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Software · head to head

QuickBooks for Nonprofits vs GuideStar

QuickBooks for Nonprofits logo

QuickBooks for Nonprofits

Software

Accounting software for nonprofits

From
On request
Rated
-
GuideStar logo

GuideStar

Software

Nonprofit profile and intelligence platform

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only GuideStar has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: QuickBooks for Nonprofits covers Accounting, GuideStar covers Nonprofit profile.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which QuickBooks for Nonprofits and GuideStar actually diverge.

Attributes where QuickBooks for Nonprofits and GuideStar differ
AttributeQuickBooks for NonprofitsGuideStar
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, IOS, Android, DesktopWeb, Mobile-responsive
Founded19831995

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 QuickBooks for Nonprofits

  • Accounting
  • Invoice management
  • Expense tracking
  • Financial reporting
  • Donation tracking
  • PayPal
  • Stripe
  • Banking integrations

Only in GuideStar

  • Nonprofit profile
  • Impact data
  • Donor verification
  • Financial transparency
  • Ratings
  • Salesforce
  • Google Analytics
  • Mobile-responsive support

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

QuickBooks for Nonprofits

  • 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.

QuickBooks for Nonprofits

Nothing recorded yet. See the QuickBooks for Nonprofits review.

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

QuickBooks for Nonprofits

On request
  • Simple Start$20/month
    • Basic accounting
    • Invoice management
  • Plus$50/month
    • Project tracking
    • Time tracking
    • Nonprofit reporting

GuideStar

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

Which should you pick?

Choose QuickBooks for Nonprofits if

  • You need accounting.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want invoice 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 QuickBooks for Nonprofits or GuideStar better?
Neither clearly leads. QuickBooks for Nonprofits 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, QuickBooks for Nonprofits or GuideStar?
GuideStar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for QuickBooks for Nonprofits and Free for GuideStar.
Does QuickBooks for Nonprofits or GuideStar run on more platforms?
QuickBooks for Nonprofits runs on Web, IOS, Android, Desktop. GuideStar runs on Web, Mobile-responsive.
Can I use GuideStar for free?
Yes. GuideStar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. QuickBooks for Nonprofits starts at On request.
What is QuickBooks for Nonprofits best used for?
QuickBooks for Nonprofits is most often used for business operations, productivity, automation.
What can QuickBooks for Nonprofits do that GuideStar cannot?
QuickBooks for Nonprofits covers Accounting, Invoice management, Expense tracking, Financial reporting. GuideStar covers Nonprofit profile, Impact data, Donor verification, Financial transparency. Both handle Web support.

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