Glue Up alternatives for chambers and associations: 5 options compared

How we compared. We make Portava, so we have an interest. Everything we say about other products comes from their own websites, help centres and public review sites, and each claim is linked. Checked on 28 September 2026. If something has changed, tell us and we will update it.

Most teams start looking beyond Glue Up for one of three reasons. Renewals, events and email live in different places. Members don't open the app. Or the team is paying for tools that overlap. This guide covers what to check first, then compares five options on the jobs that matter day to day.

If you are already planning a move, read our guide to switching from Glue Up alongside this one.

The five options at a glance

This table compares like with like, and it includes rows where other products do things Portava doesn't yet.

Sources are linked in each section below. "Listed" means shown on the vendor's own site on the date above; a missing item may still be possible through a third-party tool.

What to look for in a Glue Up alternative

Before you book demos, decide which of these matter most. They are where membership teams lose the most time.

Renewals that run themselves

Reminders, card payments and lapsed-member follow-up should happen in one place, tied to the member record. Ask each vendor to show a renewal from reminder to payment to receipt.

Events linked to the member record

Member pricing, registration, check-in and follow-up should not need a spreadsheet in between. Ask how a non-member who attends an event becomes a lead.

Communications members read

Email to chosen audiences, news and resources should all draw on the same member data, so you never send the wrong message to the wrong group.

A portal members actually open

A branded portal on your own domain, with content worth returning for, does more for retention than another login page. Ask to see the member's view, not only the admin view.

The five options

Portava

Portava is membership management software built around a branded portal. Each organisation gets its own portal with a member directory, events and ticketing with QR check-in, news and resources, email campaigns, membership billing through your own Stripe account, and an AI assistant that answers members' questions from your own content.

Strengths: one connected system for members, renewals, events and communications; UK accounting links (Xero, QuickBooks Online, Sage 50 and Sage 200); HubSpot CRM sync; a WordPress plugin that shows your events and news on your own website.

Limits: no recurring events yet, no self-serve data import (our team runs it with you), and members cannot yet change their own tier.

GrowthZone / ChamberMaster

GrowthZone is membership software for small to mid-size associations, and ChamberMaster is its product for chambers of commerce. Members use the Info Hub portal and the free MemberPlus app.

Strengths: a native QuickBooks Online sync, recurring event series, and data migration for new clients.

Limits: Xero and Sage are not listed as integrations. One Capterra reviewer said there is "a lot to learn and mastery seems a while away".

Wild Apricot

Wild Apricot, from Personify, is web-based membership software for small associations and non-profits. It publishes its pricing and offers a free members' app.

Strengths: clear published pricing, a members' app for iOS and Android, and help with importing members.

Limits: accounting is limited to a QuickBooks export file, with Xero only through third parties. Events repeat as sessions within one event. One G2 reviewer mentioned a "limited choice of themes".

MemberClicks

MemberClicks, from Momentive Software, is membership software for associations, with MC Trade aimed at chambers and trade associations. Members use a branded Member Portal and the Member App.

Strengths: MC Trade connects to QuickBooks Online and Sage Intacct, and there is an implementation team.

Limits: the help centre suggests copying an event for each date rather than a recurring series. One Capterra reviewer found "canned reporting is limited".

sheepCRM

sheepCRM is a UK membership CRM for professional associations, trade bodies and membership charities. Members use a self-service portal and sheepApp.

Strengths: UK-based, with published pricing, a Xero integration and a guided setup that includes data migration.

Limits: QuickBooks and Sage are not listed. One Capterra reviewer said the "member portal could be more flexible".

When staying on Glue Up is the right call

Switching has a cost. Glue Up combines CRM, events, email marketing, a member app and accounting integrations including Xero. If your team relies on those, your members use the app and your renewals already run smoothly, the case for moving is weak. Fix the process before you change the tool.

Moving makes more sense when you are paying for several tools that overlap, when members rarely log in, or when renewals depend on manual chasing.

How to choose

• List the three jobs your team spends most time on each month.
• Ask every vendor to demo those three jobs, using your own examples.
• See the member's view on a phone, not only the admin screens.
• Ask who runs the data migration, how long it takes and what it costs.
• Check which accounting package and CRM each option connects to.
• Ask for a reference customer of a similar size and type.

Switching from Glue Up

Moving is mostly a data question: member and company records, membership types, and join and renewal dates. Glue Up's help centre explains how to download contact and company information as a spreadsheet. Check the columns before you start. Our guide to switching from Glue Up walks through the export, the clean-up and a realistic timeline.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Glue Up?

There is no single best option. It depends on your size, how you run renewals and events, and which accounting tools you use. Shortlist two or three platforms, then ask each to demo your three most time-consuming jobs using your own examples.

Is there a Glue Up alternative for UK chambers and associations?

Yes. Portava is built in the UK, bills in pounds, supports UK GDPR requests and connects to Xero, QuickBooks Online, Sage 50 and Sage 200. sheepCRM is another UK option, aimed at professional associations and trade bodies.

Can we move our member data out of Glue Up?

Yes. Glue Up lets you download contact and company information as a spreadsheet. Portava's team then imports member and company records, membership types, and join and renewal dates. Events are set up again in Portava.

How long does switching take?

For most organisations the data move is the quick part. The longer work is agreeing membership tiers, checking records and telling members about the change. Ask each vendor for a timeline based on an organisation of your size.

Does Portava have a member app?

Members use a branded portal on your own domain, which works in any phone or computer browser, so there is nothing extra for them to install.

Glue Up, GrowthZone, ChamberMaster, Wild Apricot, MemberClicks and sheepCRM are trademarks of their respective owners. This comparison is independent and not endorsed by them.