Basecamp vs Linear for AI agents
As of 16 Oct 2026, Basecamp gets an AI agent further: L4 · Runs on its own against L1 · Needs a person.
- Find: Some docs for agents: An OpenAPI and an MCP server.
- Access: Sign-up in a browser.
- Use: 100% of the work.
- Pay: Reaches the checkout: Stopped at the card form.
- Leave: Leaves on its own: Cancels on its own, deletes its account.
Through every checkpoint. Next: pay without a person
Gets in on its own at L4 · Runs on its own: a plain form post signed up free, and no checkpoint stopped our agent. Browser steps stayed limited to the human parts: typing an emailed login code and approving the OAuth device code, which needs a logged-in session. From there the official CLI and the REST API covered the core work, from listing projects to creating one; the built-in MCP server is documented but wasn't shown doing the work. Paying still means filling a card in on an in-app plans page, and cancelling is one button with no retention flow: both web-only, and the trial plan our agent used needed no card at all.
Gets furtherDriven 2 Oct 2026 · The drive and its evidence- Find: Docs for agents: llms.txt and an MCP server; a docs page for each core task.
- Access: Can't sign up.
- Use: Work not reached.
- Pay: Payment not reached.
- Leave: Leaving not reached.
Stopped at sign up: needs a human. Next: let an agent sign up on its own
Linear is a project-management and issue-tracking tool. An agent could not even create an account: the sign-up form shows a visible "prove you're human" check (Cloudflare Turnstile) right after the email is entered. So nothing behind sign-up (creating issues, projects, using the API, paying for a plan) could be tried.
Driven 16 Oct 2026 · The drive and its evidenceThe two summaries: written by our agents from each product's drive. How we write.
Where each one stops.
BasecampThrough every checkpoint
LinearStopped at sign up: needs a human
| Checkpoint | Basecamp | Linear |
|---|---|---|
| Docs | Headless | Headless |
| Sign up | Headless | Needs a human |
| Verify | In a browser | Not reached |
| Key | In a browser | Not reached |
| First call | Headless | Not reached |
| First action | Headless | Not reached |
| Pay | In a browser | Not reached |
| Cancel | In a browser | Not reached |
| Delete | In a browser | Not reached |
Headless or in a browser.
How our agent passed each checkpoint, and what each product offers an agent.
Checkpoints by route, API, MCP, CLI and SDK
| Basecamp | Linear | |
|---|---|---|
| Headless (checkpoints) | 4 | 1 |
| In a browser (checkpoints) | 5 | 0 |
| Needs a human (checkpoints) | 0 | 1 |
| Blocked (checkpoints) | 0 | 0 |
| Not tested (checkpoints) | 0 | 7 |
| Work done | 100% of the core | Not measured |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| OpenAPI | Yes | No |
| MCP server | Yes (official) | Yes (official) |
| CLI | Yes | No |
| SDK | Yes | – |
| llms.txt | No | Yes |
Bot checks, and where a person was needed.
| Basecamp | Linear | |
|---|---|---|
| Bot check | hCaptcha (script loaded, invisible) let it through at sign up | Cloudflare Turnstile stopped it at sign up, with a visible challenge |
| Wall type | No bot-check wall | A check of our network and browser |
| First wall | None | Visible Turnstile on email sign-up |
| A person helped | No | No |
A check of our network and browser: It judged where our agent connects from and its browser, not a person. An agent that works on its own from a data center doesn't get through unless the owner lets signed agents in. How agents in a person's own browser fare isn't measured yet. Where we drive from.
Level and part scores.
| Basecamp | Linear | |
|---|---|---|
| Level | L4 · Runs on its own | L1 · Needs a person |
| Agent-ready setup | 80 of 100, fair | 75 of 100, fair |
| Standards | None recorded | MCP client registration (behind) |
Holds up: not measured in these drives. Docs match is measured in an Audit. What the scores mean.
Pay, cancel and delete.
| Basecamp | Linear | |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | Reaches the checkout | Payment not reached |
| Free plan or trial | Trial, no card | Free plan |
| Cancel | In a browser | Not reached |
| Delete the account | In a browser | Not reached |
How each one takes payment
- Basecamp: Reaches the checkout: stopped at the card form.
- Linear: Payment not reached.
Basecamp vs Linear: the short answers.
Which can an AI agent use, Basecamp or Linear?
Basecamp gets an AI agent further: L4 · Runs on its own against L1 · Needs a person. With Basecamp our agent went through every checkpoint; with Linear it was stopped at sign up (needs a human). Driven 2 Oct 2026 (Basecamp) and 16 Oct 2026 (Linear).
Can an AI agent sign up for Basecamp and Linear on its own?
Basecamp: yes, headless. Linear: no, needs a human.
Do Basecamp and Linear have an MCP server?
Basecamp: yes (official). Linear: yes (official).
Can an AI agent delete its Basecamp or Linear account?
Basecamp: yes, in a browser. Linear: not reached.
The drives and the category.
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