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Nonprofits · head to head

GiveSmart vs InitLive

GiveSmart logo

GiveSmart

Nonprofits

Mobile bidding and event fundraising for charity auctions and galas

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
InitLive logo

InitLive

Nonprofits

Event management and mobile app platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: GiveSmart licensing is annual while many buyers run a single event a year, so the effective cost per event is far higher than the annual figure makes it look.; InitLive email notification system is weak, lacking ability to track sent emails and resend to unopened recipients
  • They diverge on capability: GiveSmart covers Mobile bidding, InitLive covers Event creation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GiveSmart and InitLive actually diverge.

Attributes where GiveSmart and InitLive differ
AttributeGiveSmartInitLive
Pricing modelquotesubscription
FoundedUnknown2013

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Nonprofits).

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 GiveSmart

  • Mobile bidding
  • Auction management
  • Ticketing and check in
  • Text to give
  • Paddle raise and appeals
  • Payment settlement

Only in InitLive

  • Event creation
  • Mobile app
  • Registration
  • Check-in
  • Feedback collection
  • Networking tools
  • Stripe
  • PayPal

What people use each for

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

GiveSmart

  • A hospital or school foundation running an annual gala with a live and silent auctionnot InitLive
  • An organisation losing revenue to uncollected pledges after event nightnot InitLive
  • A charity running several auction events a year that can amortise an annual licencenot InitLive
  • A team wanting bidding, check in and payment settlement handled by one system on the nightnot InitLive

InitLive

  • Business operationsnot GiveSmart
  • Productivitynot GiveSmart
  • Automationnot GiveSmart

Where each one falls short

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

GiveSmart

  • Licensing is annual while many buyers run a single event a year, so the effective cost per event is far higher than the annual figure makes it look.
  • Pricing is not published, and quotes commonly separate the licence, payment processing, hardware and event night staffing, so the first number a buyer sees is rarely the total.
  • On site technical support and equipment are usually extra, and organisations that decline them discover that event night is the worst possible time to be self supporting.
  • It is event software rather than a donor CRM, so guest and bidder data has to be pushed into the CRM afterwards or the relationship built at the gala is not retained.
  • Consolidation under Community Brands means several nominally competing products share an owner, which reduces the negotiating leverage a buyer thinks a shortlist gives them.

InitLive

  • Email notification system is weak, lacking ability to track sent emails and resend to unopened recipients
  • Discrepancy between mobile app and web version features and functionality
  • Mobile app tablet optimization is suboptimal compared to phone version
  • Initial setup requires substantial preparation time and configuration

Pricing, plan by plan

GiveSmart

On request
  • GiveSmart$undefined/year
    • Quoted as an annual licence rather than per event
    • Payment processing charged separately on funds raised
    • On site staffing, hardware and additional event support quoted as add ons

InitLive

On request
  • Starter$100/month
    • Event creation
    • Basic mobile app
  • Professional$250/month
    • Advanced features
    • Customization
    • Integrations

Which should you pick?

Choose GiveSmart if

  • You need mobile bidding.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want auction management.
GiveSmart review

Choose InitLive if

  • You need event creation.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want mobile app.
InitLive review

Questions people ask

Is GiveSmart or InitLive better?
Neither clearly leads. GiveSmart starts at On request and InitLive at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GiveSmart or InitLive?
GiveSmart starts at On request and InitLive at On request.
Does GiveSmart or InitLive run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is GiveSmart best used for?
GiveSmart is most often used for a hospital or school foundation running an annual gala with a live and silent auction, an organisation losing revenue to uncollected pledges after event night, a charity running several auction events a year that can amortise an annual licence, a team wanting bidding, check in and payment settlement handled by one system on the night. Of those, a hospital or school foundation running an annual gala with a live and silent auction and an organisation losing revenue to uncollected pledges after event night are not what InitLive is typically brought in for.
What can GiveSmart do that InitLive cannot?
GiveSmart covers Mobile bidding, Auction management, Ticketing and check in, Text to give. InitLive covers Event creation, Mobile app, Registration, Check-in.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

GiveSmart: Is GiveSmart priced per event?

It is normally an annual licence, so organisations running one event a year carry the full cost against one night.

InitLive: What communication features does InitLive have?

InitLive includes a broadcasting system that allows sending messages to staff lists with ease, real-time communication during events, and staff can delegate volunteer management to other volunteers.

Source
GiveSmart: Who owns GiveSmart?

Community Brands, the private equity backed nonprofit and association software group that also owns MemberClicks.

InitLive: How is InitLive licensed to nonprofits today?

InitLive was acquired by Bloomerang in March 2023 and rebranded as Bloomerang Volunteer in July 2023. The product continues to operate as part of the Bloomerang nonprofit relationship management platform.

Source
GiveSmart: Does it replace our donor database?

No. It captures bidders and guests at an event and needs to feed a CRM afterwards.

GiveSmart: What is the actual benefit over paper bid sheets?

Bidding continues across the room and payment settles before guests leave, which is where paper auctions lose money.

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