A Simpler Basecamp Alternative From $25/Month Flat
Thicket keeps projects, to-dos, messages, docs, schedules, boards, and chat together for one flat price per account.
$25/month for 3 active projects. $49/month for unlimited projects and people. Every tool on every plan.
Free plan. No card required. Includes a 30-day Pro trial.
See the workspace before the comparison
Every project starts with the same six tools, already together. There is no setup wizard or feature system to design first.
Basecamp's pricing now, in short
Basecamp retired its per-user pricing in mid-2026. Every plan is now a flat price for the whole account, tiered by active projects: from Freelancer at $25/month (up to 3 projects) to Unlimited at $299/month, billed annually only.
Thicket Starter is $25/month (3 active projects, 20 people, 10 GB) and Thicket Pro is $49/month for unlimited projects and people, plus a free plan (1 project, 20 people). Every tool on every plan.
Basecamp prices verified September 2026 from basecamp.com/pricing. Prices in USD. Thicket Starter is $25/month ($20/month billed annually); Pro is $49/month ($39/month billed annually).
Thicket vs. Basecamp
Both products organize work around projects. Here is how the tools line up.
| Feature | Thicket | Basecamp |
|---|---|---|
| Task management | ||
| Message boards | ||
| Documents & docs | ||
| File sharing | ||
| Client/guest access | ||
| Schedule & calendar | ||
| Group chat & DMs | ||
| Client access with approvals | ||
| Flat pricing, no per-user fees | ||
| Every tool on every plan | ||
| Unlimited projects on a monthly plan | ||
| Progress charts | ||
| Automatic check-ins |
Basecamp's tool count and time tracking unlock at higher tiers. Thicket keeps every tool on every plan and tops the price ladder at $49/month.
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 teammates and clients with no per-seat fees
Same Flat Model, Different Ladders
Basecamp and Thicket both charge one flat price per account. What differs is how the price climbs as you add active projects, and what each rung unlocks.
From your 4th active project, Thicket Pro at $49/month costs less than every Basecamp rung: $49 versus $59, $99, or $299.
Basecamp and Thicket costs by project count
Both ladders are flat per account, so the comparison is rung by rung: the cheapest plan on each side that covers your active project count.
| Active Projects | Thicket | Basecamp | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 project | $0/mo (Free) | $0/mo (Free) | $0/mo |
| 3 projects | $25/mo (Starter) | $25/mo (Freelancer) | $0/mo |
| 5 projects | $49/mo (Pro) | $59/mo (Studio) | $10/mo |
| 10 projects | $49/mo (Pro) | $59/mo (Studio) | $10/mo |
| 25 projects | $49/mo (Pro) | $99/mo (Pro) | $50/mo |
| 40 projects | $49/mo (Pro) | $299/mo* (Unlimited) | $250/mo |
*Basecamp Unlimited is billed annually only. Basecamp's free plan is limited to 5 users and personal use; Thicket's allows 20 people. At the shared $25 rung, Thicket Starter includes 10 GB of storage to Freelancer's 5 GB, full activity history, and every tool. Prices verified September 2026 from basecamp.com/pricing.
To-dos with clear owners and dates
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
- Due dates, assignees, and progress tracking
- To-do groups to organize work by phase
Why teams compare Thicket with Basecamp
The products overlap on project-centered work, but their scope, pricing, and billing rules differ.
Try Thicket on one project first
Create a free account and set up one project with the people working on it.
Free plan. No card required. Includes a 30-day Pro trial.
$25/month for 3 active projects, $49/month for unlimited
30-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 moved to flat, whole-account pricing in mid-2026, tiered by active projects: paid plans run from $25/month (Freelancer, up to 3 active projects) to $299/month (Unlimited, billed annually only), and no plan charges per user anymore. (Prices verified September 2026.)
How is Thicket similar to Basecamp?
Both products organize work around projects with built-in messaging, task lists, documents, schedules, files, and chat, and both now use flat pricing with no per-user fees. The price ladders differ: both start at $25/month, but Thicket tops out at $49/month for unlimited projects, while Basecamp climbs to $299/month as you add active projects.
How much does Thicket cost compared to Basecamp?
At up to 3 active projects, both charge $25/month (Thicket Starter vs Basecamp Freelancer), but Thicket includes 10 GB of storage to Basecamp's 5 GB, plus full history and every tool. Above 3 projects, Thicket Pro is $49/month for unlimited projects while Basecamp steps to $59 (up to 10 projects), $99 (up to 25), and $299/month billed annually for unlimited. Thicket costs less at every rung above 3 projects.
Does Thicket have a free plan?
Yes. The Free plan includes 1 project, 20 people (clients included), and 1 GB of storage. No credit card is required. Starter costs $25/month for up to 3 active projects, and Pro costs $49/month with unlimited projects and people. Every new organization created on thickethq.com starts with a 30-day Pro 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, as Basecamp does. It keeps project conversations organized and searchable without a separate tool.
Can I invite clients and contractors without extra cost?
Yes. On Thicket, clients and contractors share one people pool with your team: up to 20 people on Free and Starter, unlimited on Pro, never billed per seat. Basecamp doesn't charge per user anymore either, but its free plan caps at 5 users and Freelancer at 20; unlimited users start at Studio for $59/month. Thicket includes unlimited people at $49/month.
What does Thicket have that Basecamp doesn't?
A shorter price ladder with no feature gates. Every Thicket plan includes every tool; Basecamp limits the tools per project below Studio ($59/month) and reserves time tracking for Pro ($99/month) and up. Thicket's unlimited-projects plan is $49/month, available month to month; Basecamp's is $299/month, billed annually only. You also get granular task management with to-do groups, assignees, and due dates, progress charts, and client access with approvals on every plan.
Test Thicket on one real project
Thicket is $25/month for 3 active projects and $49/month for unlimited projects and people, with a free plan and a 30-day Pro trial.