Best Membership Management Software (2026): 10 Tools Compared

Most membership organisations start with a spreadsheet and a volunteer who knows where everything is. That works until renewals pile up, the volunteer moves on, or someone asks who's eligible to vote at the AGM. Membership software is how you stop the organisation depending on one person's memory.

I've listed ten tools alphabetically and in no particular order, using each vendor's own website, re-checked today. Three have an ongoing free plan, four start with a trial and three are demo-led. If growing and engaging members is your bigger worry, my piece on building an online community is worth reading alongside this.

Membership tools compared

Yes in the free plan column means an ongoing free plan on the vendor's own site, usually with limits such as a cap on accounts. Trial only means a free trial, from a couple of weeks up to 60 days. No means a demo or a custom quote comes first.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
ClubExpress	Club and association software	Clubs and associations of a few hundred members	Trial only
Glue Up	Association platform	Chambers and associations needing events and CRM	No
GrowthZone	Association management system	Chambers and larger associations	No
Join It	Membership management	Digital membership cards for small organisations	Trial only
Member365	Association membership software	Associations wanting a tailored setup	Trial only
MemberClicks	Association management software	Associations with individual or organisation members	No
MembershipWorks	Website membership software	Small groups adding membership to a website	Yes
Raklet	Membership platform	Small groups starting on a free plan	Yes
TidyHQ	Club membership software	Sports clubs and community groups	Yes
Wild Apricot	Membership management	All-in-one for clubs and nonprofits	Trial only

Ten membership systems for clubs and associations

ClubExpress

Best for: Clubs and associations that want management software with a club website, starting with a free trial website and plans based on member count.

Glue Up

Best for: Associations, chambers and nonprofits that want CRM, events, memberships and finance on one platform, reached through a demo.

GrowthZone

Best for: Chambers and larger associations that want association management software, including MemberSuite AMS and ChamberMaster, through a custom quote or demo.

Join It

Best for: Small organisations that want a member database, digital membership cards, renewal reminders and a member portal, with a free trial on each plan.

Member365

Best for: Associations and nonprofits that want a membership CRM, online store and event management, with a custom quote and a free trial mentioned in its FAQ.

MemberClicks

Best for: Associations with individual or organisation members that want association management software shaped to their size and functionality, explored through a demo.

MembershipWorks

Best for: Small groups that want to add membership to their website, starting on a free plan for up to 50 accounts.

Raklet

Best for: Small groups that want memberships, events, payments and communication on one platform, starting on a free plan before moving to Essentials or Professional.

TidyHQ

Best for: Sports clubs, associations, federations and non-profits that want membership software with a free plan, plus a Pro plan as the club grows.

Wild Apricot

Best for: Associations, nonprofits, chambers and clubs that want all-in-one membership management, starting with a 60-day free trial with no credit card.

Gift Aid and membership: the GOV.UK rule for UK charities

This one's for UK charities and community amateur sports clubs. GOV.UK says that for a charity's membership subscriptions to qualify for Gift Aid, they must be for membership only and must not give members personal use of the charity's facilities or services. Community amateur sports clubs can't claim Gift Aid on membership payments for that reason, and neither charity nor club membership qualifies for the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme. A subscription made on behalf of someone else can't be claimed either, except for a child under 18 where it's for membership only.

What it means for your software: it needs to record who made each subscription, what each member gets in return and whether there's a Gift Aid declaration, because GOV.UK also says charities must keep a record of Gift Aid donations and all benefits given to donors. If a tool can't show benefits by member, your treasurer will end up rebuilding that in a spreadsheet at claim time. This is a UK rule; outside the UK, check your own tax authority's guidance.

Club, association or website add-on?

• Sports clubs and community groups: renewals, teams, events and simple communication, often run by volunteers.
• Associations and chambers: member and organisation records, events, committees and reporting for staff.
• Website membership: adding sign-up and member-only areas to a site you already have.
• UK charities: add Gift Aid declarations and benefit records to the list.

Moving your members across in seven steps

1. Clean your spreadsheet: one row per member, with renewal dates.
2. Decide your membership types and what each one includes.
3. Pick two tools that suit your size and run a free plan or trial side by side.
4. Import a sample of members and send yourself a renewal reminder.
5. Check how members update their own details and renew online.
6. Set up the reports your committee or treasurer asks for most.
7. Tell members about the move before the first email arrives.

Keeping members once they've joined

• Remind early. A renewal nudge a month ahead beats a chase afterwards.
• Make renewing take one click. Every extra step loses someone.
• Welcome new members personally. A short note from a committee member goes a long way.
• Give them a reason to show up. Regular events keep people connected.

Events are often why people renew, so my template for planning community events is a handy companion.

Do you make membership management software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice for clubs and associations choosing software

Small clubs and volunteer-run groups should start on one of the free plans or a long trial, and only move up when renewals or events outgrow it. Chambers and larger associations with staff are better served by the demo-led association systems, which take more setup but handle organisation members, committees and reporting.

If you're a UK charity or club, ask every vendor how they record Gift Aid declarations and member benefits before you move a single member across. GOV.UK expects those records, and they're far easier to set up at the start than to rebuild later.

Frequently asked questions

What is membership management software?

It keeps member records, renewals, events, communication and often online joining in one system, so a club or association doesn't rely on spreadsheets.

Is there free membership management software?

Yes. Three tools on this list show an ongoing free plan, though free plans come with limits, such as a cap on accounts.

Can membership software handle Gift Aid?

Check with each vendor. GOV.UK says UK charities must keep records of Gift Aid donations and benefits given to donors, so your software needs to store declarations and benefits clearly.

Can sports clubs claim Gift Aid on memberships?

GOV.UK says community amateur sports clubs can't claim Gift Aid on membership payments, because membership gives personal use of the club's facilities.

What's the difference between membership software and a CRM?

A CRM tracks contacts and relationships in general. Membership software adds renewals, membership types, member portals and events built around belonging to an organisation.

How do I move members from a spreadsheet?

Clean the data first, then ask each vendor what import format it expects and test with a small sample before moving everyone.