Basecamp vs Smartsheet
- ✦ Message Boards
- ✦ To-Do Lists
- ✦ Schedules
- ✦ Grid View
- ✦ Gantt Charts
- ✦ Card View
Basecamp and Smartsheet are both Project Management tools. Basecamp starts at $15/mo, Smartsheet at $12/mo. Compare features, pricing, and ratings below to find the best fit for your team.
When to Choose Basecamp vs Smartsheet
The question that matters: “In what situation will I regret choosing A over B after 3 months?”
Check-Ins collect async status on a fixed schedule, organizing each person's completed work, next steps, and blockers by date - no synchronous meeting required.
A master test case library in Grid View tracks real-time pass/fail status per sprint; Forms auto-populate execution data from field testers across geographies without manual.
Calendar View maps milestones across email, social, and paid channels in one timeline; Automations trigger stakeholder alerts 48 hours before each gate, cutting missed handoffs.
Card View organizes staff by skill; Grid View allocates headcount across projects; Dashboards surface real-time bench percentage and capacity gaps six weeks out to inform hiring.
Gantt Charts lock milestones; Forms capture intake; automated escalations fire on SLA drift; dashboards flag at-risk customer accounts within 24 hours of slippage.
Pricing Comparison & PlansHigh· Verified Jun 3, 2026
Basecamp Plans
Paid plans only
Free
FreeBest for: This plan is ideal for individuals or very small teams needing basic project organization
- ✓Message Boards
- ✓To-dos
- ✓Card Tables
- ✓Campfires & Pings
- ✓Scheduling
Plus
$15/user/moBest for: The Plus plan is suitable for growing teams who need more robust project management and collaboration tools
- ✓Unlimited projects
- ✓Unlimited guest invites
- ✓Native collaboration tools
- ✓Centralized project boards
- ✓24/7/365 customer support
Pro Unlimited
$349/moBest for: This plan is best for large organizations or agencies requiring unlimited users and projects without per user costs
- ✓Unlimited users
- ✓Unlimited projects
- ✓All Basecamp features
- ✓Priority 24/7/365 support
- ✓Personal onboarding
Smartsheet Plans
Free tier available
Free
Free- ✓1 licensed user
- ✓2 editors
- ✓Unlimited viewers
- ✓Basic project management features
Pro
$12/user/moBest for: Ideal for individuals or small teams needing core project management features
- ✓Unlimited sheets, forms, and reports
- ✓Gantt, table, board, and calendar views
- ✓Rich formulas
- ✓Unlimited free Viewers/Contributors
- ✓Basic integrations (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Slack)
Business
$24/user/moBest for: growing teams requiring advanced features like automation, resource management, and robust reporting
- ✓Everything in Pro plan
- ✓Unlimited automations
- ✓Unlimited free Guests
- ✓Admin-level controls
- ✓Timeline view
Enterprise
Contact SalesBest for: Suited for large organizations needing enterprise-grade security, governance, and scalability
- ✓Everything in Business plan
- ✓Premium apps (Dynamic View, Control Center, DataMesh, Bridge, WorkApps)
- ✓Enhanced security and governance (SAML SSO, advanced admin controls)
- ✓Premier Support
- ✓Dedicated customer success
Advanced Work Management
Contact SalesBest for: Designed for organizations with complex, cross-functional work needing advanced portfolio management and strategic alignment
- ✓Best for PMOs and Multi-system Operations
Capability Breakdown
11 differences found across 20 standardized features
- •Message Boards
- •To-Do Lists
- •Schedules
- •Docs & Files
- •Group Chat
- •Check-ins
- •Hill Charts
- •Card Table
- •Lineup
- •Real-time Notifications
- •Client Access
- •Templates
- •Search
- •Mobile Apps
- •Grid View
- •Gantt Charts
- •Card View
- •Calendar View
- •Automations
- •Forms
- •Dashboards
- •Reports
- •Proofing
- •WorkApps
- •DataMesh
- •Resource Management
- •Integrations
- •Mobile Apps
- •API
- •Conditional Formatting Rules
- •Project Templates
- •Task Dependencies
- •Custom Workflows
- •Automated Reminders
- •Time Tracking
- •Budgeting Tools
- •Resource Allocation
- •Project Portfolio
- •Real Time Notifications
- •Collaborator Permissions
- •Version History
- •Cell Linking
- •Formula Builder
- •Data Validation
- •Sheet Sharing
- •Row Filtering
- •Column Freezing
- •Cell Formatting
- •Project Scheduling
Strengths & Limitations
Evaluative strengths and weaknesses: not feature lists
- +Flat-rate pricing for unlimited users is highly cost-effective for large teams.
- +Combines communication and PM tools, reducing the need for separate apps.
- +Hill Charts offer a unique, intuitive way to visualize project progress.
- +Automatic Check-ins replace tedious status meetings with asynchronous updates.
- +Client access portal centralizes feedback and approvals without extra logins.
- −Lacks advanced PM features like Gantt charts, time tracking, or dependencies.
- −No task prioritization or custom fields, making complex workflows difficult.
- −Limited reporting and analytics capabilities for data-driven management.
- −Fewer third-party integrations compared to competitors like Asana or Monday.
- −The opinionated, all-in-one structure can be rigid for some team workflows.
- +Combines spreadsheet UI with powerful project management automation.
- +Extensive reporting and dashboarding capabilities for portfolio views.
- +Advanced security and compliance features (HIPAA, FedRAMP).
- +Highly scalable for cross-departmental enterprise workflows.
- +Flexible grid, card, Gantt, and calendar views for diverse tasks.
- −Steep learning curve for advanced features like formulas and automation.
- −Lacks true baseline functionality for formal project variance tracking.
- −Per-user pricing becomes expensive for large, less-active teams.
- −The mobile app has limited functionality compared to the desktop version.
- −No free-forever plan, only a 30-day trial.
At a Glance
Recent Price History
Smartsheet added a new "Free" plan at $0/mo (Free)
Plan added · Jun 3, 2026
Smartsheet removed the "Free" plan
Plan removed · May 30, 2026
Smartsheet added a new "Advanced Work Management" plan (Custom pricing)
Plan added · May 30, 2026
Smartsheet raised "Pro" from $9/mo to $12/mo (+33%)
Price change · May 30, 2026
Smartsheet lowered "Business" from $32/mo to $24/mo (-25%)
Price change · May 30, 2026
Basecamp added a new "Free" plan at $0/mo (Free)
Plan added · May 29, 2026
Basecamp added a new "Pro Unlimited" plan at $349/mo
Plan added · May 29, 2026
Basecamp added a new "Plus" plan at $15/user/mo
Plan added · May 29, 2026
Basecamp removed the "Basecamp Pro Unlimited" plan
Plan removed · May 29, 2026
Basecamp removed the "Basecamp" plan
Plan removed · May 29, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
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