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Software · head to head

MuckRock vs ClearGov

MuckRock logo

MuckRock

Software

FOIA Filing and Research Platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ClearGov logo

ClearGov

Software

Financial Transparency for Government

From
$200/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; ClearGov no pricing is published at any level, and the pricing page states no cost structure or model at all
  • They diverge on capability: MuckRock covers FOIA Filing, ClearGov covers Budget Visualization.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MuckRock and ClearGov actually diverge.

Attributes where MuckRock and ClearGov differ
AttributeMuckRockClearGov
Starting priceFree$200/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20102014

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 ClearGov

  • Budget Visualization
  • Financial Benchmarking
  • Capital Planning
  • Digital Budget Books
  • Public Dashboards
  • Tyler Munis
  • OpenGov
  • Excel

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

MuckRock

  • Citizen Servicesnot ClearGov
  • Records Managementnot ClearGov
  • Public Safetynot ClearGov
  • Civic Engagementnot ClearGov

ClearGov

  • Budget transparency and reporting for local governmentnot MuckRock
  • Publishing municipal financial data for residentsnot MuckRock

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

ClearGov

  • No pricing is published at any level, and the pricing page states no cost structure or model at all
  • No cost driver such as population, budget size or user count is named
  • The only routes to a figure are an email address and a demo booking

Pricing, plan by plan

MuckRock

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

ClearGov

$200/month
  • Transparency$200/month
    • Budget Visualization
    • Benchmarking
    • Public Dashboards

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 ClearGov if

  • You need budget visualization.
  • You also want financial benchmarking.
ClearGov review

Questions people ask

Is MuckRock or ClearGov better?
Neither clearly leads. MuckRock starts at Free and ClearGov at $200/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MuckRock or ClearGov?
MuckRock has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for MuckRock and $200/month for ClearGov.
Does MuckRock or ClearGov run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use MuckRock for free?
Yes. MuckRock has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ClearGov starts at $200/month.
What is MuckRock best used for?
MuckRock is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement. Of those, citizen services and records management are not what ClearGov is typically brought in for.
What can MuckRock do that ClearGov cannot?
MuckRock covers FOIA Filing, Request Tracking, Document Archive, Collaboration. ClearGov covers Budget Visualization, Financial Benchmarking, Capital Planning, Digital Budget Books. Both handle Web support.
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Related pages

More on MuckRock

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