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Software · head to head

CKAN vs NextRequest

CKAN logo

CKAN

Software

Open Source Data Portal Platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
NextRequest logo

NextRequest

Software

Public Records Request Management

From
$300/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; NextRequest now sold as part of the CivicPlus product line rather than standalone, and nextrequest.com redirects into the CivicPlus site
  • They diverge on capability: CKAN covers Dataset Management, NextRequest covers Request Intake.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CKAN and NextRequest actually diverge.

Attributes where CKAN and NextRequest differ
AttributeCKANNextRequest
Starting priceFree$300/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20062015

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 CKAN

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

Only in NextRequest

  • Request Intake
  • Workflow Management
  • Document Redaction
  • Public Portal
  • Reporting
  • Document Systems
  • Email
  • Payment Processors

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 NextRequest
  • Self-hosting a data catalogue with harvesting and an APInot NextRequest

NextRequest

  • Receiving and routing public records and FOIA requestsnot CKAN
  • Tracking request status and statutory deadlines centrallynot CKAN
  • Redacting documents before release with RapidReviewnot CKAN
  • Invoicing and collecting payment for records requestsnot CKAN
  • Publishing a public-facing request portal for residentsnot 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

NextRequest

  • Now sold as part of the CivicPlus product line rather than standalone, and nextrequest.com redirects into the CivicPlus site
  • Pricing is not published
  • Aimed at government agencies, so it is not a general purpose request or ticketing tool

Pricing, plan by plan

CKAN

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

NextRequest

$300/month
  • Standard$300/month
    • Request Management
    • Document Redaction
    • Public Portal

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 NextRequest if

  • You need request intake.
  • You also want workflow management.
NextRequest review

Questions people ask

Is CKAN or NextRequest better?
Neither clearly leads. CKAN starts at Free and NextRequest at $300/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CKAN or NextRequest?
CKAN has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CKAN and $300/month for NextRequest.
Does CKAN or NextRequest run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use CKAN for free?
Yes. CKAN has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. NextRequest starts at $300/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 NextRequest is typically brought in for.
What can CKAN do that NextRequest cannot?
CKAN covers Dataset Management, Data Harvesting, API Access, Visualization. NextRequest covers Request Intake, Workflow Management, Document Redaction, Public Portal. Both handle Web support.
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Related pages

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