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SyncHQ vs Basecamp

A sourced comparison of SyncHQ and Basecamp for client work: client access, time tracking add-ons, invoicing, flat versus per-seat pricing.

Last reviewed August 9, 2026

The short answer

Basecamp is the best tool here for keeping a client conversation calm and organised. It is not trying to be the system that bills the client, and it does not pretend to be.

  1. 01Clients and contractors are free on Basecamp - only employees are charged - which is genuinely the friendliest client-access model in this comparison.
  2. 02Time tracking is a paid add-on ($50/month flat on Pro) and there is no invoicing at all, so the money layer lives entirely outside the tool.
  3. 03Pro Unlimited at $299/month flat for unlimited users is excellent value at scale and terrible value at three people. The crossover point is roughly 20 seats.
What each one costs

SyncHQ

Free plan (3 projects, 5 members). Professional $29/mo. Enterprise $99/mo.

Basecamp

Free (1 project, 20 users). Pro $15/user/mo. Pro Unlimited $299/mo billed annually, unlimited users.

The thing that changes the bill: Timesheets are a $50/month flat add-on on Pro (included with Pro Unlimited). There is no invoicing.

Prices as published on August 9, 2026. Vendors change pricing without notice - check the source links below before you budget.

Capability by capability
Capability
SyncHQ
Basecamp
Winning the work
Conversational AI client intake
Yes
No
Auto-generated project brief
Yes
No
Contracts / e-signature
On the roadmapE-signature contracts are not shipped. Scope lives in the brief and the SOW document.
No
Meeting scheduling
NoNo built-in meeting scheduler.
No
Doing the work
Tasks, boards, and views
Yes
PartialTo-do lists and card tables, deliberately without heavy project structure.
Time-boxed cycles / sprints
Yes
No
Native time tracking
Yes
Paid add-onTimesheet add-on at $50/month flat on Pro; included with Pro Unlimited.
Capacity / resource planning
PartialTeam capacity and workload views ship; scenario-based forecasting does not.
No
Workflow automations
PartialRule-based automations exist inside modules; there is no general-purpose visual automation builder.
PartialAutomatic check-ins rather than a general automation builder.
The client relationship
Built-in client portal
Yes
YesClientside is a purpose-built, separate client-facing area - one of Basecamp's best features.
White-label / own branding
Yes
Not publishedNot detailed on the public pricing page, which is the only source cited for this entry.
Clients do not consume a paid seat
YesClient portal access does not consume a paid seat.
YesClients and contractors are free; only employees are billed.
Threaded discussion in-product
Yes
YesMessage boards, Campfire chat, and Pings.
Getting paid
Invoicing from tracked time
Yes
No
Retainer / milestone billing
Yes
No
Delivery + revenue analytics
Yes
NoDeliberately minimal reporting.
Platform
Roles and per-project permissions
Yes
PartialClients and contractors are a distinct, unbilled class from employees; there is no granular per-project role system.
Third-party app marketplace
NoNo third-party app marketplace. Integrations are built in-house.
Not publishedNot detailed on the public pricing page, which is the only source cited for this entry.
Native mobile apps
On the roadmapThe web app is responsive; native iOS/Android apps are not shipped.
Yes
YesPartialPaid add-onOn the roadmapNoNot published
Choose SyncHQ when
  • You need the invoice to come out of the same system as the work.
  • You want delivery and revenue reporting rather than a deliberate absence of it.
  • Structured delivery - cycles, statuses, capacity - is something you actually want.
Choose Basecamp when
  • Your problem is communication chaos, not billing chaos.
  • You are over roughly 20 people, where $299/month flat beats any per-seat plan here.
  • You believe less structure produces better work - Basecamp is the only tool in this list built on that belief, and it is a defensible one.
Questions people actually ask

Does Basecamp do time tracking?

Not by default. Timesheets are an optional add-on at $50/month flat on the Pro plan, and are included with Pro Unlimited. Many Basecamp agencies use a separate tracker.

Is Basecamp cheaper?

At scale, dramatically - $299/month flat for unlimited users is unbeatable above about 20 people. Below that, per-seat plans are usually cheaper. Add the timesheet add-on and a billing tool before comparing.

Sources

Every claim about Basecamp on this page comes from its own public pages, listed here so you can check them yourself.

See whether it fits before you commit

The free plan runs three projects with five people - enough to put a real client through intake, delivery, and an invoice before you decide anything.

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