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Software · head to head

MuckRock vs Bang the Table

MuckRock logo

MuckRock

Software

FOIA Filing and Research Platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bang the Table logo

Bang the Table

Software

Community Engagement Platform

From
$600/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only MuckRock has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: MuckRock muckRock's core platform, Squarelet identity service, and DocumentCloud are licensed AGPL-3.0, which requires anyone running a modified version as a network service to release their source code; Bang the Table the Internet Archive's capture of Bang the Table's homepage on 29 December 2020 confirmed its EngagementHQ platform is sold only via demo request, with EngagementIQ support offered as separate 'annual success plan options'; no price figure is published for either.
  • They diverge on capability: MuckRock covers FOIA Filing, Bang the Table covers Online Surveys.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MuckRock and Bang the Table actually diverge.

Attributes where MuckRock and Bang the Table differ
AttributeMuckRockBang the Table
Starting priceFree$600/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20102007

Identical on both: 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 MuckRock

  • FOIA Filing
  • Request Tracking
  • Document Archive
  • Collaboration
  • Agency Directory
  • DocumentCloud
  • News Organizations
  • Research Tools

Only in Bang the Table

  • Online Surveys
  • Discussion Forums
  • Interactive Mapping
  • Story Telling
  • Participation Analytics
  • ArcGIS
  • Google Maps
  • Social Media

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

MuckRock

  • Citizen Services
  • Records Management
  • Public Safety
  • Civic Engagement

Bang the Table

  • Citizen Services
  • Records Management
  • Public Safety
  • Civic Engagement

Both are used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement, 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.

MuckRock

  • MuckRock's core platform, Squarelet identity service, and DocumentCloud are licensed AGPL-3.0, which requires anyone running a modified version as a network service to release their source code

Bang the Table

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Bang the Table's homepage on 29 December 2020 confirmed its EngagementHQ platform is sold only via demo request, with EngagementIQ support offered as separate 'annual success plan options'; no price figure is published for either.

Pricing, plan by plan

MuckRock

Free
  • BasicFree
    • FOIA Filing
    • Request Tracking
    • Document Archive

Bang the Table

$600/month
  • EngagementHQ$600/month
    • Surveys
    • Forums
    • Mapping Tools

Which should you pick?

Choose MuckRock if

  • You need foia filing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want request tracking.
MuckRock review

Choose Bang the Table if

  • You need online surveys.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want discussion forums.
Bang the Table review

Questions people ask

Is MuckRock or Bang the Table better?
Neither clearly leads. MuckRock starts at Free and Bang the Table at $600/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MuckRock or Bang the Table?
MuckRock has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for MuckRock and $600/month for Bang the Table.
Does MuckRock or Bang the Table run on more platforms?
MuckRock runs on Web. Bang the Table runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use MuckRock for free?
Yes. MuckRock has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Bang the Table starts at $600/month.
What is MuckRock best used for?
MuckRock is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement.
What can MuckRock do that Bang the Table cannot?
MuckRock covers FOIA Filing, Request Tracking, Document Archive, Collaboration. Bang the Table covers Online Surveys, Discussion Forums, Interactive Mapping, Story Telling. Both handle Web support.
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Related pages

More on MuckRock

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