What VolunteerLocal actually costs: $600 a year, SMS capped

VolunteerLocal is a real volunteer platform for events and ongoing programs. If an organization runs a race, festival, or fundraiser and needs applications, hours tracking, applicant vetting, or group registration, stay on it. VolunteerReminder is not that.

Ongoing programs start at $600/yr on Discover. Grow is $2,400/yr. Enterprise is custom. Single events are $200, $800, and $3,000. That is on their pricing page, fetched August 17, 2026.

SMS is included, and capped. Discover includes 10,000 SMS a year, Grow 50,000, Enterprise 100,000, US and Canada. That is a different meter than paying per message. It is still a cap.

Discover vs Grow

Discover includes 2 admin seats, email and SMS, automated reminders, message templates, a mobile app for volunteers, and event-level signup and cancel notifications. Unlimited volunteer records, applications, events, jobs, and shifts. Extra admin seats can be purchased.

Discover add-ons: branded design $200; group registration, applicant vetting, and hours and attendance tracking $200 annual or $100 per event each.

Grow is 10 admin seats and 50,000 SMS a year. Grow-only features that cannot be added to Discover: file library, email attachments, import of shift and volunteer data, and job-level permissions. Enterprise is 50 admin seats and 100,000 SMS.

No credit card until an upgrade to paid. Every plan includes onboarding and unlimited support by email, video, and phone.

Their homepage says volunteers find it simple and do not need a password. Pricing still lists a mobile app for volunteers. VolunteerReminder is texts and emails only. Nobody installs anything.

Deluxe and Pro

Deluxe is $9 a month (pricing). That covers scheduled reminders for up to 60 volunteers, two texts per shift. It is not a plan for blasting a festival roster. If that is the job, VolunteerLocal's allotment is the honest answer. Normal reminder volume is what the $9 plan is built for.

Pro is $19, up to 150 volunteers, and adds a third reminder plus a substitute finder that texts a small batch at a time (default 8–10), first YES wins, then the next batch, not the whole roster. YES/NO confirm is optional.

VolunteerLocal can stay the event platform. VolunteerReminder can just do the reminders. Start a free trial or email info@volunteerreminder.com.

Frequently asked questions

How much does VolunteerLocal cost?

Ongoing programs start at $600/yr on Discover, $2,400/yr on Grow, and custom on Enterprise. Single events are $200, $800, and $3,000. That is from their pricing page, fetched August 17, 2026.

Is SMS unlimited on VolunteerLocal?

No. SMS is included and capped: 10,000 SMS a year on Discover, 50,000 on Grow, 100,000 on Enterprise, US and Canada. That is a different meter than paying per message. It is still a cap.

Are VolunteerReminder texts unlimited on the $9 plan?

No. Deluxe is $9 a month for scheduled reminders: up to 60 volunteers, two texts per shift. It is not a plan for blasting a festival roster. If that is the job, VolunteerLocal's allotment is the honest answer.

Who should stay on VolunteerLocal?

Organizations that run festivals, races, or one-off events, or that need applicant vetting, hours tracking, group registration, or many admin seats. VolunteerReminder is a reminder service, not an event volunteer platform.

Do volunteers need an app or a password?

On VolunteerReminder, no. Texts and emails only. Nobody installs anything. VolunteerLocal lists a mobile app for volunteers and also says volunteers do not need a password.

Is VolunteerReminder a volunteer platform like VolunteerLocal?

No. No applications, no hours tracking, no applicant vetting, no group registration, no volunteer database. It schedules recurring volunteer shifts and texts people before they serve. That is the whole product.

What happens when a volunteer declines a shift?

On Pro, the substitute finder texts a small batch at a time (default 8–10). First YES wins, then the next batch, not the whole roster. YES/NO confirm is optional on Deluxe and Pro.