Asana and Basecamp are two of the most popular project management tools. Going beyond the popularity though, how do they fare when compared with each other. And what are the features that make each unique? More importantly, which would suit your project management requirements more?

Let’s find out.

Asana

The first thing you notice about Asana is its clean and clutter-free design with a decisively modern aesthetic. More than just eye-pleasing, this also lends to easy navigation: no small benefit in a tool which you would use multiple times in a workday.

Once you create an account in Asana, you can easily create teams with the clicks of a few buttons. Adding users to those teams is also equally easy. You can also create projects in Asana. Within projects, you can make and organize tasks. Each task can be assigned to different team members as and per the requirement. And you can also set deadlines for these tasks.

Tasks and allied features

Once you have set up the tasks, you can then track for task updates- so that whenever the task status changes, you would be in the know. In the comments against tasks, you can mention other team members, if you need to rope them in for insights or to gain their help in completing the task.  If there are important files team members could use for the completion of tasks, you can upload those files too.

One key feature Asana offers in the context of tasks is the ability to make a task-dependent on other tasks. This way, you can be sure that the flow of tasks is never jumbled up. The order of precedence can be set from the outset itself.

Task views in Asana

Typically, tasks are displayed in a list form in Asana. However, you also have the option to switch between multiple views so that projects can be displayed according to your wants. For instance, if you aim to see which tasks to do next, opt for the timeline view. On the other hand, if you want an overview of the tasks, then, the chart-view would be a better option.

 Basecamp

You will find many of the same features in Basecamp, as in Asana. But that’s not to say there are no differences between the two either.

To begin with, there is the user interface. While Asana lists the important tabs vertically on the left-hand side, Basecamp offers a more minimal interface. Eschewing a top-down listing of information, here, you get information organized into ‘camps.’

The tools in camps

Each camp comes equipped with six tools. Many of these tools are common across project management solutions. However, two of these make Basecamp rather unique. These are Campfire and Automatic check-ins.

As you may have deduced from the name, Campfire can be used for communicating with other team members in real-time- a virtual version of gathering around a campfire for a conversation. This way, you can forego the overhead of switching to another tool whenever you need to talk with team members.

Using automatic check-ins, you can set scheduled posts to be shared with various team members. The primary function of this feature is to help you save time from attending unimportant status meetings.

Hill chart

Hill chart is a feature that is exclusive to Basecamp.

To-do lists are the go-to tools for keeping track of work in many scenarios. Much as that works, for larger projects involving thousands of tasks, mere to-do lists wouldn’t be the most efficient way. This is why Basecamp has added the Hill Chart feature to their to-dos.

The idea is that each task constitutes two parts. The first is the uphill run in which you devise your approach. The second part is the downhill slide in which you know how to perform the task- you just have to execute it. The Hill Chart aspect integrates both these aspects so you get a graph-like view of where exactly you stand in relation to a task- going up the hill, still seeking a solution, or riding downhill as you inch closer to the finish line.

Which will work best for you?

With similar features available in both, the differentiating factor could well be how comfortable you feel using them. A try-out by signing up for the free version could bring you greater clarity. Having said that, Asana does offer more app integrations than Basecamp. Though key apps for  Automation and Time tracking etc. are available in both, currently Basecamp falls short in number. So, if your project management is apps-intensive, you may want to side with Asana.

What both Asana and Basecamp lack

One area in which both tools lack is in building Gantt charts. At present, there are no in-built tools for creating them. But you do get the option to integrate with apps that could help you do the same- Instagantt app in Asana and Ganttify in Basecamp. However, these are third-party apps which would set you back by a few bucks.

On an even more fundamental level, the apps lack such features as precise measurement of the time that someone spends on a task, sans the time they spent on break. Such errors in measurement would result in the wrong prediction of when the project could be delivered.

I’m Productive is a viable alternative to both Asana and Basecamp. It comes with powerful features like AI Predict: with just the click of a button, you can accurately predict the time required for project delivery, at any point in the project’s lifetime. The tool uses a powerful AI to accomplish this. The AI takes into account multiple parameters while avoiding human errors in its calculations.

To learn more about how I’m Productive can help you get accurate project delivery prediction and thereby a predictable revenue cycle, please visit their website.