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Government · head to head

DemandStar vs Mark43

DemandStar logo

DemandStar

Government

Bid distribution network that is free for government agencies and charges the suppliers instead

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mark43 logo

Mark43

Government

Modern Public Safety Software

From
$2000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only DemandStar has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DemandStar coverage is opt-in by agency, so a supplier paying for a state tier receives only participating agencies and must still monitor other portals for the rest.; Mark43 no published pricing on homepage; sales contact required for all cost details
  • They diverge on capability: DemandStar covers Free for agencies, Mark43 covers Computer-Aided Dispatch.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DemandStar and Mark43 actually diverge.

Attributes where DemandStar and Mark43 differ
AttributeDemandStarMark43
Starting priceFree$2000/month
Pricing modelFree for agencies, per year by geographic coverage for supplierssubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2012

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 DemandStar

  • Free for agencies
  • Commodity code matching
  • eBidding
  • Plan holder lists
  • Supplier registration
  • Geographic subscription tiers

Only in Mark43

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

What people use each for

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

DemandStar

  • A city purchasing officer who wants wider bid distribution without running a procurement to buy softwarenot Mark43
  • A contractor who works in three adjacent counties and wants notifications only for that footprintnot Mark43
  • An agency needing sealed electronic bid submission to replace paper deliveries to the clerknot Mark43
  • A supplier testing whether public sector work is viable before committing to a national subscriptionnot Mark43

Mark43

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

Where each one falls short

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

DemandStar

  • Coverage is opt-in by agency, so a supplier paying for a state tier receives only participating agencies and must still monitor other portals for the rest.
  • The free supplier tier charges around 5 US dollars per bid document download, which turns an apparently free plan into a metered one as soon as you actually pursue opportunities.
  • State pricing ranges from roughly 100 to 1,499 US dollars with the variation driven by agency density, so suppliers cannot predict cost from geography alone.
  • Because agencies pay nothing, they have little leverage over the roadmap and features are driven by what makes supplier subscriptions sell.
  • The brand is being folded into Euna OpenBid following the Euna Solutions consolidation, so suppliers and agencies should expect the name and portal to change.

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

DemandStar

Free
  • Government agencyFree
    • Post unlimited solicitations
    • Access the supplier network
    • eBidding and plan holder lists
  • Supplier freeFree
    • Bid notifications for one agency of your choice
    • Bid document downloads charged around 5 USD each
    • Supplier profile and registration
  • Supplier county$60/year
    • All participating agencies within one county
    • Unlimited bid document access for that county
    • Approximate rate, varies by county
  • Supplier state$100/year
    • All participating agencies within one state
    • Priced from around 100 to 1,499 USD depending on agency density

Mark43

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

Which should you pick?

Choose DemandStar if

  • You need free for agencies.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want commodity code matching.
DemandStar 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 DemandStar or Mark43 better?
Neither clearly leads. DemandStar 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, DemandStar or Mark43?
DemandStar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for DemandStar and $2000/month for Mark43.
Does DemandStar or Mark43 run on more platforms?
DemandStar runs on Web. Mark43 runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use DemandStar for free?
Yes. DemandStar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mark43 starts at $2000/month.
What is DemandStar best used for?
DemandStar is most often used for a city purchasing officer who wants wider bid distribution without running a procurement to buy software, a contractor who works in three adjacent counties and wants notifications only for that footprint, an agency needing sealed electronic bid submission to replace paper deliveries to the clerk, a supplier testing whether public sector work is viable before committing to a national subscription. Of those, a city purchasing officer who wants wider bid distribution without running a procurement to buy software and a contractor who works in three adjacent counties and wants notifications only for that footprint are not what Mark43 is typically brought in for.
What can DemandStar do that Mark43 cannot?
DemandStar covers Free for agencies, Commodity code matching, eBidding, Plan holder lists. Mark43 covers Computer-Aided Dispatch, Records Management, Evidence Management, Analytics.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DemandStar: Is DemandStar free for governments?

Yes, entirely. Agencies post solicitations and access the supplier network at no cost; suppliers fund the platform.

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
DemandStar: What do suppliers pay?

Free for one agency with roughly 5 USD per document download, about 60 USD a year per county, 100 to 1,499 per state, and 2,699 for national coverage.

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
DemandStar: Who owns DemandStar?

Euna Solutions, the public sector portfolio formerly known as GTY Technology, which also absorbed Bonfire and Ion Wave.

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
DemandStar: Does it cover every agency?

No. Only agencies that have opted in, which is the main limitation for suppliers buying wide coverage.

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