Home > Project Management Software > Basecamp > Basecamp vs Backlog

Basecamp vs Backlog

Last Updated: November 18th, 2024

Our analysts compared Basecamp vs Backlog based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Project Management Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

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Product Basics

Basecamp is a cloud-based solution for team collaboration and management. It allows users to create to-dos, assign them to one or more people, add shared and searchable file attachments and more. It makes it easier to stay organized when there are multiple concurrent projects, each with its own team and needs. Streamline project communication by keeping specific teams together, with all project-related files in one location. It gives each project its own separate space, avoiding clutter and other confusion between projects.

It is suitable for all sizes of teams like SMBs to groups in large companies. Subscriptions are scalable, with levels for different storage amounts and number of users. It also offers a free tier and application for iPad/iPhone and Android.

Backlog is a cloud-hosted issue tracking and resource management solution that helps developers work with design, IT and marketing teams. Its core capabilities include subtasking, bug tracking, file sharing, Gantt charts, burndown charts and watchlists. Businesses can track overall work progress while prioritizing tasks and to-do lists through team collaboration.

Developers can integrate it with SVN and Git to manage project tasks and source codes. It offers businesses visibility into project workflows and daily timelines using Gantt charts, which get updated in real time. Managers can track and compare project modifications, monitor document changes and leave comments on pull requests. Users can dissect Gantt charts by milestone, assignee or category and export to Excel sheets.

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Mobile

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Product Insights

Organized Projects: Divide work into separate projects, and each project is organized by default. It includes everything related to the project; all the individuals involved, each discussion, document, file, assignment, significant date and more.
Inbuilt Chat Features: Avoid wasting money on external communication platforms with its built-in chat features. Gather around Campfire, a group chat for casual conversations, fast Q&As, sharing links, quick riffs or work discussions. Pings allow private chat with one or multiple people.
Add Team Members: Add assigned team members and their details to a project. Client team members can also be added to help keep them in the loop and increase the project’s transparency.
Centralized Notification: Its Hey! Menu feature centralizes notifications from new messages and assigned tasks to minimize notification interruptions. Helps users focus on work and access all notifications from one box.
Streamline Work Process: Integrate the system with third-party tools to increase efficiency and effectiveness of work processes.
Any Device: Available on iOS, Android, iPad, Mac, Windows and browser, users can access the system from anywhere at any time to send messages, share and collaborate on files and documents, define deadlines and provide feedback.
Solve Problems: Users can use hill charts to sequence work and decide which problems to solve in which order; it also shows where the work stands and how it is moving.
Basecamp Personal: The free tier provides space for up to three projects with one-gigabyte of data storage and access to 20 users. Freelancers can use it to organize their work and collaborate, or small businesses can use it on projects that involve few people.

Gantt and Burndown Charts: Get a timeline view into the entire project for better planning. Track projects with details like tasks in progress, tasks assigned to each employee and completion dates. Automatically generate reports from both charts and drill them down for deeper insights. Update assignees, due dates and other details when required.
Knowledge Sharing: Create accessible wikis that can be downloaded and edited by team members. Personalize capabilities and tools based on workflows. Store all team data and files while recording real-time conversations in a central place accessible by everyone. Retrieve files and customer information easily.
Mobile App: Keep in touch with project progress and work updates, even when out of the office. Comment, create and update tasks on-the-go. Sync with online workspaces automatically using native Android and iOS apps.
File Sharing: Store project files in a central location while adding comments for assigned employees. Upload files into folders created for a project, issue or team. Report issues by setting up an email address or through web forms.
Notifications: Notify specific employees about tasks that require attention. Send notifications when posting a comment, creating a task, updating a wiki and more.
Jira and Redmine Importer: Get step-by-step instructions on migrating data successfully from Jira and Redmine. Strengthen security with IP restrictions and manage workspace access for better information control.

To-Do Lists: Assign to-dos to one or more people, add notes and file attachments for all work or projects. It automatically follows up with team members if tasks are overdue.
Hey! Menu: Supports a single inbox for notifications, mentions, to-do assignments, new messages and project completion. Set working hours to keep notifications on hold until the user is back on the clock.
Client Access: Share and get feedback with customers about information and files. Communications can be kept private, and email correspondence is maintained to keep project data and communication organized in one place.
Pings: Direct messages or private conversations can be held with other users on the same account. Users can ping an individual or a group of people, and the conversation is visible to only selected people.
Schedules: Each project includes a schedule showing any dated to-dos and events for that project. Sync schedules with Google Calendar, iCal and Outlook to get reminders in the project and personal calendars.
Activity: The Activity button will display any to-dos, late assignments, upcoming deadlines and other assignment information and reports.
File Storage: A space for sharing documents, files and images is included in every project. Use drag-and-drop functionality to upload files from Google Docs or a computer. Each file contains a complete version history, reorder and color code files to keep it organized.
Message Boards: Post messages or announcements, embed pictures or files and share with everyone or selected individuals. Viewers can applaud and comment on these messages for instant feedback.
Search and Bookmarking: Enter a keyword or name using the search feature to locate a project, ping history or find pictures, files or individuals without rummaging through the entire program. Important data can also be bookmarked.
Automated Check-In: Setup customized questions throughout the day or a chosen time instead of holding a status meeting. Meetings can help remote teams collaborate and share work updates or what they were up to on the weekend.

Project Management: Use burndown charts, Gantt charts or boards to monitor in progress or completed tasks and issues that require attention. Get a view of tasks within large projects and manage schedules with Gantt charts. Track team progress using Kanban boards.
Task Management: Create task hierarchies to organize workflows. Split large projects into parent and child tasks. Divide child tasks or subtasks among team members, prepare checklists to monitor start and due dates, categories, project milestones, custom fields and more. Track project progress by monitoring assigned tasks while updating deadlines for clients. Use Gantt charts to get an overview of task status and status of task owners in one place.
Bug Tracking: Identify bugs and prioritize the process to fix them. Collaborate with teams to fix bugs by logging them as issues, which act as a central hub to discuss and resolve each bug. Let managers and teams get a top view of progress on each bug. Understand bugs and fixes with the module's archives.
Version Control: Discuss, organize and monitor all work progress in one location. Integrate with SVN and Git to manage source codes along with projects. Make codes better while discussing new features with the team before incorporating them into projects. View work on every branch, monitor changes and review team’s work.
Team Collaboration: Eliminate confusion and get more done with enhanced team collaboration and communication. Set user roles and create guest accounts for non-technical teams and clients. Collaborate to edit, share and access wikis while getting notified about changes. Provide feedback, suggest changes and appreciate employees for good work.

Product Ranking

#16

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#44

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Basecamp

Backlog

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89%

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User Sentiment Summary

85%

of users recommend this product

Basecamp has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 85% when considering 19492 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

90%

of users recommend this product

Backlog has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 312 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (35)

4.5 (14)

4.1 (4950)

4.5 (163)

4.3 (13386)

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4.5 (122)

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4.2 (6)

4.2 (1121)

4.5 (7)

Awards

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

General Accessibility: It is intuitive and user-friendly, as observed by 70% of users who referred to its general accessibility.

Project Management: Provides robust functionality for planning, progress tracking, managing and organizing projects, as noted by nearly 100% of users who mentioned project management.

Communication: Its built-in chat features for sending important messages to members, direct messages, sharing data and updates ease communication across departments and teams, as stated by nearly 98% of users who refer to communication.

Scheduling: Nearly 100% of users who specified scheduling said that the scheduling project module has led to increased operational efficiency.

Visual Task Boards: Backlog provides Kanban-style boards that give teams a clear overview of project progress, allowing them to easily track tasks through different stages of completion.

Gantt Charts: Users appreciate the ability to visualize project timelines and dependencies using Gantt charts, which helps with planning and scheduling.

Custom Fields: Backlog allows users to create custom fields to store project-specific information, making it adaptable to various workflows and use cases.

Wiki Functionality: The platform includes a built-in wiki feature that enables teams to document project details, share knowledge, and collaborate effectively.

Version Control: Backlog integrates with Git and Subversion, providing version control capabilities for managing code and documents within projects.

Administrator Navigation: Over 91% of users who mentioned administrator navigation reported that it is not easy for task managers to add tasks, move them around or control access.

Integration: Around 90% of the reviewers who specified integration said that its software integrations are limited, and some are slow to adapt.

Notification: The system has limited notifications that can be delayed, as noted by 77% of reviewers who mention notifications.

Limited Customization: Backlog's interface and workflow options can feel restrictive for teams with unique or complex project management needs. The platform's opinionated approach may not align with all team preferences, potentially hindering adaptability.

Reporting Capabilities: Generating in-depth reports or extracting specific data points can be challenging due to Backlog's reporting limitations. Users often find themselves needing to export data and manipulate it externally to gain deeper insights, adding an extra step to the process.

Mobile App Functionality: The Backlog mobile app has received feedback for lacking the full functionality and intuitiveness of the web version. This can limit users' ability to effectively manage tasks and projects while on the go, potentially impacting productivity and responsiveness.

Basecamp provides members with access to the same project, even if they are in different time zones. Team members can share their ideas via the platform through its connectivity functions, including a forum. Suggestions can be worked out, and conversations can be saved to ensure that all members are on the same page. Reviewers noted that there are limited ways to activate notifications and integrate software. Overall, it is an efficient tool for managing projects, tracking progress, monitoring schedules and sharing updates among team members.

Don't get stuck in a project management "backlog"; streamline your workflow with Backlog: This software has garnered positive attention for its user-friendly interface, making it a breeze for teams to jump right in and start managing tasks. Backlog's diverse features, like Kanban boards and Gantt charts, cater to various team needs, while its integrations with other tools ensure a seamless workflow. Users appreciate its affordability, making it a cost-effective solution for project management. However, some users point out that Backlog lacks certain features, such as time tracking, and offers limited templates and customization options. Compared to competitors like Asana and Trello, Backlog shines in its simplicity and focus on core project management functionalities. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of some platforms, its straightforward approach resonates with teams seeking an uncomplicated solution. Backlog's strength lies in its ability to bring clarity and organization to projects without overwhelming users with excessive features. Backlog is best suited for small to medium-sized teams, particularly those in software development and project management, who value a user-friendly and affordable solution with robust task management and collaboration features. Its intuitive interface and focus on essential project management tools make it an ideal choice for teams looking to enhance their productivity and streamline their workflows without the complexity of more feature-rich platforms.

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FAQ

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