Features, benefits, benefits, and benefits.

Basecamp continues to get better without getting complicated. For decades we’ve focused on building straightforward project management software that’s exceptionally capable, fast, flexible, reliable, and easy-to-use. This page details some of the key features (and benefits) at the heart of Basecamp.

The Project page keeps it all together

In Basecamp, every project you create gets a dedicated page. From there you can customize the page with built-in tools (to-dos, message boards, chat rooms, a calendar, kanban card tables, etc). Add whatever you need to make progress on work together. Invite co-workers, colleagues, clients, volunteers, even AI Agents. Everything stays organized, automatically.

Message Boards for announcements and discussions

Message Boards essentially replace email. All project announcements, discussions, presentations, etc, live on the message board as individual posts and threads. Any comments and replies are attached to the bottom of that message. Super simple, like a shared inbox for the project. And since all the conversations are centralized and stored in Basecamp, even people you bring into the project later can get up to speed quickly. No more forwarding dozens of lengthy email threads to someone. It’s all neatly organized in Basecamp.

To-do Lists for tracking all the little things

Make a list, or ten lists, however many you need. Assign items, set due dates, have discussions, attach files, even create subtasks. Drag items between lists. Set up who gets notified when a to-do is completed. It’s all so simple when it’s in Basecamp for your entire team to see. One central source of truth.

Hill Charts show you where things really stand

Is the project going to be done on time? Are people stuck? Basecamp’s Hill Charts let you know exactly where things really stand.

Card Tables for tracking work through stages

Card Tables are our take on kanban boards. It’s a wonderfully visual way to track work through a process. Add cards, set up columns, move work through phases. Specify who should be notified when a new card is added to the table, or to a specific column. It’s perfect for bug and issue tracking, software development, production work, or anything that goes through distinct phases.

Campfire chats for quick, casual conversations

When you have Basecamp you don’t need Slack, WhatsApp, or another dedicated chat app. Just chat in Basecamp instead. Perfect for real-time conversations, quick file sharing, random question asking, stuff like that. Even add multiple chat rooms to a specific project if you’d like.

The Basecamp Calendar for big dates

Add a built-in calendar to your project. Track deadlines, milestones, events, meetings, anything with a time and date. And there’s even a global calendar that aggregates everything from individual project calendars. You can even subscribe to your Basecamp calendar in Outlook, Google Calendar, HEY Calendar, or any other calendar system you might use.

Automatic Check-ins for recurring questions

Cut back on meetings and stand ups by setting up Automatic Check-ins instead. Set up questions that are asked on a regular schedule. Everyone’s answers are saved back to a single log for easy review whenever. For example, maybe you’ll have Basecamp automatically ask your team “What are you working on this week?” every Monday morning at 9am. You can look at everyone’s answers, or even hone in one just one person’s answers over time.

Docs & Files for reference materials, assets, and links

Docs & Files keeps images, documents, PDFs, even cloudfiles (from other services like Figma, Google Docs, iCloud, Dropbox, and others) in nearly organized lists and folders inside your projects. Keep brand assets in one place where everyone can find them. Keep the client’s approved designs in one official spot. Instantly filter by person, file type, or keyword. Everything’s organized in Basecamp.

My Tasks, Events, Today, Bookmarks, and Notes

Have instant access to your own personal tasks, events you’re part of, bookmarks you’ve saved, and personal notes you’ve taken, all right from the "My Bar" at the bottom of the screen. Keyboard accessible too, so you can hit a key and pop your assignments right up, all without leaving where you are and all without even moving your mouse.

Reports for high-level overviews

Get an instant read on where things stand with Basecamp’s Reports.

  • The Lineup shows you projects plotted on a timeline.
  • Someone’s activity shows you what any particlar person has been up to.
  • Someone’s assignments shows you everything assigned to someone.
  • Mission Control shows you every project’s status in one view.
  • The Hilltop shows you every project’s Hill Chart on a single screen.
  • Added/Completed shows you all the tasks added/completed on a given day.
  • Overdue shows you everything that’s late.
  • Unsassigned shows you all the work that remains unassigned.
  • Timesheets shows you how much time has been spent on each project.

Everything Views are like having x-ray vision

A real game changer, Everything Views aggregate everything of a specific type no matter which project it’s in. Know someone uploaded a file this morning but don’t remember where? Check "All Files" and it’ll be right there. Know someone posted a comment but you can’t remember in which project? Check "All Comments" and it’ll be right there. Everything Views pull it all together onto a single page no matter where it lives in Basecamp.

  • All Messages
  • All Documents
  • All Files
  • All Comments
  • All Check-In Answers
  • All Forwarded Emails

The Lineup is your bird’s eye view

Want to see every project plotted on a timeline based on start and end dates? Then you want The Lineup. See overlaps, see beginnings and ends, see who’s on what, even see key dates superimposed over everything. You’ll love it.

Keyboard shortcuts speed everything up

Hit SHIFT on your keyboard and you’ll see a bunch of little keys show up next to navigation elements. SHIFT+that-letter takes you right there, no mousing or clicking required. A huge level up those who are keyboard proficient and love moving around software without the mouse. Open the sidebar with the keyboard. See your tasks with a keyboard command. Ping someone, pop the calendar, pull up latest activity, even see what someone else has been up to all without ever touching the mouse.

Decide what clients get to see

Workig with a client? Only want them to see certain bits of your project? Need to hide unfinished work, but want to still keep conversations in the project and on the record? Basecamp’s Client mode lets you decide what your clients should — and shouldn’t — see on a project-by-project basic. Invite them in, collaborate together, control their experience. It’s a win-win.

Activity that’s easy to absorb

In Basecamp, all activity is neatly organized around topics, each action clearly attributed, the latest stuff time stamped, and presented in an easily-digestible format. Scroll back in time and see what happened yesterday, last week, or since the beginning of time. Empty time is shown too, so you can see periods of inactivity.