TidyHQ vs ClubRunner
ClubRunner is the dominant platform for Rotary clubs and districts — roughly 4,000 Rotary clubs use it, and its integration with Rotary International's data services is genuine. If you're a Rotary club locked into district-level reporting, ClubRunner has real value. For Kiwanis, Lions, Optimist, Sertoma, or other service clubs without Rotary-specific data obligations, TidyHQ wins on interface, governance tools, flat pricing, and a real free tier.
Where TidyHQ wins
A modern interface service club volunteers learn in an afternoon — ClubRunner's UI hasn't meaningfully changed in over a decade and users complain about it in every review cycle. Flat $49 USD/month Pro pricing regardless of member count — ClubRunner charges by member tier and member count. A real free plan for small clubs (under 20 contacts). Governance tools: meeting minutes with action items, committee task management, 25 GB document storage. Unlimited admin seats on every plan. Email and SMS with no credit caps. Xero integration for the accounting software most non-US service clubs use.
Where ClubRunner wins
ClubRunner is built for Rotary and its integration with Rotary International's Data Integration Services is the real competitive moat — district reports, multi-level dues splitting, and event data flow between club, district, and Rotary International automatically. If your Rotary district mandates ClubRunner, that integration is non-negotiable. Their RSVP Manager, Event Planner, and Communications modules handle service-club-specific workflows. For Rotary specifically, ClubRunner understands the ecosystem.
Best for
Non-Rotary service clubs — Kiwanis, Lions, Optimist, Sertoma, Civitan, Exchange Clubs, Ruritan — that want modern software with governance tools, flat pricing, and a free tier. Also a fit for Rotary clubs that aren't tied to district-mandated ClubRunner use.
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
ClubRunner
$620 AUD/year*
ClubRunner (~$400/year)
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
Starting price
TidyHQ
$0 free / $890 AUD/year ProClubRunner
~$55 USD/month (basic, scales by member count)Free tier
TidyHQ
Full features, unlimited contacts, no expiryClubRunner
✗ 30-day trial onlyPer-member pricing
TidyHQ
✗ Flat pricingClubRunner
Price tier increases with member countOnline memberships & dues
TidyHQ
ClubRunner
Event management
TidyHQ
Ticketing, RSVPs, member pricingClubRunner
Event Planner + RSVP ManagerMember directory & photo roster
TidyHQ
ClubRunner
Email & SMS communications
TidyHQ
UnlimitedClubRunner
Email (caps vary by plan)Meeting minutes & governance
TidyHQ
Agendas, minutes, action itemsClubRunner
Basic meeting toolsCommittee task management
TidyHQ
Assigned to rolesClubRunner
Document storage
TidyHQ
25 GBClubRunner
LimitedWebsite builder
TidyHQ
Flexible with widget drop-insClubRunner
Template-basedRotary International data integration
TidyHQ
ClubRunner
Native (DIS)Multi-level dues splitting (club → district)
TidyHQ
ClubRunner
Accounting integration
TidyHQ
Native XeroClubRunner
Basic QuickBooks exportAdmin seats
TidyHQ
UnlimitedClubRunner
Tiered by planMobile app
TidyHQ
ClubRunner
*Approximate conversion: 1 AUD ≈ 0.65 USD ≈ 0.50 GBP. Actual rates may vary.
Key differences
An interface your volunteers will actually use
ClubRunner has been around since 2000 and the interface shows every year of it. Every recent review cycle flags the dated UI as a barrier to member adoption. TidyHQ is built with a modern, mobile-first interface volunteers learn without a training session.
Flat pricing, no per-member tier climb
ClubRunner's pricing increases as your membership grows, with tiers based on member count. A growing club pays more every year just for growing. TidyHQ Pro is $49 USD/month regardless of whether you have 30 members or 500 — your budget doesn't scale with your success.
Governance tools built in
Meeting agendas, minutes with timed action items, role-based committee task assignment, and 25 GB document storage. ClubRunner handles meeting attendance but doesn't compete on governance depth — TidyHQ treats it as a core feature area.
A real free tier, not a trial
ClubRunner offers a 30-day trial and then a paid subscription. TidyHQ's free plan is permanent, includes full features, has no contact cap beyond 20, and requires no credit card. Small service clubs can run on it indefinitely.
What ClubRunner does well
ClubRunner is built for Rotary and its integration with Rotary International's Data Integration Services is the real competitive moat — district reports, multi-level dues splitting, and event data flow between club, district, and Rotary International automatically. If your Rotary district mandates ClubRunner, that integration is non-negotiable. Their RSVP Manager, Event Planner, and Communications modules handle service-club-specific workflows. For Rotary specifically, ClubRunner understands the ecosystem.
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're a non-Rotary service club (Kiwanis, Lions, Optimist, Sertoma, Civitan, Exchange, Ruritan)
- You want flat pricing that doesn't climb with membership growth
- You need a modern interface volunteers adopt without training
- Governance tools — meeting minutes, committee tasks, document storage — matter to your board
- You want a real free tier for a small club or to pilot before paying
- You're outside North America and need Xero integration
ClubRunner might be better if…
- •You're a Rotary club and your district mandates ClubRunner for data integration
- •Multi-level dues splitting between club, district, and Rotary International is essential
- •Native Rotary International Data Integration Services (DIS) is a non-negotiable requirement
- •Your district's reporting workflows are deeply embedded in ClubRunner
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about using ClubRunner vs TidyHQ for membership organisations.
Not technically — ClubRunner markets to any service club — but its competitive advantage is its Rotary International integration. Kiwanis, Lions, Optimist, and other service clubs use it, but the Rotary-specific features (DIS integration, district reporting, multi-level dues splitting) are the main reason to choose it over alternatives. For non-Rotary service clubs, TidyHQ typically wins on interface, governance tools, and pricing.
ClubRunner starts around $55 USD/month and scales with member count through multiple tiers. TidyHQ Pro is $49 USD/month flat regardless of member count, with a permanent free plan for clubs under 20 contacts. For most clubs between 50-250 members, TidyHQ comes in several hundred dollars cheaper per year.
No. TidyHQ does not integrate with Rotary International's Data Integration Services (DIS) or handle district-level Rotary reporting workflows. If your Rotary district mandates data flow to DIS, ClubRunner is the better fit. TidyHQ serves non-Rotary service clubs well but is not a Rotary-specific tool.
ClubRunner has basic meeting attendance tracking and event planning, but doesn't treat governance as a core feature area. Meeting minutes with formal agendas and assigned action items are not native features. TidyHQ includes meeting agendas, minutes, action items assigned to committee roles, and 25 GB document storage on Pro.
Multiple recent user reviews flag the dated interface as the primary complaint. ClubRunner launched in 2000 and the UI reflects that era. TidyHQ is built with a modern, mobile-first interface that volunteer committees typically learn in an afternoon without a training session.
Technically yes — TidyHQ imports member data via CSV, so the migration itself is straightforward. The question is whether your district tolerates the disconnect from DIS data flows. If your district reporting depends on ClubRunner, staying on ClubRunner is typically the right call. If your district doesn't mandate it, TidyHQ's interface and governance tools are a meaningful upgrade.
Sources
Claims in this comparison are based on publicly available information. Verify current pricing and features directly with each provider.
- 1ClubRunner official website— Product overview, Rotary integration features, and pricing details
- 2ClubRunner on Capterra— Verified user reviews including interface feedback and pricing tiers
- 3Rotary International DIS— Rotary's Data Integration Services — ClubRunner's key differentiator for Rotary clubs