Basecamp vs Monday.com: Which One Fits Your Solo Dev Stack?
Free tier limits, real costs for 1-10 users, and honest "not for" warnings. The Solo Dev decision guide for Basecamp vs Monday.com.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Monday.com edges ahead with a 4.5/5 rating. However, the best choice depends on your team size, budget, and workflow needs. Read on for the full breakdown.
💰 Cost by Team Size
| Team Size | Basecamp | Monday.com |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 user) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Small (5 users) | $299/mo | $60/mo |
| Growing (10 users) | $299/mo | $120/mo |
| Free Tier | ✅ 1 project, 1 GB storage, up to 20 users. | ✅ Up to 2 users. 3 boards. Unlimited docs. 200+ templates. |
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Basecamp | Monday.com |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Plus | $299/mo | $12/mo |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Basecamp | Monday.com |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
Pros & Cons
Basecamp
✅ Pros
- Flat pricing — no per-user fees
- Built-in chat, docs, tasks, and file storage
- Opinionated workflow reduces decision fatigue
- Company founders are thought leaders in remote work
❌ Cons
- $299/mo is steep for small teams
- Limited customization and reporting
- No Gantt charts, sprints, or agile features
Monday.com
✅ Pros
- Most visually intuitive PM tool — non-technical teams love it
- Powerful automations (if X happens, do Y) built-in
- Monday CRM, Monday Dev — expanding beyond PM
- 200+ templates for quick project setup
- Excellent customer support
❌ Cons
- Free tier limited to just 2 users (not scalable)
- Pricing starts at $12/user and requires minimum 3 seats
- Can feel bloated for simple task management
- Not developer-friendly (Linear/GitHub are better for eng teams)
- Automations have limits on cheaper plans
Who Should Use What?
✅ Choose Basecamp if...
- You are a remote teams wanting simple all-in-one
- You are a non-technical teams
🚫 Skip if...
- Agile/Scrum teams
- Solo devs (too expensive for 1 person)
✅ Choose Monday.com if...
- You are a non-technical teams (marketing, ops, hr)
- You are a agencies managing client projects visually
- You are a teams that value ui polish over raw power
🚫 Skip if...
- Developers (use Linear or GitHub Projects)
- Solo devs (free tier is useless at 2 users)
- Budget-conscious teams (minimum 3 seats)
🏆 Our Verdict
Both Basecamp (4/5) and Monday.com (4.5/5) are excellent tools in their category. Monday.com takes a slight edge overall, but the best choice ultimately depends on your team's specific needs, budget, and existing tool ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Basecamp better than Monday.com?
It depends on your needs. Basecamp excels in some areas while Monday.com has its own strengths. Read our full comparison above to see which tool fits your specific requirements.
How does Basecamp pricing compare to Monday.com?
Basecamp starts at Free / $299/mo, while Monday.com starts at Free / $12/mo. Both offer different value propositions — check our pricing comparison section for a detailed breakdown.
Can I migrate from Basecamp to Monday.com?
Yes, most B2B tools offer data import/export features. Monday.com typically provides migration guides and sometimes even dedicated support for switching from Basecamp.
Which is easier to use, Basecamp or Monday.com?
Ease of use depends on your team's experience and workflow preferences. We evaluated both tools on usability — see our feature comparison scores above for details.
Join 500+ Solo Developers
Get monthly curated stacks, detailed tool comparisons, and solo dev tips delivered to your inbox. No spam, ever.