Basecamp vs Smartsheet — Which One Wins?
Pick Basecamp if: Remote teams that value simplicity and async communication over granular task management
Pick Smartsheet if: Teams that live in spreadsheets but need real project management features layered on top
Our take: Basecamp is easier to pick up, but Smartsheet is more powerful long-term.
| Basecamp | Smartsheet | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | No free plan (30-day trial) | Basecamp $15/user/mo | No free plan (30-day trial) | Pro $9/user/mo |
| Features | Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules and check-ins, File storage, Hill charts for progress tracking | Spreadsheet-style project management, Gantt, card, and calendar views, Automated workflows, Resource management, Dashboards and reports |
| Best for | Remote teams that value simplicity and async communication over granular task management | Teams that live in spreadsheets but need real project management features layered on top |
| Learning Curve | Easy | Medium |
The Real Difference
Both offer free tiers, so the real question is what you get when you start paying.
Basecamp stands out with Message boards and To-do lists. Smartsheet counters with Spreadsheet-style project management and Gantt, card, and calendar views.
Basecamp's Achilles heel: no gantt charts, no time tracking, no custom fields — intentionally opinionated but limiting for complex work. Smartsheet's: it’s a spreadsheet pretending to be a pm tool — power users love it, everyone else gets confused. Pick whichever weakness you can live with.
Bottom Line
If you value message boards and remote teams that value, go with Basecamp. If teams that live in matters more, Smartsheet is your pick. Neither is a bad choice — but one will fit your workflow better.