Basecamp & Highrise Review
As business increases I have recognized the need to use a project management and CRM software solution. Keeping track of 3-4 concurrent projects can be done in your head, but increase that to 12-15 and things start slipping through the cracks! I recently started using the solutions offered by 37signals.com and I am very impressed!
This may sound like a paid review, but trust me it is not. I do get 50% off my monthly fee if you click the links on this post and sign up – but that is not the reason I have written this. In the short time I have used these solutions I have become more productive, things are getting done more efficiently and my clients are happy. At first the monthly fee put me off, but if being more organized means getting even one more project in a month its paid for itself many times over.
I reviewed many other solutions from open source (www.opensourcecms.com look under ‘groupware’) to paid solutions (www.activecollab.com) and ended up back at 37signals.
Check out the page linked and didn’t see anything about a free trial.
Does it offer one? And if so do you still get credited?
I am currently using activeCollab and considering switching to Highrise/Basecamp. It is interesting that you would switch back after using those free products. Perhaps paying for the subscription to 37Signals is worth it after all.
They still have the free 30-day trial. Just click on either banner in the article then click on the big green button.
I’ve had the subscription for several months now and still feel the same way. It’s worth the subscription.
Highrise is NOT a CRM. It is simply a collection of notes tied to contacts. You have no capability to manage or monitor your funnel beyond the barely functional deals capability…
Unfortunately, I havent found anything out there between hirise and SFDC that is good enough for a real SMB sales team.
I agree – not ‘really’ a CRM, but has most the features light users will use in the real world. The problem with most CRM I have seen is they try to accomplish every imaginable option and in the process make their system overly complicated.
UPDATE: I just recently switched from BaseCamp to GoPlanApp (http://www.goplanapp.com/). While Basecamp is still awesome in my mind, I find GoPlanApp much more intuitive. I made the switch about 2.5 weeks ago and am very happy with the decision.
How much more benefit do you find from using Basecamp in addition to Highrise? I’m looking at using Highrise for a new company. I’ve used Basecamp in the past and used Highrise over the summer. I’m trying to piece together why I need both and am wondering if you have some insight. Thanks in advance.
I’m still currently using GoPlanApp instead of Basecamp however I think I can answer your question. The two work well together and target different needs. I personally used Basecamp for project management during development and Highrise for contact & task management before and after.
Hi,
When you wrote this review, Apollo didn’t exist yet!
Apollo combines Highrise and Apollo: it’s project Management and CRM all in one.
It has cases&deals, timers, calendar, Basecamp/Highrise import, all in a fast AJAX application.
Maybe give it a go!
Merc.