If you’re an organization looking to grow your advocacy efforts, public affairs software can be a valuable resource for furthering your cause. But with dozens of platforms available, it can be difficult to figure out which supports your needs.
When evaluating different public affairs software choices, it's essential to consider your budget, organizational objectives and the features and user-friendliness needed to effectively support your team's advocacy efforts.
The following buyer's guide features a list of the top eight public affairs software platforms. We've compiled our list by referencing data published on leading consumer websites G2, Capterra, GetApp and TrustRadius, in addition to information available on the platforms' official websites.
Here are the best public affairs software platforms compared in this guide in descending order of a platform’s overall G2 score:
*G2 score not provided. Platforms with no score are listed alphabetically.
Our buyer’s guide compares the above public affairs software platforms based on five decision-making metrics we’ve selected as essential criteria:
The purpose of this buyer's guide is to provide a concise list of the best public affairs software platforms for organizations to compare critical purchasing factors. Since each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, organizations will discover the most suitable option based on their specific requirements.
Explore each platform’s profile below to get a comprehensive overview of pricing, features and other important information.
Disclaimer: The information below is accurate as of Oct. 12, 2023.
LegiStorm is a public affairs software platform that helps non-profits, lobbying firms, advocacy groups, associations and corporations easily stay informed and connected with Congress and state legislatures. With LegiStorm’s all-in-one platform, users can get contact data for federal and state offices, lobbying intelligence, email alerts and more.
Review LegiStorm profiles on G2, Capterra and GetApp.
LegiStorm users can access the platform securely through a SaaS web-based portal. LegiStorm is also available as a mobile app for iOS and Android.
LegiStorm’s database can also be seamlessly integrated into an organization’s CRM through the platform’s custom API.
LegiStorm's white-label mobile app allows organizations to use their branding and features a database of all 16,000+ congressional staff, committee and caucus information, district maps, note-taking tools and real-time database updates.
LegiStorm features one of the largest collections of information on U.S. legislative staff available, with a growing and dedicated team of full-time content experts regularly maintaining LegiStorm’s database. LegiStorm’s government affairs software connects organizations to federal and state legislators with the following features:
LegiStorm's public affairs software provides users with a diverse range of services in one location, enabling them to customize the platform to their preferences. Notably, LegiStorm received a top score of 9.4/10 on G2 for Ease of Use, the highest rating among the platforms listed.
In addition to the features mentioned above, LegiStorm offers resources for journalists and media professionals, such as StormFeed, which provides access to press releases from every congressional office and hundreds of executive branch agencies.
LegiStorm also offers job searching tools to help users land a career in Congress, state legislatures or the lobbying industry.
LegiStorm offers email/help desk, phone, and live online customer support. The platform earned an impressive 9.4/10 score on G2 for Quality of Support, well above the 8.0 average score.
LegiStorm provides a transparent pricing page, with various tiers of membership available, starting at $99 per month. Additionally, the platform provides monthly subscription options for users who prefer to avoid making a year-long commitment.
LegiStorm also features a free plan that includes a congressional member database, lobbying software, policy reports, congressional salaries and more with no credit card required. However, users of the free plan have limited page views, search capabilities and data access.
For those wanting to test out the platform, LegiStorm offers a free trial and a 15-30-minute personalized demo. LegiStorm also offers free video demos on its website and YouTube channel.
Most of LegiStorm’s plans are available through self-service purchasing without having to contact a LegiStorm representative.
LegiStorm is the preferred government software solution for government affairs professionals of non-profits, lobbying firms, associations and corporations of any size. The platform is used by well-known organizations such as CNN, Harvard University, AARP, Akin Gump and Google.
According to G2, LegiStorm provides some of the best public relations software available, with an overall score of 4.5/5 score on G2, the highest rating on this list.
LegiStorm offers a wide variety of tools, from lobbying intelligence to their unmatched list of congressional and state legislators and staff.
With transparent pricing, free trials and monthly plan options, prospective customers can easily choose the plan that works best for their organization.
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Disclaimer: The information below is accurate as of Oct.4, 2023.
Quorum is a public affairs software platform providing a CRM-based comprehensive solution for government relations and non-profit organization management. The platform provides federal and state legislation tracking software covering all 50 states and the EU, grassroots advocacy software, regulatory tracking and tools for stakeholder engagement.
Review Quorum profiles on G2, Capterra, GetApp and TrustRadius.
Quorum users access the platform through a web-based portal. The platform is also available on mobile devices through apps for iOS and Android.
Quorum focuses on connecting government affairs data across organizations in one place to improve collaboration, efficiency and reporting. The platform offers the following features:
Quorum’s government relations software streamlines policy tracking, grassroots campaign creation and interaction management while providing access to various resources like databases, an action center and texting capabilities.
However, some G2 users report that the platform's wealth of offerings can be overwhelming and difficult to operate. Quorum scored 7.8/10 for Ease of Setup, below the average 8.3 category score. Additionally, users reported challenges when exporting reports and data sync issues with Salesforce integration.
Quorum provides a comprehensive onboarding process that includes helpful videos to guide users in getting acquainted with its wide range of features.
The company also offers a diverse set of support resources, including video tutorials, an extensive FAQ section, regular webinars and personalized customer support accessible through chat, phone or Webex.
Some G2 reviews mention that their customer support experience with Quorum was less than satisfactory, with reported issues not always being effectively resolved. Despite these reviews, Quorum maintains an 8.5 score on G2 for Quality of Support, meeting the average score in that category.
Quorum does not provide transparent pricing for its government affairs platform.
Quorum does not offer a free trial or monthly plan to allow users to test out the platform, nor are there any demo videos to show how Quorum works. The company offers a free demo but it requires filling out a form and meeting with a Quorum representative.
Quorum’s government software solutions can be utilized by small, medium and large-sized businesses. The company states that its platform works best for teams working in policy, advocacy and public affairs. However, due to the vast number of tools and features, the platform is best suited for large companies with over 100 employees.
On its website, Quorum states that it works with large corporations and organizations such as Toyota, the Wounded Warrior Project, Walmart and the American Beverage Association.
Quorum provides a robust, comprehensive government software solution for nonprofits, associations and corporations looking to mobilize support, fundraise and engage lawmakers for causes and legislative issues. According to G2 users, Quorum provides one of the best public relations software packages available.
However, the platform is not without its issues, with G2 users mentioning problems regarding Quorum’s legislative outreach capabilities, including incomplete legislator contact information and outdated redistricting data.
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Disclaimer: The information below is accurate as of Oct. 19, 2023.
Salsa Engage (now known as Bonterra Donor Management) is a public affairs software platform that provides nonprofits with advocacy tools, campaign reporting, peer-to-peer event management and customizable email templates and fundraising forms, among other tools. Salsa Engage is available as a standalone platform or can be bundled with Salsa Labs’ CRM service.
Review Salsa Engage’s profile on G2, Capterra, GetApp and TrustRadius.
Salsa Engage users access the platform through a web-based portal. It is one of the only platforms on the list that lacks a mobile app.
Salsa Engage provides an array of tools for nonprofit organizations to boost their fundraising and advocacy efforts.
Salsa Engage earned an 8.2 score for Ease of Use, above the 8.0 average, with many reviews noting that the platform was easy to learn. Salsa Engage includes the following features:
Salsa Engage offers various levels of support, such as email/help desk, phone and chat support. The platform received an 8.2 score on G2, a bit shy of the 8.5 average.
Salsa Engage provides in-person, live, webinar and documentation training.
Salsa Engage does not provide transparent pricing, but visitors can request a quote on its pricing page.
The platform offers a demo, but it requires completing a form. There is no free version of Salsa Engage available.
Salsa Engage's public affairs software is best suited for nonprofit organizations looking for fundraising solutions.
Salsa Engage focuses on nonprofit advocacy and therefore won’t provide a solution for those looking for comprehensive government relations software.
The platform received an overall score of 3.9/5 on G2, landing it in the middle of this list. Many users mention the host of options and ease of use as positives of the platform.
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Disclaimer: The information below is accurate as of Oct. 4, 2023.
FiscalNote is a technology and media company that specializes in providing government affairs software and regulatory intelligence solutions. It helps organizations such as businesses, non-profits and government agencies track, analyze and manage government and regulatory information.
FiscalNote's platform uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to gather data from various sources, including legislative and regulatory documents, news, social media and more.
Review FiscalNote profiles on G2, Capterra, GetApp and TrustRadius.
FiscalNote users can access the platform through a web-based portal, and on mobile devices through apps for iOS and Android.
FiscalNote’s government software solutions are commonly used by government relations professionals, lobbyists, legal teams and other stakeholders who need to stay informed and make strategic decisions about legislative and regulatory changes. It is designed to streamline the process of tracking and understanding government actions and their potential impact on various sectors and industries. The platform offers the following features:
FiscalNote offers multiple levels of customer support, including in-person, phone or chat help. The platform also offers webinars, blogs, white papers and reports to help users maximize FiscalNote’s array of tools.
FiscalNote’s Quality of Support has a 6.7 score on G2, lower than the 8.5 average among the public relations software category. Overall, FiscalNote scores a 3.5/5 on G2, with only two reviews posted.
FiscalNote does not provide transparent pricing for its services and does not feature a pricing page on its website. According to Capterra, FiscalNote offers a free trial, but its website does not provide any information on what the trial includes.
The FiscalNote website also lacks a free demo video or a monthly plan to test out the platform. The company offers a free demo but prospective customers must fill out a form for access.
Reviews on both Capterra and TrustRadius mention that FiscalNote’s subscription price is high relative to other available platforms. One Capterra user stated that FiscalNote offers less value than other tools, such as Quorum’s Phone2Action.
FiscalNote is suitable for large enterprises, mid-size businesses, public administrations and small businesses. However, due to the large bundle of services included, the platform would be best for larger businesses in the policy advocacy space.
FiscalNote is a valuable government relations software platform for organizations and professionals involved in government affairs, lobbying, regulatory compliance and policy analysis. It can play a critical role in helping organizations navigate the complex landscape of government and regulation, enabling them to make informed decisions and effectively engage with the policymaking process.
However, there are signs that FiscalNote may face some problems ahead. Since the company went public in August 2022, FiscalNote stock dropped 60 percent as the company failed to make a profit over the past year. It remains to be seen how these issues will affect the platform.
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Disclaimer: The information below is accurate as of Oct. 19, 2023.
FastDemocracy is a legislative bill tracking software platform designed to help users stay informed about state and federal legislation. The platform provides real-time legislative tracking alerts for state legislatures and Congress, customizable legislative reports for clients and stakeholders and tools for collaborating with colleagues.
Review FastDemocracy’s profile on G2.
FastDemocracy users can access the platform through its web-based portal or mobile app for iOS and Android.
FastDemocracy Professional, the platform’s paid service, combines federal and state legislative tracking with advocacy and lobbying software to help guide an organization’s advocacy strategies. The platform offers the following features:
FastDemocracy received a 6.7 score on G2 for Quality of Support. However, with just one review on G2, it’s difficult to determine the quality of the platform’s customer support.
According to its website, a FastDemocracy Professional account includes premium support but doesn’t specify what this includes.
FastDemocracy lacks a pricing page and does not provide transparent pricing. The platform offers a free trial and demo, but prospective customers will need to meet with a FastDemocracy representative.
FastDemocracy also offers a free version that includes bill tracking software, legislative news and notes on legislative bills.
According to its website, FastDemocracy works with non-profits, businesses, lobbyists, government agencies, universities and business associations.
FastDemocracy is primarily focused on its legislative tracking software and may fit the needs of organizations looking to lobby for federal or state legislation. However, the platform does not provide a comprehensive government software solution for organizations needing more robust features.
The platform received an overall score of 2.5/5 on G2, though with only one review. Unfortunately, there were no additional reviews on Capterra, GetApp or TrustRadius, so it’s difficult to get a comprehensive sense of the platform’s effectiveness.
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Disclaimer: The information below is accurate as of Oct.19, 2023.
Gulf Partyline is a government affairs software platform that helps political organizations manage advocacy campaigns. The platform provides federal and state legislative tracking, targeted email creation, advocacy and fundraising tools.
Review Gulf Partyline profiles on G2, Capterra and GetApp.
Gulf Partyline users access the platform through a web-based portal. The platform does not have a mobile app.
Gulf Partyline’s host of government software solutions helps organizations connect with lawmakers, track legislation and grow their advocacy efforts with the following features:
Gulf Partyline offers chat support, along with 24/7 live customer support. However, the platform does not provide an email/help desk, phone support or knowledge base.
Due to a lack of reviews, it’s difficult to assess the quality of Gulf Partyline’s customer support.
Gulf Partyline provides varying levels of training, including in-person, live online and documentation.
Gulf Partyline does not provide transparent pricing or a pricing page.
While there is no free version of Gulf Partyline available, the platform does offer a free trial. Gulf Partyline also offers a free demo, but prospective customers will need to schedule a consultation.
Gulf Partyline's government software solutions are best suited for small and medium-sized organizations wanting to impact federal and state legislation.
From fundraising to bill tracking, Gulf Partyline provides a comprehensive package of government software solutions for organizations looking to boost their advocacy efforts and influence legislation.
However, with few reviews, it’s unclear how effective their government relations software is or whether it provides good value.
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Disclaimer: The information below is accurate as of Oct. 4, 2023.
Leadership Connect is a government relations software platform that helps users access information and build relationships with government officials. The platform provides government affairs solutions for government contractors, government affairs teams and government agencies looking to create relationships between policymakers and the public sector to help advance policy and business development goals.
Review Leadership Connect profiles on G2, Capterra, GetApp and TrustRadius.
Leadership Connect users can access the platform through a web-based portal or its mobile app for iOS and Android.
Leadership Connect calls itself the number one trusted source for finding the right people in government. The platform serves to boost government sales, manage government affairs and enhance CRM data. Leadership Connect offers the following features:
Leadership Connect offers 24/7 in-person, phone or chat support. The platform also provides helpful resources such as a congressional calendar, a federal government acronym guide and the Client Learning Center, a centralized knowledge base for Leadership Connect’s services. These resources are only accessible with a membership.
With zero reviews on G2, Capterra and GetApp however, it’s difficult to assess the quality of Leadership Connect’s customer support.
Leadership Connect does not provide transparent pricing for its services. Their website contains a pricing page, but prospective customers will need to complete a form to learn about specific pricing and access the free demo.
The platform also does not offer a free trial or onsite demo video to test out the platform or see how it works.
According to its website, Leadership Connect works best for government contractors, government affairs teams and government agencies looking to build relationships for federal procurement and other business opportunities.
However, a lack of reviews makes it unclear how well the platform has worked for different users.
With its helpful org charts, relationship mapping and opportunities for networking, Leadership Connect’s government affairs software can help organizations find the right person in government to increase sales and influence policy.
Leadership Connect focuses on federal policy and procurement. Since there is no specific state legislative tracking service, the platform is not a comprehensive tool for users addressing state-level legislative issues, such as nonprofits and grassroots organizations.
Due to a lack of reviews on G2, Capterra and GetApp, it’s also unclear how effective the Leadership Connect platform is overall.
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Disclaimer: The information below is accurate as of Oct. 19, 2023.
The SoftEdge provides government relations software that connects supporters with federal and state legislators. Organizations can mobilize supporters through responsive text and email messaging, monitor federal and state legislation, communicate with legislators and track legislator communications, notes, meetings and town halls.
Review SoftEdge profiles on G2, Capterra, GetApp and TrustRadius.
SoftEdge users access the platform through a web-based portal. There is no SoftEdge mobile app available.
The SoftEdge’s Congress Plus Advocacy platform allows an organization’s supporters to engage with federal, state and local legislators by phone, email and social media. Congress Plus Advocacy can be used as a standalone platform or embedded into an organization’s website with the following tools:
The SoftEdge offers a comprehensive support package that includes an email/help desk and knowledge base, along with 24/7 phone and chat support. Capterra users frequently praise the level of support from The SoftEdge team.
The SoftEdge also provides various levels of training, such as in-person, live online, webinars, documentation and videos.
The SoftEdge does not provide transparent pricing or a pricing page. However, Capterra mentions that the platform’s cost starts at $138 per month.
There is no free version of The SoftEdge Congress Plus available and the platform does not offer a free trial.
The SoftEdge's government software solutions are designed for non-profits, associations and corporations wanting to connect with local, state and federal lawmakers.
The SoftEdge’s Congress Plus government relations software provides many tools to help advocacy organizations empower their supporters and stay up on evolving federal and state legislation.
The platform received an overall score of 4.8/5 on Capterra, with many users citing the platform’s easy-to-use and simple interface. However, other users mention that the simple interface might not appeal to all, especially those desiring a more robust government software solution.
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The constantly changing landscape of Capitol Hill and state legislatures has created difficulties for organizations looking to reach legislators and staff and influence policy. According to LegiStorm data, House staffers have been leaving their jobs far faster than before.
Furthermore, a study by New America found that the average tenure for Capitol Hill staff was just three years, with 43% of staffers intending to pursue private-sector employment. This revolving door of government employment has made it difficult for organizations to connect and create meaningful relationships with legislators and staffers.
These obstacles have caused some organizations to reduce their advocacy efforts over the past few years. According to a 2023 study by Independent Sector, just 31% of organizations surveyed have advocated for policy issues or lobbied for specific legislation over the past five years.
As advocacy efforts become more complex and difficult to carry out, public affairs software platforms can provide a valuable service for helping organizations connect with legislators, track state and federal legislation and more.
By evaluating core features, pricing, support and other crucial information, you can select the public affairs software platform that aligns with your organization's size, budget and objectives. We recommend bookmarking our Public Affairs Software Buyer's Guide as a vital resource to assist you in comparing and contrasting the leading public affairs platforms so you can boost your advocacy efforts.
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Disclaimer: The author (see bio below) has independently researched and reviewed the vendors on this list and has no exclusive affiliation with LegiStorm.
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