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Software · head to head

GuideStar vs Virtuous

GuideStar logo

GuideStar

Software

Nonprofit profile and intelligence platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Virtuous logo

Virtuous

Software

CRM designed for faith-based and mission-driven organizations

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; Virtuous the pricing page publishes no rate, no minimum and no cost driver for any product; every tier says Request Pricing
  • They diverge on capability: GuideStar covers Nonprofit profile, Virtuous covers Donor management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GuideStar and Virtuous actually diverge.

Attributes where GuideStar and Virtuous differ
AttributeGuideStarVirtuous
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile-responsiveWeb, IOS, Android
Founded19952013

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

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
  • Mobile-responsive support

Only in Virtuous

  • Donor management
  • Volunteer tracking
  • Giving analysis
  • Ministry management
  • Stripe
  • PayPal
  • Mailchimp
  • Slack

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

GuideStar

  • Business operationsnot Virtuous
  • Productivitynot Virtuous
  • Automationnot Virtuous

Virtuous

  • Donor management and pipeline tracking for mid-sized and large nonprofitsnot GuideStar
  • Marketing automation and supporter journeys tied to giving datanot GuideStar
  • Online donation forms and giving pages connected to the CRMnot 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

Virtuous

  • The pricing page publishes no rate, no minimum and no cost driver for any product; every tier says Request Pricing
  • Tier eligibility is set by the nonprofit's own annual fundraising revenue, with a $5 million threshold separating Platform from Enterprise
  • CRM+, Raise, Insights, Analytics, Volunteer and Momentum are packaged as separate products, each with its own Request Pricing button
  • Momentum, the AI fundraising agent, is sold separately from the CRM rather than included

Pricing, plan by plan

GuideStar

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

Virtuous

On request
  • Starter$99/month
    • Donor management
    • Volunteer tracking
  • Advanced$199/month
    • Giving analysis
    • Ministry management
    • Email campaigns

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 Virtuous if

  • You need donor management.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want volunteer tracking.
Virtuous review

Questions people ask

Is GuideStar or Virtuous better?
Neither clearly leads. GuideStar starts at Free and Virtuous at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GuideStar or Virtuous?
GuideStar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for GuideStar and On request for Virtuous.
Does GuideStar or Virtuous run on more platforms?
GuideStar runs on Web, Mobile-responsive. Virtuous runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use GuideStar for free?
Yes. GuideStar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Virtuous 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 Virtuous is typically brought in for.
What can GuideStar do that Virtuous cannot?
GuideStar covers Nonprofit profile, Impact data, Donor verification, Financial transparency. Virtuous covers Donor management, Volunteer tracking, Giving analysis, Ministry management. Both handle Web support.
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