Softwr

Nonprofits · head to head

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge vs Optimizely

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge logo

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Nonprofits

Enterprise-grade donor management system

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Optimizely logo

Optimizely

Marketing

Digital experience optimization

From
$10000/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Blackbaud Raiser's Edge no published pricing on website - requires custom quote based on organization size and solutions; Optimizely no pricing is published and no minimum is stated
  • They diverge on capability: Blackbaud Raiser's Edge covers Donor management, Optimizely covers A/B testing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Blackbaud Raiser's Edge and Optimizely differ
AttributeBlackbaud Raiser's EdgeOptimizely
Starting priceOn request$10000/year
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, MobileWeb, Mobile
CategoryNonprofitsMarketing
Founded19812010

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

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

Only in Optimizely

  • A/B testing
  • Multivariate testing
  • Personalization
  • Feature management
  • Analytics
  • Google Analytics
  • Adobe Analytics
  • SOC2

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Mobile support

What people use each for

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

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

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

Optimizely

  • A/B testing and experimentation across web and product experiencesnot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge
  • Feature flagging and personalisation for digital productsnot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Where each one falls short

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

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

Optimizely

  • No pricing is published and no minimum is stated
  • Every plan is individually packaged, so no two quotes are necessarily comparable
  • Reaching a figure requires a demo or sales conversation

Pricing, plan by plan

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

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

Optimizely

$10000/year
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • A/B testing
    • Personalization
    • Feature management

Which should you pick?

Choose Blackbaud Raiser's Edge if

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

Choose Optimizely if

  • You need a/b testing.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want multivariate testing.
Optimizely review

Questions people ask

Is Blackbaud Raiser's Edge or Optimizely better?
Neither clearly leads. Blackbaud Raiser's Edge starts at On request and Optimizely at $10000/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blackbaud Raiser's Edge or Optimizely?
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge starts at On request and Optimizely at $10000/year.
Does Blackbaud Raiser's Edge or Optimizely run on more platforms?
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile. Optimizely runs on Web, Mobile.
What is Blackbaud Raiser's Edge best used for?
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge is most often used for donor management and gift processing for nonprofits, major gift portfolio management for fundraisers, campaign and appeal tracking, prospect research and wealth screening. Of those, donor management and gift processing for nonprofits and major gift portfolio management for fundraisers are not what Optimizely is typically brought in for.
What can Blackbaud Raiser's Edge do that Optimizely cannot?
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge covers Donor management, Gift tracking, Prospect research, Campaign management. Optimizely covers A/B testing, Multivariate testing, Personalization, Feature management. Both handle Web support, Mobile support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Optimizely: How much does Optimizely cost?

Optimizely does not publish pricing rates. The company states that every plan is individually packaged based on specific customer needs. Interested customers must request a demo or contact the sales team to receive customized pricing.

Source
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
Optimizely: What is the pricing model for Optimizely?

Optimizely uses a custom enterprise pricing model rather than published rate cards. Pricing is determined through direct consultation with the sales team based on the customer's digital needs and feature requirements.

Source
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
Optimizely: Is there a free trial of Optimizely?

Optimizely does not specify free trial availability on its website. Customers interested in exploring the platform are directed to request a demo through the company's website to discuss trial options.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

More on Optimizely

Keep looking

Other head to heads