Column
Files search & filter	Find files quickly using search and filters	Search in Docs & Files	Search across boards and files
External cloud sync	Sync files with Google Drive or Dropbox	Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive	Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive
Secure sharing controls	Restrict access with permissions or passwords	Project-level access control	Board-level sharing controls
File sharing links	Share files externally with controlled access	Public folder links supported	Board link sharing only
SCHEDULING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Schedule meetings	Let clients book meetings directly without back-and-forth emails	Basecamp does not have scheduling	Monday.com does not have scheduling
Branded booking page	Build a fully branded, customizable booking system using a drag-and-drop editor	Not supported	Booking pages are not supported
Advanced availability management	Define flexible availability rules applied automatically to bookings	Scheduling is not supported	Scheduling is not supported
Automatic buffer times	Add buffer time automatically between meetings	Scheduling is not supported	Scheduling is not supported
Multiple meeting types	Create unlimited booking types with different rules and setups	Scheduling is not supported	Scheduling is not supported
Calendar sync (Google/Outlook)	Two-way calendar sync that stays up to date automatically	Google/iCloud integration	Calendar sync is supported
Customizable booking confirmations	Fully customizable confirmation pages with no layout or branding limits	Scheduling is not supported	Scheduling is not supported
Redirect after booking	Send bookers anywhere after scheduling, not just a fixed thank-you page	Scheduling is not supported	Scheduling is not supported
Booking automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a meeting is booked	Contracts cannot trigger actions	Automations apply to items, not payments
Smart meeting reminders	Send automatic reminders without manual follow-ups	Reminder pings exist, not bookings	Notifications exist, not bookings
Automatic timezone detection	Handle timezones automatically without manual adjustments	Handled by external calendars	Timezone exists per account
Paid appointments (Stripe/PayPal)	Collect payments during booking without extra steps	Basecamp has no scheduling	Monday.com has no scheduling
Custom booking forms	Build booking forms with full control over questions and layout	Not supported	Booking forms are not supported
Minimum notice / daily booking limits	Set booking limits to control lead time and daily volume	Scheduling is not supported	Scheduling is not supported
Rescheduling and cancellation controls	Define flexible rules for rescheduling and cancellations	Scheduling is not supported	Monday.com has no scheduling
AUTOMATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Automated workflows builder	Build advanced workflows visually without code or rigid templates	Basecamp has no automation builder	AI-powered cross-board workflows
Trigger-based workflows	Start workflows from real events across projects, clients, and payments	Workflow automation does not exist	Item-based automations are supported
Schedule-based workflows	Run workflows on schedules you control, not fixed intervals	Automation does not exist	Recurring automations exist with limits
Multi-step workflows	Chain multiple actions into one continuous automation	Automation does not exist	Multi-step automations are supported
True/False branching	Create conditional paths instead of one-size-fits-all flows	Automation does not exist	Conditional logic is supported
Delay-based actions	Add precise timing between steps, down to minutes or days	Automation does not exist	Delays are supported
Create & update records	Create, update, or move records automatically across the system	Automation does not exist	Tasks and boards can be created automatically
Move & duplicate records	Reorganize work automatically without manual cleanup	Projects can be duplicated manually	Items can duplicate automatically
Delete & archive records	Automatically archive or remove records based on rules	Deletion is manual	Items can delete automatically
API calls (webhooks)	Trigger or receive real-time events from external systems	Limited API access exists	API and webhooks are supported
Send emails	Send automated emails tied to real workflow events	Emails cannot be automated	Emails can be sent via automations
Post comments	Add notes or comments automatically where work happens	Automation does not exist	Updates via automations
Complete automation logs	See exactly what ran, when, and why	Automation does not exist	Automation logs are supported
Auto-fill data/variables	Pass data between steps dynamically without manual mapping	Automation does not exist	Formula and column values can be reused
Cross-entity connections	Run workflows that span projects, tasks, proposals, invoices, and more	Automation does not exist	Cross-board automations are supported
FORMS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Create branded forms	Build fully branded forms that match your workflow and client experience	Basecamp has no form builder	WorkForms with branding and conditional logic
Drag-and-drop form builder	Design forms visually with full layout control, no code required	Contracts are not supported	Form view is supported
Reusable form templates	Reuse form structures without rebuilding from scratch	Forms are not supported	Forms can be reused
Custom form data fields	Collect structured data you can sort, filter, and report on	Custom fields are not supported	Custom form fields are supported
Smart conditional logic	Show or hide fields based on responses, not static forms	Forms are not supported	Conditional logic exists in forms
Instant email notifications	Get notified immediately when forms are submitted	Forms are not supported	Notifications can trigger on submit
Form automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when a form is submitted	Contracts cannot trigger actions	Automations apply to items, not payments
Embed forms	Embed forms anywhere without layout restrictions	Forms are not supported	Forms can be embedded
Advanced field preferences	Control required, hidden, and default field behavior	Forms are not supported	WorkForms conditional logic
Comprehensive field types	Collect text, files, dates, selections, and more	Forms are not supported	Many field types supported
Form signature field	Collect legally binding signatures directly inside forms	Signatures are not supported	Signatures are not supported
File upload fields	Accept file uploads as part of form submissions	Files can be uploaded	File uploads via WorkForms
Redirect after submission	Send submitters to a custom next step, not a fixed thank-you page	Forms are not supported	Thank you screen only
CRM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Manage clients and leads	Manage contacts and companies in one connected system	Basecamp is not a CRM	Contacts via boards, not native CRM
Full company management	Track organizations, not just individual contacts	Companies are not modeled	Companies can be modeled manually
Custom contact data fields	Collect and manage structured contact data you define	CRM structure does not exist	Custom CRM fields are supported
Complete activity timeline	See every interaction with a client in one place	Activity is message-based only	Activity is board-based
Contacts labeling and grouping	Organize contacts flexibly without rigid pipelines	Tags are not supported	Tags and status columns are supported
WIKI Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Comprehensive knowledge base	Create an internal wiki for processes, docs, and guides	Each project includes a document space	Docs are supported, not a wiki system
Beautiful rich text pages	Write structured, formatted content without complexity	Not supported	Not supported
Unlimited nested pages	Build deep knowledge hierarchies without limits	Not supported	Not supported
Granular page permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each page	Not supported	Not supported
DASHBOARDS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Custom dashboards and pages	Build dashboards around what matters to you, not fixed metrics	Basecamp has no custom dashboards	Custom dashboard widgets
Drag-and-drop dashboard builder	Design dashboards visually with full layout control	No dashboard builder in Basecamp	Paid ($)
Charts widget	Visualize data with customizable charts	Included	Included
Metrics widget	Track key numbers without manual reporting	Included	Included
Goals widget	Monitor progress toward defined goals	No goals widget in Basecamp	Paid ($)
Notes widget	Add contextual notes directly to dashboards	Campfire sticky notes	Included
Calendar widget	View upcoming events alongside work and metrics	Included	Included
Financial widgets	Track revenue and expenses in the same view	Not supported	No financial widgets in Monday
BRANDING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
White-label and branding	Run the entire platform under your brand	Basecamp branding always visible	Monday.com branding always visible
Custom interface theme	Apply your brand colors across the system	UI cannot be customized	Board colors can be customized
Stylesheet customization	Fine-tune styling beyond basic theming	Custom CSS is not supported	Custom CSS is not supported
Custom login/signup pages	Use branded authentication pages instead of generic screens	Login pages cannot be customized	Custom login pages are not supported
Email branding	Send all system emails with your branding	Emails cannot be branded	Email branding is limited
Custom brand fonts	Use your own fonts throughout the platform	Fonts cannot be customized	Not supported
Custom brand logos	Replace all platform logos with your own	Logos cannot be customized	Paid ($)
Custom domain name	Run everything on your own domain	Not supported	Not supported
Custom email SMTP	Send emails from your own email infrastructure	Not supported	Not supported
Full workspace embedding	Embed Plutio directly into your website or product	Not supported	Not supported
CUSTOMIZATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Flexible workspace setup	Shape the platform to match how your business works	Basecamp has fixed structure	Workspace only
Main menu editor	Add, remove, or reorder navigation items freely	Navigation cannot be customized	Workspace structure can be adjusted
User-based menus	Show different navigation for different roles	Menus are the same for all users	Menus cannot change per user
Custom user roles	Create role types beyond preset permissions	Custom roles are not supported	Roles exist with limits
Advanced user permissions	Control access at a granular level	Permissions are project-level only	Advanced permissions are supported
SSO / OAuth	Support enterprise-grade single sign-on	SSO is supported on higher plans	Email & password login only
INTEGRATIONS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Connect with other tools	Integrate with external systems without lock-in	Basic integrations via Doors	72+ integrations plus marketplace
Zapier integration	Connect to thousands of apps without custom code	Zapier integration exists	Zapier is supported
Make.com integration	Build advanced automation scenarios visually	Possible via Zapier or API	Make is supported
Pabbly Connect	Connect services without usage-based limits	Possible via API	Possible via API
Full REST API access	Build custom integrations with full system access	API access is limited	REST API is supported
Incoming & outgoing webhooks	Send and receive real-time events	Webhooks are limited	Webhooks are supported
PLATFORM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Basecamp 39/199	Monday.com 77/199
Mobile apps	Access your business from native mobile apps	Mobile companion apps	Full-featured mobile apps
iOS app	Full-featured iPhone app	iOS app is available	iOS app is supported
Android app	Full-featured Android app	Android app is available	Android app is supported
Mac desktop app	Native macOS app for desktop workflows	Desktop app wraps the web version	Desktop app wraps the web version
Windows desktop app	Native Windows app for desktop workflows	Desktop app wraps the web version	Desktop app wraps the web version

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Basecamp vs Monday.com FAQ

Is Basecamp or Monday.com better for project management?

Monday.com offers more depth for project management with Kanban boards, Gantt charts, timeline views, task dependencies, and workflow automations. Basecamp fits teams that want opinionated simplicity with to-do lists, Hill Charts, and built-in async communication. The choice depends on whether the team needs configurable views or a consistent, stripped-down experience.

How much does Basecamp cost vs Monday.com for a 10-person team?

A 10-person team on Basecamp costs $150/month ($15/user) or $349/month flat on Pro Unlimited. The same team on Monday.com Standard costs $120/month ($12/user) and on Pro costs $190/month ($19/user). Monday.com is cheaper for small-to-mid teams, while Basecamp Pro Unlimited becomes more cost-effective at 24+ users.

Does Basecamp have Gantt charts or Kanban boards?

No. Basecamp does not offer Gantt charts, Kanban boards, timeline views, or task dependencies. Tasks are organized in to-do lists with due dates and assignees. Hill Charts provide a progress visualization, but there are no visual project views for timeline planning or workflow management. Teams needing these views typically use Monday.com or platforms like Plutio.

Does Monday.com include time tracking?

Monday.com includes time tracking only on the Pro plan ($19/user/month). The Basic and Standard plans do not have time tracking. The tracked time does not connect to any invoicing or billing workflow, so teams billing hourly still need a separate step to convert hours into invoices. Plutio includes task-level time tracking that flows directly into invoice line items.

Can Basecamp replace Slack for team communication?

Many teams use Basecamp as a Slack replacement. Message boards handle long-form async discussions, campfire provides group chat, automatic check-ins collect daily or weekly updates, and pings handle direct messages. The communication is attached to projects rather than separate channels, which keeps context closer to the work. For teams that prefer written, async communication over real-time chat, Basecamp's tools cover most of what Slack does.

Does Monday.com have a free plan?

Yes. Monday.com offers a free plan for up to 2 users with 3 boards, 200+ templates, and unlimited documents. The free plan does not include timeline views, Gantt charts, automations, or integrations. Paid plans start at $9/user/month (Basic) with a 3-seat minimum, so the minimum paid entry cost is $27/month.

Which has better automations, Basecamp or Monday.com?

Monday.com has automation while Basecamp has none. The Standard plan ($12/user/month) includes a when/then automation builder with 250 actions per month. Pro ($19/user/month) gets 25,000 actions. Basecamp has no workflow automation at all. Automatic check-ins are the closest feature, but they only send scheduled questions and collect responses rather than automating task workflows.

Can I use Basecamp or Monday.com for client work?

Both platforms allow guest access to projects, but neither focuses on client-facing work. Basecamp shows its own branding to guests. Monday.com allows guest viewers on Standard plans and above. Neither platform has proposals, contracts, invoicing, e-signatures, or a white-labeled client portal. Service businesses need separate tools for every client-facing business function alongside either platform.

How many integrations does Monday.com have vs Basecamp?

Monday.com has 200+ native integrations including Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, GitHub, Salesforce, and HubSpot. Basecamp has a limited set of native integrations: email forwarding, iCalendar feeds, and a few others. Most Basecamp connections require Zapier as a bridge. Monday.com's integration ecosystem is significantly larger.

Is Basecamp Pro Unlimited worth $349/month?

Basecamp Pro Unlimited costs $349/month flat for unlimited users, 5TB storage, priority support, and admin controls. The breakeven point vs the $15/user plan is around 24 users. For teams of 25+ people, Pro Unlimited is cheaper per head than any Monday.com paid plan. But the platform still lacks time tracking, Gantt charts, automations, and invoicing, so the $349 covers only project collaboration and communication.

Which platform is easier to learn?

Basecamp has a shorter learning curve because every project has the same six tools and there are no views to configure or automations to set up. Most teams are productive within an hour. Monday.com takes longer because of the number of views, column types, automations, and customization options available. Most teams spend a few hours configuring their first workspace and a week getting comfortable with the full feature set.

Can I send invoices from Basecamp or Monday.com?

No. Neither Basecamp nor Monday.com has invoicing, payment collection, or billing features. Service businesses need FreshBooks, QuickBooks, Stripe, or another invoicing tool alongside either platform. If the workflow needs project management and invoicing in one place, platforms like Plutio include both with no additional subscriptions.

Does Basecamp have task dependencies?

No. Basecamp does not support task dependencies, so delaying one task does not automatically shift downstream deadlines. Tasks in Basecamp are independent to-do items with due dates. Monday.com includes task dependencies on Standard plans and above, with automatic date rescheduling when linked tasks shift.

What if neither Basecamp nor Monday.com fits my workflow?

If both platforms leave gaps in proposals, invoicing, time tracking, or client portals, look at all-in-one platforms that cover the complete client lifecycle. Key features to look for: Kanban boards, task-level time tracking, proposals and contracts, invoicing, and white-labeled client portals. Plutio is one example that covers all of these, and the comparison table on this page shows how it stacks up against Basecamp and Monday.com feature by feature.

Can I migrate from Basecamp to Monday.com or vice versa?

Monday.com offers a Basecamp import tool that pulls projects, tasks, and some file data. Migrating from Monday.com to Basecamp is more manual since Basecamp does not have an import tool for Monday.com data. In both cases, automations, custom fields, and integrations need to be reconfigured from scratch. Expect 1-2 days of setup and testing before going live with the new platform.

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