A Simpler Basecamp Alternative at $49/Month Flat
Thicket keeps projects, to-dos, messages, docs, schedules, boards, and chat together for one small-team price. It deliberately leaves out Gantt charts, time tracking, automation builders, and automatic data import.
$49/month flat. 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. The tier-by-tier breakdown, plan limits, and what happened to the old $15/user plan are in our Basecamp pricing in 2026 guide.
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 August 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. Thicket is the smaller option and lists the advanced features it leaves out.
| 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 is the broader, established product; its 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 unlimited team members at no extra cost
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 August 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 small teams compare Thicket with Basecamp
The products overlap on project-centered work, but their scope, pricing, and billing rules differ.
Try one real project before you move the rest
Thicket does not import Basecamp data automatically. Create a free account, rebuild one project, and decide whether the smaller workspace fits your team.
Free plan. No card required. Includes a 30-day Pro trial.
$49/month flat: unlimited projects, people, and every tool
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 August 2026.) Our Basecamp pricing guide at /blog/how-much-does-basecamp-cost breaks down every tier, its limits, and the retired $15/user plan.
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. Thicket is intentionally smaller: it does not include Gantt charts, time tracking, automation builders, or automatic data import. The price ladders differ too: Thicket tops out at $49/month for unlimited projects, while Basecamp climbs from $25 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.
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, 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 account 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, which Thicket deliberately leaves out, 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.
A $49 flat-rate option for smaller teams
Thicket is $49/month flat for unlimited projects and people, with a free plan and a 30-day Pro trial.