Beacon vs Raklet

Beacon is a CRM built especially for charities, combining fundraising, memberships, events, and case management. Fundraising tools include branded donation forms, grants, major gifts, legacies, recurring payments, and Gift Aid. Organizations can create branded membership and event ticketing forms and track attendance. For service work, Beacon tracks enquiries, ongoing use, and activities over time. Workflow automation and AI tools support data filtering, email drafting, and database logic.

Listed integrations include Mailchimp, Dotdigital, Sendgrid, Xero, JustGiving, Stripe, GoCardless, PayPal, and Zapier. Beacon also provides a documented RESTful API for custom integrations and Beacon-powered features. The service has web, iOS, Android, and API platform listings. Plans start at £37/mo, with annual billing also listed for Starter, Standard, and Premium; Ultimate pricing is custom. Beacon says its infrastructure and customer data are hosted in the UK and that it holds ISO 27001:2022 and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications. All plans include in-app chat and email support. Implementation is not included in plan pricing and is handled by certified Implementation Partners. Beacon was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Shoreditch, London.

Raklet is membership software for managing member access, communications, events, and renewals. It includes a member portal and website builder, online joining and renewal, and automated renewals. Organizations can gate content at the page level and bill subscriptions on a recurring or one-time basis. Event tools support online or offline events with tickets, RSVPs, and guest check-in. The Free plan includes 100 contacts, one admin seat, and 1,250 free emails per month. Essentials, Professional, and Premium are listed at 59.00 USD, 119.00 USD, and $499 a month, respectively; a separate pricing note lists paid plans from $49/mo billed annually. Raklet supports Android and iOS, and branded apps are available for iPhone and Android. Members can use digital cards through the mobile app or mobile wallets. Payments currently work with Stripe in Stripe-supported countries, with transaction fees ranging from 1% to 4% plus $0.60 depending on plan. Annual subscriptions receive two months free, and there is no setup or installation fee.