Ascend vs Hustle

Ascend is a messaging platform for nonprofits, campaigns, and unions using text and Instagram. Teams can send personalized broadcasts and segment supporters by activity, donation history, age, or custom data. Automated sequences can patch calls to US representatives or ask multiple-choice questions. A peer-to-peer inbox supports conversations between supporters and staff or volunteers. Instagram automations can send direct messages after keyword comments, collect information, or share links. Engagement tools include A/B testing, action nudges, branded link tracking, donation ROI tracking, and reports. Listed integrations include EveryAction, Action Network, Mobilize, ActionKit, ActBlue, Salesforce, Facebook, Instagram, and IMIS. Ascend says it is SOC-2 Type II certified, gives each team a dedicated account manager, and allows unlimited Admin and Organizer users at no extra cost. Pricing is on request; billing may include phone-number subscriptions, carrier SMS/MMS fees, usage charges, and quarterly short-code fees. Supporter-time-zone sending hours are listed as 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Hustle is a communications platform for texts, calls and video messages, with broadcasts, automated responses and live one-to-one conversations. Users can send personalized SMS and MMS to targeted audience members, tag them and retarget smaller groups. Its video options include short Clips distributed by text, Personalized Clips and longer Hustle Stories. The AI-powered Script Assistant helps users create communications described as creative and brand-safe. Hustle offers mobile and web apps, plus integrations for Salesforce, NGP VAN and EveryAction, Blackbaud Luminate Online, Blackbaud TeamRaiser and PDI. It also lists a public API, although programmatic message sending through it is in development. Salesforce imports support up to 100,000 Campaign members or 2,000 Report rows. Hustle says it is SOC 2 certified and lists encryption in transit and at rest, penetration testing and vulnerability scanning. The PAYGO plan has a $250 a month platform fee, with SMS billed at $0.04 per segment. Annual commitments start at $10,000 a year and include priority support queue access and Client Success Manager support. Hustle serves nonprofits, education, commercial organizations, politics, government, and labor and unions.