Basecamp costs $15/mo.
These cost $0.
4 free alternatives to Basecamp, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Basecamp vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $15/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huly | open source | EPL-2.0 | Self-host | ★ 26k | Basecamp vs Huly → |
| OpenProject | open source | GPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 15k | Basecamp vs OpenProject → |
| Leantime | open source | AGPL-3.0+ | Local or hosted | ★ 10k | Basecamp vs Leantime → |
| ONLYOFFICE Groups | open source | Apache-2.0 | Self-host | ★ 3.1k | Basecamp vs ONLYOFFICE Groups → |
The picks
4 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
Huly
open sourceEPL-2.0Self-host26kmay 2026Tasks, docs, chat, calendar, and files; hosted Huly died in July, so this is self-host or nothing
The catch vs BasecampHuly's hosted service is gone and its self-hosted issue-doc-chat stack is more technical and less client-friendly than Basecamp's simple project spaces, check-ins, and email participation.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Run the official Huly Selfhost Docker Compose stack on Linux, using its setup script plus Nginx/TLS for production
- setup
- The first obstacle is the production-sized stack: Linux, Docker Compose, Nginx and certificates plus CockroachDB, Redpanda, Elasticsearch, storage volumes, backups, and enough RAM.
- your data
- The self-host stack uses CockroachDB for account/workspace data, Elasticsearch for search indexes, Redpanda for event streams, and persistent volumes for uploaded files; optional services may add MongoDB. The public hosted Huly service announced its shutdown, so new use means self-hosting.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 02
OpenProject
open sourceGPL-3.0Local or hosted15kaug 2026To-dos, files, schedules, meetings, forums, and wikis; calm is not included
The catch vs BasecampOpenProject can hold files, meetings, forums, and schedules, but its enterprise planning interface is much less approachable than Basecamp for ordinary clients and small teams.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Hosted Enterprise Cloud signup, or Community Edition via Docker Compose/all-in-one Docker or supported Linux packages
- setup
- The free Community Edition needs a Linux server; the recommended Docker setup still requires persistent database/file volumes, a hostname, TLS, and mail configuration.
- your data
- Self-hosted application data lives in PostgreSQL; uploaded attachments live on a persistent filesystem volume or configured S3-compatible object storage, while configuration and any linked repositories must be backed up separately. Cloud data lives in OpenProject's hosted infrastructure.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 03
Leantime
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Local or hosted10kaug 2026Projects, discussions, files, milestones, and status reporting without Basecamp's deliberate simplicity
The catch vs BasecampLeantime has projects, discussions, milestones, and status reports, but its communication flow, mobile polish, email participation, and automatic check-ins are weaker than Basecamp's.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Paid hosted signup, or the free open-source edition via Docker Compose/official image or a PHP release archive plus MySQL/MariaDB
- setup
- There is no longer a permanent free hosted tier: the free route means operating PHP, MySQL/MariaDB, persistent storage, backups, and a web-facing Docker or LAMP stack.
- your data
- Self-hosted project data lives in MySQL 8 or MariaDB 10.6+, while uploaded files use the local filesystem or configured S3-compatible storage; hosted-account data lives in Leantime's cloud.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 04
ONLYOFFICE Groups
open sourceApache-2.0Self-host3.1kmay 2026Projects, discussions, files, calendars, milestones, and time tracking in one enormous self-hosted office
The catch vs BasecampONLYOFFICE Groups replaces Basecamp's deliberate calm with an enormous office suite whose setup, permissions, and menus are far more complex and whose automatic check-ins are less central.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopmobilewebself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Deploy the official ONLYOFFICE Community Server Docker image, normally alongside Document Server and Mail Server as needed
- setup
- The product is an office suite rather than a small project app: a usable deployment brings Docker, persistent volumes, a database, domains/TLS, mail settings, and often separate Document Server services.
- your data
- Groupware records live in the deployment's relational database and users' documents/attachments live on persistent server storage; Docker deployments mount host directories for data, logs, and configuration.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Basecamp open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Basecamp?+
The top free alternative to Basecamp is Huly (open source, EPL-2.0). Tasks, docs, chat, calendar, and files; hosted Huly died in July, so this is self-host or nothing Other popular Basecamp replacements include OpenProject, Leantime, ONLYOFFICE Groups.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Basecamp?+
Yes. Of the 4 free alternatives to Basecamp, 4 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Huly (EPL-2.0), OpenProject (GPL-3.0), Leantime (AGPL-3.0+), ONLYOFFICE Groups (Apache-2.0).
How much does switching from Basecamp to a free alternative save?+
Basecamp starts at $15/month per seat ($180/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Huly saves $900 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Basecamp clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Basecamp is KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no). The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Basecamp, organize projects around messages, to-dos, files, schedules, and check-ins. The hard boundary is mature opinionated workflow, email delivery, guest access, support, and reliability, plus collaboration, integrations, and organizational trust.
What is the catch when switching from Basecamp to Huly?+
Huly's hosted service is gone and its self-hosted issue-doc-chat stack is more technical and less client-friendly than Basecamp's simple project spaces, check-ins, and email participation.
