Software · head to head
NextRequest vs ClearGov
The short version
- Each has a real cost: NextRequest now sold as part of the CivicPlus product line rather than standalone, and nextrequest.com redirects into the CivicPlus site; ClearGov no pricing is published at any level, and the pricing page states no cost structure or model at all
- They diverge on capability: NextRequest covers Request Intake, ClearGov covers Budget Visualization.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which NextRequest and ClearGov actually diverge.
| Attribute | NextRequest | ClearGov |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $300/month | $200/month |
| Founded | 2015 | 2014 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 NextRequest
- Request Intake
- Workflow Management
- Document Redaction
- Public Portal
- Reporting
- Document Systems
- Payment Processors
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.
NextRequest
- Receiving and routing public records and FOIA requestsnot ClearGov
- Tracking request status and statutory deadlines centrallynot ClearGov
- Redacting documents before release with RapidReviewnot ClearGov
- Invoicing and collecting payment for records requestsnot ClearGov
- Publishing a public-facing request portal for residentsnot ClearGov
ClearGov
- Budget transparency and reporting for local governmentnot NextRequest
- Publishing municipal financial data for residentsnot NextRequest
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
NextRequest
- Now sold as part of the CivicPlus product line rather than standalone, and nextrequest.com redirects into the CivicPlus site
- Pricing is not published
- Aimed at government agencies, so it is not a general purpose request or ticketing tool
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
NextRequest
$300/month- Standard$300/month
- Request Management
- Document Redaction
- Public Portal
ClearGov
$200/month- Transparency$200/month
- Budget Visualization
- Benchmarking
- Public Dashboards
Which should you pick?
Choose ClearGov if
- You need budget visualization.
- You also want financial benchmarking.
Questions people ask
- Is NextRequest or ClearGov better?
- Neither clearly leads. NextRequest starts at $300/month and ClearGov at $200/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, NextRequest or ClearGov?
- NextRequest starts at $300/month and ClearGov at $200/month.
- Does NextRequest or ClearGov run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is NextRequest best used for?
- NextRequest is most often used for receiving and routing public records and foia requests, tracking request status and statutory deadlines centrally, redacting documents before release with rapidreview, invoicing and collecting payment for records requests. Of those, receiving and routing public records and foia requests and tracking request status and statutory deadlines centrally are not what ClearGov is typically brought in for.
- What can NextRequest do that ClearGov cannot?
- NextRequest covers Request Intake, Workflow Management, Document Redaction, Public Portal. ClearGov covers Budget Visualization, Financial Benchmarking, Capital Planning, Digital Budget Books. Both handle Web support.