Approval Studio vs. Basecamp

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Approval Studio
Score 0.0 out of 10
N/A
Approval Studio is a client-oriented online proofing software for creative teams and everyone working with designs. It aims to solve the proofing issue by building a clear design review workflow with features that include Annotations, External Reviews, Compare Modes, Task Assignments, Multi-language Interface, and Reporting. It also has 3-D party integrations with Adobe, Zapier, and Slack to make transitions smoother. The vendor states that the process is 52% faster and more organized…
$45
per month per 5 users
Basecamp
Score 8.2 out of 10
N/A
Basecamp is a web-based project-management tool. Basecamp offers features standard to project management platforms, as well as mobile accessibility, unlimited users, and 3rd party integrations. Basecamp is priced by space requirements and concurrent projects.
$15
per month per user
Pricing
Approval StudioBasecamp
Editions & Modules
Lite
$45
per month per 5 users
Pro
$135
per month per 5 users
Pro XL
$255
per month per 15 users
Enterprise
Custom
per year per seat
Basecamp Plus
$15
per month per user
Basecamp Pro Unlimited
$299
per month (billed annually)
Basecamp Free
Free
Limited Capabilities
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Approval StudioBasecamp
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsPricing reflects a discount for the annual subscription. They also offer a standard 10% discount for non-profits and NGOs.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Approval StudioBasecamp
Features
Approval StudioBasecamp
Project Management
Comparison of Project Management features of Product A and Product B
Approval Studio
-
Ratings
Basecamp
7.9
Ratings
3% above category average
Task Management00 Ratings9.40 Ratings
Resource Management00 Ratings8.40 Ratings
Gantt Charts00 Ratings2.00 Ratings
Scheduling00 Ratings6.90 Ratings
Workflow Automation00 Ratings7.00 Ratings
Team Collaboration00 Ratings10.00 Ratings
Support for Agile Methodology00 Ratings6.90 Ratings
Support for Waterfall Methodology00 Ratings6.90 Ratings
Document Management00 Ratings9.70 Ratings
Email integration00 Ratings7.70 Ratings
Mobile Access00 Ratings9.60 Ratings
Timesheet Tracking00 Ratings10.00 Ratings
Change request and Case Management00 Ratings8.90 Ratings
Budget and Expense Management00 Ratings7.00 Ratings
Professional Services Automation
Comparison of Professional Services Automation features of Product A and Product B
Approval Studio
-
Ratings
Basecamp
6.8
Ratings
10% below category average
Quotes/estimates00 Ratings8.30 Ratings
Invoicing00 Ratings6.90 Ratings
Project & financial reporting00 Ratings8.00 Ratings
Integration with accounting software00 Ratings4.00 Ratings
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Approval StudioBasecamp
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User Ratings
Approval StudioBasecamp
Likelihood to Recommend
-
(0 ratings)
9.3
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.8
(0 ratings)
Online Training
-
(0 ratings)
5.0
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
7.7
(0 ratings)
Configurability
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Approval StudioBasecamp
Likelihood to Recommend
No answers on this topic
Small to mid-size would be a great fit [for Basecamp]. It's simple to use and does not require a ton of ramp-up. Unlike other platforms that require you to learn their terminology in order to use the platform this works well for the non technical user whom just needs to put in simple task updates[.]
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Pros
No answers on this topic
  • Task management - It is very easy to add, organize and discuss tasks within Basecamp's interface.
  • The "Campfire" function is great for communicating when you just have a quick question for someone on the team.
  • Notifications - Basecamp lets you decide how often and about what you'd like to be notified. The ability to respond to messages in Basecamp directly via email saves a lot of time.
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Cons
No answers on this topic
  • High Learning Curve. It's true that it can be easy to use, but to use well and effectively takes some time to learn. It's recommended to have an agreed-upon system in your team of what tools to use and when.
  • Notification Overload. If people aren't careful they could send a notification to everyone when only a couple people were meant to be prompted. And since emails are sent by default, you could have your mailbox overloaded with unnecessary updates. This is where it takes a bit of training in your team to have an agreed-upon system.
  • Lack of organization with Archived Projects. I will often need to reference an archived project to make a new one, but there is only a list of archived projects in alphabetical order, with no way to organize by archive date, or even search.
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Likelihood to Renew
No answers on this topic
When I bring new people onto a project, it's immediately obvious how to use Basecamp. I don't have to worry about teaching them the features or walking them through it, it's just incredibly user-friendly. For this reason, I'll continue to renew my subscription even as new people are brought onto production jobs or the client changes.
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Usability
No answers on this topic
I would give it a ten but we have some very minor issues. Those have all been easy to work around and I still really like Basecamp. We also have trouble with some clients who can only handle email—but those are rare cases when technology is just not their thing.
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Reliability and Availability
No answers on this topic
I've never experienced downtime while using Basecamp, or been unable to access it when I needed it. That's not to say they've never had downtime, but I've been lucky enough not to encounter any, and I work odd hours, including late nights when maintenance is often undertaken.
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Support Rating
No answers on this topic
For the many reasons I've given, Basecamp is a very strong program. There are a few features I can imagine that might make it even better, but I don't have a basis for comparison to be able to say that there is definitely a better one out there. I've noticed that Basecamp has evolved a bit from the time I started using it until now, so that makes me think that the producer of this program values it and believes in continuous improvement. If you could use the features offered by Basecamp, I would think you could use it with confidence.
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Implementation Rating
No answers on this topic
Decide the process before implementation - i.e. when it's due 8/9 does that mean 8am, noon, 5pm, 11:59pm? Check your to-do list frequently Set-up templates - just not with the dates (they can be funky)
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Alternatives Considered
No answers on this topic
Basecamp is the best application we've found for our team to interface with external clients. It makes project management simple, and allows our clients visibility into their projects, which in turn builds trust, fosters open communication, and improves customer satisfaction. It's easy to learn and use, and has just enough customizability to work for many different types of projects.
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Return on Investment
No answers on this topic
  • It has helped keep every project organized, with all assets in one accessible place for everyone involved.
  • It has helped with scheduling and assigning tasks so that everyone knows what is expected of them.
  • It has helped keep all client correspondence in one place and within the project so that everything can be found immediately.
  • The search function is very helpful.
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ScreenShots

Approval Studio Screenshots

Screenshot of Dashboard with Kanban viewScreenshot of Project pop-up in dark modeScreenshot of Review tool with AnnotationsScreenshot of Review tool with Comparison side-by-sideScreenshot of Project pop-up Discussion SectionScreenshot of Project Analytics