Softwr

Government · head to head

CKAN vs Mark43

CKAN logo

CKAN

Government

Open Source Data Portal Platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mark43 logo

Mark43

Government

Modern Public Safety Software

From
$2000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CKAN has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CKAN the package install path requires Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 64-bit specifically; other operating systems must use the source install; Mark43 no published pricing on homepage; sales contact required for all cost details
  • They diverge on capability: CKAN covers Dataset Management, Mark43 covers Computer-Aided Dispatch.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CKAN and Mark43 actually diverge.

Attributes where CKAN and Mark43 differ
AttributeCKANMark43
Starting priceFree$2000/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20062012

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

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 CKAN

  • Dataset Management
  • Data Harvesting
  • API Access
  • Visualization
  • Extensions
  • DataPusher
  • Harvester
  • Third-party Tools

Only in Mark43

  • Computer-Aided Dispatch
  • Records Management
  • Evidence Management
  • Analytics
  • Mobile
  • FBI CJIS
  • NCIC
  • State Systems

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

CKAN

  • Publishing open government datasets in a searchable public data portalnot Mark43
  • Self-hosting a data catalogue with harvesting and an APInot Mark43

Mark43

  • Citizen Servicesnot CKAN
  • Records Managementnot CKAN
  • Public Safetynot CKAN
  • Civic Engagementnot CKAN

Where each one falls short

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

CKAN

  • The package install path requires Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 64-bit specifically; other operating systems must use the source install
  • Only Solr 9 and Solr 8 are supported, and from CKAN 2.10 they are the only Solr versions supported at all
  • A working deployment requires PostgreSQL, Solr, Redis, nginx, supervisor and uWSGI to be installed and maintained separately
  • Python 3.10 or later is required

Mark43

  • No published pricing on homepage; sales contact required for all cost details
  • Only reference to pricing is 'early bird pricing' for 2027 conference registration
  • No transparent pricing structure visible for public evaluation

Pricing, plan by plan

CKAN

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Data Management
    • API Access
    • Visualization

Mark43

$2000/month
  • Public Safety Suite$2000/month
    • CAD
    • RMS
    • Analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose CKAN if

  • You need dataset management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want data harvesting.
CKAN review

Choose Mark43 if

  • You need computer-aided dispatch.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want records management.
Mark43 review

Questions people ask

Is CKAN or Mark43 better?
Neither clearly leads. CKAN starts at Free and Mark43 at $2000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CKAN or Mark43?
CKAN has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CKAN and $2000/month for Mark43.
Does CKAN or Mark43 run on more platforms?
CKAN runs on Web. Mark43 runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use CKAN for free?
Yes. CKAN has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mark43 starts at $2000/month.
What is CKAN best used for?
CKAN is most often used for publishing open government datasets in a searchable public data portal, self-hosting a data catalogue with harvesting and an api. Of those, publishing open government datasets in a searchable public data portal and self-hosting a data catalogue with harvesting and an api are not what Mark43 is typically brought in for.
What can CKAN do that Mark43 cannot?
CKAN covers Dataset Management, Data Harvesting, API Access, Visualization. Mark43 covers Computer-Aided Dispatch, Records Management, Evidence Management, Analytics. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CKAN: Is CKAN open-source and what license is it available under?

Yes, CKAN is an open-source data management system built on Python and available on GitHub. The license terms are available on their GitHub repository.

Source
Mark43: Does Mark43 publish pricing online?

No, Mark43 pricing is not published on the public website. The only pricing reference is early bird conference registration. Prospective customers must contact Mark43 through 'Book A Demo' or 'Let's Connect' for pricing consultation.

Source
CKAN: Does CKAN offer commercial support for organizations?

Yes, CKAN offers commercial support through certified providers including Link Digital and Datopian. Support includes advisory services, application development, integration, managed hosting, and web development.

Source
Mark43: What payment methods or financing options does Mark43 offer?

No information about payment methods or financing options is disclosed on the public homepage. Pricing and payment details are handled through direct sales consultations.

Source
CKAN: Who is responsible for hosting costs when running CKAN?

Organizations deploying CKAN are responsible for their own hosting infrastructure. Commercial providers like Datopian and Link Digital offer managed hosting services if organizations prefer not to self-host.

Source
Mark43: Are there volume discounts or specialized pricing for different agency sizes?

Mark43 website does not disclose any volume pricing, per-user costs, or specialized rates for agencies of different sizes. All pricing inquiries require direct contact with sales team.

Source
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