CiviCRM Review 2024: Features, Pricing, Uses, Pros and Cons
A core part of running a non-profit is managing data and communications while nurturing a viable relationship with constituents. CiviCRM was developed and launched in 2005 to help with this. It’s an open-source CRM software that serves to meet the data management needs of non-profit organizations.
This CiviCRM review aims to dive deep into the program's stellar capabilities and how it can bolster your non-profit endeavors. Ready? Let’s get to it!
CiviCRM review 2024: Is CiviCRM any good?
Our CiviCRM review acknowledges the system's array of features, including mass email marketing, reporting and analytics, and grant administration, among others. It boasts top-notch security, flexibility, and ease of use, making it a splendid customer relationship management option. It’s one of the best CRM tools for NGOs and advocacy groups.
CiviCRM pricing plans
As we mentioned above, CiviCRM is an open-source software, and it's completely free to download.
CiviCRM Plans | Monthly Price | Annual Price | Check Current Price |
Free | / | / |
Note: You need a hosting service for your software, and that does not come cheap.
We scoured the internet and found that most vendors offer three-tiered payment plans for their hosting services. The basic plans go for around $10-15, while the standard plan is around $25-30. There is also a Pro Plan ranging from about $50-$75.
How Much Does CiviCRM Cost For Non-Profits?
CiviCRM was designed to cater majorly to the needs of non-profit organizations and advocacy groups. It’s completely free, as stated above. However, non-profits would need to hire hosting providers and management experts if they’re unable to do it themselves.
Are There Any CiviCRM Coupon Codes Or Promo Discount Vouchers?
CiviCRM users don't need any coupon codes or discount vouchers, as the system is completely free. However, it does provide yearly discounts for paying members who donate to keep the system running.
Several hosting providers and vendors also provide coupon codes for their customers. You can keep tabs on that by subscribing to your vendors' mailing list and reading the newsletters.
CiviCRM Free vs. Paid: What's The Difference?
Like other open source CRM tools, CiviCRM is completely free to install. It also offers a free demo that allows you the chance to see if it's a great fit for your organization.
CiviCRM Overview: What Is CiviCRM And What Is CiviCRM Used For?
CiviCRM is an open software that serves to help non-profits manage relationships with their constituents by way of data and information management. Let's take a closer look, shall we?
Contact Administration
CiviCRM assists organizations in maintaining an extensive database of donors, volunteers, supporters, and members. It makes contact management for your organization seamless and effective.
Membership Administration
It can also help your organization manage its members. We are talking member renewals, exclusive membership benefits, and timely reminders among others.
Event Planning
It can assist with planning and managing events. Whether it's a small hangout or a large conference, the software's got you covered. However, if you need something more advanced for your business needs, consider using some of the best event management software out there.
Fundraising Management
NGOs worldwide get a chuck of their financial support through fundraising from donors. CiviCRM can help with expediting and facilitating fundraising programs by tracking donations and managing donor data. The software also allows you to create forms, process online payments, and send out automated appreciation emails.
Email Marketing
It is loaded with email marketing automation tools capable of sending newsletters and managing targeted campaigns.
Advocacy Efforts
The system can be used to foster advocacy efforts, supervise petitions, and coordinate campaigns. The software also helps with tracking and monitoring public engagement of campaigns.
Volunteer Recruitment And Administration
Your organization can also use CiviCRM to recruit, manage, supervise, and communicate with volunteers.
Grant And Project Administration
It can assist with tracking project progress, results, outcomes, and the success of grant applications.
In conclusion, CiviCRM helps non-profits keep track of important data and manage relationships with all their contacts. It makes things easier and more effective for NGOs who already have so much on their plates.
CiviCRM features list
The system boasts an array of impressive features to help non-profits manage and keep track of important data. The main features of CiviCRM are listed as follows:
Contact Administration
Customizable Installation
Event Planning
Email Marketing Tools
Reports Creation/Generation
Gifts And Donations Processing
Software Integration
Case Management
Volunteer Administration
Advocacy Campaigns
1. Contact Administration
CiviCRM helps organizations to curate and store data for each contact in one place. This makes it easy for them to track constituent interactions and relationships.
2. Customizable Installation
The system allows users the liberty to find their preferred programmers and hosting vendors who can oversee installations according to their needs.
3. Event Planning
One of the main features of the software is its ability to help users organize and manage events. This includes handling registrations and sending messages and notifications for the events.
4. Email Marketing Tools
CiviCRM boasts excellent email marketing tools that can help send automated emails, newsletters, and campaigns to your constituents.
5. Reports Creation/Generation
It is also endowed with 40 standard reports and also allows organization to create their own custom reports.
6. Gifts/Donation Processing
The system helps to track and process online donations making fundraising efforts for the organization easier and more effective. It can also assist in sending gift acknowledgment and appreciation emails.
7. Software Integration
It allows for seamless integration with other content administration systems like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla.
8. Case Management
The software also allows users to create, manage, and track case management workflows.
9. Volunteer Management
Non-profits often rely on volunteers to achieve their goals and objectives. The CiviCRM software can help with managing and recruiting volunteers while coordinating activities for their clients.
10. Advocacy Campaigns
CiviCRM can help facilitate advocacy campaigns by coordinating and tracking events, millings, activities, and contributions.
CiviCRM Pros And Cons
Below are the advantages and disadvantages of the CiviCRM software:
CiviCRM Advantages
Completely Free
Being an open-source solution, organizations can download the CRM software free of charge. There are no licensing fees either. The only costs your organization might incur are hosting fees and monthly management fees. It also saves non-profits a lot of developmental expenses thanks to its seamless integration with other CMS systems like WordPress and Drupal.
Data Security
Nonprofits with large amounts of data need software with effective data security. Thankfully, the software excels in that area thanks to its slew of inbuilt security features. These features can block unauthorized access, nullify hacking attempts, and change file permissions to limit access to confidential information.
Very Scalable
Whether you are a small group or a large organization with a global reach, CiviCRM can cater to your needs and requirements.
Efficient Task Allocation And Management
It allows organizations to allocate tasks to members and volunteers as well as monitor the progress. You can have individual dashboards that will display the activities of members.
Flexibility
CiviCRM is very flexible and customizable making it easy for users to access data from different devices at any time. It is highly adaptive and integrates seamlessly with other CRM platforms
Active Community
CiviCRM is backed by a very active and supportive community and allows users access to support resources, forums, and plug-ins.
CiviCRM Disadvantages
Very Complex
It may be considered complex, especially for users who aren't familiar with CRM systems. Setups, installation, and management require technical expertise which may be very costly.
Outdated User Interface
Compared to what you have on other CRM systems, its interface is pretty limited and outdated.
CiviCRM complaints & praise (CiviCRM reviews from real customers)
We found several reviews of CiviCRM online from users all over the world. The reviews were mostly positive with a few negative ones. Let's have a look:
Many users praised CiviCRM for its seamless integration with other websites and its payment tracking and processing features. There were also commendations regarding its event planning features and community assistance.
We also found some negative CiviCRM reviews online. Some of the complaints are about the complexity and technicality of setting the system up and managing it. Many users also complained about the old-fashioned interface and the not-so-impressive Civi mobile app.
Review Of CiviCRM Support
CiviCRM has no active customer service, seeing as it is open-sourced. There is no CiviCRM blog dedicated to answering questions either. However, it does have a page on the website with a variety of support resources, including active forums like StackExchange.
These forums have a community of other Civi users and gives you the chance to ask questions and get answers.
There is also an online community chat that allows you to chat with other members of the community. Civi communities are very helpful and they have provided users access to helpful extensions and lucid answers to troubling questions.
Even with the absence of a customer service channel, CiviCRM boasts a vibrant community that will help you learn the ropes.
Is CiviCRM Worth It? Our Conclusion
The CiviCRM is a great choice for any non-profit organization thanks to its excellent data management capabilities. It also boasts other impressive capabilities like event management, reports, case management, and email marketing among others.
To make things even better, this CRM is completely free to download. It saves organizations some money even though hosting and further administration may require paid expertise. Its vibrant and ever-helpful community is a helpful guide and makes the user experience super pleasant and comforting.
For an open-source web-based software, the CiviCRM sure gets a lot of things right. However, it may prove very complex for beginners with no prior CRM experience. Its outdated interface also puts it a level below some modern CiviCRM alternatives.
So, our answer to the question, "Is CiviCRM worth it?" is an emphatic "Absolutely." Civi is a great software, and it's certainly worth your consideration.
Our Final CiviCRM Rating
Per our assessment, the CiviCRM earns a 4.1 out of 5.0
