Government & Public Sector · head to head
American Legal Publishing vs OpenCities
American Legal Publishing
Government & Public Sector
Municipal Code Solutions
- From
- $150/month
- Rated
- -

OpenCities
Government & Public Sector
Digital Government Experience Platform
- From
- $500/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: American Legal Publishing a 2019 recodification contract between American Legal Publishing Corporation and the City of Dry Ridge, Kentucky, publicly posted by a separate Kentucky municipality as a model agreement, sets a base codification cost of $9,485 (USD) plus per-page increase rates of $18 (single column) and $21 (dual column) once the code exceeds the estimated page count, a one-time $550 setup fee to put the code in a searchable online format, $495 per year to host the code online after that, and a five-year supplement plan billed at $18-21 per reprinted page plus $200 per annual statutory update. This is one specific signed municipal contract, not a general price list, and actual costs for other municipalities will scale with code length.; OpenCities population-based pricing model limits scalability for growing municipalities
- They diverge on capability: American Legal Publishing covers Code Codification, OpenCities covers Website Management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which American Legal Publishing and OpenCities actually diverge.
| Attribute | American Legal Publishing | OpenCities |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $150/month | $500/month |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Mobile |
| Founded | 1912 | 2008 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Government & Public Sector).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in American Legal Publishing
- Code Codification
- Online Publishing
- Print Services
- Editorial Support
- Code Search
- Legislative Systems
- Document Management
- Public Portals
Only in OpenCities
- Website Management
- Digital Forms
- Search Optimization
- Accessibility Compliance
- Analytics
- Salesforce
- Microsoft 365
- Google Analytics
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
American Legal Publishing
- Citizen Services
- Records Management
- Public Safety
- Civic Engagement
OpenCities
- Citizen Services
- Records Management
- Public Safety
- Civic Engagement
Both are used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
American Legal Publishing
- A 2019 recodification contract between American Legal Publishing Corporation and the City of Dry Ridge, Kentucky, publicly posted by a separate Kentucky municipality as a model agreement, sets a base codification cost of $9,485 (USD) plus per-page increase rates of $18 (single column) and $21 (dual column) once the code exceeds the estimated page count, a one-time $550 setup fee to put the code in a searchable online format, $495 per year to host the code online after that, and a five-year supplement plan billed at $18-21 per reprinted page plus $200 per annual statutory update. This is one specific signed municipal contract, not a general price list, and actual costs for other municipalities will scale with code length.
OpenCities
- Population-based pricing model limits scalability for growing municipalities
- No self-hosted or on-premises deployment option
- Limited code customization without vendor support
Pricing, plan by plan
American Legal Publishing
$150/month- Online Code$150/month
- Online Publishing
- Code Updates
- Search
OpenCities
$500/month- Government Platform$500/month
- Website CMS
- Digital Forms
- Accessibility
Which should you pick?
Choose American Legal Publishing if
- You need code codification.
- You also want online publishing.
Choose OpenCities if
- You need website management.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want digital forms.
Questions people ask
- Is American Legal Publishing or OpenCities better?
- Neither clearly leads. American Legal Publishing starts at $150/month and OpenCities at $500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, American Legal Publishing or OpenCities?
- American Legal Publishing starts at $150/month and OpenCities at $500/month.
- Does American Legal Publishing or OpenCities run on more platforms?
- American Legal Publishing runs on Web. OpenCities runs on Web, Mobile.
- What is American Legal Publishing best used for?
- American Legal Publishing is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement.
- What can American Legal Publishing do that OpenCities cannot?
- American Legal Publishing covers Code Codification, Online Publishing, Print Services, Editorial Support. OpenCities covers Website Management, Digital Forms, Search Optimization, Accessibility Compliance. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
OpenCities: Does OpenCities work offline?
No, OpenCities is a cloud-based SaaS platform that requires an internet connection. All editing and management is done through web browsers.
SourceOpenCities: What accessibility standards does OpenCities meet?
OpenCities is maintained to comply with WCAG AA requirements, ensuring equitable access to government services and information for all residents.
SourceOpenCities: Can I integrate OpenCities with other government systems?
Yes. OpenCities integrates with Google Analytics, govDelivery for notifications, EngagementHQ for feedback collection, Legistar for meeting management, and Active Directory for intranet workflows.
SourceRelated pages
More on American Legal Publishing
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