Basecamp vs Trello: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Basecamp and Trello. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Basecamp starts at Custom pricing and Trello starts at $5/mo. Compare all 6 pricing tiers side by side.
Last updated: July 6, 2026
Basecamp vs Trello: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Basecamp | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | $5/mo |
| Number of Plans | 2 | 4 |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Pricing Model | flat | freemium |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Basecamp and Trello are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Project Management tools. Together they offer 6 pricing plans with 66 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.
Trello stands out with a free plan for getting started. Basecamp uses flat pricing while Trello uses freemium 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 free |  Trello Try free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Pro Unlimited Custom pricing Includes
| FREE $0/monthCheapest Includes
|
| Tier 2 | Pro Custom pricing Includes
| STANDARD $5/monthCheapest Includes
|
| Tier 3 | - | PREMIUM $10/monthCheapest Includes
|
| Tier 4 | - | ENTERPRISE $18/monthCheapest Includes
|
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Which Should You Choose?
Choose Basecamp if:
- •You want an all-in-one project hub with message boards, to-dos, schedules, file sharing, and group chat in one view
- •Basecamp's flat $299/month for unlimited users makes it cost-effective for large teams
- •You prefer opinionated project management that tells you how to organize rather than a blank canvas
- •Your team values asynchronous communication - Basecamp's message boards and automatic check-ins reduce meetings
Choose Trello if:
- •You need a simple, visual Kanban board that anyone can use in under 5 minutes
- •Budget matters for small teams - Trello Free with unlimited cards costs nothing
- •You want optional complexity through Power-Ups rather than built-in features you may not use
- •Your workflow is primarily visual task management and you do not need message boards or group chat
Basecamp and Trello are both deliberately simple, but in different ways. Basecamp bundles six tools into one: to-do lists, message boards, schedules, file storage, group chat (Campfire), and automatic check-ins. Personal (free) supports limited projects. Pro Unlimited at $299/month includes unlimited users and projects - a flat fee that becomes extremely affordable at scale. Trello is a visual Kanban tool. Free gives unlimited cards and 10 boards. Standard at $6/user/month adds unlimited boards and custom fields. Premium at $12.50/user/month adds Timeline and Dashboard views. At 50 users on Premium, Trello costs $625/month - more than double Basecamp's flat rate. Basecamp's philosophy is anti-feature-creep. It includes exactly what it thinks teams need and nothing more - no Gantt charts, no time tracking, no complex automations. This opinionated approach either resonates or frustrates. Trello's philosophy is minimal-by-default with Power-Up extensibility - start simple, add complexity only when needed. For large teams (25+) that want a self-contained project hub with built-in communication, Basecamp's flat pricing is unbeatable value. For small teams and individuals who want visual task management without bundled collaboration features, Trello's free tier and Kanban simplicity are the leaner choice.
Frequently Asked Questions: Basecamp vs Trello
How many pricing plans does Basecamp have vs Trello?
Does Basecamp or Trello offer a free plan?
Does Basecamp or Trello offer custom enterprise pricing?
What pricing models do Basecamp and Trello use?
How do Basecamp and Trello compare for Project Management?
Sources
- Basecamp Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page
- Trello Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page
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