The Best Membership Management Software
Our guide to the top membership management software is backed by over twenty-five years of research and user reviews, weighing key features like member portals and marketing tools.
- No cap on users
- Unlimited online giving pages/forms
- Strong training and support
- Free for organizations raising under $1,000/month
- Multiple donation payment methods available
- Salesforce integration
- Offers flyer and newsletter templates
- Website building capabilities
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
Membership management software helps organizations automate registration, dues collection, communication, and event organization. Here’s a rundown of our top products based on our internal review process and user reviews from nonprofits and associations.
- Bloomerang: Best Overall
- Donorbox: Best for Nonprofits
- Wild Apricot: Best for Clubs
- NationBuilder: Best for Volunteer Management
- Growthzone AMS: Best for Trade Associations
- MemberClicks: Best for Professional Associations
1 Bloomerang - Best Overall
Why we chose it: Bloomerang is our top pick overall because it’s highly effective in centralizing donor and constituent management. The platform allows organizations to create comprehensive profiles, capturing each constituent’s contact info, donation history, and engagement activities. We also found Bloomerang adept at engagement tracking and customizable reporting, providing insights into campaign effectiveness.
One of Bloomerang’s key strengths is its unlimited user access and online giving pages, which broadens the scope for fundraising campaigns and constituent participation. With strong donor segmentation tools, the app allows nonprofits to create targeted and personalized communication strategies. Finally, the software integrates with social media platforms and marketing tools like MailChimp, facilitating direct communication with constituents.
2 Donorbox - Best for Nonprofits
Why we chose it: We found Donorbox best for nonprofits because it makes the donation process as simple and efficient as possible. It allows for easy setup of weekly, monthly, and annual recurring donations without requiring donors to navigate a separate registration page or re-enter their information. The platform also supports several payment methods, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, ACH, and SEPA bank transfers.
Donorbox’s key features include contactless payments, pop-up donation forms, and goal meters, all secured with SSL/TLS encryption to protect donor data. The platform also provides tax receipts and allows for Google eCommerce and Adwords tracking, adding an analytical dimension to the donation process. The platform offers easy donation page setup, multi-currency support, and communication in multiple languages, broadening organizations’ potential donor base. Finally, Donorbox’s Goal Meter and Donor Wall features help visualize campaign success and engage the donor community by displaying messages and comments.
3 Wild Apricot - Best for Clubs
Why we chose it: We added Wild Apricot as a versatile and user-friendly pick for medium-sized clubs. Its integrated approach, combined with the ease of use and broad functionality, helps clubs attract and retain members. To that end, Wild Apricot includes member database management, a website builder with ready-to-use themes, online payment processing, email and contact databases, and mobile solutions.
Wild Apricot’s website builder allows organizers to build custom, responsive websites that reflect their club’s identity. They can create members-only pages to offer exclusive content, set up a club blog to share updates and facilitate discussions in member forums. Wild Apricot also makes it easy to keep members informed and engaged with integrated email tools, allowing you to send newsletters, event announcements, and important updates directly from the platform.
4 NationBuilder - Best for Volunteer Management
Why we chose it: NationBuilder made our list because of its strong volunteer coordination functionalities. It integrates website building, membership management, communication with supporters, and effective fundraising within a centralized hub, making it ideal for political campaigns, non-profit organizations, and advocacy groups.
The software offers a supporter database with advanced filtering, segmentation, and mapping tools, making managing and engaging volunteers easier. Its outreach capabilities include mass emailing and texting tools with scheduling options and unlimited sends to opted-in lists. Additionally, NationBuilder provides a customizable website platform that allows for action-focused page templates, volunteer pages with customizable roles, and peer-to-peer recruiting and tracking tools, which are key for mobilizing and managing volunteers effectively.
We also wanted to mention NationBuilder’s utility for volunteer-driven campaigns, offering readymade pages for various donation types and recruiter and fundraiser tracking. This makes it easier for organizations to raise funds while managing their volunteer base.
5 Growthzone AMS - Best for Trade Associations
Why we chose it: We picked Growthzone AMS for trade associations representing entire industries. Overall, the software is good at helping engage a wider range of businesses, from small firms to large corporations. Marketing tools enable trade associations to tailor communication to diverse members and promote industry standards, events, and advocacy efforts. In fact, Growthzone includes a built-in marketing automation module specifically designed for growth-focused management. This module ensures each member receives relevant information at the right time, improving engagement and retention rates.
Additionally, Growthzone’s mobile staff app affords on-the-go access to essential functions like event coordination and payment processing. The system has contact management capabilities that enable efficient handling of member data, including billing and communication. Staff members can view, edit, and add contacts directly from the app to the database.
6 MemberClicks - Best for Professional Associations
Why we chose it: We found MemberClicks best for professional associations because it offers specialized tools designed to meet their unique requirements. Professional associations often focus on individual memberships from specific professions, including varying membership levels, certifications, and continuing education. MemberClicks addresses these challenges with dedicated features, like complex membership fee structures, certification renewals, and event registration tools.
Additionally, MemberClicks is recognized for its user-friendly website-building tools and responsive tech support, useful for associations looking to enhance their online presence and member engagement. Its integration with QuickBooks further streamlines accounting processes, making it easier to manage financials.
What Is Membership Management Software?
Membership management software (MMS) helps organizations (associations, clubs, communities, nonprofits, and other membership-based businesses) attract and retain members, automate and simplify billing, and create member events and resources. Also known as association management software, these cloud-based systems also contain customer relationship management (CRM) software, which centralizes and streamlines communication.
Membership software has customizable, flexible systems for group/family memberships, different levels of memberships, document sharing, and more. And members can use their portals to upgrade/downgrade their memberships, refer new members, sign up for events, and communicate with their organization and its members. Organizations can set up online billing systems for easy payment and dues collection.
Features of Membership Management Software
- Member Directory: Store, view, and edit detailed lists of current, past, and prospective members. Add and remove members, update their membership status, change contact information, change their category, or add them to a new chapter. Customizable tools let associations organize and label their members in different ways.
- Event Management: Manage every part of the event through MMS. Advertise the event, sell tickets, sell sponsorships, facilitate communication between organizers and attendees, post schedules, reserve rooms, and more.
- Online Billing: Facilitate secure, online payments through many payment methods, like credit cards, bank transfers, and PayPa. Members can set up different payment plans, automatic renewals, receive discounts, and more.
- Referral Tracking: Members can send referral links with information and application forms to prospective members. Track rewards for successful referrals, and give promotions to people being referred.
- Member Portal: Each member will have their own page through the service. They can modify their membership, communicate with other members and the organization/different chapters, cancel their membership, renew their membership, sign up for events, see and post jobs, and more. The portal will hold past actions and payment information for easy auditing.
- Email Marketing and Lead Generation: Collect leads through referrals, online applications, email inquiries, and more. And then the MMS will compile those
- Reports and Analytics: Generate reports on finances, enrollment, engagement, and event attendance. Project into the future to help make decisions for spending and revenue goals. Show the value of your organization through returns on investment from members.
- Payment Processing: Let members, sponsors, vendors, and more pay online. Securely accept different types of payments, send invoices, alert people to upcoming/overdue payments, set up payment plans, and more.
- Job Boards: Administrators can aggregate and advertise job openings specific to their field or association/trade. And job seekers can view and apply for high-quality positions within their industries.
- Online Membership Application: Allow prospective members to apply online instead of communicating with a staff member. This lets people apply when it is most convenient, and it collects information and leads for member organizations with little manpower.
- Event Apps: Members can download apps for organizations and specific events, which helps with event registration and better member engagement at events. Attendees can build their schedules, share contact information, and more.
Benefits of Membership Management Software
Membership management software automates administrative work, freeing up time and resources for members. And MMS helps organizations create detailed reports and analyses, leading to better decision-making. It also helps users by giving them more visibility and autonomy over their membership, payments, membership history, and more. And by using a centralized communication tool, members can more effectively communicate and share information with their association and fellow members.
Recruit and Retain Members
Membership management software can embed applications and inquiries into associations’ websites, and this information will be stored and organized in a recruitment tool. Any promotions, marketing tools, and communications can be sent to individuals and groups from a centralized tool.
Once users have signed up, they can manage their memberships on their own. Association administrators will have easy tools to communicate with members, attend organization events, receive licenses and accreditations, and provide other services to members. Members can set up auto-payments and upgrade/downgrade their memberships.
Manage Events and Personal Development Programs
Conferences and networking events are important for organizations, and member management software can help gauge interest and sell tickets. MMS also supports event attendees through a mobile app, which will save their tickets and credentials, give them information about their individual schedules, and will provide general information about the event.
Personal and professional development tools can be shared with members through their individual portals. And members can more easily meet, communicate, and collaborate.
High Visibility of Enrollment and Budgets
Member data is stored in a central location, and any updates are automatically registered across the entire platform. Administrators can see enrollment and financial trends across various timelines, and they can project future enrollment and budgets into the future. This information helps organizations plan fundraising strategies, producing development materials, planning events, and more.
Pricing of Membership Management Software
Membership management software starts at $19/month to $275/month. The exact pricing for membership management software scales upward and downward depending on enrollment, features, users, and more. Some offer set monthly pricing, while others give customized quotes for enterprise-level organizations.
Other fees and charges are added by some membership management solutions. Some will charge service fees for transactions made through their software. And some will charge for training, implementation, and integration. Others will charge to add more storage, member profiles, and other add-ons.
Membership management software can offer discounts, as well. Some MMS will give discounts for nonprofit organizations. And some will give volume discounts for organizations with multiple chapters, branches, or groups. Most MMS will offer free trials, as well. And there are some free membership management software.
Types of Organizations Using Membership Management Software
Clubs, gyms, professional organizations, social groups, chambers of commerce, and trade associations require systems to recruit, retain, manage, serve, and communicate with prospects, members, sponsors, and alumni. Most membership management software will address all of these needs for most organizations, but there are specialized software for particular groups. And some software will serve some groups better than others.
Trade Associations and Professional Associations
Trade and professional associations exist to advance the cause of their trades and the workers therein. Collecting dues from professionals helps industries advocate and lobby, host conferences and other events, and create professional development material. And members will have transparent access to where funds are being spent and ways to communicate with their professional associations.
It also makes it simpler for members to apply for, earn, pay for, and receive certifications and licenses through their trade groups. Members can communicate with their trade group representatives, but they can also communicate and network with other members from all over the world. This can lead to better problem-solving and collaboration.
Sororities, Fraternities, and Alumni Associations
There is some member management software specifically for Greek life at universities. They help with pledging, collecting dues, managing members, managing multiple chapters, tracking volunteer and charity events, fundraising, and alumni engagement.
These tools can be used by individual chapters and the lead administrators of the organizations. Alumni can continue to engage with their organization throughout their lives and create and sign up for various events. Specific job boards can be created and shared with members. Fundraising and philanthropy campaigns can be created and run through the membership management system.
Health and Fitness
With member management systems, gyms, studios, and fitness centers can offer different membership tiers, with associated features and costs. Members can renew, update their memberships, refer others, and pay online. And organizations can track things like student or senior discounts, family pricing, and promotions.
These software systems can also track attendance, which helps project needs going forward. And they help recruit members with targeting emails, text messages, and phone calls.
Chambers of Commerce
With member management tools, chambers of commerce can more easily manage and benefit their members. Members can personally access available resources without contacting the chamber. They can also request resources through a centralized communication tool.
Automate Tasks With Membership Management Software
Automating tasks helps both organizations and their members. It helps cut costs for organizations, which can lead to cheaper dues payments or can be used on more services. Automating renewals, membership levels, payments, membership durations, and adds transparency, consistency, and member satisfaction.
Renewals
Members can log in to their accounts and renew their memberships independently. They can set up one-time payments to do so, or they can set up automatic payments to make recurring renewals as simple as possible. Users can set up different types of renewals from a single dashboard for multiple chapters. And you can send notifications to members to remind them to renew or to alert them to an upcoming payment.
Flexible Membership Plans
Members can choose to adjust their membership levels, and that information will be automatically logged in to the member directory. The costs, features, and benefits of specific membership types/levels will then automatically be reflected in users’ accounts.
Discounts, Promotions, and Holds
Organizations can offer discounts, promotions, holds/freezes, and other adjustments to memberships. Administrators can give out trial memberships, giving modified access to prospective users for predetermined periods of time. Or, instead of completely canceling a membership, let members freeze or hold their accounts. Allow their information to be stored on your system and their accounts active, but freeze certain features, benefits, and charges. And built-in custom or pre-built promotions for certain users and organizations.
Billing
Membership management software has PCI-compliant online payment services to help process dues and non-dues payments. Payment services like PayPal, Authorize.net, and Stripe integrate with the membership management systems, which automates credit card and other types of payments. Some member management software can handle multiple currencies, as well, to aid international organizations.
