Basecamp vs Smartsheet: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Basecamp and Smartsheet. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Smartsheet starts at $9/mo, making it $6/mo cheaper than Basecamp ($15/mo). Basecamp offers a free plan.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Basecamp vs Smartsheet: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Basecamp | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $15/mo | $9/mo |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 4 |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Pricing Model | flat | per-seat |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Smartsheet is the more affordable option, starting at $9/mo compared to Basecamp's $15/mo. Both are Project Management tools with 7 combined pricing plans and 61 features compared.
Basecamp stands out with a free plan for getting started. Basecamp uses flat pricing while Smartsheet 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 Try it free | Smartsheet Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | FREE $0/monthCheapest Includes
| Pro $9/month Includes
|
| Tier 2 | PLUS $15/monthCheapest Includes
| Business $19/month Includes
|
| Tier 3 | PRO UNLIMITED $299/monthCheapest Includes
| Enterprise Custom pricing Includes
|
| Tier 4 | — | Advanced Work Management Custom pricing Includes
|
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Basecamp
Basecamp offers a free plan.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Basecamp
Try Basecamp freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose Basecamp if:
- •You need a free plan with Completely free, One project—Basecamp offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •You want more features built-in—Basecamp offers 9 additional features across its plans
- •Basecamp's 3-tier flat structure gives clearer cost visibility for budget planning
Choose Smartsheet if:
- •You want lower per-user costs—Smartsheet starts at $9/mo, saving $6/mo compared to Basecamp at $15/mo
- •You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
- •Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Smartsheet offers negotiated terms for large deployments
Basecamp offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Smartsheet requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Basecamp a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Basecamp's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $15/mo provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Smartsheet's tiering starting at $9/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Basecamp's 3 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Smartsheet's 4 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Basecamp is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.
Frequently Asked Questions: Basecamp vs Smartsheet
Which is cheaper, Basecamp or Smartsheet?
How many pricing plans does Basecamp have vs Smartsheet?
Does Basecamp or Smartsheet offer a free plan?
Does Basecamp or Smartsheet offer custom enterprise pricing?
What pricing models do Basecamp and Smartsheet use?
How do Basecamp and Smartsheet compare for Project Management?
Sources
- Basecamp Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Smartsheet Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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