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6 Best Club Management Software in 2026

We tested Who's In Clubs, Circle, Mighty Networks, Wild Apricot, ClubExpress, and Hivebrite. Here's an honest breakdown of pricing, features, and which platform fits your club.

Last updated: March 2026 · Hands-on testing · 6 platforms compared

Quick Comparison

PlatformBest ForPricingNo Per-Member FeesNo Member Signup
Who's In ClubsOur Pick
Running clubs$10/month flat — members free, 2.7% fee on paid events
Circle
Online communitiesFrom $39/month (as of March 2026, subject to change)
Mighty Networks
Digital community buildersFrom $41/month (as of March 2026, subject to change)
Wild Apricot
NonprofitsFrom $60/month (as of March 2026, subject to change)
ClubExpress
Formal clubs with bylawsFrom $45/month (as of March 2026, subject to change)
Hivebrite
Alumni networksCustom pricing — typically $500+/month (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Detailed Reviews

#1

Who's In Clubs

Editor's Choice

Best-value club management software for running clubs, book clubs, and sports teams — just $10/mo

Pricing
$10/month flat — members free, 2.7% fee on paid events

Pros

  • $10/mo flat — members join for free with no accounts needed
  • Event-first design with RSVP, attendance tracking, and recurring events
  • Stripe payments built in with just 2.7% flat fee on paid events

Cons

  • Newer platform — smaller brand presence than established tools
  • No marketplace or discovery feature for finding new members

Best For:

Running clubsBook clubsSports teamsHiking groupsParent groupsSocial clubs

Our Verdict

Best value for real-world clubs. Membership tiers, recurring events, group messaging, payments — all for $10/mo. Members never pay a fee and never need to create an account.

#2

Circle

Beautiful online community platform for course creators

Pricing
From $39/month (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Pros

  • Beautiful, modern UI with strong community engagement features
  • Excellent for courses and content-driven communities
  • Good integrations with other creator tools

Cons

  • Expensive — starts at $39/month with higher tiers up to $199/month
  • Designed for online communities, not real-world clubs that meet in person

Best For:

Online communitiesCourse creatorsContent-driven communities

Our Verdict

Excellent for course creators building online communities, but overkill and overpriced for real-world clubs that meet in person. Members must create accounts to participate.

#3

Mighty Networks

Premium platform for monetising digital audiences

Pricing
From $41/month (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Pros

  • Branded mobile app available on higher tiers
  • Built-in course selling and monetisation tools
  • Comprehensive community management features

Cons

  • Very expensive — $41 to $360/month depending on tier
  • Complex setup process with steep learning curve and course-creator focus

Best For:

Digital community buildersCourse sellersBranded app communities

Our Verdict

Premium platform for monetising digital audiences. Not the right tool for a book club or running group — the pricing and complexity are geared towards creators, not community organisers.

#4

Wild Apricot

Membership management for nonprofits and professional associations

Pricing
From $60/month (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Pros

  • Strong tools for formal membership organisations and dues collection
  • Website builder and event registration included
  • Good reporting for nonprofits and associations

Cons

  • $60+/month minimum — expensive for informal clubs
  • Dated interface that feels over-engineered for simple club needs

Best For:

NonprofitsProfessional associationsLarge membership organisations

Our Verdict

Solid for formal associations and nonprofits that need membership dues, website building, and event registration. But expensive and over-engineered for social and sports clubs.

#5

ClubExpress

Governance-focused platform for formal clubs and associations

Pricing
From $45/month (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Pros

  • Comprehensive admin tools for formal organisations
  • Built-in elections, voting, and committee management
  • Good for clubs that need governance and compliance features

Cons

  • Outdated user interface with a steep learning curve
  • $45+/month with per-member pricing on higher tiers

Best For:

Formal clubs with bylawsHOAsProfessional associations

Our Verdict

Purpose-built for formal organisations that need governance tools like elections, voting, and committee management. Too complex and expensive for informal community clubs.

#6

Hivebrite

Enterprise community platform for large-scale networks

Pricing
Custom pricing — typically $500+/month (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Pros

  • Enterprise-grade platform with white-label capabilities
  • Advanced analytics and reporting for large networks
  • Highly customisable with dedicated implementation support

Cons

  • Enterprise pricing — typically $500+/month with annual contracts
  • Requires professional implementation — not self-service for small clubs

Best For:

Alumni networksLarge professional communitiesEnterprise

Our Verdict

Enterprise community platform for organisations with hundreds of thousands of members. Far beyond what a local club needs in terms of both cost and complexity.

How We Evaluated

Pricing

Monthly fees, per-member costs, and payment processing

Club Management

Membership tiers, events, and attendance tracking

Member Experience

Joining friction, notifications, and mobile access

Ease of Setup

Time to launch and learning curve

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best club management software in 2026?
Who's In Clubs is the best-value club management software in 2026. At just $10/month flat — with members joining for free — it offers membership tiers, recurring events, RSVP and attendance tracking, group messaging, and Stripe payments with only a 2.7% fee. No member accounts needed.
How much does club management software typically cost?
Most club management platforms charge $39–$500+/month. Circle starts at $39/month, Mighty Networks at $41/month, Wild Apricot at $60/month, and Hivebrite typically $500+/month. Who's In Clubs is $10/month flat with no per-member fees — a fraction of the cost.
Do club members need to create accounts to join?
With Who's In Clubs, no — members RSVP and join events via a simple link with no account creation required. This dramatically reduces friction. Most other platforms (Circle, Mighty Networks, Wild Apricot, ClubExpress) require members to sign up and create accounts before participating.
What's the best software for a running club or sports team?
Who's In Clubs is purpose-built for real-world activity clubs like running groups, sports teams, and hiking clubs. It focuses on event scheduling, RSVP, attendance tracking, and group communication — exactly what activity-based clubs need. Platforms like Circle and Mighty Networks are designed for online communities, not in-person meetups.
Can I collect payments for club events and memberships?
Yes — Who's In Clubs includes Stripe payments with a 2.7% flat fee on paid events. There are no additional monthly charges for payment processing. Wild Apricot and ClubExpress also handle payments but charge $45–$60+/month on top of transaction fees.
What's the difference between club management software and community platforms?
Club management software (like Who's In Clubs, Wild Apricot, ClubExpress) focuses on real-world club operations: events, attendance, memberships, and payments. Community platforms (like Circle and Mighty Networks) focus on online engagement: forums, courses, and content. If your club meets in person, you need club management software, not a community platform.

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