iWave vs Salesforce NPSP: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between iWave and Salesforce NPSP comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: iWave is our overall pick for fundraising workflows. Pick Salesforce NPSP if you need CRM.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
iWave
Discover and qualify best-fit donors with comprehensive data and predictive analytics.
Best for you if:
- • You need fundraising features specifically
- • Aggregates wealth, philanthropic, and biographic data for donor research.
- • Uses AI and predictive analytics to identify and prioritize high-value prospects.
Salesforce NPSP
Empower your nonprofit to achieve greater impact with a unified CRM platform.
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need CRM features specifically
- • Unified CRM platform tailored for nonprofits to manage all stakeholder relationships.
- • Leverages AI (Einstein) for automation in tasks like reporting, grant tracking, and meeting summaries.
| At a Glance |  iWave |  Salesforce NPSP |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $545/moStarter | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Fundraising | CRM |
Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
Choose iWave or Salesforce NPSP?
Choose iWave if
Discover and qualify best-fit donors with comprehensive data and predictive analytics.
- Significantly reduces time spent on manual prospect research.
- Enables highly personalized and timely donor outreach.
- Provides a comprehensive 360-degree view of donors and prospects.
- Your work is fundraising-shaped, not CRM-shaped
Choose Salesforce NPSP if
Empower your nonprofit to achieve greater impact with a unified CRM platform.
- Significantly improves decision-making speed for nonprofits
- Enhances collaboration across teams
- Provides a comprehensive, unified view of all stakeholders
- You want a fully free tool (iWave requires payment)
- Your work is CRM-shaped, not fundraising-shaped
| Feature | iWave | Salesforce NPSP |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Free |
| User Rating | ★4.5/5 533 reviews | ★4.3/5 1,007 reviews |
| Categories | FundraisingSales Intelligence | CRMNonprofit Tools |
In-Depth Analysis
iWave
Discover and qualify best-fit donors with comprehensive data and predictive analytics.
Strengths
- +Significantly reduces time spent on manual prospect research.
- +Enables highly personalized and timely donor outreach.
- +Provides a comprehensive 360-degree view of donors and prospects.
- +Improves fundraising campaign efficiency and ROI.
- +Keeps donor data accurate and up-to-date automatically.
Weaknesses
- -No free tier or trial mentioned, indicating a potentially significant investment.
- -Requires integration with existing CRM systems for full workflow optimization, which might involve setup.
- -The extensive data points and analytics might have a learning curve for new users.
Key features
Salesforce NPSP
Empower your nonprofit to achieve greater impact with a unified CRM platform.
Strengths
- +Significantly improves decision-making speed for nonprofits
- +Enhances collaboration across teams
- +Provides a comprehensive, unified view of all stakeholders
- +Offers AI tools to automate administrative tasks and generate insights
- +Eligible nonprofits receive 10 free licenses and discounted rates for additional licenses
Weaknesses
- -Requires initial setup and customization to align with specific organizational needs
- -Learning curve for new users unfamiliar with the Salesforce ecosystem
Key features
Pricing: iWave vs Salesforce NPSP
| Plan | iWave | Salesforce NPSP |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $4,150 Starter | Free Nonprofit Cloud or Sales/Service Cloud (Power of Us Program) |
| Tier 2 | $5,350 Professional | N/A |
| Tier 3 | Contact us for pricing Premium | N/A |
| Tier 4 | $545/year Starter | N/A |
| Tier 5 | $1,095/year Professional | N/A |
| Tier 6 | $3,295/year Premium | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on iWave pricing and Salesforce NPSP pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Salesforce NPSP is free. iWave is paid.
Go with: Salesforce NPSP
Want the highest-rated option?
iWave: 4.5/5 (533 reviews). Salesforce NPSP: 4.3/5 (1,007 reviews).
Go with: iWave
Value user reviews?
iWave: 533 reviews (4.5/5). Salesforce NPSP: 1,007 reviews (4.3/5).
Go with: Salesforce NPSP
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
iWave is paid. Salesforce NPSP is free. Go with Salesforce NPSP if free matters most.
What's your use case?
iWave is a fundraising tool. Salesforce NPSP is in CRM. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
iWave is rated higher: 4.5/5 vs 4.3/5.
Key Takeaways
iWave
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 4.3/5
- Our pick for this comparison
Salesforce NPSP
- Completely free
- Larger review base (1,007 reviews)
- Better fit for CRM
The Bottom Line
iWave is our pick. That said, Salesforce NPSP is free, hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is iWave or Salesforce NPSP better?
iWave is rated in our evaluation. iWave is paid and Salesforce NPSP is free.
What are iWave and Salesforce NPSP used for?
iWave: Discover and qualify best-fit donors with comprehensive data and predictive analytics.. Salesforce NPSP: Empower your nonprofit to achieve greater impact with a unified CRM platform..
What does iWave cost vs Salesforce NPSP?
iWave is a paid tool. Salesforce NPSP is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.