Best Volunteer Scheduling Software for Nonprofits in 2026

You send an email asking for volunteers. A few people reply. You lose track of who said yes. On event day, half the people don't show up and the other half brought friends you weren't expecting. Sound familiar?

Volunteer scheduling software replaces the email chains, group texts, and spreadsheet sign-ups with a public calendar where volunteers browse and sign up on their own. The best tools go further — QR code check-in, automatic hour tracking, skill matching, and analytics that show the real impact of your program.

This guide compares the top scheduling tools, breaks down the features that actually matter, and helps you pick the right fit for your budget.

What to Look for in Volunteer Scheduling Software

Before comparing tools, know what features make the biggest difference for nonprofit volunteer coordinators:

Public Signup Calendar

A branded page where volunteers browse events, view details, and sign up on their own — without emailing the coordinator. The best calendars show date, time, location, skills needed, and spots remaining.

QR Code Check-in

Scan volunteers in on event day using a phone or tablet. Eliminates paper sign-in sheets and gives you accurate attendance data. The best implementations auto-track hours on check-in.

Automatic Hour Tracking

When a volunteer checks in, their hours are calculated based on the event duration and credited to their profile. No manual hour logging, no chasing volunteers for timesheets.

Skill Matching

Tag events with required skills and match volunteers based on their profiles. Ensure the right people show up for specialized work like construction, medical support, or financial counseling.

Waitlist Management

When events fill up, volunteers join a waitlist. Automatic or manual promotion when spots open means no missed opportunities and no over-booking.

Analytics

Track total events, unique volunteers, hours logged, attendance rates, and impact value. Volunteer leaderboards and date range filtering help coordinators measure program effectiveness.

Top Volunteer Scheduling Tools Compared

1. SignUpGenius

Best for: Small organizations with simple sign-up needs

SignUpGenius is the most widely used volunteer sign-up tool in the nonprofit sector. It's simple, free to start, and familiar to most volunteers.

Pros:

• Free tier available
• Very simple to set up
• Volunteers don't need accounts
• Mobile-friendly sign-up pages

Cons:

• No hour tracking
• No QR check-in
• No accounting integration
• Limited analytics
• Ad-supported on free tier

Pricing: Free (with ads) – $99/month (premium)

2. VolunteerHub

Best for: Mid-size organizations focused on volunteer engagement

VolunteerHub offers stronger volunteer management with scheduling, communication tools, and basic hour tracking.

Pros:

• Public-facing opportunity calendar
• Basic hour tracking
• Volunteer communication tools
• Skills-based matching

Cons:

• No QR code check-in
• No accounting integration
• Separate from your CRM and financial reports
• Higher price point

Pricing: $50–$200/month (custom quotes)

3. Galaxy Digital

Best for: Large organizations and volunteer centers

Galaxy Digital (now part of Bonterra) is an enterprise volunteer management platform with scheduling, skill matching, and analytics.

Pros:

• Comprehensive scheduling
• QR code check-in
• Skill matching and opportunity matching
• Strong analytics

Cons:

• Enterprise pricing (not transparent)
• No accounting integration
• No donor CRM
• Complex setup

Pricing: Custom (typically $500+/month)

4. Alignmint

Best for: Nonprofits that want scheduling connected to accounting and CRM

We built Alignmint's Volunteer Scheduler into our all-in-one nonprofit platform — so your volunteer scheduling connects directly to your fund accounting, donor CRM, and financial reports.

Pros:

• Public signup calendar with branded pages
• QR code check-in with automatic hour tracking
• Skill matching and waitlist management
• Analytics dashboard with impact value and leaderboard
• Event templates for recurring opportunities
• Email communications (confirmation, reminder, thank you)
• Connected to fund accounting for in-kind contribution reporting
• Donor CRM included — see which donors also volunteer
• Background check tracking built in
• Signup source tracking (direct, public calendar, marketplace, QR code)

Cons:

• Scheduler requires Pro or Enterprise plan ($499+/month)
• Newer platform (launched 2025)
• No native mobile app (responsive web)

Pricing: Free Starter (basic volunteer CRM) – $499+/month (Pro with full Scheduler)

Feature Comparison Table

Feature	SignUpGenius	VolunteerHub	Galaxy Digital	Alignmint
Public Signup Calendar	Basic	Yes	Yes	Yes (branded)
QR Code Check-in	No	No	Yes	Yes (auto-hours)
Automatic Hour Tracking	No	Basic	Yes	Yes
Skill Matching	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Waitlist Management	No	No	Yes	Yes
Analytics Dashboard	Basic	Basic	Yes	Yes (impact value)
Accounting Integration	No	No	No	Native
Donor CRM Included	No	No	No	Yes
Background Checks	No	No	No	Yes
Email Communications	Limited	Yes	Yes	Yes (automated)
Price	Free–$99/mo	$50–200/mo	Custom ($500+)	Free–$499+/mo

Which Tool Is Right for You?

Choose SignUpGenius if:

• You need simple event sign-ups and nothing else
• Your budget is $0
• You don't need hour tracking or accounting integration

Choose VolunteerHub if:

• You need basic volunteer management and communication
• You want skills-based matching without enterprise pricing
• Separate hour tracking from your accounting is acceptable

Choose Galaxy Digital if:

• You're a large organization or volunteer center
• You need comprehensive scheduling with QR check-in
• Budget isn't a primary constraint

Choose Alignmint if:

• You want scheduling connected to your accounting and CRM
• You need volunteer hours to flow into in-kind contribution reports
• You want one platform for donors, volunteers, events, and finances
• You value background check tracking alongside scheduling

The Bottom Line

Standalone volunteer scheduling tools solve the coordination problem but create data silos. Your volunteer hours live in one system, your accounting in another, and your donor data in a third. Every grant report and board presentation requires manual data gathering across multiple tools.

The most efficient approach is volunteer scheduling built into your all-in-one platform — where scheduled hours flow into your fund accounting, volunteer profiles connect to your donor CRM, and impact metrics appear on the same dashboard as your financial statements.

Ready to see volunteer scheduling connected to your accounting? We'd love to show you how it works.

Schedule Your Free Setup | Explore Features

Related reading:

• QR Code Check-in for Nonprofit Volunteer Events
• How to Set Up a Public Volunteer Signup Calendar