Low-cost membership software for a community nonprofit has to fit a small budget and be easy for staff and volunteers to learn. Below are the factors worth weighing, then six tools and what each one is built for.
Factors to Consider
Ease of Use
Good software is quick to set up and easy to use. A tool with every feature you want is the wrong tool if your team needs weeks to learn it. Look for a clean interface and simple navigation, and ask how long setup usually takes.
Pricing
Check how each tool's price grows with you. Some charge by contact or record, so lapsed members and newsletter subscribers count toward your bill. Others charge by tier or by module. If you have fewer than 250 members, avoid paying for features you will not use.
Support Channels
Can you reach a person when you need help? Many vendors now route support through chatbots and ticket queues, which struggle with complex questions and training. At Communal, a person answers: you can book a call with our team to talk through your needs.
Scalability
Your organization will grow and your needs will change. Ask how often the vendor ships updates, whether it acts on customer requests, and how the price changes as your member count grows.
Top 6 Low-Cost Community Management Software Solutions
Here are six low-cost tools for community organizations and what each one is built for.
Communal: https://getcommunal.com
Communal is membership software for community nonprofits. Memberships, programs and events, facility rentals, volunteers and donations run in one system, with card payments through Stripe and iCal calendar feeds members can subscribe to.
Each program or event can have a price per membership type, and members get their price at checkout without a code. Members who volunteer on a program can get a volunteer price on it. Membership reports and exports of registrations, payments and attendance are built in.
Pricing is a base bundle plus add-ons, so you pay only for the modules you use. The base covers member CRM, volunteer management, donor management and POS, and is priced by member count. Programs and events and facility rentals are add-ons. Current prices are on the pricing page.
Comparing event tools specifically? See our comparison of event management software for nonprofits.
Wild Apricot: https://www.wildapricot.com
Wild Apricot is membership management software for nonprofits, associations and clubs. Members register, renew and get updates through an online portal, and it runs online and in-person events.
It suits organizations that want a website builder, member database and events from one vendor.
Pricing is tiered by contact count, and every contact counts, including lapsed members and prospects, so a growing database moves you up a tier. Using your own payment gateway instead of Personify Payments adds a surcharge to the subscription.
Neon CRM (Neon One): https://neonone.com
Neon CRM, from Neon One, is a nonprofit CRM for fundraising, donor management and events. You can track and engage supporters, run online fundraising campaigns, and create and promote events. It also includes reporting.
Its entry tier covers fundraising only; memberships, events and volunteers need the Impact tier or higher. Every tier includes unlimited records.
Aplos: https://www.aplos.com
Aplos is accounting and management software for churches, charities and other nonprofits. It handles fund accounting and bookkeeping, tracks donor contributions and expenses, and produces financial statements.
If you are a church or faith-based organization that needs financial reporting, Aplos is worth a look.
Its plans are tiered by feature set, starting with fund accounting, bookkeeping and donation tracking.
Little Green Light: https://www.littlegreenlight.com
Little Green Light is a donor management and fundraising database for nonprofits. It tracks donors and gifts, takes online donations through its forms, and reports on your fundraising. It is a specialized donor tool, and a good fit if donations are your main source of support.
Pricing is tiered by constituent record count, with unlimited users on every tier. Membership is a field on each constituent record, with no self-service renewals or member portal.
Tendenci: https://www.tendenci.com
Tendenci is open-source management software for nonprofits and associations, with membership management, events and a content management system. It includes customizable membership directories and online payments.
Open-source software takes technical skill to run well. Tendenci is not built for community associations, resident networks or local recreation centers. Our free membership management software roundup covers the other open source and free-tier options.
The software is free to download and host yourself, and Tendenci also sells hosted plans tiered by active members. Either way, it suits larger organizations with technical staff and custom requirements.
Quick Comparison
| Software | How it charges | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Communal | Base bundle priced by member count; programs and events and facilities are add-ons | Community associations, rec centers |
| Wild Apricot | Tiered by contact count | Small associations and clubs that want a website builder |
| Neon CRM | Tiered subscription with unlimited records; memberships and events from the Impact tier | Fundraising-focused nonprofits |
| Aplos | Tiered by feature set | Churches, financial reporting |
| Little Green Light | Tiered by constituent record count | Donor management |
| Tendenci | Free to self-host, or hosted plans tiered by active members | Large organizations with technical staff |
Vendor pricing changes often, so check each vendor's pricing page before you decide.
Closing thoughts:
If you're a community association, recreation center or neighborhood organization that needs one system for memberships, events, facility rentals and volunteers, Communal was built for you.
For organizations primarily focused on donor management and fundraising, tools like Little Green Light or Neon CRM may be more appropriate. And for large organizations with dedicated IT staff, open-source options like Tendenci can be customized to fit.
Book a demo to see whether Communal fits your community.
Membership software for associations
Running a small professional association, chapter or member-based organization? Our association membership software guide covers member records, dues, renewals and events, compares entry pricing, and explains when a full AMS is a better fit.