6 Association Management Software Picks for 2025 |
Running an association is a lot of work. It's easy to get pulled in several directions in your efforts to provide benefits to the members of your association, make sure that all stakeholders are satisfied, and ensure that the lights are on as you're at it. No matter if you're managing a massive national association or trade group, or a smaller regional association, you've probably faced many of the same issues.
Having a great association management software can make your life a heck of a lot easier. Through it, you will be able to manage your membership and keep them informed, build connection and community to collect dues, as well as provide value.
It's not a secret that association membership software is a great asset. It's just difficult to decide which program is right for you. In this post we'll show you what to look for as well as some of the top options.
((toc))
What is association management software?
The software for managing your association is a digital solution which simplifies day-to-day operations of your organization. Different associations need different things however, most require member management features, ways to interact with members as well as other stakeholders, as well as payment collection.
What should you look for in a software to manage associations?
As we hinted at above, the actual needs might vary between associations. In any case, here are some of the common things you can expect from software for managing associations:
- Members management tools: instruments to organize and track memberships (dues, registration status, personal data, etc. )
- Fee collection The point of sale options for collecting dues, cash or memberships.
- Event management: Most associations have some sort of event (live and virtual) and therefore software to help create, announce and plan an event can be very useful. If you're interested in virtual events, you can consider features such as live streaming and easy integration to the virtual event platform.
- Communications: Every organization needs to be able to connect with its members. Consider features such as forums, chat and messages, community forums as well as email integration.
- Branding The following is the case: your association management software will be member-facing, you might be looking to find a system that lets you serve up the brand you have created for members. You can add your colors, logo and custom-designed themes or UX.
- Apps: Some association management tools will also aid you in creating a white-label application for members. That means they will see your brand in the App Store or Google Play Store.
In the end, any association management software should make your life easier. A lot of organizations are copying and pasting huge lists of member emails into BCC or combining several platforms in order to hold an online occasion. This is annoying and also affects your members' experience.
If you could locate the one software that can do all you require? That's the idea behind good association software to manage your organization.
6 Management software for associations choices
1.
Community and member management software
Mighty is a cultural software platform that provides you with the most powerful suite of tools to run your business. Mighty centers on an engine for community that integrates a discussion board, chat and messaging, as well as a myriad of options for content, from written to video. Associations can use Mighty to interact with their member to keep them engaged on a regular basis, but also thrive through user-generated content. Your members will be able to connect to each other and also with others members and other stakeholders for the purpose of building communities.
Mighty provides you with an array of member tools for managing members which are unbeatable. This includes customizable profiles for your members and the back-end management of status updates and moderating. You can message all members simultaneously or in groups, or create tiered plans as well as charges for memberships of different types of members. It is possible to collect fees and dues on the platform too-no need to download additional software.
Flexible Spaces from Mighty lets you design the experience you want for your customers. There are a variety of features available such as live streaming, integrating virtual events with one-click Zoom scheduling and RSVPs, or even an LMS, if you wish to hold classes. In fact, Mighty has more robust capabilities for virtual events than other alternatives on this list-letting you create an event that your attendees will enjoy at your own pace.
You can customize the association area using your personal brand. choose from light or dark options, and pay dues in 135 different currencies. Furthermore, Mighty has a stunning native () application for each device.
Highlights
- Member profiles
- Community-based platform
- Community forum
- Point of Sale
- Integrated virtual events
- Live stream
- Spaces
- Customization options
- Analytics
- Native application
2. Mighty Pro
Live streaming, course and members on your own apps
Mighty Pro is the white-label version of . It basically takes our powerful software for culture as well as all of the features we have mentioned previously and then adds a totally custom, white-label application under your name on the App Store, or Google Play Store.
We'll collaborate with you to develop the app. You bring your concepts, your ideas and brand. Then we'll build it. Even after the app is launched, we keep cooperating with you to ensure you get the most out of it. Mighty Pro is a fantastic alternative for groups that wish their members to be able to access an application that has branded forums, events, live streaming messages, as well as members' profiles that are all integrated into.
We've built applications for groups in the industry and professional associations, such as Innovate HR, and Octo Members (for UK Finance Professionals).
Set up a meeting with us and we'll show you how you can build!
features
- Everything above +
- Apps with a brand name designed for iOS and Android
- Mighty Design Studio
- Pro strategy & support
3. Hivebrite
Hivebrite is an alumni management platform that can also work well in association management. It offers a good community engine that comes with customer relationship management software integrated into. This makes member management simple monitoring status and payment and past interactions.
Hivebrite offers a powerful native email platform that lets you connect with members within your CRM. For instance it is possible to create campaigns to raise funds. Like Mighty, Hivebrite also has the ability to create diverse groups in order to subdivide your members and detailed analytics. Hivebrite can be integrated with other software such as Salesforce to give the CRM greater power.
Unlike Mighty, Hivebrite doesn't do video content well. There's no live streaming (both for apps and on the web) and it doesn't make video posts natively-you have to link offsite or employ third-party services. Hivebrite has a restricted customization experience and its UX is outdated.
With its advantages in managing members and its weaknesses with the community engine features, Hivebrite is probably best to established organizations that require principally member lists capabilities.
Features
- Tools for managing members and directory tools
- Community Platform (text-based)
- Groups
- Notifications
- Integration of email
- Analytics
- Apps
4. iMIS
iMIS is an association management software tool that gives you a powerful member management and CRM tool. Its most effective use is for member data management; you can build databases and manage contacts and emails. It also allows members to join online, and manage their own profiles. Also, there are chapter divisions that are used by larger associations.
Similar to Wild Apricot (below), iMIS offers an integrated site maker that has a drag and drop creator, plus the option to let chapters manage their own websites. In addition, for live events, the software gives an event planner, tools agendas, make agendas, facilitate registration, and create standalone events pages.
It comes with fundraising tools built in and an LMS it's a powerful solution for many basic association management needs. It's an excellent choice when you're in search of a tool to keep track of member information. But it's not the best choice if you want to establish an association network with different types of information, it's not the best choice. There aren't many options for content and does not have an integrated community platform. The platform is also restricted to virtual occasions.
features
- CRM & Data management
- Management of members
- Chapter pages
- Websites
- Live events Management
- LMS
5. MemberPress
Management of members for an existing site
If you're trying to add a member management tool to your existing website for your association, MemberPress might be an option. Memberpress is an WordPress plugin that gives you the ability to gate "members only" content as well as add features such as digital downloads. It integrates with platforms like Stripe for membership payments of fees and dues and gives members a dashboard where they can view their pertinent content.
MemberPress offers a range of community building tools. Recently, it added an LMS for online classes, which will prove useful to some organizations. It comes with features for managing subscriptions and email notifications it's an excellent choice for those looking for a WordPress plugin to manage the association.
MemberPress does come with some of the clunkiness of the WordPress plugin. The options for design are a bit limited. The plugin is not the top choice for this, but if you're determined to have an WordPress solution-it can work.
Be aware that every choice in this list comes with an online application that could be easily integrated with a WordPress site by creating an underdomain (e.g. members . the association you belong to . com)
6. Wild Apricot
The last but not least is that Wild Apricot is a tool designed to manage members for associations and other non-profits. Wild Apricot comes with solid member management tools like the profile database for members and member databases. The member database is connected to the built-in email program to allow you to reach those on your list, with email analytics included and targeted targeting that is customized to target particular segments of the population.
Wild Apricot's best tool for an association is likely to be the web-based website builder. If your organization requires an online presence, Wild Apricot mixed the members engine with the drag-and-drop builder to help you make your association's website.
The second cool feature about Wild Apricot is that it offers features to regional groups to run their own chapters, you can create regional versions of the website and they can keep track of their members. Additionally, you can utilize Wild Apricot to manage a live event. This includes badge printing as well as registration. Also, it has a mobile app that works too.
The main drawback that is a major drawback of Wild Apricot is the community-building capabilities. It has minimal forum and content options and is not equipped with a feature for courses (which could or might not matter, depending the goals of your organization). This is also not the best choice to host virtual events.
Features
- Member database & management
- Website builder
- Collect payments
- Live event management
- Mobile app
Ready to start?
If you're ready to start working with an association management software, why not give Mighty an opportunity? It has the strongest capabilities of the other softwares on this list, and is a top-rated community management program according to the software review site G2.
It's free to try for 14 days, no credit card required. Or, if you're looking an app that is branded for your group, set up a call with us!