Quick Overview
- 1#1: NationBuilder - All-in-one platform for building websites, managing supporters, sending emails, and running advocacy campaigns.
- 2#2: Action Network - Free tool for creating petitions, mobilizing supporters, fundraising, and coordinating events in progressive advocacy.
- 3#3: EveryAction - Integrated CRM for nonprofits handling advocacy emails, online fundraising, and donor management.
- 4#4: Mobilize - Volunteer recruitment and event management platform tailored for advocacy and political campaigns.
- 5#5: Salsa Labs - Digital platform for advocacy campaigns, peer-to-peer fundraising, and supporter engagement.
- 6#6: Engaging Networks - Cloud-based tool for personalized advocacy emails, petitions, surveys, and fundraising pages.
- 7#7: NGP VAN - Comprehensive voter contact and advocacy platform for Democratic and progressive campaigns.
- 8#8: VoterVoice - Grassroots advocacy software for mobilizing supporters, tracking legislation, and direct lobbying.
- 9#9: Quorum - Public affairs platform for stakeholder engagement, bill tracking, and advocacy workflows.
- 10#10: CiviCRM - Open-source CRM for managing advocacy contacts, events, emails, and fundraising efforts.
Tools were evaluated based on feature depth, user-friendliness, scalability, and value, ensuring suitability for nonprofits, campaigns, and progressive groups seeking to advance their missions.
Comparison Table
Online advocacy software is integral to organizing movements, and this comparison table evaluates key tools like NationBuilder, Action Network, EveryAction, Mobilize, Salsa Labs, and more. It helps readers identify each platform's unique features, usability, and ideal use cases to select the best fit for their advocacy goals.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NationBuilder All-in-one platform for building websites, managing supporters, sending emails, and running advocacy campaigns. | enterprise | 9.4/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.8/10 |
| 2 | Action Network Free tool for creating petitions, mobilizing supporters, fundraising, and coordinating events in progressive advocacy. | specialized | 9.1/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 3 | EveryAction Integrated CRM for nonprofits handling advocacy emails, online fundraising, and donor management. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 4 | Mobilize Volunteer recruitment and event management platform tailored for advocacy and political campaigns. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 5 | Salsa Labs Digital platform for advocacy campaigns, peer-to-peer fundraising, and supporter engagement. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 6 | Engaging Networks Cloud-based tool for personalized advocacy emails, petitions, surveys, and fundraising pages. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.5/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 7 | NGP VAN Comprehensive voter contact and advocacy platform for Democratic and progressive campaigns. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.0/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 8 | VoterVoice Grassroots advocacy software for mobilizing supporters, tracking legislation, and direct lobbying. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 7.5/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 9 | Quorum Public affairs platform for stakeholder engagement, bill tracking, and advocacy workflows. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 10 | CiviCRM Open-source CRM for managing advocacy contacts, events, emails, and fundraising efforts. | other | 7.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 5.5/10 | 9.8/10 |
All-in-one platform for building websites, managing supporters, sending emails, and running advocacy campaigns.
Free tool for creating petitions, mobilizing supporters, fundraising, and coordinating events in progressive advocacy.
Integrated CRM for nonprofits handling advocacy emails, online fundraising, and donor management.
Volunteer recruitment and event management platform tailored for advocacy and political campaigns.
Digital platform for advocacy campaigns, peer-to-peer fundraising, and supporter engagement.
Cloud-based tool for personalized advocacy emails, petitions, surveys, and fundraising pages.
Comprehensive voter contact and advocacy platform for Democratic and progressive campaigns.
Grassroots advocacy software for mobilizing supporters, tracking legislation, and direct lobbying.
Public affairs platform for stakeholder engagement, bill tracking, and advocacy workflows.
Open-source CRM for managing advocacy contacts, events, emails, and fundraising efforts.
NationBuilder
enterpriseAll-in-one platform for building websites, managing supporters, sending emails, and running advocacy campaigns.
Unified 'Nation' database that automatically profiles and engages every website visitor as a potential lifelong supporter
NationBuilder is an all-in-one platform tailored for political campaigns, nonprofits, and advocacy groups, enabling seamless management of websites, CRM, email campaigns, fundraising, and volunteer coordination. It empowers organizations to build and grow supporter communities through tools like petitions, events, text messaging, and targeted advocacy broadcasts. The software's strength lies in its unified database that tracks every interaction, turning casual visitors into active advocates.
Pros
- Comprehensive all-in-one toolkit integrating CRM, websites, emails, and grassroots tools
- Powerful supporter segmentation and mobilization features for advocacy campaigns
- Extensive theme library and customization for professional branding
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced features and custom integrations
- Pricing scales quickly with supporter database size, less ideal for tiny orgs
- Limited built-in advanced analytics compared to specialized tools
Best For
Mid-sized to large advocacy groups, political campaigns, and nonprofits needing an integrated platform for community building and mobilization.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month (Emerald for up to 250 people), tiers up to $1,000+/month for larger databases; custom enterprise plans available.
Action Network
specializedFree tool for creating petitions, mobilizing supporters, fundraising, and coordinating events in progressive advocacy.
Complete data ownership and one-click exports to prevent lock-in and enable seamless migration
Action Network is a robust online advocacy platform tailored for progressive organizations, campaigns, and non-profits to build and mobilize supporter bases. It offers tools for creating petitions, sending targeted emails and SMS campaigns, hosting events, fundraising, and coordinating actions like phone banking and text mobilization. The open-source nature ensures full data ownership and easy exports, making it a go-to for grassroots activism without vendor lock-in.
Pros
- Free core platform with unlimited contacts and sends for basic use
- Comprehensive all-in-one tools for petitions, emails, events, fundraising, and mobilization
- Open-source with full data ownership and easy integrations
Cons
- Dated user interface with a steeper learning curve for beginners
- Limited advanced analytics and customization in the free tier
- Customer support primarily donation-based and slower for non-paying users
Best For
Grassroots organizations, progressive campaigns, and non-profits needing a free, powerful advocacy suite without data lock-in.
Pricing
Free for core features with unlimited scale; optional paid support tiers starting at $250/month for enterprises and advanced needs.
EveryAction
enterpriseIntegrated CRM for nonprofits handling advocacy emails, online fundraising, and donor management.
Integrated Advocacy Hub that combines petitions, calls-to-action, and peer-to-peer tools with CRM data for hyper-personalized supporter journeys
EveryAction is an all-in-one platform tailored for nonprofits, combining CRM, fundraising, and online advocacy tools to help organizations mobilize supporters effectively. It offers robust features like petitions, email/SMS campaigns, peer-to-peer fundraising, and grassroots event management, all integrated into a single dashboard. The software excels in tracking supporter engagement and delivering targeted advocacy actions at scale, making it a powerhouse for digital organizing.
Pros
- Comprehensive integration of advocacy, fundraising, and CRM for seamless workflows
- Advanced targeting, personalization, and analytics for high-impact campaigns
- Strong mobile and distributed organizing tools for grassroots mobilization
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to extensive features and customization options
- Pricing can be high for smaller organizations
- Interface feels dated compared to more modern competitors
Best For
Mid-to-large nonprofits and advocacy groups needing an integrated platform for scalable digital campaigns and supporter management.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; typically starts at $500-$1,000/month depending on volume and features, with enterprise plans higher.
Mobilize
specializedVolunteer recruitment and event management platform tailored for advocacy and political campaigns.
Interactive map-based event finder that matches supporters with nearby advocacy opportunities
Mobilize (mobilize.us) is a robust online advocacy platform focused on grassroots mobilization, enabling organizations to create events, recruit volunteers, and drive actions like petitions, calls, and texts. It excels in connecting supporters with local opportunities through a dynamic event calendar and RSVP system, while integrating seamlessly with tools like ActBlue for fundraising and NGP VAN for CRM. Ideal for campaigns and nonprofits, it streamlines volunteer coordination and supporter engagement to amplify advocacy efforts.
Pros
- Powerful event creation and RSVP management with map-based discovery
- Seamless integrations with fundraising and CRM tools like ActBlue and NGP VAN
- Effective tools for peer-to-peer texting, calling, and digital actions
Cons
- Limited built-in analytics compared to enterprise competitors
- Pricing scales quickly for larger organizations with high volume
- Less emphasis on customizable petition builders versus event focus
Best For
Grassroots campaigns, political organizations, and nonprofits prioritizing volunteer mobilization and event-driven advocacy.
Pricing
Free for basic use; premium plans start at $99/month for advanced features like unlimited events and texting.
Salsa Labs
specializedDigital platform for advocacy campaigns, peer-to-peer fundraising, and supporter engagement.
Distributed grassroots tools that empower supporters to launch their own petitions and fundraising pages
Salsa Labs is an all-in-one digital engagement platform tailored for nonprofits and advocacy organizations, offering tools for email marketing, online fundraising, petitions, and grassroots mobilization. It integrates CRM functionality with advocacy features like distributed actions and peer-to-peer campaigns to help drive supporter engagement and real-world impact. The platform emphasizes seamless workflows for managing donors, volunteers, and activists in a single hub.
Pros
- Comprehensive integration of advocacy, fundraising, and CRM tools
- Powerful peer-to-peer mobilization for grassroots campaigns
- Strong analytics and reporting for campaign optimization
Cons
- Steep learning curve for new users
- Pricing can be expensive for small organizations
- Interface feels dated compared to modern competitors
Best For
Mid-sized nonprofits and advocacy groups needing robust tools for integrated online campaigns and supporter management.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; starts around $200/month for basic plans, scaling with contact volume and features.
Engaging Networks
specializedCloud-based tool for personalized advocacy emails, petitions, surveys, and fundraising pages.
Distributed action blocks that enable easy creation of petitions, surveys, and events with real-time mapping and geo-targeting.
Engaging Networks is a robust online advocacy platform tailored for nonprofits, campaigns, and advocacy groups to drive supporter engagement through emails, petitions, events, and fundraising. It offers integrated tools for building petitions with mapping, sending personalized emails, managing peer-to-peer fundraising, and tracking performance with advanced analytics. The platform prioritizes data privacy compliance (GDPR, CCPA) and optimization features like A/B testing to maximize campaign impact.
Pros
- Comprehensive integration of advocacy, email, and fundraising tools
- Strong analytics, segmentation, and A/B testing capabilities
- Global compliance features for international organizations
Cons
- Steep learning curve and dated interface for new users
- Custom pricing lacks transparency and can be expensive for small teams
- Limited third-party integrations compared to competitors
Best For
Mid-to-large nonprofits and advocacy groups needing an all-in-one platform for high-volume digital campaigns and supporter management.
Pricing
Custom pricing based on supporter volume and email sends; typically starts at $400-$800/month for entry-level plans, with enterprise options scaling higher.
NGP VAN
enterpriseComprehensive voter contact and advocacy platform for Democratic and progressive campaigns.
Seamless voter file integration for hyper-targeted digital advocacy actions
NGP VAN is a robust platform tailored for progressive political campaigns and nonprofits, providing online advocacy tools such as email campaigns, petitions, SMS mobilization, and targeted digital actions. It integrates deeply with CRM, fundraising, and voter data systems to enable data-driven supporter engagement and action tracking. Primarily used by Democratic organizations, it supports scalable advocacy efforts from grassroots to national levels.
Pros
- Deep integration with voter files and CRM for precise targeting
- Comprehensive compliance tools for political advocacy
- Scalable for large-scale campaigns with advanced analytics
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex interface
- High cost unsuitable for small organizations
- Primarily optimized for progressive/left-leaning users
Best For
Large progressive political campaigns and nonprofits needing integrated voter data with powerful online advocacy tools.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; typically starts at $5,000+ per month for mid-sized orgs, scaling with usage and features.
VoterVoice
specializedGrassroots advocacy software for mobilizing supporters, tracking legislation, and direct lobbying.
Hyper-precise district targeting and real-time legislator matching for personalized advocacy actions
VoterVoice is a robust online advocacy platform that empowers organizations to mobilize supporters for grassroots campaigns targeting legislators. It provides tools for creating petitions, sending targeted emails and messages, facilitating phone calls to representatives, and tracking engagement metrics. The software includes supporter database management, legislative tracking, and analytics to optimize advocacy efforts, primarily focused on US policy issues.
Pros
- Advanced district-level targeting and legislator matching
- Comprehensive analytics and ROI tracking for campaigns
- Seamless integration with CRMs and email services
Cons
- User interface feels dated and less intuitive
- Pricing is custom and can be expensive for smaller orgs
- Limited support for non-US advocacy efforts
Best For
Mid-to-large US-based trade associations and non-profits running legislative grassroots campaigns.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing starting around $10,000/year based on supporter volume and features; no public tiers.
Quorum
enterprisePublic affairs platform for stakeholder engagement, bill tracking, and advocacy workflows.
The largest proprietary database of over 2 million government and influencer contacts
Quorum is a robust government relations platform designed for advocacy organizations, offering real-time tracking of federal and state legislation, executive actions, and regulations. It provides tools for stakeholder engagement, grassroots mobilization, and PAC management to help users influence policy outcomes. With a vast database of legislator contacts and AI-driven insights, Quorum streamlines advocacy workflows for lobbyists and associations.
Pros
- Extensive legislative and stakeholder database
- Powerful grassroots advocacy tools including petitions and emails
- AI-powered analytics for policy insights
Cons
- High enterprise-level pricing
- Steep learning curve for advanced features
- Limited free trial or self-serve options
Best For
Large advocacy groups, corporations, and associations focused on federal policy tracking and high-volume stakeholder engagement.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing starting at around $10,000 annually, with tiers based on users and features.
CiviCRM
otherOpen-source CRM for managing advocacy contacts, events, emails, and fundraising efforts.
CiviPetition for straightforward online petition building and signature collection integrated directly into the CRM
CiviCRM is a free, open-source constituent relationship management (CRM) system designed primarily for non-profits and advocacy organizations. It supports online advocacy through features like CiviPetition for creating and managing petitions, CiviMail for bulk email campaigns, and activity tracking to measure supporter engagement. As a comprehensive CRM, it also handles fundraising, events, memberships, and reporting, allowing seamless integration of advocacy efforts with broader organizational workflows.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source with no usage limits
- Robust petition, email campaign, and engagement tracking tools
- Highly customizable and integrates advocacy with full CRM functionality
Cons
- Requires self-hosting and technical setup expertise
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Lacks advanced advocacy features like SMS or social media tools out-of-the-box
Best For
Tech-savvy non-profits and advocacy groups needing a customizable, integrated CRM with solid basic advocacy capabilities.
Pricing
Free open-source software; requires hosting (starting ~$10/month) and optional paid support/extensions.
Conclusion
The reviewed online advocacy tools offer a range of robust solutions, each designed to meet specific needs in grassroots organizing and campaign management. Leading the pack is NationBuilder, the top choice for its comprehensive, all-in-one platform that simplifies website building, supporter management, and advocacy execution. Strong alternatives include Action Network, a robust free tool ideal for progressive efforts, and EveryAction, which excels with its integrated CRM for nonprofits seeking seamless donor and advocacy coordination.
Take the next step in your advocacy journey—explore NationBuilder to harness its all-encompassing features and turn your organizing goals into impactful action, or discover Action Network or EveryAction depending on your unique needs.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison