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According to a Geneca survey, 78% of respondents desire more connection and engagement from their stakeholders. But how to achieve this?

When your organization is managing important projects, it’s essential to keep all your stakeholders in the loop. However, that’s not always easy. You may have a wide range of parties involved, perhaps spread over a wide geographic area. 

Thankfully, there’s an easy way to engage everyone effectively. Stakeholder management software exists specifically to help organizations keep all parties informed and involved. In this article, I’ll review the top tools available in this niche and help you decide which is the best option for your specific needs. 

Comparison Criteria

What do I look for when I select the best stakeholder management tool? Here’s a summary of my evaluation criteria: 

  1. User Interface (UI): I look for a design that makes even non-techy stakeholders feel at home
  2. Usability: I expect all users to have no trouble locating and using the features that are important to them
  3. Integrations: I’m seeking pre-built integrations with the tools various stakeholders use daily
  4. Value for $: I look for affordable tools that are economically viable for stakeholders in both small and large organizations

Stakeholder Management Key Features

The best stakeholder management software includes features such as:

  1. Issue tracking: Keeping a log of problems raised to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
  2. Relationship mapping: Spelling out the way various stakeholders interconnect and the roles they play.
  3. AI tools: Leveraging machine learning to deliver insights into stakeholder sentiment.
  4. Management reporting: Information that provides leaders with the up-to-date information they need.
  5. Advanced analytics: Tools for drilling into the data to understand what works and what doesn’t.
  6. Engagement strategies: Encouraging all stakeholders to participate and make a meaningful contribution.
  7. Event management: Keeping everyone informed of key dates, events, and activities.
  8. Compliance management: Ensuring that the whole team stays compliant with laws, regulations, and agreements.

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Overviews Of The 10 Best Stakeholder Management Software Solutions

Here’s a brief description of each stakeholder management system to showcase each tool’s best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give a snapshot of the user interface.

1

Thryv

Best for small business stakeholder management

Free demo available

Pricing upon request

Thryv is an integrated business management solution that helps small businesses with essential business functions. Using this platform, you can improve stakeholder relations and manage contacts effectively.The software allows stakeholders to monitor progress using the client portal.

This makes it easy to get buy-in from many different contributors.Based in the cloud, Thryv can also be used to run marketing campaigns, send emails, and manage social media communications.

Thryv can also be used to manage team schedules, sync calendars, and book appointments.This tool integrates with multiple third-party applications, including Slack, Gmail, QuickBooks, and MailChimp.

Thryv offers customized pricing on request.

2

Productive

Best stakeholder management software for agencies

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.7
28 reviews

14-day free trial

From $11/user/month

Productive.io is an all-in-one agency management system that aims to streamline productivity for client-centric businesses. With features such as budgeting, resource planning, project management, time tracking, sales, billing, and document creation, the platform offers a comprehensive solution for agencies to manage their operations effectively.

By centralizing where work is managed, tracked, and analyzed, internal stakeholders can easily access the information they need to stay informed on project progress, team performance, profitability, and other key business insights. Meanwhile, keeping work organized in one space allows teams to keep client stakeholders up to date and align with them easily.

The software integrates with other popular workplace tools including Dropbox, Exact, Google Workplace, Jira, Harvest Economic, Outlook, Microsoft Calendar, Slack, QuickBooks, and Xero. A Zapier integration is also available, which can unlock more integrations with a paid account.

Paid plans start from $11 per user, per month, and a 14-day free trial is available.

3

BQE Core

Best for back-office automation

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.5
105 reviews

Pricing upon request

BQE Core is a work management system that organizes information and automates repetitive tasks. Built to meet the needs of professional services firms, it ensures that all stakeholders remain engaged and informed.The software aims to help firms improve cash flow through improved billing processes.

It also enhances project management and provides facilities for analyzing performance in detail.Information can be extracted from third-party systems and integrated into management reports.

BQE Core also helps to optimize, automate, and simplify HR tasks.This tool integrates with platforms such as Intuit and MYOB.

BQE Core offers customized pricing on request.

4

Totango

Best for stakeholder success plans

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.3
546 reviews

14-day free trial

From $249/month (2 users + 200 customer accounts)

Totango offers stakeholder engagement features to help you identify, align, and engage with key project stakeholders. You can track and analyze their needs and expectations in real-time, so you can drive retention, minimize churn, and deepen your relationship.Thanks to the engagement metrics, you can identify accounts with a high risk of churn due to a lack of stakeholder engagement.

You can also create a mutually-agreed success plan, then deliver quarterly reviews on progress achieved. The software allows you to see how your team is engaging with stakeholders and key contacts. Armed with this information, it’s possible to create campaigns that enhance stakeholder engagement.

The Totango Javascript Library simplifies integration with virtually any data source.

Totango costs from $199/user/month, and a 14-day free trial is available.

5

Insightly

Best for a complete view of stakeholder engagement

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.2
894 reviews

Free trial available

From $29/user/month (billed annually)

Insightly is a SaaS-based solution that helps organizations manage all their data in one place. It also assists with building stakeholder relationships, accelerating sales, and delivering projects on time.Features include contact management, relationship linking, lead management, and email tracking.

You can also use the system for project management, workflow automation, and opportunity management.

Internal stakeholders can gain real-time access to key business metrics in just a few clicks. They can analyze information such as job placement rates, average salary data, and interview success ratios.

This tool integrates with popular business tools such as Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Dropbox, and Box.

Insightly costs from $29/user/month, and a free trial is available.

6

StakeTracker

Best for a secure, online stakeholder management system

StakeTracker is a web-based, SaaS application that helps organizations stay on top of their projects by managing all communications centrally. The software facilitates planning, recording, documenting, and reporting on communications and interactions with shareholders.

Designed in collaboration with stakeholder engagement practitioners, StakeTracker reduces the time needed to mine, cross-reference, and collate the information needed to generate reports. It documents stakeholders’ interests, issues, and concerns, as well as tracking commitments.

In addition, the software provides feedback on how issues are addressed and resolved. Project team members can coordinate consultation events, assign tasks, share information, and follow up as necessary. There is no publicly available information on integrations.

StakeTracker offers customizable pricing on request.

7

Jambo

Best for faster stakeholder engagement

No Free Trial

From $995/user/month

Jambo is a cloud-based stakeholder relationship management system. It aims to be the fastest way for organizations to manage their stakeholder information, stakeholder communications, and stakeholder engagement projects.Using the software, you can quickly log records of contact with stakeholders and design smart workflows.

Features include tag-based search, email integration, and instant save capabilities.You can track stakeholder issues and understand their impact, as well as monitor the progress of stakeholder commitments. The reporting features allow you to show the entire history of stakeholder engagement visually.There is no publicly available information on integrations.

Jambo costs from $995/user/month. There is no free trial.

8

monday.com

Best for combining stakeholder management with project management

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.7
8702 reviews

14-day free trial + free plan available

From $8/user/month (billed annually, min 3 seats)

Monday.com is a popular project management tool that includes stakeholder management capabilities. You can use the stakeholder register template to identify project stakeholders, centralize their contact details, and boost engagement.Features include customizable dashboards to communicate real-time data with stakeholders and get a high-level view of project progress.

You can upload files for review and storage, then use a tag column to filter them according to stakeholder role and status.The automation features help you inform stakeholders when initiatives are complete. Thanks to the smart columns feature, you can classify stakeholders according to their level of interest or power.

This tool integrates with many popular software platforms, including Slack, LinkedIn, Dropbox, and Google Drive.

Monday costs from $8/user/month, and a 14-day free trial is available.

9

Kintone

Best for organizing team workflows in one place

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.6
207 reviews

30-day free trial

From $24/user/month

Kintone is a customizable workplace platform designed to manage every stakeholder’s input in a project. You can organize your team’s data, tasks, and communication from one place.The software helps you manage project data to ensure that all relevant stakeholders are up to speed. Y

ou can notify people when their input is needed and share information with multiple parties.With Kintone, you can organize processes and tasks into intuitive workflows. Automated reminders, approvals, and task handoffs ensure you spend less time managing work and more time getting things done.T

his tool integrates with business platforms such as Google Drive, Slack, Trello, and Microsoft 365.

Kintone costs from $24/user/month and a 30-day free trial is available.

10

Smartsheet

Best for flexible project management

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.4
7400 reviews

Freemium version available

From $7/user/month

Smartsheet is a popular work management platform that helps you manage projects and automate processes. Designed to be flexible, it offers a rich set of views, workflows, reports, and dashboards. These can be used to capture and track plans, resources, and schedules.

The software includes a number of stakeholder analysis templates for tracking, program management, and communications planning. These can be used to keep all stakeholders fully informed of developments and progress. Enterprise-grade security takes good care of everything from policy access to data flows.

This tool integrates with various popular business tools, including Slack, Docusign, AWS, and Dropbox.

Smartsheet costs from $7/user/month, and a 30-day free trial is available.

The Best Stakeholder Management Software Solutions Summary

Tool Trial Info Price
1
Thryv

Best for small business stakeholder management

Free demo available

Pricing upon request Website
2
Productive

Best stakeholder management software for agencies

14-day free trial

From $11/user/month Website
3
BQE Core

Best for back-office automation

Not available

Pricing upon request Website
4
Totango

Best for stakeholder success plans

14-day free trial

From $249/month (2 users + 200 customer accounts) Website
5
Insightly

Best for a complete view of stakeholder engagement

Free trial available

From $29/user/month (billed annually) Website
6
StakeTracker

Best for a secure, online stakeholder management system

Not available

Website
7
Jambo

Best for faster stakeholder engagement

No Free Trial

From $995/user/month Website
8
monday.com

Best for combining stakeholder management with project management

14-day free trial + free plan available

From $8/user/month (billed annually, min 3 seats) Website
9
Kintone

Best for organizing team workflows in one place

30-day free trial

From $24/user/month Website
10
Smartsheet

Best for flexible project management

Freemium version available

From $7/user/month Website

Other Stakeholder Management Software

Here are a few more that didn’t make the top list.

  1. SMART - Best for intelligent stakeholder engagement
  2. Borealis - Embraces the ‘plan, engage, measure’ methodology
  3. Darzin - Best for a stakeholder CRM
  4. InfoFLO - Best for a customizable stakeholder management solution
  5. FlowPath - Best for facilities management
  6. Kahootz - Best for stakeholder engagement gamification
  7. Stakeholder Circle - Best for a proven stakeholder management methodology
  8. Arpedio - Best for strategic account management

What is stakeholder management software?

Stakeholder management software is a type of product, service, or project management software that can be used to communicate important dates, deadlines, and events with key stakeholders. The best stakeholder management software will have:

  • Calendars and charts (Kanban, Gantt, spreadsheet, lists)
  • Communication and commenting features 
  • Flexible reporting dashboards 
  • Customizable alerts (email, push notifications, SMS)
  • Scalable guest access

What do you think about this list?

Stakeholder management software plays an important role in helping organizations achieve their most ambitious goals. Now you’ve seen my top tool picks, what do you think? If you know of an awesome tool we overlooked, let us know in the comments. 

I also recommend you check out our helpful article on product management tools. You may discover a tool that’s just perfect for your needs. 

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By Ben Aston

Ben Aston is an online media entrepreneur and founder of Black & White Zebra, an indie media company on a mission to help people and organizations succeed.

Ben applies his expertise in design and strategy to enable businesses to deliver innovative products and services that delight customers. Ben is passionate about understanding customer needs through design research, identifying opportunities based on those insights, and empowering designers and technologists to create solutions. He is driven to develop and uncover new opportunities for clients, establishing strong connections with their customers through product solutions that create lasting value.