How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
What association management software includes
A true AMS covers the full member lifecycle. That means online join and renewal forms, automated dues reminders, event registration with payment processing, a searchable member directory, email newsletters and segmented communication, and reporting that shows renewal rates and engagement trends. Most platforms also bundle a website builder or member portal, and the better ones integrate with accounting tools like QuickBooks so payments land in your books without manual entry.
Beyond that core, products diverge. Some add learning management for continuing education, career centers and job boards, community forums, mobile apps, and chapter management for federated organizations. The right mix depends on how your association earns revenue and what your members actually value.
#1
WildApricot
Best for: Small to mid-sized associations that want an affordable all-in-one platform they can run themselves
Visit wildapricot.com
Starting price$66 per month for 100 contacts (billed monthly)
Free plan60-day free trial, no credit card required
WildApricot is the best-known name in small-association software, and its appeal is simplicity. One subscription covers the member database, website builder, event management, email system, online payments, donations, and even an online store, with every plan including the same features. Pricing is based only on how many contacts you manage, starting at $66 per month for 100 contacts, or $59.40 per month when billed annually.
The company, now part of Personify under Momentive Software, says more than 15,000 organizations use the platform. The 60-day free trial is unusually long and requires no credit card, which gives small teams plenty of time to import data and test renewals before paying. If your association has a small staff and wants one predictable bill, WildApricot is the natural starting point.
What we like- Flat-rate all-inclusive pricing with no setup or per-transaction fees, 60-day free trial, website builder and online store included in every plan
Watch out for- Pricing scales by contact count so large databases get expensive, no free tier once the trial ends
#2
MemberClicks
Best for: Professional and trade associations that want guided implementation and deeper reporting
Visit memberclicks.com
Starting price$4,500 per year (MC Professional, members are individuals)
Free planDemo available
MemberClicks serves a similar audience to WildApricot but positions itself a step up in service. The company offers two main products: MC Professional for associations whose members are individuals, starting at $4,500 per year, and MC Trade for trade associations and chambers whose members are organizations, starting at $3,500 per year. Typical contracts run one year, with multi-year discounts available.
What justifies the higher price is the support model. MemberClicks assigns an implementation team to migrate your data and configure the system, and the platform adds learning management, job boards, and member engagement analytics on top of the standard dues, events, and website features. More than 3,000 associations use the platform, and it too sits under the Momentive Software umbrella. Associations that want a partner rather than a DIY tool should talk to them.
What we like- Purpose-built editions for individual versus organizational members, dedicated implementation help, strong reporting and engagement analytics
Watch out for- Annual contracts with no public self-serve trial, pricing starts well above DIY alternatives
#3
YourMembership
Best for: Small to mid-sized associations that want a built-in online community and career center
Visit yourmembership.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planGuided demo available
YourMembership differentiates itself with community. Beyond the standard AMS toolkit of member management, events, dues, and email, it includes an online community platform where members can connect and discuss, plus a career center with job postings and SMS text messaging for member outreach. That combination suits associations whose value proposition is networking and professional development as much as advocacy.
Pricing is quote-based and the sales process runs through a guided demo, so expect a conversation rather than a buy button. YourMembership is also part of the Momentive Software family alongside WildApricot and MemberClicks, which gives it a stable corporate backing. If member-to-member community is central to your association, it deserves a place on your shortlist.
What we like- Integrated online community platform, career center and job board, SMS messaging capabilities
Watch out for- No public pricing, quote-based sales process
#4
Novi AMS
Best for: Associations that run their books on QuickBooks and want accounting sync without workarounds
Visit noviams.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planDemo available
Novi AMS was born inside an association, and it shows in the design priorities. The headline feature is a two-way, round-the-clock sync with QuickBooks Online that keeps dues, event revenue, and member transactions flowing into clean books without duplicate entry. For associations where the treasurer and the bookkeeper live in QuickBooks, that single integration removes an enormous amount of busywork.
Pricing scales with your organization's annual revenue, which you select on the pricing page to see your tier, so costs grow as the association grows. The platform covers membership, events, communications, reporting, and website management in one system, backed by a US-based team. Associations already committed to QuickBooks will find few tools this well aligned.
What we like- 24/7 two-way sync with QuickBooks Online, pricing scales with organization revenue, built by association professionals
Watch out for- Pricing details require selecting a revenue tier, QuickBooks-centric design is less useful for non-QuickBooks shops
#5
GrowthZone
Best for: Chambers of commerce and associations that need marketing automation built into the AMS
Visit growthzone.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planDemo available
GrowthZone takes aim at small-staffed associations that cannot afford a separate marketing stack. The platform bakes marketing automation, sales funnel management, and AI-assisted newsletters directly into the AMS, so prospect nurturing and member onboarding run from the same database as renewals. Mobile apps for staff and members, event administration, and a member portal round out the package.
The company actually sells three editions: ChamberMaster for chambers of commerce, the core GrowthZone AMS, and MemberSuite for mid-market associations with complex structures. Realtor associations get specialized treatment with MLS integrations and dues billing that understands the national, state, and local structure. Pricing is quote-based across the board. If your association's growth plan depends on marketing automation, start here.
What we like- Built-in marketing automation and sales funnel, chamber-specific ChamberMaster edition, realtor association features with MLS integration
Watch out for- No public pricing, product line spans three editions which can confuse first-time buyers
#6
Glue Up
Best for: Associations and chambers that want fast implementation with strong event management
Visit glueup.com
Starting priceFrom $3,000 per year (Essential plan)
Free planDemo available
Glue Up, formerly known as EventBank, is the event-centric option on this list. Its pricing page publishes real ranges: the Essential plan starts from $3,000 to $6,500 per year, Advanced from $8,000 to $18,500 per year, and Enterprise is custom, with all contracts billed annually. That transparency is refreshing in a category where most vendors hide behind quote forms.
The platform covers membership, events, email marketing, CRM, finance, and community, with mobile apps for managers and members and chapter management as an add-on. The company says most clients go live within a week of signing, and more than 2,000 organizations use it across 70-plus countries. Associations that run a heavy events calendar and want to move quickly should give it a serious look.
What we like- Published starting prices, most clients go live within a week, mobile apps and chapter management included
Watch out for- Advanced features push into higher annual tiers, all contracts billed annually by default
#7
iMIS
Best for: Large associations, unions, and nonprofits with complex membership structures
Visit imis.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planDemo available
iMIS is the enterprise veteran of this list. Rather than calling itself an AMS, the company describes iMIS as an Engagement Management System: one database driving membership, events, certification, fundraising, commerce, and websites, with engagement scoring and analytics layered on top. It runs on Microsoft Azure with continuous automatic upgrades, and the company reports usage in more than 28 countries.
This is the tool for organizations with complex realities: multiple member types, chapters, credentialing programs, and sophisticated financials. The tradeoff is that pricing is quote-based and implementation is a real project, not a weekend setup. Large associations and unions that have outgrown small-business tools usually land on iMIS or one of its enterprise peers.
What we like- Single-database engagement management system, advanced accounting and analytics, configurable without heavy custom code
Watch out for- Enterprise pricing with no public numbers, implementation is a significant project
#8
Fonteva
Best for: Associations already running on Salesforce that want their AMS on the same platform
Visit fonteva.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planDemo available
Fonteva takes a fundamentally different approach: instead of building its own CRM, it builds the AMS directly on Salesforce. If your association already runs Salesforce, Fonteva puts membership, events, ecommerce, and communities on the same platform as the rest of your operations, with access to thousands of AppExchange apps and Salesforce's own AI and analytics tools.
That native design is also the catch. You need Salesforce licenses underneath, and implementation typically involves a services partner, which puts Fonteva firmly in the enterprise budget range. Pricing is quote-based. For Salesforce shops, though, the alternative is syncing two systems forever, and most decide the native route is worth it.
What we like- 100 percent native on Salesforce, access to the full Salesforce AppExchange ecosystem, highly configurable for complex needs
Watch out for- Requires Salesforce licenses on top of Fonteva, quote-based pricing with implementation services
#9
Raklet
Best for: Clubs, nonprofits, and small associations that need a genuinely free membership platform
Visit raklet.com
Starting price$0 (Free plan, up to 100 contacts)
Free planFree plan with CRM, email marketing, memberships, community, and events
Raklet is the strongest answer to the "best free membership management software" question on this list. The free plan costs nothing, requires no credit card, and includes CRM, email marketing, memberships, community tools, and event management for up to 100 contacts. Paid plans are public and reasonable: Essentials at $49 per month annually, Professional at $99, and Premium at $399, with contact limits rising at each tier.
Beyond the price, Raklet covers the essentials well: tiered membership plans, automated renewal reminders, digital membership cards, event ticketing with door check-in, donation campaigns, and Stripe payment processing. Small clubs, alumni groups, and grassroots nonprofits can run their entire operation on the free tier and upgrade only when they grow past 100 contacts.
What we like- Real free tier with no credit card required, public pricing across all plans, digital membership cards and Stripe payments included
Watch out for- Free plan limited to 100 contacts, transaction fees higher on lower tiers
#10
Tendenci
Best for: Associations that want full data ownership with open source software
Visit tendenci.com
Starting price$249 per month (Bronze managed hosting, up to 1,000 active members)
Free planFree (open source software, self-hosted)
Tendenci is the only fully open source AMS on this list, and that changes the economics completely. The software itself is free: you can download it, host it on your own servers, and pay nothing in licensing, with no per-user or per-admin fees ever. For associations with technical volunteers or in-house developers, that is hard to beat.
Most organizations choose the managed route instead. Tendenci's AWS private cloud hosting starts at $249 per month for the Bronze tier, which covers up to 1,000 active members with full software upgrades, rising to $379 and $499 for larger tiers. The platform bundles membership management, events, donations, job boards, forums, and a full CMS. If data ownership and long-term independence matter to your board, Tendenci is worth the technical conversation.
What we like- Fully open source with no per-user or admin fees, complete data ownership and no vendor lock-in, multi-language support
Watch out for- Self-hosting requires technical resources, managed hosting starts above DIY alternatives
Free and low-cost options worth knowing
If budget is the deciding factor, start with the free tier rather than the cheapest paid plan. Raklet's free plan supports up to 100 contacts with real membership, event, and email features at no cost, which covers most small clubs outright. Tendenci's open source software is free to self-host for organizations with technical capacity, and its $249-per-month managed hosting is still reasonable for mid-sized associations.
WildApricot's 60-day free trial gives you two full months to evaluate before the $66-per-month starting price kicks in, and its annual billing brings that down to $59.40 per month. Glue Up's published $3,000-per-year starting point and MemberClicks' $3,500-per-year entry are the realistic floors for guided, full-service AMS platforms. Knowing these floors before you talk to sales keeps the conversation honest.
How to pick the right AMS
Start with your member model. Associations of individuals, trade groups of companies, and chambers of commerce have different data structures, and tools like MemberClicks and Novi AMS handle those models differently. Getting this wrong means fighting the database for years.
Next, audit your integrations. If the association runs on QuickBooks, Novi AMS removes a whole category of pain. If you live in Salesforce, Fonteva is the obvious answer. If neither applies, prioritize the AMS with the cleanest API and the integrations your staff already uses.
Then think about who does the work. A one-person office needs guided implementation and strong support, which points toward MemberClicks, GrowthZone, or Glue Up. A tech-savvy team that wants control and low ongoing costs will be happier with WildApricot, Raklet, or Tendenci. Finally, always run a trial with your real data. Import a slice of your member list, process a test renewal, and build one event before you commit.
The bottom line
Small associations should start with WildApricot or Raklet and only look further if they outgrow them. Trade associations and chambers that want a guided setup will find MemberClicks, GrowthZone, and Glue Up competing hard for their business, with Glue Up winning on published pricing and speed. QuickBooks shops belong with Novi AMS, Salesforce shops with Fonteva, and large complex organizations with iMIS. And if your board values owning its software outright, Tendenci's open source model stands alone.
Every platform here offers a demo or trial. Use them with your actual membership data, because an AMS decision lasts years, and the right choice is the one your staff will happily open every morning.
Frequently asked questions
What is association management software?
Association management software (AMS) handles membership databases, dues billing, event registration, email communication, and website content for trade associations, professional societies, and nonprofits.
How much does association management software cost?
Most platforms start around $100 to $300 per month for small associations and scale with member count and modules. Enterprise systems like iMIS are quote-based.
Do I need a separate AMS if I already use a CRM?
If membership dues, chapters, and continuing education credits are central to your operation, a purpose-built AMS saves significant customization work versus adapting a generic CRM.
Sources we checked (17)
- https://www.wildapricot.com/
- https://www.wildapricot.com/pricing
- https://memberclicks.com/
- https://memberclicks.com/pricing
- https://www.yourmembership.com/
- https://www.noviams.com/
- https://www.noviams.com/pricing
- https://www.growthzone.com/
- https://www.growthzone.com/pricing
- https://www.glueup.com/
- https://www.glueup.com/pricing
- https://www.imis.com/
- https://fonteva.com/
- https://www.raklet.com/
- https://raklet.com/pricing
- https://www.tendenci.com/
- https://tendenci.com/pricing
Is your product missing or out of date?
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Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.