TidyHQ vs ClubExpress
ClubExpress has been around since the early 2000s, and the interface shows it. They have an enormous feature list and genuine chapter management for multi-location organisations. But the pricing is a puzzle — base fee plus per-member charges plus module add-ons — and your volunteers will need training to navigate a UI that hasn't meaningfully changed in two decades. TidyHQ's free plan alone (unlimited contacts, unlimited admin seats, governance tools) beats ClubExpress's entry price before you even look at Pro.
Where TidyHQ wins
A free tier with unlimited contacts and full features — ClubExpress doesn't have one. Flat $890 AUD/year pricing with everything included, no module add-ons inflating your bill. A modern, mobile-friendly interface that a volunteer secretary learns in an afternoon instead of a training session. Governance tools: meeting minutes with action items, committee task management, 25 GB document storage. Xero integration. Unlimited admin seats on every plan. Digital membership cards on Pro. Your committee actually logs in instead of asking someone else to do it for them.
Where ClubExpress wins
ClubExpress has chapter management for multi-location organisations — if you run a national body with regional chapters that each need their own branding and sub-sites, that's a genuine capability TidyHQ doesn't match. Their module depth is real: forums, donations, committee-specific websites, advanced directory search. For large, complex US clubs with paid admin staff who can invest time in configuration, that customisation depth matters.
Best for
Clubs that want modern software their volunteers will actually use, with transparent pricing and no per-member surcharges. Any organisation that wants to start free and see value before spending money. Australian clubs that need Xero and local support.
Annual cost comparison
Drag the slider to see how subscription costs compare at your club’s size.
$890 AUD/year
- ✓ Service fees: 1% + 20c (plus Stripe)
- ✓ Unlimited contacts, members & administrators
- ✓ 30,000 emails/month
- ✓ Unlimited apps & integrations
- ✓ Digital membership cards
- ✓ Custom domain & priority support
- ✓ Open API
ClubExpress
$1,853 AUD/year*
ClubExpress ($24/mo + $0.42/member)
Save $963/year with TidyHQ(52% less)
Plus governance tools, Xero integration, and no penalty fees.
Subscription costs only — transaction fees excluded. Based on publicly available pricing as of April 2026. Annual billing discounts not applied. Actual costs may vary. *Approximate conversion: 1 AUD ≈ 0.65 USD ≈ 0.50 GBP.
Feature comparison
Online memberships
TidyHQ
ClubExpress
Event ticketing
TidyHQ
ClubExpress
Financial reporting
TidyHQ
ClubExpress
Accounting integration (Xero)
TidyHQ
ClubExpress
✗ (QuickBooks)Meeting minutes
TidyHQ
ClubExpress
Task management
TidyHQ
ClubExpress
Email & SMS communications
TidyHQ
ClubExpress
(email only)Document storage
TidyHQ
ClubExpress
Free tier
TidyHQ
(unlimited contacts)ClubExpress
Chapter management
TidyHQ
ClubExpress
Website builder
TidyHQ
Flexible with widget drop-insClubExpress
(deep theming)Australian support
TidyHQ
ClubExpress
✗ (US only)API access
TidyHQ
ClubExpress
Key differences
You won't need a spreadsheet to understand your bill
ClubExpress charges a base fee plus add-ons for modules — event management, donations, forums, each a separate line item. The total climbs fast. TidyHQ includes everything in one flat price. No surprises when you turn on a feature.
Your committee will actually log in
ClubExpress has been around since the early 2000s and the interface reflects that era. TidyHQ is built with a modern, clean UI that committee members learn without training manuals. When your volunteers are donating their time, the last thing they want is software that feels like homework.
Xero, not QuickBooks
If your organisation uses Xero — and most Australian organisations do — ClubExpress can't help. TidyHQ syncs natively with Xero for invoicing, payment reconciliation, and financial reporting.
What ClubExpress does well
ClubExpress has chapter management for multi-location organisations — if you run a national body with regional chapters that each need their own branding and sub-sites, that's a genuine capability TidyHQ doesn't match. Their module depth is real: forums, donations, committee-specific websites, advanced directory search. For large, complex US clubs with paid admin staff who can invest time in configuration, that customisation depth matters.
We think honest comparisons build more trust than pretending competitors don’t exist. Try both and see which one your committee actually uses.
Is TidyHQ right for you?
TidyHQ is the better choice if…
- You want all features included in one flat price
- You need a modern interface volunteers will adopt without training
- You're an Australian organisation that uses Xero
- You want a free tier with full features to get started
ClubExpress might be better if…
- •You're a large US club needing deep customisation and module-level control
- •You need chapter management for a multi-location organisation
- •You want a mature website builder with advanced theming per sub-group
- •You're already invested in QuickBooks for accounting
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about using ClubExpress vs TidyHQ for membership organisations.
ClubExpress charges a base fee of $24 USD/month plus $0.42 per member per month. For a 500-member club, that's roughly $234/month ($2,808/year). Additional modules like event management, donations, and forums cost extra. TidyHQ Pro is $890 AUD/year (~$574 USD) flat with all features included — no per-member charges, no module add-ons.
ClubExpress is US-focused — support is on US hours, pricing is in USD, and they integrate with QuickBooks rather than Xero. Most Australian clubs and associations use Xero for accounting. TidyHQ is Australian-built with native Xero integration, AUD pricing, and support during Australian business hours.
No. ClubExpress requires a paid subscription from day one, with costs scaling based on member count and module selection. TidyHQ has a free plan with unlimited contacts, unlimited admin seats, and full features — no credit card or trial expiry.
ClubExpress has been around since the early 2000s and the interface reflects that era. Multiple users note the learning curve and dated design. TidyHQ is built with a modern, mobile-friendly interface that volunteer committee members learn without training manuals or dedicated onboarding sessions.
Yes — this is one of ClubExpress's genuine strengths. If you run a national organisation with regional chapters that each need their own branding, sub-sites, and admin access, ClubExpress handles that well. TidyHQ doesn't offer the same depth of chapter management, though TidyConnect serves a similar need for federated sporting bodies.
Sources
Claims in this comparison are based on publicly available information. Verify current pricing and features directly with each provider.
- 1ClubExpress pricing— Base fee + per-member pricing structure
- 2ClubExpress reviews on Capterra— Verified user reviews for club management