Aplos and Bloomerang both serve nonprofits, but they serve different needs. Aplos is accounting software that also tracks donations. Bloomerang is donor management software that also does some accounting. Pick the wrong one and you’re paying for features you don’t use while missing the ones you need.
Here’s the comparison.
The Short Version
- Choose Aplos if you need proper fund accounting and donation tracking in one system.
- Choose Bloomerang if donor retention and relationship management are your top priorities and you use separate accounting software.
What Each Tool Is Built For
Aplos is accounting software first. It was built to handle fund accounting correctly — tracking restricted and unrestricted funds, generating accurate fund balance reports, and managing the financial side of nonprofit operations. Donation tracking was added because nonprofits need it, but accounting is the core.
Bloomerang is donor management software first. It was built around donor retention research — helping nonprofits keep the donors they have, re-engage lapsed donors, and build deeper relationships. Accounting features are limited; Bloomerang expects you to use QuickBooks or another accounting tool for actual bookkeeping.
Verdict: Aplos for accounting-first nonprofits. Bloomerang for donor-first nonprofits.
Fund Accounting: Aplos Wins
Aplos handles true fund accounting by default. Restricted funds stay restricted. Designated funds track separately. Fund balance reports are accurate without manual journal entries. If your nonprofit manages multiple funds, Aplos handles this correctly.
Bloomerang doesn’t do fund accounting. It tracks donations by fund or campaign, but it’s not an accounting system. Fund balances need to be reconciled in your accounting software.
Verdict: Aplos, clearly. If you need fund accounting, Bloomerang isn’t an option.
Donor Retention: Bloomerang Wins
Bloomerang was built around retention research from the Bloomerang Institute. Every donor profile shows an engagement score and their likelihood of giving again. The platform flags at-risk donors, suggests re-engagement actions, and tracks retention rates over time.
Aplos has basic donor tracking — you can see giving history and run reports — but there’s no engagement scoring, no retention dashboard, and no automated re-engagement tools.
Verdict: Bloomerang for donor retention. Aplos for basic donor tracking.
Donation Tracking: Aplos Includes It, Bloomerang Specializes In It
Aplos tracks donations with fund designation, generates contribution statements, and provides basic giving analytics. It’s functional and integrated with accounting, which means every donation automatically posts to the correct fund.
Bloomerang has deeper donation tracking: giving trends, donor segmentation, lapsed donor identification, pledge tracking, and automated acknowledgment letters. It’s designed for fundraising teams, not accounting departments.
Verdict: Aplos for accounting-integrated tracking. Bloomerang for fundraising-integrated tracking.
Reporting: Different Strengths
Aplos produces financial reports that make sense to nonprofit boards: fund balance reports, budget vs. actual by fund, and statement of activities. Board-ready financials.
Bloomerang produces donor reports: retention rates, giving trends, lapsed donor analysis, and campaign performance. Board-ready development reports.
Verdict: Aplos for financial reporting. Bloomerang for fundraising reporting.
Pricing: Aplos Is Less Expensive
| Feature | Aplos | Bloomerang |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting + Donations | $59/mo | Not included |
| Donor Management Only | Not available | $119/mo (up to 1,000 records) |
| Full Suite | $59/mo + $45/mo for payroll add-on | $119/mo + QuickBooks ($30+/mo) |
| Total for Accounting + Donor Management | ~$59/mo | ~$149+/mo |
Aplos gives you accounting and donation tracking for $59/month. Bloomerang gives you donor management for $119/month — and you’ll need separate accounting software (QuickBooks at $30+/month) on top of it.
Verdict: Aplos is significantly cheaper if you need both accounting and donor management.
The Decision Matrix
| Your Situation | Choose |
|---|---|
| You need fund accounting | Aplos |
| You need donor retention tools | Bloomerang |
| You want accounting + donations in one system | Aplos |
| You already have accounting (QuickBooks) | Bloomerang |
| You want the cheapest all-in-one | Aplos |
| Your priority is keeping donors | Bloomerang |
| You want board-ready financial reports | Aplos |
| You want board-ready fundraising reports | Bloomerang |
| Your bookkeeper will use it | Aplos |
| Your development director will use it | Bloomerang |
Can You Use Both?
Yes, and some nonprofits do. Aplos for accounting and donation posting. Bloomerang for donor relationship management and retention. They integrate through Zapier.
But for most small nonprofits, paying for two systems ($59 + $119 = $178/month) is overkill. Pick the one that solves your biggest problem.
Our Recommendation
For most small nonprofits, Aplos is the better value. You get true fund accounting, donation tracking, and contribution statements for $59/month. That’s the financial infrastructure every nonprofit needs.
Choose Bloomerang when: donor retention is your biggest challenge, you have a development director or fundraising staff, and you’re willing to pay $119+/month for a tool that focuses exclusively on keeping donors engaged.
Both are excellent tools in their lane. Aplos is the best accounting + donation tool. Bloomerang is the best donor retention tool. They’re not competing — they’re solving different problems.
SoftDecide helps churches, nonprofits, and small organizations find the right software. Our comparisons are independently researched. We may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page — at no extra cost to you.