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Government & Public Sector · head to head

CentralSquare vs OpenCities

CentralSquare logo

CentralSquare

Government & Public Sector

Public Safety and Administration Software

From
$1500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenCities logo

OpenCities

Government & Public Sector

Digital Government Experience Platform

From
$500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CentralSquare pricing for all editions (Public Safety Suite Enterprise, Public Safety Suite Pro, Public Safety Suite ONESolution) is gated behind Request a Demo or Schedule a Call, with no figures published; OpenCities population-based pricing model limits scalability for growing municipalities
  • They diverge on capability: CentralSquare covers Computer-Aided Dispatch, OpenCities covers Website Management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CentralSquare and OpenCities actually diverge.

Attributes where CentralSquare and OpenCities differ
AttributeCentralSquareOpenCities
Starting price$1500/month$500/month
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, Ios, AndroidWeb, Mobile
Founded20182008

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 CentralSquare

  • Computer-Aided Dispatch
  • Records Management
  • Jail Management
  • Fire RMS
  • Community Development
  • Esri ArcGIS
  • FBI CJIS
  • NCIC

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.

CentralSquare

  • 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.

CentralSquare

  • Pricing for all editions (Public Safety Suite Enterprise, Public Safety Suite Pro, Public Safety Suite ONESolution) is gated behind Request a Demo or Schedule a Call, with no figures published

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

CentralSquare

$1500/month
  • Public Safety Suite$1500/month
    • CAD
    • Records Management
    • Mobile Solutions

OpenCities

$500/month
  • Government Platform$500/month
    • Website CMS
    • Digital Forms
    • Accessibility

Which should you pick?

Choose CentralSquare if

  • You need computer-aided dispatch.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Ios, Android.
  • You also want records management.
CentralSquare review

Choose OpenCities if

  • You need website management.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want digital forms.
OpenCities review

Questions people ask

Is CentralSquare or OpenCities better?
Neither clearly leads. CentralSquare starts at $1500/month and OpenCities at $500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CentralSquare or OpenCities?
CentralSquare starts at $1500/month and OpenCities at $500/month.
Does CentralSquare or OpenCities run on more platforms?
CentralSquare runs on Web, Desktop, Ios, Android. OpenCities runs on Web, Mobile.
What is CentralSquare best used for?
CentralSquare is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement.
What can CentralSquare do that OpenCities cannot?
CentralSquare covers Computer-Aided Dispatch, Records Management, Jail Management, Fire RMS. 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.

Source
OpenCities: 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.

Source
OpenCities: 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.

Source
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Related pages

More on CentralSquare

More on OpenCities

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