The Problem
Why teams leave Basecamp
No Gantt charts, timeline views, or dependencies
No time tracking — need a separate tool
Flat structure doesn't support complex projects
Limited reporting and analytics
No custom fields or workflow automation
What We Build Instead
Your custom project management tool
Simple, opinionated PM with the features Basecamp left out
Message boards, to-dos, and schedules plus timelines and Gantt
Built-in time tracking and invoicing
Custom fields and lightweight automation
Reports that show project health at a glance
The Math
Basecamp vs. custom build
Based on 30 seats at $15/seat/month, with ~10% annual SaaS price increases.
Keep paying Basecamp
Build with 86 SaaS
3-year savings with 30 seats
-$7,555
-42% less than Basecamp
Pricing Breakdown
Basecamp tier pricing vs. one-time custom build
Compare what you pay per seat across Basecamp's tiers against a single investment in software you own forever.
| Tier | Monthly/Seat | Annual/Seat | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basecamp | $15/mo | $15/mo | Message boards, To-dos, Schedules, Campfire chat |
| Basecamp Pro | $349/mo | $299/mo | Unlimited users (flat rate), Priority support, Admin pro pack, Project templates |
| Custom Build by 86 SaaS | $10,000–$25,000 one-time | $0/seat | Unlimited users, full ownership, no recurring fees |
Migration Timeline
From Basecamp to ownership — week by week
A structured migration plan to move off Basecamp in 3-6 weeks with zero downtime.
Discovery & Audit
1 weekMap Basecamp projects, message boards, to-do lists, and file attachments. Identify feature gaps to fill.
Architecture & Design
1 weekDesign simple PM with Basecamp's strengths plus timelines, time tracking, and Gantt views.
Core Development
1-2 weeksBuild message boards, to-dos, schedules, chat, plus timeline views, time tracking, and custom fields.
Data Migration & Testing
1 weekMigrate projects, messages, to-dos, and files from Basecamp. Verify thread integrity.
Deployment & Training
1 weekDeploy platform, train team on new features, and validate workflows.
Total build time
3-6 weeks
Feature Comparison
What you keep, what you skip, and why
A transparent comparison of Basecamp features vs. your custom-built alternative.
| Feature | Basecamp | Custom Build | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Message Boards | |||
| To-Do Lists | |||
| Schedules | |||
| Group Chat | |||
| File Sharing | |||
| Gantt Charts & Timelines | Added — Basecamp intentionally omits these | ||
| Built-in Time Tracking | Added — no need for a separate time tracking tool | ||
| Custom Fields | Added — enables structured data beyond flat to-dos | ||
| Workflow Automation | Added — automate repetitive project tasks | ||
| Hill Charts | Intentionally omitted — replaced by standard progress tracking | ||
| Data Ownership | Your servers, your data |
Your custom build focuses on the features your team actually uses — typically 15-20% of what Basecamp offers — built exactly for your workflow.
How It Works
From Basecamp to ownership in 3-6 weeks
Free Audit
We analyze your Basecamp usage and identify exactly which features your team actually uses.
Scope & Build
We build your custom project management tool with only the features you need. 3-6 weeks.
Deploy & Migrate
We deploy to your infrastructure, migrate your data from Basecamp, and train your team.
You Own It
Full source code, documentation, and optional maintenance retainer. No vendor lock-in. Ever.