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Nonprofits · head to head

Aplos vs Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Aplos logo

Aplos

Nonprofits

Fund accounting for nonprofits and churches, with donor management and online giving attached

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge logo

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Nonprofits

Enterprise-grade donor management system

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Aplos the donor management side is record keeping rather than fundraising software, so any organisation running segmented appeals or automation will still buy a CRM and pay twice.; Blackbaud Raiser's Edge no published pricing on website - requires custom quote based on organization size and solutions
  • They diverge on capability: Aplos covers Fund accounting ledger, Blackbaud Raiser's Edge covers Gift tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Aplos and Blackbaud Raiser's Edge actually diverge.

Attributes where Aplos and Blackbaud Raiser's Edge differ
AttributeAplosBlackbaud Raiser's Edge
Pricing modelPer month by feature tiersubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Desktop, Mobile
FoundedUnknown1981

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Nonprofits).

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 Aplos

  • Fund accounting ledger
  • Nonprofit financial statements
  • Online giving pages
  • Budgeting by fund
  • Church tools

Only in Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

  • Gift tracking
  • Prospect research
  • Campaign management
  • Advanced reporting
  • Stripe
  • PayPal
  • Salesforce
  • QuickBooks

Both cover

  • Donor management

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Aplos

  • A nonprofit whose auditor has raised restricted fund reporting as a findingnot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge
  • A church tracking contributions, designated funds and giving statements in one systemnot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge
  • A small organisation replacing QuickBooks plus a spreadsheet of fund balancesnot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge
  • An Aplos and Keela buyer wanting gifts to post from the CRM into the ledger without exportnot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

  • Donor management and gift processing for nonprofitsnot Aplos
  • Major gift portfolio management for fundraisersnot Aplos
  • Campaign and appeal trackingnot Aplos
  • Prospect research and wealth screeningnot Aplos
  • Fundraising reporting for boards and fundersnot Aplos

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Aplos

  • The donor management side is record keeping rather than fundraising software, so any organisation running segmented appeals or automation will still buy a CRM and pay twice.
  • It is not a general ledger for complex structures, so multi entity groups, consolidations and intercompany transactions push organisations back to a mainstream accounting package.
  • Higher tiers are needed for the budgeting and custom reporting many buyers assume are standard, so the entry price is rarely the real price.
  • Payroll is handled through a partner rather than natively, which adds a vendor and a reconciliation step for organisations with staff.
  • The bookkeeper ecosystem is far smaller than QuickBooks, so finding an accountant already fluent in the product is harder and handover after staff turnover takes longer.

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

  • No published pricing on website - requires custom quote based on organization size and solutions
  • Pricing varies significantly by product and organizational complexity

Pricing, plan by plan

Aplos

On request
  • Aplos$undefined/month
    • Published monthly tiers separating core accounting from the full suite
    • Advanced accounting, budgeting by fund and custom reporting sit in higher tiers
    • Card and bank processing on donations charged separately

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

On request
  • Standard$200/month
    • Donor database
    • Gift tracking
    • Reports
  • Premium$500/month
    • Advanced analytics
    • Prospect research
    • Custom reporting

Which should you pick?

Choose Aplos if

  • You need fund accounting ledger.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want nonprofit financial statements.
Aplos review

Choose Blackbaud Raiser's Edge if

  • You need gift tracking.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want prospect research.
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge review

Questions people ask

Is Aplos or Blackbaud Raiser's Edge better?
Neither clearly leads. Aplos starts at On request and Blackbaud Raiser's Edge at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aplos or Blackbaud Raiser's Edge?
Aplos starts at On request and Blackbaud Raiser's Edge at On request.
Does Aplos or Blackbaud Raiser's Edge run on more platforms?
Aplos runs on Web, iOS, Android. Blackbaud Raiser's Edge runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
What is Aplos best used for?
Aplos is most often used for a nonprofit whose auditor has raised restricted fund reporting as a finding, a church tracking contributions, designated funds and giving statements in one system, a small organisation replacing quickbooks plus a spreadsheet of fund balances, an aplos and keela buyer wanting gifts to post from the crm into the ledger without export. Of those, a nonprofit whose auditor has raised restricted fund reporting as a finding and a church tracking contributions, designated funds and giving statements in one system are not what Blackbaud Raiser's Edge is typically brought in for.
What can Aplos do that Blackbaud Raiser's Edge cannot?
Aplos covers Fund accounting ledger, Nonprofit financial statements, Online giving pages, Budgeting by fund. Blackbaud Raiser's Edge covers Gift tracking, Prospect research, Campaign management, Advanced reporting. Both handle Donor management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Aplos: Is Aplos an accounting system or a CRM?

Primarily fund accounting. The donor management is included but shallow compared with a dedicated nonprofit CRM.

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge: How much does Raiser's Edge NXT cost?

Blackbaud does not publish pricing for Raiser's Edge NXT or other products on their website. Pricing is customized based on your organization's size, goals, and the solutions you need. You must submit a form to request a personalized quote.

Source
Aplos: What is the relationship with Keela?

Aplos acquired Keela in 2023. The two are being integrated, so a buyer comparing them is comparing products from one company.

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge: How is Blackbaud pricing calculated?

Blackbaud pricing is based on several factors including organization size, number of users, selected solutions or modules, and the level of support and services desired. Pricing is designed to scale with organizational needs.

Source
Aplos: Can it replace QuickBooks?

For a single entity nonprofit, usually yes, and it handles restricted funds far better. For multi entity consolidation, no.

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge: Does Blackbaud charge hidden fees?

No, Blackbaud pricing is structured to be transparent with no hidden fees. Their representative walks through all costs during consultation before you move forward.

Source
Aplos: Does it handle payroll?

Through a partner integration rather than natively, so payroll is an extra subscription and an extra reconciliation.

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