The Basecamp Alternative
That Costs $49/mo Flat
Thicket shares Basecamp's philosophy — simple, opinionated project management with projects, tasks, messages, and docs. Same approach, dramatically lower price.
$49/month flat. Unlimited users. No per-seat fees.
Free plan available. No credit card required.
How Much Does Basecamp Cost?
Basecamp has two paid plans: Pro at $15/user/month (renamed from “Plus” in 2026) and Pro Unlimited at $299/month flat, billed annually. The free plan is capped at one project. So a 10-person team pays $150/month on Pro, while Pro Unlimited stays at $299/month for unlimited users. Thicket is $49/month flat for unlimited users at any size.
Basecamp Free
$0
1 project only
- 1 project
- 1 GB storage
- Up to 20 users
Basecamp Pro
$15
per user / month
- Billed per employee
- 10 users = $150/mo
- 20 users = $300/mo
Basecamp Pro Unlimited
$299
per month, flat
- Unlimited users
- Billed annually
- 6× the price of Thicket
Thicket Pro is $49/month flat for unlimited users — plus a real free plan (1 project, 5 members). No per-seat fees at any size.
Basecamp prices verified July 2026 from basecamp.com/pricing. Thicket Pro is $49/month flat ($39/month billed annually).
Basecamp Got Expensive
Basecamp moved from flat pricing to $15/user/month (Pro) or $299/month flat (Pro Unlimited). The same tool that championed simple pricing now costs more than most alternatives.
Per-user pricing crept in
Basecamp Pro charges $15/user/month. A 20-person team pays $300/month for a tool that used to be one flat fee.
Pro Unlimited is $299/month
Basecamp Pro Unlimited removes per-user fees but costs $299/month, billed annually — 6x more than Thicket for the same flat-pricing promise.
Add-ons cost extra
On Basecamp Pro, add-on packs like the Admin Pro Pack run $50/month each on top of per-user fees. Thicket has one price — everything we ship is included in the $49.
Project-Centered, Like Basecamp. But Cheaper.
Thicket organizes everything around projects — messages, tasks, docs, files, and schedule in one place. If you're used to Basecamp, you'll feel right at home.
A single project view in Thicket — everything organized in one place, just like Basecamp.
Thicket vs. Basecamp
Same project-centered approach. Thicket adds a free plan and a dramatically lower flat price.
| Feature | Thicket | Basecamp |
|---|---|---|
| Task management | ||
| Message boards | ||
| Documents & docs | ||
| File sharing | ||
| Client/guest access | ||
| Schedule & calendar | ||
| Group chat & DMs | ||
| Client access with approvals | ||
| Everything included — no paid add-on packs | ||
| Flat pricing on the standard plan | ||
| Progress charts | ||
| Automatic check-ins |
Basecamp pioneered simple project management. Thicket carries that philosophy forward with modern features and better pricing.
All Your Projects, One View
Like Basecamp's home screen, Thicket gives you a clean overview of every project with status, members, and recent activity. No nested folders or complex hierarchies.
- See project status and team at a glance
- Pin important projects to the top
- Invite unlimited team members at no extra cost
Flat Pricing vs Per-User Pricing
Basecamp's Pro plan charges for every employee. Thicket charges one flat rate. Here's how the two models behave as your team grows.
Per-user (Basecamp Pro)
$15 × each employee
- Your bill grows with every hire
- Add-on packs cost $50/mo each on top
- 10 people = $150/mo · 20 = $300/mo · 50 = $750/mo
Flat (Thicket Pro)
$49 /mo, any size
- The bill never moves as you grow
- Clients and contractors are included free
- 10, 20, or 50 people — still $49/mo
By the time you have 4 people, the flat rate already costs less than Basecamp Pro — and the gap widens with every person you add.
The Math Speaks for Itself
Basecamp Pro charges $15/user/month. Basecamp Pro Unlimited is $299/month flat. Thicket is $49/month flat — no matter how many people you add.
| Team Size | Thicket Pro | Basecamp Pro | Basecamp Pro Unlimited | You Save vs Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 users | $49/mo | $75/mo | $299/mo | $26/mo |
| 10 users | $49/mo | $150/mo | $299/mo | $101/mo |
| 20 users | $49/mo | $300/mo | $299/mo | $251/mo |
| 50 users | $49/mo | $750/mo | $299/mo | $701/mo |
Based on Basecamp Pro at $15/user/month (billed per employee; clients and guests are free) and Basecamp Pro Unlimited at $299/month flat, billed annually. Thicket Pro is $49/month flat for unlimited users.
To-Dos That Actually Get Done
Like Basecamp's to-do lists but with more structure. Assign tasks, set due dates, and see progress — without needing a separate tool for detailed task management.
- Assign tasks to team members instantly
- Due dates, assignees, and progress tracking
- To-do groups to organize work by phase
Why Teams Switch from Basecamp
Basecamp built something great. But for many teams, the pricing no longer makes sense.
Price jumped dramatically
Basecamp moved from flat pricing to $15/user/month on Pro. Teams that loved the simplicity now pay 3x–6x what Thicket charges.
The meter runs on every hire
Basecamp Pro bills $15/month per employee. Growing from 5 to 15 people takes the bill from $75 to $225/month. Thicket stays at $49.
Flat pricing means an annual commitment
Basecamp Pro Unlimited's $299/month rate is billed annually — no month-to-month price is published. Thicket's flat $49 is month-to-month; cancel anytime.
$49/mo vs $299/mo flat
Basecamp's flat-price plan (Pro) is $299/month. Thicket gives you flat pricing for unlimited people at $49/month — one-sixth the cost.
Client approvals included
Invite clients into their project, share work for approval, and keep internal discussion private — included on every Thicket plan at no extra cost.
Same philosophy, better value
Teams don't want to switch to something complex — they want the same simple approach at a price that doesn't punish growth.
Switch from Basecamp in minutes
If your team loves Basecamp's approach but not the price tag, Thicket is built for you. Start free or go Pro today.
Free plan to start, no credit card. Cancel anytime — no questions asked.
$49/month flat — unlimited users, no per-seat fees
14-day free trial of Pro, no credit card required
Projects, tasks, messages, docs, chat, and scheduling
Invite clients and contractors at no extra cost
Common Questions About Switching
How much does Basecamp cost?
Basecamp has a free plan (capped at 1 project) and two paid plans: Pro at $15/user/month (renamed from "Plus" in 2026), and Pro Unlimited at $299/month flat for unlimited users, billed annually. On Pro, only employees are billed — but a 10-person team still pays $150/month and a 20-person team pays $300/month, and the bill grows with every hire. Thicket is $49/month flat for unlimited users at any team size, with a free plan to start. (Prices verified July 2026.)
How is Thicket similar to Basecamp?
Both Thicket and Basecamp believe project management should be simple and opinionated. Both organize work around projects with built-in messaging, task lists, documents, and file sharing. Neither buries you in Gantt charts or custom field configuration. The biggest difference is price: Thicket is $49/mo flat for unlimited users, while Basecamp charges $15/user/month (Pro) or $299/month flat (Pro Unlimited).
How much does Thicket cost compared to Basecamp?
Thicket Pro is $49/month flat for unlimited users. Basecamp Pro charges $15/user/month — a 10-person team costs $150/month. Basecamp Pro Unlimited is $299/month flat but costs 6x more than Thicket. With Thicket, a team of any size pays $49/month.
Can I migrate from Basecamp to Thicket?
Thicket doesn't import data automatically — you rebuild your projects by hand. Most teams find it quick because the structure maps almost one-to-one: projects with message boards, to-do lists, docs, and files. It's also a chance to leave behind anything you'd stopped using. Start on the free plan, move one project over to see how fast it goes, then bring the rest. Our step-by-step migration guide at /guides/migrate-from-basecamp walks through the whole process.
Does Thicket have a free plan?
Yes. The Free plan includes 1 project, 5 team members, and 1GB storage. No credit card required. The Pro plan at $49/month unlocks unlimited everything with a 14-day free trial.
Does Thicket have message boards like Basecamp?
Yes. Every project in Thicket has a built-in message board for long-form discussions, updates, and announcements — just like Basecamp. Keep project conversations organized and searchable without needing a separate tool.
Can I invite clients and contractors without extra cost?
Yes. Thicket Pro includes unlimited users — team members, clients, and contractors are all included at no extra charge. Basecamp's Pro plan also lets you invite clients and guests free, but it bills $15/month for every employee, so the bill still grows with your team. Thicket's $49/month stays flat no matter how many teammates you add.
What does Thicket have that Basecamp doesn't?
Mostly a much lower flat price: $49/month versus Basecamp Pro Unlimited's $299/month, with no paid add-on packs (Basecamp sells extras like the Admin Pro Pack at $50/month each on its Pro plan). You also get granular task management with to-do groups, assignees, and due dates, plus progress charts and project health tracking. And client access with approvals is included at every tier.
Simple project management shouldn't cost $299/month
Thicket is $49/mo flat for unlimited users. Free plan available. No credit card needed to start.