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Software · head to head

Constant Contact vs Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Constant Contact logo

Constant Contact

Software

Email marketing and event management

From
Free
Rated
-
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge logo

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Software

Enterprise-grade donor management system

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Constant Contact has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Constant Contact core plan started at $9.99 per month and Plus plan at $45 per month, both scaling by contact list size rather than a flat rate (Internet Archive capture, 2022); Blackbaud Raiser's Edge pricing is not published and requires a sales conversation
  • They diverge on capability: Constant Contact covers Email marketing, Blackbaud Raiser's Edge covers Donor management.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Constant Contact and Blackbaud Raiser's Edge differ
AttributeConstant ContactBlackbaud Raiser's Edge
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile-responsiveWeb, Desktop, Mobile
Founded19951981

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Constant Contact

  • Email marketing
  • Event management
  • Contact management
  • Automation
  • Analytics
  • Zapier
  • Google Analytics
  • Facebook

Only in Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

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

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Constant Contact

  • Business operationsnot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge
  • Productivitynot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge
  • Automationnot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

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

Where each one falls short

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

Constant Contact

  • Core plan started at $9.99 per month and Plus plan at $45 per month, both scaling by contact list size rather than a flat rate (Internet Archive capture, 2022)

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

  • Pricing is not published and requires a sales conversation
  • Aimed at mid-sized and large nonprofits with dedicated development teams rather than small charities

Pricing, plan by plan

Constant Contact

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic email marketing
    • Contacts up to 100
  • Plus$45/month
    • Advanced features
    • Event management
    • Automation

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Constant Contact if

  • You need email marketing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile-responsive.
  • You also want event management.

Choose Blackbaud Raiser's Edge if

  • You need donor management.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want gift tracking.

Questions people ask

Is Constant Contact or Blackbaud Raiser's Edge better?
Neither clearly leads. Constant Contact starts at Free and Blackbaud Raiser's Edge at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Constant Contact or Blackbaud Raiser's Edge?
Constant Contact has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Constant Contact and On request for Blackbaud Raiser's Edge.
Does Constant Contact or Blackbaud Raiser's Edge run on more platforms?
Constant Contact runs on Web, Mobile-responsive. Blackbaud Raiser's Edge runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use Constant Contact for free?
Yes. Constant Contact has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Blackbaud Raiser's Edge starts at On request.
What is Constant Contact best used for?
Constant Contact is most often used for business operations, productivity, automation. Of those, business operations and productivity are not what Blackbaud Raiser's Edge is typically brought in for.
What can Constant Contact do that Blackbaud Raiser's Edge cannot?
Constant Contact covers Email marketing, Event management, Contact management, Automation. Blackbaud Raiser's Edge covers Donor management, Gift tracking, Prospect research, Campaign management. Both handle Salesforce, Web support.

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