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GradEngage vs Firsthand Comparison

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GradEngage

4.9(13 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Introducing GradEngage – the ultimate alumni network building platform. Trusted by esteemed institutions like Texas Tech University and King's College London, GradEngage offers a host of features including alumni relatio…

Firsthand

4.6(144 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Firsthand is an alumni management, fundraising and constituent relationship software designed specifically to meet the needs of higher education institutions. Organizations who are philanthropic and alumni-centric, like…

GradEngage leads on user satisfaction with a 4.9-star rating across 13 reviews.

GradEngage vs Firsthand — at a glance

FeatureGradEngageFirsthand
Rating4.9 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews13144
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricing
Free trial No No
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryAlumni Management SoftwareAlumni Management Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
API
Support modesOnline24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online
Certifications
Data residencyGlobalGlobal

Key differences between GradEngage and Firsthand

  • User satisfaction: GradEngage scores higher with a 4.9-star average.
  • Deployment: GradEngage supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Firsthand supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

GradEngage vs Firsthand — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Alumni Management Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

GradEngage - Alumni Management Software

GradEngage

Migrated to Graduway

Compare Graduway
Compare Graduway
Firsthand - Alumni Management Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert

Free PDF comparison

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

GradEngage

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business

Firsthand

Best for managing alumni and donor relationships in higher education and philanthropy.

Choose if
  • You need a platform tailored specifically for alumni and donor relationship management.
  • Your organization is a medium or large philanthropic or educational institution.
  • You want cloud-based tools that enable personalized donor engagement and constituent growth.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a small business without alumni or donor engagement needs.
  • Your organization operates outside of philanthropic or educational sectors.

GradEngage typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Firsthand tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

Introducing GradEngage – the ultimate alumni network building platform. Trusted by esteemed institutions like Texas Tech University and King's College London, GradEngage offers a host of ... Read More about GradEngage

Firsthand is an alumni management, fundraising and constituent relationship software designed specifically to meet the needs of higher education institutions. Organizations who are ... Read More about Firsthand

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

Not Available

9.7/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.9

(13)

Best Company Size

Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

GradEngage has not given any software demo yet

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How do GradEngage and Firsthand Compare on Features?

Total Features

0 Features

5 Features

Unique Features

No features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare GradEngage and Firsthand on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Medium Business
      • Large Enterprises
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Medium Business
      • Large Enterprises
      • Small Business
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Mobile - iOS
      • Mobile - Android
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Mobile - Android
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Not Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global
      🌐 Global

      GradEngage User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      4.6

      (based on 144 reviews)

      Rating Distribution

      15

      1

      0

      0

      1

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is very strong across 17 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

      What buyers like

      • Customizable and branded platform, offering high levels of customization for specific needs and branding.
      • Outstanding customer service and support, with proactive sharing of best practices and timely product upgrades.
      • Intuitive and easy-to-use platform, allowing for autonomous management without technical expertise.

      Common complaints

      • Initial overwhelming feeling due to the richness of features, may require time and guidance to set up and utilize effectively.
      • Limited integration options and marketplace for additional apps and connectors, potentially restricting some advanced functionalities based on specific needs.

      Buyer sentiment

      Users generally express positive sentiment about Firsthand’s specialized alumni and donor management capabilities, appreciating its tailored features for higher education and philanthropic organizations.

      What buyers like

      • Specialized alumni management
      • Personalized donor engagement
      • Cloud-based accessibility

      Common complaints

      • Pricing opacity
      • Limited applicability outside target sectors

      Pros and Cons

      • Customizable and branded platform, offering high levels of customization for specific needs and branding.

      • Outstanding customer service and support, with proactive sharing of best practices and timely product upgrades.

      • Intuitive and easy-to-use platform, allowing for autonomous management without technical expertise.

      • Initial overwhelming feeling due to the richness of features, may require time and guidance to set up and utilize effectively.

      • Limited integration options and marketplace for additional apps and connectors, potentially restricting some advanced functionalities based on specific needs.

      • Tailored specifically for alumni and donor relationship management

      • Cloud-based platform enabling personalized donor engagement

      • Strong focus on philanthropic and constituent relationship growth

      • Pricing is quotation-based and not publicly disclosed

      • Limited appeal outside of education and philanthropic sectors

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Negative Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      List of Customers

      Customers

      No Customers information available.

      University of Oxford

      University of Oxford

      UConn

      UConn

      McMaster University

      McMaster University

      Media and Screenshots

      Videos

      No videos available.

      video-0

      1 Videos

      Top Alternatives to GradEngage and Firsthand in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, GradEngage or Firsthand?
      GradEngage edges out the other on user ratings (4.9 vs 4.6). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do GradEngage and Firsthand offer a free trial?
      Neither GradEngage nor Firsthand currently lists a free trial.
      What is the starting price of GradEngage vs Firsthand?
      GradEngage starts at Contact for pricing. Firsthand starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to GradEngage?
      Top alternatives to GradEngage include ToucanTech, Vaave, VeryConnect, 360Alumni, AlmaShines.
      What are the top alternatives to Firsthand?
      Top alternatives to Firsthand include 360Alumni, AlmaHub, AlmaShines, AlumniMagnet, EnterpriseAlumni.

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