What is Raklet AMS software?

Raklet is a cloud-based, all-in-one membership management platform designed to help organizations build, grow, and monetize their communities. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in San Francisco, Raklet centralizes member data, automates critical membership processes, and facilitates member engagement with features like branded mobile apps, digital membership cards, and community discussion boards.

What tier is Raklet AMS classified as?

Based on the SmartThoughts Tier Classification Framework, Raklet is categorized as a Tier IV system with the possibility of reaching Tier III: Small Membership Software. It serves associations with operating budgets up to approximately $1.5 million, offering strong membership, community, and event features with less depth in core financial management.

How much does Raklet cost?

Raklet operates on a tiered subscription model: FREE plan for up to 50 members at $0, ESSENTIALS at $49/month, PROFESSIONAL at $99/month, PREMIUM at $399/month, and ENTERPRISE with custom pricing. For micro or small associations, it's recommended to allocate at least 2% of the current operating budget in the first year for implementation, training, and support.

What makes Raklet unique for associations?

Raklet offers several distinguishing features including branded mobile apps for iPhone and Android, all-in-one community focus with discussion boards and instant messaging, digital membership cards, and a flexible CRM with customizable fields. It excels at member engagement and community building, serving as a strong alternative to social media platforms like Facebook Groups.

What are the limitations of Raklet AMS?

While Raklet offers wide-ranging functions, its depth is intentionally limited in areas like advanced financial management. Organizations with complex accrual accounting needs, multi-currency transactions, or highly sophisticated conference management requirements may eventually outgrow its native capabilities. Users also note the need for a more feature-rich mobile app and better native integration options.

Raklet AMS Software Review for Association Executives: The All-in-One Community Builder

Raklet AMS Software Review

In the complex landscape of association management software, the task of selecting a system is one of the most critical decisions an executive will face. This summary is crafted as an essential guide for Executive Directors, Membership Directors, and Operations Directors seeking an AMS that is the best fit for their organization's needs and long-term strategy. Our objective analysis aims to establish a trusted resource for evaluating AMS options and to instill confidence that the right technology partner is within reach.

Summary of Raklet Software

Raklet is a cloud-based, all-in-one membership management platform designed to help organizations build, grow, and monetize their communities. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Raklet has developed a solution that centralizes member data, automates critical membership processes, and facilitates member engagement. The company operates with a small, remote team of approximately eight employees, reflecting a tightly knit structure that aims to move fast in building its platform.

A quote that captures the platform's utility is from its founder: "Raklet is a cloud platform for Associations, Non-Profits and Clubs where they can build, manage, monetize and grow their communities". The company has attracted seed funding and support from accelerators like Techstars, validating its early market potential.

The Purpose Statement of Raklet

Raklet's core mission is to provide an all-in-one solution for managing communities. The vendor states a dedication to helping organizations "build, grow, and monetize your audience through memberships, newsletters, and other digital tools". The philosophy is deeply rooted in the no-code movement, emphasizing seamless integration with over 4,000 apps via API, native connectors, Zapier, or Make, and a focus on automating tedious tasks. Their goal is to free up organizations to focus on nurturing their community and expanding their reach.

What Makes Raklet a Fit for the Association Market and Unique?

Raklet offers several distinguishing features that make it relevant to the association market:

Branded Mobile Apps: The ability to launch a proprietary, branded mobile application for both iPhone and Android allows associations to engage members on the go and provide mobile access to their accounts and events.
All-in-One Focus on Community: Unlike systems that focus primarily on back-office accounting or complex CRM, Raklet's strength is its community engagement tools, including discussion boards, instant messaging, and robust member-only access features. It is often viewed as a strong alternative to social media platforms like Facebook Groups.
Digital Membership Cards: Raklet offers the creation of customized, eco-friendly digital membership cards that strengthen community bonds by featuring brand colors and logos.
Flexible Database and Timeline: The platform functions as a free CRM, providing individual member profiles with customizable fields and a clear "Timeline" that chronologically documents all member interactions, website activity, and engagement.

What are the Functional Goals of the Raklet Software?

Raklet positions itself as an all-in-one platform with a broad set of functional goals, primarily targeting membership and community management:

Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Provides a centralized, free CRM for contact management, customizable fields, and tracking member behavior and historical data.
Membership Management: Core functionality includes selling memberships, automating renewals and reminders, collecting fees, and managing tiered membership plans.
Events Registration and Event Management: Supports the creation, promotion, and hosting of successful online or offline events, with features for selling tickets, collecting RSVPs, check-in, and integration with Zoom.
Financial Management: Handles the collection of membership fees, donations, event tickets, and product sales, providing members with automatic invoices and receipts and tracking financial history. However, it is primarily focused on transactional e-commerce and basic accounts receivable, not comprehensive General Ledger or full accrual accounting integration.
Marketing Automation and/or Email Marketing: Includes tools for creating and sending targeted email campaigns and newsletters, automated thank-you emails, and SMS and push notifications for on-the-go connection.
Content Management Capabilities (Page Builder): Offers a "Page Builder" tool to create custom pages and a public-facing site, allowing for branding across the platform.
Member Portal/Community: Features robust community tools such as member-only discussion boards, job boards, member directories, and instant messaging.
Reporting and Analytics: Provides data analytics and reporting tools to glean insights into member behavior and engagement, supporting data-driven decision-making.
Fundraising: The system includes tools for organizing fundraising campaigns and securely collecting donations.

Where Does Raklet Fit in the Association Market?

Based on the SmartThoughts Tier Classification Framework, Raklet is best categorized as a Tier IV system with the possibility of reaching Tier III: Small Membership Software.

Justification: The system is an all-in-one solution that delivers strong membership, community, and event features, but with less depth in core financial management beyond basic AR/e-commerce functionality and limited advanced customization. Its pricing structure is accessible, starting with a free plan and a professional plan at $99 per month, which aligns with the budget capabilities of smaller associations. Tier III systems typically serve associations with operating budgets up to possibly $1.5 million, though this is a rule of thumb.
Ideal Client Profile: Raklet is ideal for micro to small associations, clubs, or non-profits that prioritize building a highly engaged, private, and monetizable online community, especially those that rely heavily on events and paid newsletters, and want to leverage a branded mobile application.
Similar Tier Systems: Competitors often mentioned alongside Raklet in this tier and the one above include Join It, Springly, MemberStack, MemberSpace, and possibly a Tier III such as WildApricot or i4a.

What is the Price of Raklet? Investment Costs of the Raklet

Raklet operates on a simple, tiered subscription model, with pricing dependent on the number of members and required features.

Plan	Monthly Cost	Focus
FREE	$0	No strings attached, free for up to 50 members.
ESSENTIALS	$49	Core features for getting started.
PROFESSIONAL	$99	Customize tools and access more features.
PREMIUM	$399	Best for a fully branded experience.
ENTERPRISE	Custom	Custom solutions for larger companies.

For micro or small associations, it's important to allocate at least 2% of their current operating budget in the first year for a new software solution. This should cover the purchase price, as well as implementation, training, and support.

Disclaimer: In the end, it is recommended to contact the software vendor directly for the latest pricing information. This pricing is online as of 10/2025.

Raklet Peer Reviews and Unique Feature Insights

Peer reviews across platforms like G2, Capterra, Software Advice, and GetApp generally rate Raklet highly (around 4.7 out of 5).

Positive Feedback (Unique Features): Users highly value the all-in-one nature of the platform, seamlessly integrating fundraising, event management, and community building. A key unique feature highlighted is the phenomenal value relative to its peers at its price point, and the accessibility to developers for customizations. Users also praise the robust action logs and the ability to own the community experience outside of mainstream social media.
Areas for Improvement (The "Nice to Have"): The most common critique is the desire for a more feature-rich mobile application and the need for better native integration options to connect with essential third-party tools. This suggests that for associations with deeply integrated, best-of-breed systems (like an advanced CMS or full GL accounting system), the integration process may require Zapier or custom work.
Employee Insights: The company has a very small, remote team of approximately eight employees. While there were no direct Glassdoor reviews found in the research, a small, tightly knit remote team could indicate a positive, focused culture. Conversely, for a software buyer, a small team could also pose a risk if high staff turnover occurs, potentially impacting customer support and development velocity. This is an inferred correlation and should only be used as an inline question during vendor evaluation.

Disclaimer: When evaluating peer reviews, it is important to check the dates of the reviews to ensure they are still accurate, and remember that there are always two sides to a story. Issues that happened a decade ago are irrelevant.

What Does SmartThoughts Expert Analysis State?

Raklet positions itself as a highly effective and modern Tier IV, and potentially for some, a Tier III AMS solution. Our expert analysis is as follows:

Strength in Engagement: Raklet has correctly identified the shift in the association market toward member engagement and community building as primary value drivers. The strength of its community features and the option for a branded mobile app are significant advantages for small associations whose mission relies heavily on member participation and interaction.
The "Swiss Army Knife" Approach: As a Tier IV border Tier III system, Raklet embodies the "Swiss Army knife" approach. While offering a wide range of functions, its depth is intentionally limited in areas like advanced financial management. Associations with an operating budget under $2.5 million and a cash-based accounting system will find this balance to be highly effective and cost-efficient. However, organizations with more complex accrual accounting needs, multi-currency transactions, or highly sophisticated conference management requirements may eventually outgrow their native capabilities.
Risk and Scalability: The small size of the company (from all indications about approximately eight employees) presents a dual reality. It allows for flexibility and high-touch support, as noted in reviews. However, it may pose a risk to larger associations if the product's roadmap or support capacity cannot scale with enterprise-level demands. An association must ensure the company's long-term stability and product investment match their 3-5 year growth plan.
Procurement Strategy: For any association exploring Raklet, the process should be guided by a clear understanding of their "Must Haves" versus "Nice to Haves". A scenario analysis, as outlined in the Smart Guide to Software Selection (provided below), is critical to determine if the platform's features align with the association's most time-consuming and revenue-generating programs.

Our Final Thoughts on Raklet

Raklet is a compelling solution for associations needing a strong, easy-to-use, all-in-one platform focused on modern member engagement and community. It is a prime example of a Tier III system delivering excellent value and core functionality in membership, events, and communication. However, the final decision hinges on your organization's specific complexity and future scale requirements. Failure is not an option in this critical technology decision.

We encourage verified Association Executives (not currently working with a consultant) to schedule a conversation with a SmartThoughts advisor. You have nothing to lose by seeking an objective, expert second opinion to ensure Raklet, or any other AMS, is truly the best fit for your mission.