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Different Origins, Different Architectures
ClubRunner was built for service clubs — Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis. It has deep chapter management with multi-level hierarchies: international, district, regional, local. If you operate within that specific structure, ClubRunner knows your world.
TidyHQ was built for the broader spectrum of membership organisations — sports clubs, community groups, professional associations, arts societies. TidyConnect, its federation layer, handles the governing body to club relationship without requiring rigid hierarchy.
The Pricing Gap
ClubRunner is an enterprise product. Pricing for a federation of clubs typically starts at $15,000 per year and can exceed $40,000 depending on the number of chapters and features required.
TidyHQ Plus is $249 per month AUD for a single organisation. TidyConnect federation pricing is based on the number of connected clubs, but even at scale, it is a fraction of ClubRunner's cost.
For a state sporting body with 100 affiliated clubs, the price difference is significant enough to fund a part-time club development officer.
Complexity vs Simplicity
ClubRunner has more features for complex hierarchies. Four or more levels of organisational nesting. Advanced board governance tools. Detailed reporting across every level.
TidyHQ is simpler by design. It was built for volunteer-run organisations where the committee turns over every two years and the new secretary needs to be productive within an hour, not a week.
This is a trade-off, not a flaw. If your federation has paid staff at every level, ClubRunner's complexity is manageable. If your clubs are run by volunteers, simplicity is not optional.
Where ClubRunner Wins
Enterprise federations with 4+ hierarchy levels. National bodies with state chapters, regional districts, and local clubs — all needing coordinated reporting up through the chain. Deep board governance features for organisations with professional boards.
If you are Rotary International, ClubRunner was literally built for you.
Where TidyHQ Wins
Australian organisations that want AUD pricing, Xero integration, BPay payments, and local support. Sporting bodies where the hierarchy is simpler — national, state, club. Volunteer-run organisations where learning curve matters as much as feature count.
TidyConnect handles the federation layer — task assignment, compliance tracking, communication from governing body to clubs — without requiring every club to run the same rigid structure.
The Decision
If your federation has 100+ member organisations, 4+ hierarchy levels, paid administrators at each level, and a budget above $15,000 per year, ClubRunner's depth may justify the investment.
If you are a sporting body, association, or community group federation that needs governance tools at a sensible price point, with Australian support and volunteer-friendly simplicity, TidyHQ is the better fit.
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