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Project Management

Basecamp vs Shortcut: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Basecamp and Shortcut. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Both Basecamp and Shortcut offer free plans. Basecamp has 5 pricing tiers while Shortcut has 4.

Last updated: August 24, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated August 24, 2026
Try Basecamp freeTry Shortcut freePrice updated 3d agoPrice updated 3d ago
Best Value

Shortcut - Shortcut for engineering teams; Basecamp for general company-wide project communication.

Basecamp vs Shortcut: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureBasecampShortcut
Starting PriceCustom pricing$8.5/mo
Number of Plans54
Free TierYesYes
Pricing Modelflatper-seat
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Basecamp and Shortcut are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Project Management tools. Together they offer 9 pricing plans with 79 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.

Both tools offer free plans, making them accessible for teams on a budget. Basecamp uses flat pricing while Shortcut uses per-seat pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Project Management needs.

Pricing Plans
Basecamp
Basecamp
Try free
Shortcut
Shortcut
Try free
Tier 1
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • 1 GB storage space ? You can upgrade if you ever need more file storage.
  • 5 users max
  • Project templates
  • Multiple tools per project
  • Time tracking
  • Enhanced admin features
  • 5 GB storage space ? You can upgrade if you ever need more file storage.
  • 24/7/365 support
  • Project templates
  • Multiple tools per project
  • Time tracking
  • Enhanced admin features
  • Annual billing
  • Up to 10 active projects ? Archived or deleted projects don’t count against your total. You could have dozens of projects, but only 10 can be active at once.
  • 25 GB storage space ? You can upgrade if you ever need more file storage.
  • UNLIMITED users, no per-user fees ? Add as many people as you want at no additional cost.
  • UNLIMITED tools per project ? Add multiple message boards, chat rooms, card tables, or other tools to a single project.
  • Project templates ? Create reusable project and to-do list templates with the same structure, workflows, and setup across projects.
  • Bring your own AI agents ? CLI access and skills for AI agents you run on your computer.
  • ChatGPT and Claude AI connectors ? Official Basecamp support for ChatGPT, Claude, and AI agents with full MCP support (coming soon).
  • 24/7/365 support
  • Time tracking
  • Enhanced admin features
  • Annual billing
  • 100 GB storage space ? You can upgrade if you ever need more file storage.
  • Time tracking ? Track hours/time spent working on projects.
  • 24/7/365 support
  • Enhanced admin features
  • Annual billing
  • Time tracking ? Track hours/time spent working on projects.
Start with Free
Free Plan
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Plan work with Kanban views
  • See progress on a Roadmap
  • Get quick insights with Reports
  • Plan sprints using Iterations
  • Work together with Docs
  • GitHub, Slack & Figma integrations
Start with Free Plan
Tier 2
Freelancer, $25/mo
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • 5 GB storage space ? You can upgrade if you ever need more file storage.
  • 24/7/365 support
  • Project templates
  • Multiple tools per project
  • Time tracking
  • Enhanced admin features
  • Annual billing
Start with Freelancer, $25/mo
Team Plan
$9/month
Includes
  • Everything in Free +
  • Track work with a suite of Reports
  • Set Work In Progress limits
  • Customize multiple workflows
  • Manage repetitive tasks with Automations
  • Access all integrations
Start with Team Plan
Tier 3
Studio, $59/mo
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Up to 10 active projects ? Archived or deleted projects don’t count against your total. You could have dozens of projects, but only 10 can be active at once.
  • 25 GB storage space ? You can upgrade if you ever need more file storage.
  • UNLIMITED users, no per-user fees ? Add as many people as you want at no additional cost.
  • UNLIMITED tools per project ? Add multiple message boards, chat rooms, card tables, or other tools to a single project.
  • Project templates ? Create reusable project and to-do list templates with the same structure, workflows, and setup across projects.
  • Bring your own AI agents ? CLI access and skills for AI agents you run on your computer.
  • ChatGPT and Claude AI connectors ? Official Basecamp support for ChatGPT, Claude, and AI agents with full MCP support (coming soon).
  • 24/7/365 support
  • Time tracking
  • Enhanced admin features
  • Annual billing
Start with Studio, $59/mo
Business PlanPopular
$12/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Everything in Team +
  • Unlimited everything
  • Track strategic Objectives and key results
  • Categorize work with advanced Custom Fields
  • Get insights with advanced Reports
  • Multiple Workspaces for sandboxing
Start with Business Plan
Tier 4
Pro, $99/mo
Custom pricing
Includes
  • 100 GB storage space ? You can upgrade if you ever need more file storage.
  • Time tracking ? Track hours/time spent working on projects.
  • 24/7/365 support
  • Enhanced admin features
  • Annual billing
Start with Pro, $99/mo
Enterprise Plan
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Everything in Business +
  • Predictable pricing with volume discounts
  • Premier support SLAs
  • SSO and SCIM
  • Custom Terms
  • Dedicated Slack channel
  • Onboarding Support
Start with Enterprise Plan
Tier 5
Unlimited, $299/mo, billed annually
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Time tracking ? Track hours/time spent working on projects.
Start with Unlimited, $299/mo, billed annually
-

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Basecamp

Simple project management and team communication in one place

View all Basecamp plans

Shortcut

Project management built for software teams with stories and epics

View all Shortcut plans
Our Pick

Shortcut

Shortcut for engineering teams; Basecamp for general company-wide project communication.

Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.

Try Shortcut freeFree plan available

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Basecamp if:

  • •Your team spans multiple departments and needs general project communication
  • •Basecamp's flat pricing covers unlimited users at $299/month
  • •You need message boards and check-ins alongside task management

Choose Shortcut if:

  • •Your engineering team wants a fast, clean issue tracker with sprints and epics
  • •You need developer-focused project management with GitHub integration
  • •Shortcut's free plan and $8.50/user/month pricing serve engineering teams well

Basecamp is for general team communication. Shortcut is for engineering teams. Many companies use both - Basecamp company-wide and Shortcut for engineering. The choice depends on team composition and primary need.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Basecamp vs Shortcut

How many pricing plans does Basecamp have vs Shortcut?
Basecamp offers 5 pricing plans, while Shortcut offers 4 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Basecamp or Shortcut offer a free plan?
Yes, both Basecamp and Shortcut offer free plans. Compare the feature limits of each free tier to see which better fits your use case before upgrading.
What is the most popular Shortcut plan?
The Business Plan plan is Shortcut's most popular tier, priced at $12/mo. Key features include Everything in Team +, Unlimited everything, Track strategic Objectives and key results.
Does Basecamp or Shortcut offer custom enterprise pricing?
Yes, both Basecamp and Shortcut offer custom enterprise pricing tiers with quote-based pricing. Contact each vendor for a tailored quote.
What pricing models do Basecamp and Shortcut use?
Basecamp uses a flat pricing model, while Shortcut uses per-seat pricing. The right model depends on your team size and usage patterns.
How do Basecamp and Shortcut compare for Project Management?
Both Basecamp and Shortcut are Project Management tools. Basecamp offers 5 plans starting at Custom pricing, while Shortcut offers 4 plans starting at $8.5/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Project Management needs.
AI Recommendations

Sources

  1. Basecamp Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page
  2. Shortcut Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page

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