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Nonprofits · head to head

GuideStar vs SignUpGenius

GuideStar logo

GuideStar

Nonprofits

Nonprofit profile and intelligence platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SignUpGenius logo

SignUpGenius

Nonprofits

Online sign-up and scheduling tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; 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: GuideStar covers Nonprofit profile, SignUpGenius covers Sign-up forms.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GuideStar and SignUpGenius actually diverge.

Attributes where GuideStar and SignUpGenius differ
AttributeGuideStarSignUpGenius
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Founded19952000

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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
  • Salesforce
  • Google Analytics

Only in SignUpGenius

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

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Mobile-responsive support

What people use each for

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

GuideStar

  • Business operationsnot SignUpGenius
  • Productivitynot SignUpGenius
  • Automationnot SignUpGenius

SignUpGenius

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

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

GuideStar

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

SignUpGenius

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

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 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 GuideStar or SignUpGenius better?
Neither clearly leads. GuideStar starts at Free and SignUpGenius at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GuideStar or SignUpGenius?
GuideStar starts at Free and SignUpGenius at Free.
Does GuideStar or SignUpGenius 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?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 SignUpGenius is typically brought in for.
What can GuideStar do that SignUpGenius cannot?
GuideStar covers Nonprofit profile, Impact data, Donor verification, Financial transparency. SignUpGenius covers Sign-up forms, Email reminders, Volunteer tracking, Scheduling. Both handle Web support, Mobile-responsive support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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Related pages

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