A simpler alternative to Novi AMS

Novi AMS vs Join It: how to choose

The short answer: Novi AMS suits associations that run their finances in QuickBooks and want a website, events and a two-way QuickBooks sync in one system. Join It suits small associations that want a simpler all-in-one for membership, payments, events and member emails, month to month. As of September 2026, Novi Core costs $829 a month plus a $3,600 onboarding fee, about $13,550 in year one, on a 12-month contract that renews automatically. Join It suits small associations, chapters and clubs that want a simple all-in-one for membership, renewals, payments, events and member emails that works alongside their existing website, with plans from $29 a month, month to month, and a 30-day free trial with no credit card.

What is Novi AMS built for?

Novi was created in Orlando for an apartment association and now serves trade and professional associations across the US. It describes itself as "Association Management Software for Organizations Using QuickBooks". It includes a white-label website, member directory and portal, events with continuing-education credits, an online store and reporting, all synced with QuickBooks Online.

How much does Novi AMS cost?

As of September 2026, Novi's Core plan costs $829 a month plus a one-time onboarding fee of $3,600, about $13,550 in the first year. Novi publishes its pricing, which is based on your association's annual revenue, and Core is the plan for associations with revenue up to $400,000. Every plan includes the same features and is billed annually. The first term is 12 months and renews automatically unless you give notice at least 60 days before it ends. Card payments through Novi Pay cost 2.95% + $0.25. There's no free trial.

Join It publishes all of its pricing. Plans start at $29 a month on Starter (3% platform fee). Total, at $99 a month (2%), adds digital membership cards, member check-in, a member directory and API access, and Extra, at $199 a month (1.5%), adds custom domains and a dedicated account manager. Plans are month to month, Stripe's processing fees apply, and there are no setup fees. Annual billing saves 10%, and nonprofits get an additional 10% off. See full pricing.

For a small association, Novi AMS costs more than Join It: about $13,550 in Novi's first year, against Join It from $29 a month, month to month, with no setup fees.

Is Novi AMS or Join It better for small associations?

For small associations that want month-to-month terms rather than an auto-renewing annual contract, Join It usually fits better than Novi AMS, particularly if:

• You're a small association and Novi's first year is hard to justify. Novi Core costs $829 a month plus a $3,600 onboarding fee, about $13,550 in year one. Join It starts at $29 a month with no setup fees.
• You don't want an auto-renewing annual contract. Novi's first term is 12 months and renews unless you give notice 60 days before it ends. Join It is month to month, with no notice period.
• You want to keep your existing website. Novi runs your association's website for you. Join It works alongside the site you already have. If you only need a simple online home for your members, the Join It member portal gives you one without building a whole site: share posts, list upcoming events and give members a searchable directory (Total plan and above).
• You use QuickBooks but don't need your whole system built around it. Join It sends every membership payment, online or offline, to QuickBooks Online automatically, creating the customer, invoice and payment for you. QuickBooks sync is included on every Join It plan.
• You want membership to work in person, not only in a portal. On the Total plan and above, members carry a branded digital membership card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet that you can scan to check in members at the door, and it works alongside events you run with Join It's built-in event registration.
• You want to try it first. Novi has no free trial. Join It offers a 30-day free trial, no credit card needed.

When Novi AMS may be the better fit

Novi AMS may be a better fit than Join It if:

• QuickBooks is at the center of your finance process and you want a deep, two-way sync. Join It's QuickBooks sync is one-way: it sends membership payments into QuickBooks Online.
• You want your website and online store run by your association software.
• You run events with continuing-education credits and want that built in.

Can I switch from Novi AMS to Join It without members re-entering card details?

Yes, if your members already pay through your own Stripe account: Join It's team can bring their existing Stripe subscriptions across, so they won't need to re-enter their card details.

• Check your renewal date. Novi contracts renew automatically unless you give written notice at least 60 days before the end of the term.
• Start a Join It free trial ahead of that date, and set up your membership types and renewal emails.
• Export your member records from Novi and import them into Join It. Bulk import is free on every plan. Join It's team can do the import for you on any plan, even during your free trial.
• Plan the payment switch. If you've been using Novi's own payment processing, members will set up card payments with Stripe when they next renew, so time the move before your main renewal period.

Questions to ask before you choose

• What will the first year cost in total, including onboarding and payment fees?
• How long is the contract, and when do we need to give notice?
• How central is QuickBooks to how we run our finances?
• Do we need a new website, or do we want to keep ours?
• How will members prove their membership at events and partner businesses?

Join It is trusted by more than 4,000 membership organizations in 40 countries and has processed over $100 million in membership payments since 2016.

Comparing other options? See all Join It alternatives and comparisons.

Last reviewed: October 1, 2026. Novi AMS pricing and terms are taken from noviams.com and may change. Check their current pricing before making a decision.