Software · head to head
Network for Good vs GuideStar
The short version
- Only GuideStar has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Network for Good network for Good is now sold as Bonterra Network for Good, and Bonterra's own fundraising and engagement pricing page publishes no figure for it; 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
- They diverge on capability: Network for Good covers Online donations, GuideStar covers Nonprofit profile.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Network for Good and GuideStar actually diverge.
| Attribute | Network for Good | GuideStar |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Founded | 2000 | 1995 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), platforms (Web, Mobile-responsive), 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 Network for Good
- Online donations
- Donor management
- Peer-to-peer campaigns
- Email marketing
- Analytics
- Stripe
- PayPal
- Mailchimp
Only in GuideStar
- Nonprofit profile
- Impact data
- Donor verification
- Financial transparency
- Ratings
- Google Analytics
Both cover
- Salesforce
- Web support
- Mobile-responsive support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Network for Good
- Business operations
- Productivity
- Automation
GuideStar
- 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.
Network for Good
- Network for Good is now sold as Bonterra Network for Good, and Bonterra's own fundraising and engagement pricing page publishes no figure for it
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Network for Good
On request- Essential$70/month
- Online donations
- Donor management
- Professional$150/month
- Peer-to-peer campaigns
- Email marketing
- Reports
GuideStar
Free- ProfileFree
- Nonprofit profile
- Basic data
- Gold$300/month
- Enhanced profile
- Donor verification
- Impact reporting
Which should you pick?
Choose Network for Good if
- You need online donations.
- You work on Web, Mobile-responsive.
- You also want donor management.
Choose GuideStar if
- You need nonprofit profile.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile-responsive.
- You also want impact data.
Questions people ask
- Is Network for Good or GuideStar better?
- Neither clearly leads. Network for Good starts at On request and GuideStar at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Network for Good or GuideStar?
- GuideStar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Network for Good and Free for GuideStar.
- Does Network for Good or GuideStar 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 Network for Good best used for?
- Network for Good is most often used for business operations, productivity, automation.
- What can Network for Good do that GuideStar cannot?
- Network for Good covers Online donations, Donor management, Peer-to-peer campaigns, Email marketing. GuideStar covers Nonprofit profile, Impact data, Donor verification, Financial transparency. Both handle Salesforce, Web support, Mobile-responsive support.
Related pages
More on Network for Good
Keep looking
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