Looking to easily manage all your membership site’s data and processes using one software? Get an association management software (AMS) for your business.
Association management software makes it easier for organizations of all sizes to track member data and streamline essential processes such as member registration and payments. You also need a solid platform to accommodate the expanding needs of your business so you’re not limiting growth.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at association management software and list some of the top solutions available.
What is association management software?
Association management software (AMS) is an all-in-one management tool designed to help organizations easily manage important membership tasks and automate workflows.
More specifically, AMS software is designed to handle essential tasks such as member registration and management, community building for creating communication channels for members, managing customer and order details, managing member payments as well as donations, event planning and management, and generating reports and analytics.
Here are some of the major reasons why it’s important to use association management software for your business:
- If your business is growing and receiving new members, it can be challenging to manage the extra load. This is why it’s recommended to use an AMS, as it offers scalability, so you don’t limit growth for your business.
- A solid AMS will also let you automate essential tasks and processes for your business. This helps improve business efficiency while making it easier for you to overview and manage all member data from a central place.
- Free up resources. Since AMS helps automate processes and streamline workflows for your business, you essentially free up more resources that can be used to manage other aspects of your business.
Top association management software options
Here, we’ll take a closer look at some of the top association management software so you can decide on the right one for your business.
#1. MemberPress
MemberPress offers an all-in-one solution for creating and managing a membership site for businesses of all sizes.
The plugin lets you easily restrict content on your WordPress site behind a paywall and is a great online course builder. This way, you can charge users extra for accessing premium content on your site or sell online courses to your students. In addition to this, MemberPress also lets you create a membership community and offers online community management tools that help you manage the technical side of things. It’s the perfect plugin if you’re looking to fully manage all aspects of your membership business using one tool.
Pricing – The Basic plan of MemberPress will cost you $179.50 annually.
#2. Wild Apricot
Wild Apricot is a robust cloud AMS that makes it easier for organizations to automate membership tasks.
Thanks to the responsive cloud database, all your membership data is stored in one place. This makes it easier to search, update, and share database files with your team members using any device you want. Wild Apricot also features an intuitive drag-and-drop builder that lets you create an amazing-looking website for your business.
You also get built-in eCommerce functionality, so it’s easier to set up your brand’s online store. You can quickly start selling products and accepting payments from your customers without having to go through the hassle of setting everything up yourself from scratch.
Pricing – You can get started with Wild Apricot for free or go for the Personal plan that costs $48 per month if you have over 50 contacts.
#3. Personify360
Personify360 is another great AMS designed to help large organizations effectively manage their business operations.
The “360” in the name refers to the 360-degree view that the plugin offers of all your brand’s member data, customer behavior, and transactional data. Using one software, you can collect payments, encourage subscriptions, and easily manage all members of your brand.
In addition to this, Personify360 offers some of the best support in the game. This ensures you can reach out to the experts at any time and resolve your issues quickly without negatively impacting your business.
Pricing – You can request a pricing quote by reaching out to the team at Personify360.
#4. MemberLeap
MemberLeap is a simple yet effective AMS solution that lets you overview all member data while offering robust member engagement and collaboration tools.
MemberLeap offers a simple way for associations to easily manage member payments and invoices by creating automated processes. You also have access to a built-in CRM that helps you foster member relations better. That’s not all; you can also create message boards that lets your members connect and collaborate with each other. This helps boost engagement and increases member satisfaction for your business.
MemberLeap also lets you create a responsive mobile app that makes it easier for your members to access premium content or register for an online event.
Pricing – MemberLeap’s pricing starts at $50 per month.
#5. GrowthZone
GrowthZone is a professional AMS solution designed to make it easier for all types of businesses, including large associations, to manage all parts of their membership business easily.
GrowthZone offers advanced AMS features such as easy payment processing, custom designed website, and effective member onboarding features that help you boost customer satisfaction.
The best part about GrowthZone is the marketing automation feature it comes with. This makes it easier for your business to run automated email marketing campaigns while also having access to an intuitive drag-and-drop email designer.
Pricing – While you can get started with GrowthZone for free, the premium plan pricing starts at $50 per month.
#6. SilkStart
SilkStart is simple AMS software that helps simplify member management by offering a wide range of robust tools.
You can create messaging forums on your site to encourage members to connect with each other and discuss what they love. You can even promote some members to “moderators” to manage messaging forums for you. This helps free up more resources on your business’s end and is a great way to make your members feel exclusive and special.
In addition to this, SilkStart also features a modern-looking member interface, a job board, and a donation platform and lets you create multi-chapter services.
Pricing – You can get started with SilkStart for $200 per month.
#7. NimbleAMS
NimbleAMS is a popular AMS solution that’s built upon one of the best-rated CRM systems: Salesforce.
This lets associations easily manage and track member relationships, automate workflows to improve efficiency and analyze ongoing trends in your industry so you can adjust your strategies accordingly.
The great thing about NimbleAMS is that it features its own powerful online community platform. This makes it easier to encourage connections between your members and helps improve the member experience.
Pricing – You can request a quote on the pricing of NimbleAMS according to your business needs.
#8. YourMembership
YourMembership is basic AMS software designed with small-scale associations in mind.
You have the option to create a custom website that helps you connect with your members easily. This is useful for driving customer relationships and promoting member collaborations. In addition, you can create a mobile event app to keep event attendees engaged and offer additional information for users who want to register.
Pricing – Similar to some of the other AMS solutions in this list, YourMembership also requires you to request a pricing quote.
#9. Aptify
Aptify is a serious AMS software that makes it easy for all types of associations, including large organizations, to easily manage business operations, engage members, and streamline workflows.
Since Aptify is fully cloud-based, you can access the software using any device via a browser. This makes it easier for associations to easily manage everything easily, even when on holiday or on trips outside of the office.
Pricing – You can request a pricing quote from the team at Aptify.
#10. Raklet
Raklet is a professional AMS solution that makes managing all aspects of your membership business from a centralized location easy.
The platform offers a robust solution for easy member management, creating automated marketing campaigns, and effectively planning events for your association. The best part is that Raklet also seamlessly integrates with popular services and tools such as Slack, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Pricing – Raklet’s basic plan is free, while the paid plans start from $49 monthly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of association management software?
A: Association management software (AMS) is designed to help organizations effectively manage their membership, events, finances, communications, and other important aspects of running an association or membership-based organization.
Q: What are the benefits of using association management software?
A: Association management software offers numerous benefits, such as streamlining administrative tasks, improving member engagement and communication, simplifying event management and registration, automating financial processes, enhancing the member experience, and providing valuable data insights for better decision-making.
Q: How can association management software save time?
A: Association management software automates various tasks and processes, such as membership renewals, event registration, email communication, and financial tracking. Eliminating manual processes saves time and allows staff to focus on more strategic activities.
Q: Can association management software help with event management?
A: Yes, association management software often includes robust event management features, such as online event registration, attendee tracking, session management, speaker management, and more.
Q: What is an association management system?
A: An association management system, or AMS, refers to the software platform used to manage various aspects of an association or membership-based organization, including membership, events, communications, finances, and more.
Q: How does association management software improve member engagement?
A: Association management software provides tools for targeted communication, personalized member experiences, online member directories, collaboration platforms, and access to valuable resources, all contributing to increased member engagement and satisfaction.
Q: What features should I look for in association management software?
A: When choosing association management software, consider features such as membership management, event management, communication tools, financial management, member portal, website builder, and integration capabilities with other software solutions.
Q: Can association management software handle online payments?
A: Yes, association management software typically offers online payment processing capabilities, allowing members to renew their memberships, register for events, and make other payments conveniently and securely.
Q: What is the best association management software for 2023?
A: It’s difficult to determine the best association management software for a specific year, as new software solutions are constantly being released and existing ones are regularly updated. It is recommended to evaluate software vendors based on your organization’s specific needs, budget, and desired features.
Q: How can association management software help with financial management?
A: Association management software usually includes features for tracking membership dues, event revenue, sponsorships, donations, and other financial transactions. It can provide accurate financial reports and streamline accounting processes, helping associations efficiently manage their finances.
Conclusion
An association management software is essential for organizations and businesses looking for a central place to overlook all member data and create automated workflows. This way, you don’t have to worry about member registrations, payments, creating online messaging forums, or planning events.
Ideally, you want to go with association management software that helps you deliver exceptional user experiences to members. It should have built-in features allowing users to edit their profiles, register for events, pay fees, and access downloadables. And, finally, the association management software you decide to use should also offer excellent customer support.
Do you know of other association management software not mentioned on our list? Let us know in the comments box below.
