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Software · head to head

Charity Navigator vs Handbid

Charity Navigator logo

Charity Navigator

Software

Nonprofit intelligence and rating platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Handbid logo

Handbid

Software

Mobile-first auction and event fundraising platform

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Charity Navigator has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Charity Navigator charity Navigator is a free 501(c)(3) nonprofit service funded by donor donations rather than charging the charities it rates, so it has no vendor pricing model to compare (own about-us page).; Handbid the pricing page publishes no plan, no rate, no minimum and no per-event fee; it states there are no preset tiers and directs every visitor to a pricing consultation
  • They diverge on capability: Charity Navigator covers Nonprofit ratings, Handbid covers Mobile bidding.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Charity Navigator and Handbid actually diverge.

Attributes where Charity Navigator and Handbid differ
AttributeCharity NavigatorHandbid
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile-responsiveWeb, IOS, Android
Founded20012011

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Charity Navigator

  • Nonprofit ratings
  • Financial analysis
  • Donor reviews
  • Impact metrics
  • Fundraising data
  • GiveWell
  • BBB Wise Giving Alliance
  • Mobile-responsive support

Only in Handbid

  • Mobile bidding
  • Silent auctions
  • Live auctions
  • Fund-a-need
  • Ticketing
  • Salesforce
  • Stripe
  • PayPal

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Charity Navigator

  • Business operationsnot Handbid
  • Productivitynot Handbid
  • Automationnot Handbid

Handbid

  • Mobile bidding for charity and fundraising auctionsnot Charity Navigator
  • Event ticketing, registration and check-in with tap to paynot Charity Navigator
  • White-labelled online auctions for schools, nonprofits and corporate eventsnot Charity Navigator

Where each one falls short

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

Charity Navigator

  • Charity Navigator is a free 501(c)(3) nonprofit service funded by donor donations rather than charging the charities it rates, so it has no vendor pricing model to compare (own about-us page).

Handbid

  • The pricing page publishes no plan, no rate, no minimum and no per-event fee; it states there are no preset tiers and directs every visitor to a pricing consultation
  • There is no self-serve signup path; the only routes offered are Start Chatting, a consultation or a demo booking
  • Because packages are assembled per event, the cost of white-label auctions, text-to-give and support levels is not published

Pricing, plan by plan

Charity Navigator

Free
  • Free ProfileFree
    • Nonprofit profile
    • Ratings
    • Financial data

Handbid

On request
  • Starter$199/month
    • Basic auction features
    • Up to 50 items
  • Professional$499/month
    • Unlimited items
    • Live streaming
    • Fund-a-need
  • Enterprise$999/month
    • Multi-event license
    • White labeling
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Charity Navigator if

  • You need nonprofit ratings.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile-responsive.
  • You also want financial analysis.

Choose Handbid if

  • You need mobile bidding.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want silent auctions.

Questions people ask

Is Charity Navigator or Handbid better?
Neither clearly leads. Charity Navigator starts at Free and Handbid at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Charity Navigator or Handbid?
Charity Navigator has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Charity Navigator and On request for Handbid.
Does Charity Navigator or Handbid run on more platforms?
Charity Navigator runs on Web, Mobile-responsive. Handbid runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Charity Navigator for free?
Yes. Charity Navigator has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Handbid starts at On request.
What is Charity Navigator best used for?
Charity Navigator is most often used for business operations, productivity, automation. Of those, business operations and productivity are not what Handbid is typically brought in for.
What can Charity Navigator do that Handbid cannot?
Charity Navigator covers Nonprofit ratings, Financial analysis, Donor reviews, Impact metrics. Handbid covers Mobile bidding, Silent auctions, Live auctions, Fund-a-need. Both handle Web support.

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