Softwr

Nonprofit & Fundraising · head to head

GuideStar vs Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

GuideStar logo

GuideStar

Nonprofit & Fundraising

Nonprofit profile and intelligence platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge logo

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Nonprofit & Fundraising

Enterprise-grade donor management system

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only GuideStar has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: GuideStar guideStar and Foundation Directory are being retired and merged into a single Candid platform, per Candid's own learning.candid.org help pages, with existing subscribers redirected to log in at app.candid.org; Blackbaud Raiser's Edge pricing is not published and requires a sales conversation
  • They diverge on capability: GuideStar covers Nonprofit profile, Blackbaud Raiser's Edge covers Donor management.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where GuideStar and Blackbaud Raiser's Edge differ
AttributeGuideStarBlackbaud Raiser's Edge
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile-responsiveWeb, Desktop, Mobile
CategoryUnknownNonprofit & Fundraising
Founded19951981

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 GuideStar

  • Nonprofit profile
  • Impact data
  • Donor verification
  • Financial transparency
  • Ratings
  • Google Analytics
  • Mobile-responsive support

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.

GuideStar

  • 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 GuideStar
  • Major gift portfolio management for fundraisersnot GuideStar
  • Campaign and appeal trackingnot GuideStar
  • Prospect research and wealth screeningnot GuideStar
  • Fundraising reporting for boards and fundersnot GuideStar

Where each one falls short

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

GuideStar

  • GuideStar and Foundation Directory are being retired and merged into a single Candid platform, per Candid's own learning.candid.org help pages, with existing subscribers redirected to log in at app.candid.org
  • Candid's own pricing page lists Candid Premium (annual) at $1,199 per year in USD, and $219 per month if billed monthly, with an Ultimate annual tier at $1,699 per year adding compliance monitoring features
  • Candid's free tier limits search results, profile views and dashboards; full grants and profile data downloads are capped even on Premium annual, at 1,000 grants downloads and 5,000 profile downloads per month

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

GuideStar

Free
  • ProfileFree
    • Nonprofit profile
    • Basic data
  • Gold$300/month
    • Enhanced profile
    • Donor verification
    • Impact reporting

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 GuideStar if

  • You need nonprofit profile.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile-responsive.
  • You also want impact data.
GuideStar review

Choose Blackbaud Raiser's Edge if

  • You need donor management.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want gift tracking.
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge review

Questions people ask

Is GuideStar or Blackbaud Raiser's Edge better?
Neither clearly leads. GuideStar 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, GuideStar or Blackbaud Raiser's Edge?
GuideStar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for GuideStar and On request for Blackbaud Raiser's Edge.
Does GuideStar or Blackbaud Raiser's Edge run on more platforms?
GuideStar runs on Web, Mobile-responsive. Blackbaud Raiser's Edge runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use GuideStar for free?
Yes. GuideStar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Blackbaud Raiser's Edge starts at On request.
What is GuideStar best used for?
GuideStar 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 GuideStar do that Blackbaud Raiser's Edge cannot?
GuideStar covers Nonprofit profile, Impact data, Donor verification, Financial transparency. Blackbaud Raiser's Edge covers Donor management, Gift tracking, Prospect research, Campaign management. Both handle Salesforce, Web support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on GuideStar

More on Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Keep looking

Other head to heads