Donor CRM · head to head
Aplos vs CharityEngine
Aplos and CharityEngine are both donor crm tools. Aplos fits small and midsize nonprofits and churches that need real fund accounting, with donation tracking attached.; CharityEngine fits mid-to-large shops leaving blackbaud or salesforce that want fundraising, email, events and payment processing genuinely in one system.. The table below lines up price, free tier, and fit so you can see which one matches your shop.
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| Aplos | CharityEngine | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | From $79/mo (fund accounting + donor management) | Listed at $550/mo in vendor-supplied directory listings; CharityEngine's own site publishes nothing |
| Pricing model | Published tiers by feature depth and organization size; month-to-month | Tiered by users, contacts and email volume; contract length is a priced variable |
| Free tier | No | No |
| Best for | Small and midsize nonprofits and churches that need real fund accounting, with donation tracking attached. | Mid-to-large shops leaving Blackbaud or Salesforce that want fundraising, email, events and payment processing genuinely in one system. |
| Last verified | Aug 2026 | Aug 2026 |
Aplos
Strengths: Genuine fund accounting — balance sheet and income statement by fund, not a QuickBooks workaround; Published rate card, month-to-month, 15-day trial with no credit card; One system for the treasurer and the giving statements, which suits a one-person finance shop.
Not the fit?
- Need a fundraising CRM rather than an accounting system? DonorDock →
- Taking large gifts by bank transfer? Donately →
CharityEngine
Strengths: Genuinely all-in-one: CRM, email automation, events, membership and in-house payment processing without a middleman gateway; Native prospect research included at the entry tier, which usually costs four figures separately; Reviewers switching from Raiser's Edge consistently report a lower total cost.
Not the fit?
- Under $1M raised? DonorDock →
- Want a short implementation? Bloomerang →