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CiviCRM

Open Source CRM for Nonprofits

4.3/5(567 reviews)

Free (open source)

✓ Free Trial✓ Free Version

Overview

CiviCRM is a free, open-source CRM platform built specifically for nonprofit organizations, civic groups, and advocacy organizations. Unlike commercial CRMs with per-user fees, CiviCRM is completely free to download. It includes fundraising, event management, membership management, email marketing, and volunteer coordination. While hosting and implementation costs apply, there are no licensing fees or vendor lock-in.

Pros

Completely free and open source
Built specifically for nonprofits
Comprehensive fundraising tools
Event management included
Membership management built-in
No vendor lock-in
Active nonprofit community
Integrates with WordPress, Drupal, Joomla

Cons

Technical expertise required for setup
Hosting costs apply
Interface feels dated
Steeper learning curve
Community-based support
Customization requires developers

Key Features

Fundraising & Donations

Accept online donations, recurring gifts, track pledges, generate receipts, and manage campaigns with built-in payment processing for major gateways.

Event Management

Create registration pages, manage attendees, process payments, send confirmations, and track attendance for galas, conferences, and events.

Membership Management

Track memberships, renewal dates, and benefits. Automate renewal reminders and process membership payments with flexible types.

Email Marketing

Send bulk emails to segments, track opens and clicks, create templates, and schedule campaigns with built-in compliance features.

Volunteer Management

Recruit volunteers, track hours, manage assignments, and communicate with your volunteer base for organizations relying on volunteer support.

Case Management

Track services provided to beneficiaries, document interactions, track outcomes, and report on impact for funders and stakeholders.

Our Verdict

CiviCRM is unbeatable for nonprofits with technical capacity and tight budgets. The lack of licensing fees and nonprofit-specific features provide tremendous value, though implementation complexity is real. Best for organizations with technical staff or CiviCRM partners.

Last updated: October 2025

Pricing Details

Free (open source)

Starting price

CiviCRM is 100% free and open source with no licensing fees. Hosting costs $10-100+/month depending on size. Professional implementation and customization services available through CiviCRM partners.