Softwr

Nonprofits · head to head

GiveSmart vs SignUpGenius

GiveSmart logo

GiveSmart

Nonprofits

Mobile bidding and event fundraising for charity auctions and galas

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SignUpGenius logo

SignUpGenius

Nonprofits

Online sign-up and scheduling tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SignUpGenius has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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.; SignUpGenius specific pricing for paid plans is not published on the main site; users must visit the dedicated pricing page to see exact costs
  • They diverge on capability: GiveSmart covers Mobile bidding, SignUpGenius covers Sign-up forms.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GiveSmart and SignUpGenius actually diverge.

Attributes where GiveSmart and SignUpGenius differ
AttributeGiveSmartSignUpGenius
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Mobile-responsive
FoundedUnknown2000

Identical on both: 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 SignUpGenius

  • Sign-up forms
  • Email reminders
  • Volunteer tracking
  • Scheduling
  • Communication
  • Email
  • Google Calendar
  • Web support

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 SignUpGenius
  • An organisation losing revenue to uncollected pledges after event nightnot SignUpGenius
  • A charity running several auction events a year that can amortise an annual licencenot SignUpGenius
  • A team wanting bidding, check in and payment settlement handled by one system on the nightnot SignUpGenius

SignUpGenius

  • Schools and volunteer coordinators organizing sign-up sheets for shifts, events, and potlucksnot 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.

SignUpGenius

  • Specific pricing for paid plans is not published on the main site; users must visit the dedicated pricing page to see exact costs

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

SignUpGenius

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic sign-up forms
    • Email reminders
  • Premium$19.99/month
    • Advanced customization
    • No ads
    • Premium support

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 SignUpGenius if

  • You need sign-up forms.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile-responsive.
  • You also want email reminders.
SignUpGenius review

Questions people ask

Is GiveSmart or SignUpGenius better?
Neither clearly leads. GiveSmart starts at On request and SignUpGenius at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GiveSmart or SignUpGenius?
SignUpGenius has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for GiveSmart and Free for SignUpGenius.
Does GiveSmart or SignUpGenius run on more platforms?
GiveSmart runs on Web, iOS, Android. SignUpGenius runs on Web, Mobile-responsive.
Can I use SignUpGenius for free?
Yes. SignUpGenius has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. GiveSmart starts at On request.
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 SignUpGenius is typically brought in for.
What can GiveSmart do that SignUpGenius cannot?
GiveSmart covers Mobile bidding, Auction management, Ticketing and check in, Text to give. SignUpGenius covers Sign-up forms, Email reminders, Volunteer tracking, Scheduling.

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.

SignUpGenius: Does SignUpGenius offer a free plan?

Yes. SignUpGenius is free to start with no credit card required. The free plan includes core signup functionality without monthly fees.

Source
GiveSmart: Who owns GiveSmart?

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

SignUpGenius: What do paid SignUpGenius plans include?

Paid plans add more customization options, higher communication limits, and the ability to remove ads from your signup pages. Standard payment processing fees apply to payments collected through the 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.

Share

Related pages

More on GiveSmart

More on SignUpGenius

Keep looking

Other head to heads