Basecamp made client access simple and calm, and that’s worth respecting. Align keeps that clarity for clients and adds the delivery and billing depth serious projects need.
Basecamp is refreshingly simple, with genuinely good client-facing communication — message boards, to-dos, and free client access have kept teams loyal for years. For lightweight projects, it just works.
Simplicity is also the ceiling. There’s no real issue tracking or roadmaps, no git integration, no cost estimates, eSignatures, time tracking, or invoicing — projects that grow quickly outrun it.
Based on natively available capability for client-delivery teams. “Limited” means possible via add-ons, marketplace apps, or integrations rather than built in. Competitors evolve — check current docs before deciding.
Boards, sprints, dependencies, releases, and git linking — structure Basecamp doesn’t offer.
Scope, approve, and bill on the same record; Basecamp has no billing at all.
Clients still get a clean, friendly portal — now with progress, approvals, and a trail behind it.
Bring your work in from Basecamp or a CSV — IDs, statuses, and history intact.
Spin up a role-filtered portal so the client sees only their work.
Add an estimate and a release — and watch the first draft invoice generate itself.
The fairest test is your real work. We’ll run it end to end on one record in 25 minutes.