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Nonprofits · head to head

GuideStar vs Network for Good

GuideStar logo

GuideStar

Nonprofits

Nonprofit profile and intelligence platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Network for Good logo

Network for Good

Nonprofits

Fundraising software for nonprofits

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; Network for Good no pricing information available; vendor directs to quote request form
  • They diverge on capability: GuideStar covers Nonprofit profile, Network for Good covers Online donations.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GuideStar and Network for Good actually diverge.

Attributes where GuideStar and Network for Good differ
AttributeGuideStarNetwork for Good
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
Founded19952000

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), platforms (Web, Mobile-responsive), 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 GuideStar

  • Nonprofit profile
  • Impact data
  • Donor verification
  • Financial transparency
  • Ratings
  • Google Analytics

Only in Network for Good

  • Online donations
  • Donor management
  • Peer-to-peer campaigns
  • Email marketing
  • Analytics
  • Stripe
  • PayPal
  • Mailchimp

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • Web support
  • Mobile-responsive support

What people use each for

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

GuideStar

  • Business operations
  • Productivity
  • Automation

Network for Good

  • Business operations
  • Productivity
  • Automation

Both are used for business operations, productivity, automation, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Network for Good

  • No pricing information available; vendor directs to quote request form
  • Quote-only model with no public pricing transparency
  • Website redirects to demo/consultation request rather than pricing page

Pricing, plan by plan

GuideStar

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

Network for Good

On request
  • Essential$70/month
    • Online donations
    • Donor management
  • Professional$150/month
    • Peer-to-peer campaigns
    • Email marketing
    • Reports

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 Network for Good if

  • You need online donations.
  • You work on Web, Mobile-responsive.
  • You also want donor management.
Network for Good review

Questions people ask

Is GuideStar or Network for Good better?
Neither clearly leads. GuideStar starts at Free and Network for Good at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GuideStar or Network for Good?
GuideStar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for GuideStar and On request for Network for Good.
Does GuideStar or Network for Good run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Mobile-responsive, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use GuideStar for free?
Yes. GuideStar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Network for Good starts at On request.
What is GuideStar best used for?
GuideStar is most often used for business operations, productivity, automation.
What can GuideStar do that Network for Good cannot?
GuideStar covers Nonprofit profile, Impact data, Donor verification, Financial transparency. Network for Good covers Online donations, Donor management, Peer-to-peer campaigns, Email marketing. Both handle Salesforce, Web support, Mobile-responsive support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Network for Good: How does Network for Good price its offerings?

Network for Good does not publish pricing; interested customers must request a demo or contact sales directly for custom quotes.

Source
Network for Good: What products does Network for Good offer?

Network for Good provides fundraising, donor management, and event management solutions for nonprofit organizations.

Source
Network for Good: Is there a free trial available?

Trial information is not available on the public website; customers must contact sales to discuss options.

Source
Network for Good: What support is included?

Support details are not published online; customers should contact Network for Good to discuss service levels and support options.

Source
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Related pages

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