Basecamp Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
Basecamp costs Free to $349 per user/month as of March 2026. Pricing depends on your chosen tier, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
Yes, Basecamp offers a freemium plan as of March 2026. The free tier includes 10 features with limits on projects and users. Paid plans start at $15/user/month (Plus). Pricing verified from 8 sources by CostBench.
Basecamp offers a freemium model with limited features; upgrade to unlock more.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- One project
- 1GB storage
- Up to 20 users
- All core features
- Message Boards
- To-dos
- Card Tables (Kanban)
- Campfires & Pings (chat)
- Scheduling
- Docs & Files
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- Unlimited projects
- 500GB storage
- 24/7 support
- Optional Timesheet upgrade
- Optional Admin Pro Pack
Free Plan Limits
| Limit | Free Plan | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| projects | 1 | Unlimited/Higher |
| users | 20 | Unlimited/Higher |
| storage | 1GB | Unlimited/Higher |
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like Unlimited projects or 500GB storage
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- Basecamp branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Plus Plan Comparison
| Free $0 | Plus $15/user/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 10 included | 6+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | Basecamp branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Single project teams | Freelancers and startups |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Basecamp free?
Yes, Basecamp offers a freemium plan with 10 core features included. However, there are limits on projects, users that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in Basecamp's free plan?
Basecamp's free plan includes: One project, 1GB storage, Up to 20 users, All core features, Message Boards, and 5 more features. Key limits include projects: 1, users: 20, storage: 1GB.
03 What's NOT included in Basecamp's free plan?
The free plan excludes: Unlimited projects, 500GB storage, 24/7 support, Optional Timesheet upgrade, Optional Admin Pro Pack. You'll also have Basecamp branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from Basecamp's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like Unlimited projects or 500GB storage, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $15/user/month.
05 Is Basecamp's free plan really free forever?
Yes, Basecamp's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.