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Nonprofits · head to head

Sumac vs TechSoup

Sumac logo

Sumac

Nonprofits

Modular nonprofit CRM that pairs donor management with client case management

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
T

TechSoup

Nonprofits

Technology solutions and discounts for nonprofits

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only TechSoup has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Sumac pricing is not published at all, so a small organisation cannot compare Sumac against per contact priced competitors without committing to a sales process.; TechSoup plus membership requires $200 annual commitment
  • They diverge on capability: Sumac covers Donor and gift management, TechSoup covers Software marketplace.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Sumac and TechSoup actually diverge.

Attributes where Sumac and TechSoup differ
AttributeSumacTechSoup
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, WindowsWeb
FoundedUnknown1987

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Nonprofits).

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 Sumac

  • Donor and gift management
  • Case management module
  • Memberships and volunteers
  • Grant management
  • Role based permissions
  • Custom fields and forms

Only in TechSoup

  • Software marketplace
  • Hardware discounts
  • Vendor directory
  • Technology resources
  • Training
  • Various vendors
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Sumac

  • A social service agency that must record client cases and donor gifts without buying two systemsnot TechSoup
  • A charity that wants only donor and grant modules and refuses to pay for an events suite it will not usenot TechSoup
  • A Canadian organisation wanting local support hours and receipting conventionsnot TechSoup
  • An agency replacing a legacy Access or FileMaker database with something supportednot TechSoup

TechSoup

  • Business operationsnot Sumac
  • Productivitynot Sumac
  • Automationnot Sumac

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Sumac

  • Pricing is not published at all, so a small organisation cannot compare Sumac against per contact priced competitors without committing to a sales process.
  • The interface reflects the product's age, and staff arriving from consumer grade software find navigation and data entry slower than in newer CRMs.
  • Holding client case notes and donor records in one database makes permission design a compliance obligation, and a misconfigured role can expose confidential client material to fundraising staff.
  • The integration catalogue is small, so payment, email and accounting connections outside the listed few mean manual export or paid custom work.
  • Modular licensing means the price rises in visible steps as programmes expand, and organisations frequently discover the module they need most was not in the original quote.

TechSoup

  • Plus membership requires $200 annual commitment
  • Advanced courses at high original cost ($5,900 valued)
  • Community networking limited to 10 members in dedicated space
  • Chat support only available to Plus members

Pricing, plan by plan

Sumac

On request
  • Sumac$undefined/year
    • Quoted by module selection and organisation size
    • Case management is a separately licensed module
    • Implementation and data migration quoted separately

TechSoup

Free
  • TechSoup CoreFree
    • Up to 90% discounts on 100+ software and hardware
    • Basic and intermediate courses
    • Select webinars
  • TechSoup Plus$200/year
    • All Core benefits
    • Exclusive limited-time partner offers
    • Advanced courses at 80% discount

Which should you pick?

Choose Sumac if

  • You need donor and gift management.
  • You work on Web, Windows.
  • You also want case management module.
Sumac review

Choose TechSoup if

  • You need software marketplace.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want hardware discounts.
TechSoup review

Questions people ask

Is Sumac or TechSoup better?
Neither clearly leads. Sumac starts at On request and TechSoup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Sumac or TechSoup?
TechSoup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Sumac and Free for TechSoup.
Does Sumac or TechSoup run on more platforms?
Sumac runs on Web, Windows. TechSoup runs on Web.
Can I use TechSoup for free?
Yes. TechSoup has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sumac starts at On request.
What is Sumac best used for?
Sumac is most often used for a social service agency that must record client cases and donor gifts without buying two systems, a charity that wants only donor and grant modules and refuses to pay for an events suite it will not use, a canadian organisation wanting local support hours and receipting conventions, an agency replacing a legacy access or filemaker database with something supported. Of those, a social service agency that must record client cases and donor gifts without buying two systems and a charity that wants only donor and grant modules and refuses to pay for an events suite it will not use are not what TechSoup is typically brought in for.
What can Sumac do that TechSoup cannot?
Sumac covers Donor and gift management, Case management module, Memberships and volunteers, Grant management. TechSoup covers Software marketplace, Hardware discounts, Vendor directory, Technology resources.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Sumac: Is Sumac the same product as Societ?

The vendor has been moving its products under the Societ brand, so you may see both names for the same platform during a sales cycle.

TechSoup: How much does TechSoup cost?

TechSoup Core is free, while TechSoup Plus costs $200 per year and includes exclusive offers, advanced courses, expert consultations, and networking events.

Source
Sumac: Can it handle client case management?

Yes, that is its clearest differentiator among donor CRMs. It is a licensed module, not part of the base product.

TechSoup: Is TechSoup free to join?

Yes, TechSoup Core membership is completely free and provides access to 100+ discounted software and hardware solutions from major partners like Microsoft, Adobe, and AWS.

Source
Sumac: Is pricing published?

No. It is quoted by module and organisation size, which makes like for like comparison harder than with published per contact products.

TechSoup: What additional benefits does TechSoup Plus provide?

TechSoup Plus ($200/year) adds exclusive partner offers, advanced courses at 80% discount, expert-led webinars, personalized tech audits, one-on-one consultations, and a dedicated community space.

Source
Sumac: Does it work for US charities?

Yes, though the vendor is Canadian and its receipting and support conventions are strongest for Canadian organisations.

TechSoup: Who qualifies for TechSoup membership?

TechSoup is designed for nonprofits and provides discounted access to software from Microsoft, Adobe, Intuit, AWS, Cisco, Dell, and other technology partners.

Source
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