CaseLight vs Collaborate
CaseLight
lighthousent.org
Collaborate
collaboratesoftware.comSide by side
| Figure | CaseLight | Collaborate |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Nonprofit Case Management Software | 7.9 (#6) | 7.9 (#8) |
| Spec score · Case Management Software | 7.3 (#124) | 8.2 (#27) |
| Access controls | Staff sign in with multi-factor authentication, including passkeys; accounts lock after repeated failed attempts and idle sessions time out. | Features include role-based permissions, multifactor authentication support, SSO support, and audit logs of access and changes. |
| Audience | Lighthouse says it works with 501(c)(3) nonprofits and equivalent mission-driven organizations. | The maker lists children’s advocacy centers, domestic violence and rape crisis programs, youth programs, substance abuse treatment, health and wellness programs, housing programs, and government agencies among its users. |
| Headquarters | Los Osos, California, United States | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Integrations | The product page does not list third-party integrations. | The maker lists REST API, webhooks, SFTP/SCP, state data systems, DocuSign, and SMS providers, and describes examples including medical billing, payroll/staffing, and QuickBooks. |
| Purpose | CaseLight is an open-source case management system for organizations doing frontline human-services work. | Collaborate is customizable case management software for nonprofits and social services agencies. |
| Reporting | Its reporting and monitoring and evaluation features turn frontline records into data funders request. | Users can create filterable, shareable dynamic reports, charts, crosstabs, and custom funder reports. |
| Security | The hosted service gives each organization an isolated database, encrypts sensitive fields at rest, and forces traffic over HTTPS. | The maker states that Collaborate is HIPAA compliant and SOC 2 Type 2 certified, and describes TLS 1.3 encryption in transit and AES-256 encryption at rest. |
| Support | Lighthouse offers managed hosting with patching, backups, and an in-kind service-level agreement. | The maker lists email and phone support, an online knowledge base, on-demand video training, and a response time under 24 hours for critical incidents. |
Plans
CaseLight
- Deployment and customizationPriced on request
- Managed hostingPriced on request
In their own words
CaseLight
CaseLight is an open-source case management system for organizations doing frontline human-services work. It records clients and families, program enrollment, assessments, case notes, and case history, while reporting and monitoring features turn frontline records into information funders request. Organizations can self-host on Linux; the quickstart requires Docker and Docker Compose. Lighthouse also offers managed hosting, deployment, and customization for an organization’s build, fields, and workflows, with pricing based on organization size. Managed hosting includes patching, backups, secure infrastructure, and an in-kind service-level agreement. CaseLight is a modernized fork of OSCaR and uses the AGPL-3.0 license. The maker says each organization has an isolated database, sensitive fields are encrypted at rest, traffic uses HTTPS, and staff use multi-factor authentication including passkeys. An append-only audit log records who viewed or changed information. CaseLight is available on Linux, self-hosted, and web platforms, with a free plan and paid services priced on request. The current pilot excludes the Khmer locale, Thredded community forum, and v1 mobile API.
Collaborate
Collaborate is customizable case management software for nonprofits and social services agencies. Its case profiles gather intake information, services, assignments, referrals, notes, documents, notifications and alerts in one view. Organizations can tailor intake forms, digitize paper forms, define services and share external forms by link or website embed. Reports can be filtered and shared, with results shown as charts and graphs. The product integrates with DocuSign and supports API connections to systems including statewide referrals, medical billing, payroll, staffing and QuickBooks. It is cloud-hosted and accessed through a browser without installation, including on desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile phone with an internet connection. The maker says it is HIPAA compliant and SOC 2 Type 2 compliant, and lists encryption, role-based permissions, multifactor authentication, SSO support, audit logs and backups. Pricing is based on organization size, user count and modules, with no per-seat licensing fees; the price is on request. Typical deployment is stated as 8–12 weeks from contract to go-live, including migration, customization and staff training.