Compare Nonprofit Tools
Onward vs. SignUpGenius for Nonprofit Volunteers
SignUpGenius is the familiar choice for quick sign-up sheets of any kind; Onward is built for nonprofits that want volunteer shifts, events and their supporters in one place, with volunteer hours that follow each person, no ads and no cost.
Last updated November 1, 2026
| Onward | SignUpGenius | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, and it stays free | Free plan; paid plans from $11.99/month ($8.99/month billed yearly) |
| Ads | None | Shown on the free plan; paid plans remove them from 1, 10 or unlimited sign-ups |
| Volunteer shifts and reminders, Add to Calendar, volunteer list and sharing | Yes. | Yes. |
| Sign up without an account | Yes. | Yes. |
| Volunteer hours on each volunteer's own profile | Yes. | No. hours reports for organizers only |
| Nonprofit page, events, fundraisers and supporter wall | Yes. | No. sign-up pages only |
| Business sponsors and matching gifts | Yes. | No. |
| Collect money on a sign-up | Through your own donate button, straight to you | All plans, at 3.95% + $0.95 per card payment |
| Any kind of sign-up (potlucks, carpools, conferences) | No. built for nonprofits | Yes. |
| Year-round business recognition: sponsor wall, business pages, promotion and thank-you posts | Yes. | No. |
| A community network: a feed, followers, and local businesses, professionals and neighbors connected to your cause, with one-tap sharing to Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn | Yes. | No. |
When SignUpGenius is the better pick: a school class, church potluck or team snack list, or any sign-up that needs to collect money on the spot.
When Onward is the better pick: a nonprofit that wants its volunteers, events, donors and business sponsors in one place, and wants volunteers recognized for their hours. Every sign-up shows up where neighbors see it, so one family volunteering brings the next.
The best part: you can use both. Love your SignUpGenius sheets? Keep them, and link one from your Onward event. Onward adds what a sign-up sheet can't: your volunteers, events, donors and business sponsors on one page your community sees, with every volunteer's hours on their own profile.
Questions
Can we move from SignUpGenius?+
Do volunteers need an account on either?+
Does Onward keep a volunteer list?+
Prices checked on SignUpGenius's pricing page on Nov 1, 2026.
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Create your nonprofit's page free. Everything on Onward today is free, and it stays free.