Recur vs. StarChapter: pricing, chapters & fit
StarChapter packages membership, events, email and a website for chapters. Its member allowances are not the same unit as Recur's total-contact pricing. Count your members and your wider contact list before comparing costs.
Which platform fits your organization?
Consider Recur when
A lean nonprofit membership team that wants member records, renewals, events and outreach together, with personal help and published contact-based pricing.
Consider StarChapter when
A chapter or volunteer board that wants to evaluate membership, meetings, email and a website in a chapter-oriented package with defined member and additional-contact allowances.
Compare the workflows that matter
| Workflow | Recur | StarChapter |
|---|---|---|
| Membership & member access | Member records, dues and renewals, with a base self-service member portal included. | Membership management included. Plans distinguish members from additional contacts; confirm both allowances. |
| Events & registration | Event registration, payments and attendance connected to member records. Test your specific event workflow in a demo. | Event and meeting tools included. StarPay supports credit-card payments; this is not a PayPal-only offering. |
| Website | Optional Website Builder: $25/month. Custom website builds and maintenance are quoted separately. | Website included in all listed packages. Setup fees vary by package; confirm the build and ongoing-service scope. |
| Communications | Email and member outreach; optional Text Messaging: $25/month plus message usage. | Email included across packages. Test board handover, recipient groups and your recurring chapter communications. |
Pricing considerations
Contact-tier pricing with a website
For this example, every listed contact is an active member. StarChapter prices members separately from additional contacts. A smaller active-member count may qualify for a lower-priced package; these are not flat per-contact quotes.
| Total contacts | Recur + Website Builder | StarChapter (assumes all contacts are active members) |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | $130/mo $105 contacts + $25 Website Builder |
$245/mo Advanced · up to 600 members · website included One-time setup: $2,230 |
| 1,000 | $130/mo $105 contacts + $25 Website Builder |
$305/mo Pro · up to 1,200 members · website included One-time setup: $2,635 |
| 1,500 | $155/mo $130 contacts + $25 Website Builder |
From $385/mo Larger member plan · quote required for this size · website included Setup from $3,041 |
| 2,500 | $180/mo $155 contacts + $25 Website Builder |
From $385/mo Larger member plan · quote required for this size · website included Setup from $3,041 |
| 5,000 | $230/mo $205 contacts + $25 Website Builder |
From $385/mo Larger member plan · quote required for this size · website included Setup from $3,041 |
| 10,000 | $355/mo $330 contacts + $25 Website Builder |
From $385/mo Larger member plan · quote required for this size · website included Setup from $3,041 |
Every Recur total includes the contact tier plus the $25/month Website Builder add-on. Additional contacts are billed in whole 1,000-contact blocks. Custom website builds, maintenance and other optional add-ons are not included.
Advanced covers up to 600 members; Pro covers up to 1,200. Above 1,200 members, StarChapter publishes larger plans starting at $385/month and $3,041 setup, but requires a scoped quote. Starting figures are not confirmed prices for the larger tiers below.
All amounts are USD per month with monthly billing. Taxes, payment processing and one-time setup are excluded from monthly totals. Optional upfront discounts are not applied.
Pricing checked . Official StarChapter pricing · Recur pricing.
Website Builder and Text Messaging are optional add-ons at $25/month and $25/month respectively; message usage is charged separately. LMS is $150/month, and Advanced Member Portal is $29/month. The base self-service member portal is included. Custom website builds and maintenance are quoted separately.
StarChapter lists Essential under 50 at $86/month plus $1,169 setup; Essential 150 members plus 1,000 additional contacts at $130/month plus $1,169 setup; Growth 300 at $175/month plus $1,684 setup; Advanced 600 at $245/month plus $2,230 setup; and Pro 1,200 at $305/month plus $2,635 setup. These are member-based package labels, not equivalent Recur contact counts. The official page describes auto-renewal at the end of the initial term; request current initial-term and cancellation details.
Calculate Recur pricingStrengths, limitations and questions to ask
Recur
Website Builder and Text Messaging are optional add-ons at $25/month and $25/month respectively; message usage is charged separately. LMS is $150/month, and Advanced Member Portal is $29/month. The base self-service member portal is included. Custom website builds and maintenance are quoted separately. Validate complex federation structures, specialized accounting and integration requirements in discovery. Optional prepayment is not a required service commitment.
StarChapter
Include the package's setup fee and member/additional-contact allowances in your evaluation. Get current initial-term, auto-renewal and notice terms rather than assuming a universal contract length.
Plan your migration
- Separate active members from prospects, guests and other contacts. Map chapter roles, board permissions, meeting history and your website/domain transition.
- Inventory contact records, membership types, renewal dates, consent preferences and documents. Confirm what your current vendor can export.
- Map fields and relationships with your new provider. Test a sample import and reconcile member, contact and payment totals before the full move.
- Review recurring payment permissions, open invoices, accounting mappings, website URLs and email-domain settings. Payment credentials may need a separate transition.
- Agree on staff training, member communications and a cutover date. Keep access to historical records and confirm your existing notice and renewal terms.
Frequently asked questions
Are StarChapter members and Recur contacts the same pricing unit?
No. StarChapter distinguishes members and additional contacts; Recur prices the total contact database. A chapter with 150 members may have many more contacts. Check both official pricing sources below before comparing packages.
Is StarChapter PayPal-only?
No. StarChapter's official pricing page lists StarPay credit-card payments. Ask about processing rates and the payment options supported by your package; see the official source below.
What are StarChapter's renewal terms?
The official pricing page describes auto-renewal at the end of the initial term. Obtain the current initial term, renewal conditions and cancellation notice requirements in writing. We do not assume a universal 13-month contract.
Sources and scope
Explore member management, events and communications.
See whether Recur fits your association
Explore all software comparisons
Written by Recur. Official product and pricing sources reviewed . Fit assessments are our editorial perspective. Confirm current details with each provider. See official sources.