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Project management can leave you feeling like you’re trying to catch the wind.
The goals are seemingly ever-changing, the priorities are frequently shifting, and the availability of resources is in constant flux.
Only a third of managers are actually satisfied with their project management systems.
So, what are you to do? Luckily, there many different tools available on the market today offer project management services.
Basecamp and Trello are two of the most popular project management software in the industry. Each offers a wide range of features, which may be perfect for some projects, but not so good for others. So how do you know if Basecamp or Trello is best suited to your needs?
That’s what we’re here to help you with.
ManyRequests: an alternative to Basecamp and Trello
Are you looking for a project management tool designed specifically for agencies?
Well, you’re in luck.
ManyRequests is an agency-centric platform. It was designed to meet the needs of agencies that wish to work with clients collaboratively.
In addition to project management features, the platform also offers billing and checkout forms. ManyRequests best suits service-based agencies that want to have a customizable portal for their clients. It’s a self-hosted service, so it doesn’t have the restrictions of your average SaaS solution.
The platform gives the user complete control over all projects, clients, as well as data.
The basic version comes with 2GB of cloud storage space, which is enough for 10 full projects. No matter what plan you select, you’ll get additional perks like domain customization and security.
Speaking of plans, you should know that the Starter Plan begins at $59 per month and that allows for up to 2 users to access the account at the same time.
So what are some of the stand-out features of ManyRequests?
- It’s fully customizable: You can impress your clients with a dedicated area that looks and feels like a personalized app. You can create onboarding screens, custom menus, and use your branding.
- You can manage all of your clients: ManyRequests will give you a complete overview of all of your clients. You can access client profiles, look at ongoing projects, and learn about them in detail.
- Invoices, storage, and dashboards: All of your clients will be able to access their deliverables, access their invoices at all times, and upload new files. You can also show how’s the project coming along by embedding reports and dashboards to their portal.
The platform, although brand-new and cost-effective, gives you access to some pretty advanced functions. Still not sure whether to go with Basecamp, Trello, or ManyRequests? Here are a few ManyRequests facts that might help make up your mind:
- The ManyRequests interface is sleek and modern
- It allows you to create a portal with your personal logo, domain, and email
- You can connect ManyRequests with a number of useful tools
- New integrations are being updated every few weeks or so
- The customer service is there to help you with any problem you might have
If all of that sounds enticing, give us a try for 14 days—and see if ManyRequests is right for you!
Basecamp vs Trello: Full Comparison Guide
Technology is advancing quickly: it’s impossible to keep up with all of the advancements.
That’s why so many project managers have given up on updating their software, opting for outdated systems that aren’t doing them any good.
You can’t let that happen to you and your organization. You need a robust system that will guide you through the entire process.
Trello and Basecamp are both great choices. But which one of them will fit your organization and management style the best?
Because you—and so many other project managers—need the answer to that question, we decided to conduct a full Basecamp vs Trello comparison. We compared the two projects management systems, their features, and pricing.
What Is Basecamp?
Basecamp is a project management tool that was designed by programmers, for programmers.
Since its inception in 2004, it has grown to become one of the leading projects management software providers on the market today.
So, what does Basecamp do?
Well, first of all, it’s a communication tool that lets you share files and information. It also gives you a space for meetings and discussions with your colleagues. The service can be used to centralize your contacts for easy access from any device at any time.
Basecamp is more than just a tool for managing documents, though. It also helps you manage projects in their entirety. You can assign tasks, monitor progress, send deadline reminders, and so on.
What is Trello?
Trello is a software development company that provides to-do list management tools for companies of all sizes. It has grown into one of the biggest digital workplace tools on the market today.
The way that Trello works is simple: you create boards and add cards to them.
Each card represents a task that has its own title, description, list of members who are working on it, and deadline. Any member of the board can view all of the information regarding any given card at any time.
Not only does Trello work as a task manager, but it also functions as a digital whiteboard.
You can upload files to any card and make them available to all board members. That way, your team will never lose track of important assets before a project launch.
Basecamp vs Trello: Features Comparison
The features you need are different for every organization.
Some businesses might require an advanced project management system, while others simply need a way to share files and information with their employees.
That’s why we decided it would be best to go over the features of each platform and let you decide which set is better for your team.
Basecamp Features
The base version of Basecamp comes with a suite of essential features for organizing projects. This includes message boards where team members can post files, documents, and discussions about a certain aspect of a project.
You can create to-do lists where you assign deadlines and the people responsible for completing each task.
You can also use the software’s messaging system to quickly and easily communicate with your team members over the project management platform.
Furthermore, Basecamp allows you to create multiple projects, organize them into folders, and tag each one for easier searching.
Each project also has its own message board where you can discuss important information about a specific task.
Lastly, Basecamp has a time tracking feature that lets you monitor deadlines. You can set tasks to be recurring in order to help the members of your team stay on top of their work.
What is Basecamp best used for? The following:
- Organizing your projects
- Creating to-do lists for workers
- Sharing files and documents among staff members
- Creating an agenda for the entire team
- Notifying everyone about the status of each project
Trello Features
The basic version of Trello comes with most core features needed for efficient project management.
First, Trello lets you create boards where you can organize cards representing each project. The platform comes with useful features for overseeing the progress of every venture, including due dates and checklists that are automatically added to cards when their deadline becomes closer.
You can also attach files to any card so your team members will always have access to them wherever they are at any time.
Trello also lets you keep track of who is working on each project. You can add team members to every card, with the option of customizing their rights with a simple click.
For example, you can give them the ability to edit cards or simply view their information only.
The platform offers its users customizable notifications that will keep your team updated about new events on Trello.
You can choose the best time for delivering messages depending on when you think they should be notified about changes in their tasks.
Trello works across all devices, including Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, and Android. This way you can access it from any corner of your office or even at home.
What is Trello best used for? The following:
- Sharing information within your team
- Adding deadlines to your tasks
- Viewing each project’s progress at a glance
- Notifying everyone of changes in their projects on time
- Managing multiple projects with ease
Basecamp vs Trello: Pricing
Both of these tools are created for the same market. They offer similar features and their popularity is neck-and-neck. When it comes down to it, the mighty dollar is the deciding factor for most people.
The question here is not which one of these two costs less – that can be answered easily – but which one gives you more value for your money.
Basecamp Pricing
Basecamp’s pricing is a flat rate. That means, there are no hidden fees or additional costs involved, regardless of how much you use the service.
If you’re a freelancer or you’re just starting your business, you’ll be glad to find out that there’s a free version of the software.
While limited, free Basecamp gives you most of the features we talked about in the previous section.
The paid version of Basecamp will cost you $99 a month and allow for 20 users, 1 GB of storage for project files, and unlimited messages, projects, and sub-projects.
Trello Pricing
Unlike Basecamp, Trello offers several pricing plans with different features depending on how big your business is. Their pricing structure is far more traditional. Here, you get three plans to choose from:
- Free Plan: Trello offers its basic features for free. You can use it with no limitations and try out the platform without opening your wallet. However, you won’t be able to add more than 10 members to a team, send files larger than 10 MB, or use more than 50 automated commands per month.
- Business Class Plan: It will cost you $9.99 per user monthly to use Trello Business Class. Besides the features above, you will have 250 MB per file attachment limit, custom board backgrounds, app integrations, and 1,000 automated commands monthly.
- Trello Enterprise: The most expensive version of Trello starts at $20.83 per user monthly, however, the rate goes down as more users are added. All of the features we listed are there, plus unlimited automated commands and attachment sizes, as well as personal onboarding.
Basecamp vs Trello: User Reviews
Basecamp and Trello are both popular tools that offer similar features. They actually belong to the same market segment, as we’ve already mentioned. But why listen to us when you can listen to the market instead? Here’s what the users have to say about the two platforms.
Basecamp User Reviews
“Our company likes the ability to share content with the entire team no matter where anyone is in the world. Simple secure login from any computer and poof instant content for all to read & share.”
“They all love it and enjoy the interface, the ease of use, and the productivity improvements because we’re using it regularly.”
“I absolutely love how user-friendly the software is. It’s been a great asset as a communication and collaboration tool.”
Trello User Reviews
“So natural to utilize Very visual Price is correct Easy to add/eliminate individuals and the Search feature is superb.”
“The ease of use, the non-blocking interface, no loaders for every action is what I like. The interface works like a charm, auto-synced with devices.”
“It’s great, I love the display it’s a user-friendly one. The management is always been so easy with Trello.”
Basecamp vs Trello: 1-on-1 Comparison
Basecamp and Trello are similar in most aspects. Both software offer task management, job progress tracking, time management, file sharing/collaboration, calendar planning, document creation/distribution, etc.
Both tools also allow you to set up discussion forums within each project so you can discuss important matters with your employees or clients without the need for constant emails.
In terms of pricing, both tools have a free version. The free versions of Basecamp and Trello are limited, but they give you a good chance to try their platform without any financial risk.
Basecamp: who is it for?
Basecamp is the perfect tool for companies that have no more than two dozen employees.
In addition, it works well for communication-intensive projects and teams with members from different locations. Basecamp provides them with a single communication platform to discuss project details, share files and documents, send messages, plus manage tasks and deadlines.
Benefits of Basecamp:
- Easy To Use To-Do Lists: You can create an unlimited number of to-do lists for each project. It’s also very simple to drag and drop tasks to change their status, prioritize them, etc.
- Collaboration Tools: Basecamp offers unlimited chat messaging between users, plus file sharing/attachment (unlimited file size supported).
You can easily share important documents with your employees and clients without having to upload them on a file hosting service. - Built-In Chat Functions: The chat functions in Basecamp are useful because they allow you to start group chats for several people, so you can discuss different matters with your employees or clients without having to invite them individually.
You can use the built-in group chat function to not only exchange messages but also share files and documents. - Quick Search Feature: When juggling multiple clients at the same time, the Quick Search feature can really come in handy. You can search all of the projects you have by keyword, person, or even type of asset. The feature is a huge time-saver because of the drop-down menu that makes the entire process a breeze.
- Built-In Scheduling: With Basecamp, you can schedule unlimited tasks via date, priority level, or group by the project.
The feature allows you to add notes and client meetings to projects, and tag team members that are attending. Before the meeting starts, all of the attendees will be notified via email as a reminder.
Trello: who is it for?
Trello, on the other hand, is a great choice for companies and teams that operate in a fast-paced environment and have to manage many projects at once.
Trello’s biggest selling point is its simple interface and intuitive layout.
Unlike Basecamp, it doesn’t matter if you’re operating in an office or remotely. Trello allows you to manage your project using six different views (Cards, Lists, and Boards), which is perfect for employees that have different working styles.
The platform also lets you organize projects into boards, which are basically visualized task lists. Each board can have many cards that represent individual tasks.
It’s a great way to create different working schedules for multiple teams/employees or plan out your own project with ease.
Benefits of Trello:
- Card View & List View: Trello gives you the ability to manage your project using six different views. You can switch between cards, lists, and boards whenever necessary to check on each task’s progress.
- Visual Project Management: Each card in a Trello board represents one task that has to be done. Unlike Basecamp, Trello doesn’t have different statuses for tasks (in progress, on hold, completed, etc). Instead, you can add comments to each card and check the box if it’s done.
- Tag Team Members: Trello allows you to tag members of a project with just a click. There’s no need for lengthy and time-consuming email invites or chat messages that notify everyone on the team.
- Drag and Drop Functions: Trello gives you the ability to drag and drop tasks from one list (or card) to another, which can help prioritize and organize projects.
It’s a great feature for people who like visualizing their workflow. - Calendar View: Trello gives you the chance to add important tasks and projects directly to your task manager.
You can easily reference them in the calendar view, which is especially handy when planning out your daily schedule.
Basecamp vs Trello vs. ManyRequests: The Verdict
Both Basecamp and Trello are great task managers that help you stay on top of projects. However, one is better suited for big companies that have to juggle several clients/projects at once.
Trello has a simple and intuitive layout that you can customize according to the way you work, which makes it perfect for people who like controlling their workflow and having multiple projects at hand at all times.
On the other hand, if your company runs on Basecamp’s communication protocol (email only), then it’s a great choice for you because of its ability to create tasks and assign them to people.
ManyRequests, unlike Basecamp or Trello, is an ideal choice if you only operate in a fast-paced environment with little time to waste. The platform is streamlined and comes with all the features you need in one place.
Make sure to check out ManyRequests and give it a try to check out how it works!