Association technology has made leaps and bounds in recent years, and modern organizations need a host of tools to provide valuable offerings, acquire new members, collect dues revenue, and ensure day-to-day operations go off without a hitch.
The centerpiece of any association’s technology stack is its association management software (AMS).
When it comes to choosing an AMS that meets their needs, associations have a wide range of options to choose from, with different vendors specializing in different features, organization sizes, industries, and organization types.
To help your association assess your options, this guide will take a look at the top AMS solutions currently on the market.
What is association management software?
Association management software is a suite of tools associations and member-based organizations use to manage daily operations. When compared to front-facing member engagement and community management tools, AMSs primarily focus on back-end processes.
Additionally, an AMS has some similarities but is ultimately different from a customer relationship management (CRM) system. While both store data about an organization’s constituents, AMSs include features geared toward associations specifically. In contrast, CRMs are used by a wide range of organizations to improve customer relationships. In fact, some associations even use both an AMS and a CRM.
What features should association management software include?
AMSs are a collection of features, and different vendors focus on different tools. However, most popular AMSs contain similar sets of features, which include:
- Membership portal: A member portal allows members to log in to your association’s website to access member-exclusive content and self-service tools.
- Membership management: Keep your members organized with tools for recording each member’s data, such as member profiles and a membership directory.
- Communication: Stay in touch with your members through text messages and emails. Many AMSs provide automated communication tools to reduce your team’s administrative burden.
- Event management: Associations that host major in-person events, such as annual conferences, often invest in separate event platforms. However, many AMS solutions provide basic event management and hosting tools to support online and small in-person events.
- Finances: Set membership fees and collect dues revenue through your AMS. Some tools also enable associations to set grace periods and send renewal reminders.
- Reporting and analytics: Track every part of your association’s operations, such as your member acquisition, engagement, and retention rates.
- Community engagement: While not as common as the other features on this list, some associations provide community engagement tools, which allow your members to connect with one another.
Additionally, when assessing an AMS, consider its integration capabilities. If an AMS has numerous ready-made integrations, you can continue updating your platform to fit your needs without requiring custom middleware solutions.
How much does association management software cost?
Association management software solutions vary in price, though most vendors operate on a subscription model. While some platforms have their pricing details available online, others have custom pricing models that require prospective customers to reach out individually for more information.
20 Association Management Software Vendors
Tradewing
Tradewing is unique among AMS solutions due to its focus on community engagement. Tradewing includes both an AMS and a dedicated member engagement platform that enables association communities to meet online, network, and collaborate all year round.
Associations interested in Tradewing can purchase either the AMS and community engagement platform together or just the community engagement tool, which can integrate with a range of popular AMSs. This means if you see another AMS on this list that fits your needs but lacks community engagement features, Tradewing might be the answer.
Audience: Small, medium, and growing trade and professional associations looking for a community engagement tool.
Top Features:
- Community engagement platform. Tradewing creates a private, social media-like site where your members can post content, comment on each other’s posts, form group chats, and freely network online.
- Membership management. Keep members organized and reduce churn with Tradewing’s membership profiles, custom membership applications, and custom grace period tools.
- Event management. Promote and host events with Tradewing’s virtual event management tools built into its community engagement platform.
- Sponsor engagement. Help sponsors connect with your community by creating dedicated sponsor pages, promoting sponsors on your community engagement platform, and featuring sponsors during events.
- Email marketing. Take a data-driven approach to email marketing with Tradewing’s member segmenting and targeting tools.
Pricing: Reach out to Tradewing’s team to request a demo and get more pricing information.
Fonteva
For associations looking to grow, Fonteva is an intuitive, scalable AMS built on the Salesforce platform. Fonteva transforms your association’s Salesforce platform into an association and membership management tool.
Audience: Trade and professional associations, association management companies, fraternities and sororities, local governments, and customer groups that leverage Salesforce
Top Features:
- Membership management
- eCommerce capabilities
- Event management
- Salesforce apps compatibility
- Payment processing
Pricing: Contact Fonteva’s team to get a demo and custom quote.
WildApricot
WildApricot is a cloud-based, all-in-one association management software solution that simplifies member management by automating key administrative tasks. Serving a wide range of organization types, WildApricot is a flexible platform with innovative member data collection tools, allowing your organization to capture and leverage the information you need.
Audience: Small and growing associations, nonprofits, chambers of commerce, and clubs
Top Features:
- Association CRM
- Membership database
- Website builder
- Mobile app
- Membership dues management features
Pricing: WildApricot’s pricing varies depending on your number of contacts and whether you pay monthly or opt for WildApricot’s 1- or 2-year subscription plans, which respectively provide a 10% and 15% discount.
Protech
Leveraging powerful software from Microsoft like Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power BI, Protech Associates is an association management software system for organizations using Microsoft tools. By seamlessly connecting with Microsoft products, you can eliminate data silos to get a complete view of your members.
Audience: Trade and professional associations that use Microsoft products
Top Features:
- Member data and analytics
- Fundraising
- Event, sponsorship, and exhibit support
- Marketing and communication
- Membership management
Pricing: Reach out to the Protech team to request a demo and get a quote.
Novi AMS
Quickbooks is the go-to accounting software platform for a wide range of organizations, including associations. Novi AMS is designed for associations that use Quickbooks, and it comes with a pre-built integration that provides two-way communication between your association and accounting tool.
Audience: Trade and professional associations that use Quickbooks
Top Features:
- Detail financial reporting
- Commerce capabilities
- Membership database
- Website builder
- Administrative workflow management
Pricing: Novi AMS’s pricing depends on your association’s size and includes both an annual subscription cost and an initial onboarding fee.
Hivebrite
Hivebrite is a community management platform that lets associations improve their member experience with a centralized online member meeting place. Hivebrite known for offering a unique set of community engagement tools. However, due to its focus on large organizations, it can be overwhelming for many smaller associations, who may prefer more cost-effective, out-of-the-box ready alternatives.
Audience: Enterprise-sized associations, businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions.
Top Features:
- Community engagement platform
- Membership management
- Content management
- Customizable branding options
- Custom workflow creation
Pricing: Contact Hivebrite’s team for a custom quote.
GrowthZone
GrowthZone aims to help associations do more with their limited time by streamlining administrative processes, providing a customizable dashboard, and empowering members with self-service tools. With the ability to manage your internal processes faster, GrowthZone lives up to its name by helping associations scale up as fast as possible.
Audience: Trade and professional associations in a wide range of industries, including but not limited to business, health and safety, engineering and science, chambers of commerce, and education
Top Features:
- Project management capabilities
- Form builder
- Sponsor and advertisement support
- Mobile app
- Membership directory
Pricing: GrowthZone subscriptions start at $3,985 annually.
Nimble AMS
Built on Salesforce, Nimble AMS promises to boost associations' return on investment with automation, analytics, and AI features that improve the member experience. Whether your goal is to increase memberships, eliminate low-value work, or create meaningful member engagement experiences, Nimble AMS can help associations using the Salesforce platform.
Audience: Associations leveraging Salesforce products, specifically Salesforce Experience Cloud
Top Features:
- Event and exhibit management
- Workflow automation
- Open API
- AI and predictive analytics
- Continuous improvement updates
Pricing: Reach out to Nimble AMS’s team to get a custom quote.
Glue Up
Glue Up describes itself as “all-in-one AI association software” and offers associations a wide range of tools in one package, including a CRM, member management features, and more. By combining all of your association’s tools into one system, you can better understand and optimize each member’s engagement.
Audience: Associations, chambers of commerce, conference organizers, consultancy firms, corporations, financial services, and nonprofit organizations
Top Features:
- Speed networking software
- Webinar management tools
- Credentialing tools
- Task management features
- Chapter management capabilities
Pricing: Glue Up offers subscription plans for as low as $2,500 per year. Reach out to their team to get a custom quote.
iMIS
iMIS bills itself not as association management software but as an engagement management system (EMS). An EMS is an all-in-one tool that combines the top features of association management software, content management systems, and constituent relationship management systems. This means associations can manage their members, backend processes, and content from one centralized tool.
Audience: Trade and professional associations, unions, regulatory bodies, ministry and faith-based organizations, and nonprofit organizations
Top Features:
- CRM and data management
- Website management
- Community outreach tools
- Fundraising management
- Learning management
Pricing: Small associations can get started with iMIS for $7,200/year with a one-time installation fee of $15,000. Large associations interested in iMIS’s enterprise plan should contact the iMIS team for a custom quote.
ClubExpress
Small organizations, especially those primarily operated by volunteers, benefit from fast, out-of-the-box tools like ClubExpress. Built for clubs and hobbyist organizations, ClubExpress can also support small associations by providing member management tools and a website builder.
Audience: Small associations, clubs, chambers of commerce, and homeowners associations
Top Features:
- Member database
- Website builder
- Mobile app
- eLearning support
- Discussion forums
Pricing: ClubExpress is more cost-effective the more members you have. Organizations with up to 200 members have a subscription cost of $42 per month, while organizations with between 500 and 1,000 members only pay $30 per month. Organizations with more than 1,000 members should reach out to get a custom quote.
memberplanet
Members-based organizations of all types, including associations, can grow and engage their communities with memberplanet. memberplanet creates a customizable member hub that aims to make association engagement as frictionless as possible for both your members and your staff.
Audience: Associations, nonprofits, schools, booster clubs, fraternities, PTAs, faith-based groups, homeowners associations, and educational foundations
Top Features:
- Membership directory
- Fundraising support
- Customizable reports
- Website support
- API integrations
Pricing: memberplanet starts at $50/month for its essentials package and offers a $175/month premium plan for expanded features. Enterprise-sized organizations can reach out for custom quotes. Additionally, memberplanet has a number of individually priced upgrades, such as a $100 additional training add-on.
ToucanTech
Specializing in alumni communities, ToucanTech is an association management software solution that provides tools for forming communities, enabling networking, and running fundraisers.
Audience: Associations and alumni groups
Top Features:
- Website management
- Event management
- Job board capabilities
- Fundraising support
- Member database
Pricing: Contact ToucanTech’s team to request a demo and get a quote.
Member365
Associations that need a robust, flexible association management software solution can look to Member365. With over 100 pre-built integrations with top association tools, organizations that invest in Member 365 can leverage an AMS that grows alongside their organization.
Audience: Associations and nonprofits
Top Features:
- Discussion forums
- Content library
- Financial management
- CRM
- Certification tools
Pricing: Member365’s prices begin at $279/month for its starter package and scale up to its $479/month growth package, which accommodates up to 25,000 contacts. Associations can also purchase premium features and support options for an additional cost, such as a learning management system for $129/month or the ability to chat with support staff at any time for $99/month.
Neon CRM
Neon One is a leading CRM for nonprofits, and it lends its comprehensive supporter management tools to help associations through Neon CRM for Associations. Along with the base Neon CRM, this suite of tools includes a range of features for managing members.
Audience: Neon One serves nonprofits and associations, with the Neon CRM tailored to nonprofits’ needs and the Neon CRM for Associations catering to an association audience
Top Features:
- Member portal
- Custom member applications
- Workflow automation
- Communication tools
- Non-dues revenue tracking
Pricing: Neon CRM for Associations comes at multiple price points, starting at $109/month for organizations making under $1 million in revenue. Additionally, Neon has a required data and implementation one-time fee of $349.
StarChapter
Associations with multiple chapters need unique tools that can handle a range of member engagement situations. StarChapter is designed with these associations in mind, providing flexible tools that promise to boost member engagement by 19%.
Audience: Associations with multiple chapters
Top Features:
- Pre-built website templates
- Event registration
- Email marketing
- Board management
- Member management
Pricing: StarChapter prices vary depending on your number of members, starting at $103/month with a $1,169 setup fee for associations with 150 members or less. Additionally, StarChapter has special price plans for especially small associations of under 50 members, starting at just $53/month with a $599 setup fee.
Join It
If you’re looking for a flexible association management software solution that anyone can use regardless of technical ability, consider Join It. A highly customizable platform, Join It serves a number of audiences, including professional associations who can leverage this AMS to stay in touch with their members.
Audience: Professional associations and clubs, nonprofits, gyms, homeowners associations, alumni groups, churches, co-working spaces, and event organizers
Top Features:
- Digital membership cards
- Customizable CRM
- Robust billing features
- Membership management
- Website builder
Pricing: Join It has several subscription packages, starting at $29/month for organizations of 500 members or less.
YourMembership
With over 25 years of experience serving associations, YourMembership is built by a team that understands the ins and outs of association professionals' daily responsibilities. With a focus on small organizations, YourMembership prioritizes streamlining day-to-day operations so your association can put its focus where it matters most: your members.
Audience: Small professional associations, nonprofits, and association management companies
Top Features:
- Member management
- Online community support
- Dashboard
- Workflow automation
- eCommerce
Pricing: Request a demo to get a quote.
MemberLeap
The intuitive, cloud-based association management software solution MemberLeap aims to help associations manage and master every part of their online presence. From a scalable AMS solution to custom website design, MemberLeap is happy to help associations of any size.
Audience: Trade and professional associations and nonprofits
Top Features:
- Custom website development
- AI assistant
- Learning management system
- Email marketing
- Membership database
Pricing: MemberLeap’s pricing depends on your features package as well as your number of contacts. Additionally, associations interested in custom website development must pay a separate fee for that service.
MemberClicks
MemberClicks is an association management software solution dedicated to helping associations build lifelong member relationships. Get a full view of your members to craft engaging outreach materials, facilitate networking, and drive event revenue.
Audience: Professional and trade associations, chambers of commerce, and association management companies
Top Features:
- Committee management
- CRM
- Email marketing
- Payment processing
- Submission review tools
Pricing: For associations serving individual members (as opposed to members that are organizations), MemberClicks costs $4,500/year.
More Association Management Software Resources
Association management software provides your organization with a foundational platform to engage your members, manage operations, and grow your association. When assessing AMS solutions, consider your must-have features, technology budget, and growth goals.
To continue your research into association management software, check out these buyer’s guides:
- 6 Excellent Higher Logic Alternatives: Comparing Features. Higher Logic is a customizable community engagement platform for large associations. Smaller associations looking to improve their own communities can benefit from exploring alternatives here!
- 10 Trusted Mighty Networks Alternatives For Your Community. Mighty Network is a well-known platform for cultivating association communities and providing educational materials. However, this solution’s limitations and price may not make it the best choice for every association. Discover alternatives in this guide.
- Community Management Software for Associations: 10 Options. Community management software enables your members to connect with one another online. Get recommendations for this specialized platform.
