Not sure if Aprio or BoardEffect is the better board portal software choice for managing your financial services, nonprofit or healthcare board? Both board portals are designed to enhance board operations, but which one works best for your board will depend on your budget, governance needs, and the complexity of your organization.
If you’re evaluating Aprio and BoardEffect, read on for some key differences to consider when evaluating these two board portals.
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Best-fit customers: Aprio vs BoardEffect
BoardEffect and Aprio are designed for different organizational needs:
BoardEffect is ideal for nonprofit organizations, community organizations and mission-driven companies. They offer flexible plans suitable for nonprofits of all sizes, from local organizations to large multinational nonprofits. It’s a better fit for organizations with simpler governance structures that are comfortable with self-directed implementation.
Aprio is ideal for organizations of all sizes who seek to operate with good governance, including highly-regulated organizations such as credit unions, banks, healthcare organizations, nonprofits and social services, and government entities that need to put security first. It’s best suited for board of directors that handle sensitive data, value hands-on support and training, prefer predictable pricing, and need room to grow their board management capabilities over time.
Aprio vs Board Effect: key benefits comparison
Both Aprio and BoardEffect deliver board portals that enable boards to organize meetings, secure board packet distribution efficiently, engage directors and keep them up to date. However, there are some standout differences to consider.
|
Benefits |
Aprio | BoardEffect |
| Easy-to-use interface and navigation
Aprio’s user-friendly and straightforward navigation system reduces board member confusion and annoyance. Customer reviews of Aprio’s board portal indicate how easy it is for board members to log in and get started. Customer reviews of BoardEffect indicate while the Board Effect login and interface work well for administrators, board members can find it challenging, especially for less tech-savvy users. |
Yes | Limited |
| Seamless onboarding
From day one, Aprio helps every customer set up their board meeting software. You’ll work directly with experienced board portal administrators to help make setup a breeze. Some customer reviews note that BoardEffect’s implementation process could be improved as it is more self-directed. |
Yes | No |
| Industry-leading security
Aprio offers robust encryption for complete security to keep board and company information secure, with certifications from independent, third-party security auditors – and includes advanced security features such as remote wiping and remote locking. BoardEffect also offers excellent security for its users, but some users reported occasional access issues that can impact their experience logging in. |
Yes | Yes |
| AI-enhanced features
BoardEffect now offers a suite of AI-enhanced features called GovernAI, which includes board book summaries, smart minutes, smart meeting prep, and AI search features. These features are part of its Plus package for larger, complex boards. Aprio is currently evaluating AI features, but prioritizing data security and cost-effectiveness for now as we assess which capabilities best serve our customers. |
No | Yes |
| Agenda management
While both BoardEffect and Aprio offer agenda building tools to speed up board package creation, customer reviews indicate BoardEffect agendas can be difficult to use, edit and customize. BoardEffect’s agenda management tools include AI features for summaries. However, some users report that BoardEffect’s agenda builder is missing more basic features available in Aprio, such as the ability to add timestamps to subtopics. |
Yes | Yes |
| Meeting minutes management
Aprio helps you record and distribute meeting minutes faster with our Minute builder tool. Start with your agenda and add new sections as needed. Track motions and action items and assign a co-author. Export your minutes as a PDF and add them as a quick link to the next meeting agenda. BoardEffect also has meeting minutes with similar features, plus AI Smart Minutes which generates meeting minutes from notes and transcripts. However, BoardEffect’s minutes features are only available in its premium subscription.. |
Yes | Yes |
| Granular user management & permission levels
Both Aprio and BoardEffect offer granular, role-based permissions for document access. However, Aprio offers advanced user permissions with customized access to board portal features to provide layers of advanced security. For example, administrators can grant auditors and legal counsel temporary access. |
Yes | Yes |
| User-friendly mobile features
Both Aprio and BoardEffect offer mobile features designed to fit all devices, and include the ability to review and annotate documents offline. However, some users report that BoardEffect’s mobile app is glitchy and does not work as well for iPad users. |
Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 expert support from former board admins
While both BoardEffect and Aprio offer 24/7 technical support, Aprio offers responsive expert service from experienced board administrators who deeply understand the needs of boards. Customer reviews of Aprio indicate our customer service team is responsive, helpful and patient, and go the extra mile to assist and resolve any questions. |
Yes | No |
Software features to streamline board meetings: Aprio vs BoardEffect
Both Aprio and BoardEffect offer multi-board management systems, letting organizations run multiple boards and committees through dedicated workspaces, and securely distribute board materials with controls to manage who can access specific information.
Whether you manage one or more boards, Aprio and BoardEffect offer similar board meeting management features like:
- One central library to store board materials and board documents
- Easy file sharing features
- Digital board meeting package creation and distribution
- Surveys and polls to improve board engagement and decision making
- Secure messaging and document annotation
- Online voting tools for efficient decision-making
- Task management tools to help board members stay on top of action items
However, some of these features (such as secure messaging) are only available in BoardEffect’s Plus package. Aprio offers more comprehensive board meeting features and board management tools than BoardEffect, with all features available in every plan.
For example, Aprio offers more sophisticated document management, with granular access controls and Digital Rights Management (DRM), that allow boards to restrict document access and disable download capabilities for specific users.
Aprio also features meeting analytics such as attendance tracking and comprehensive user activity tracking including detailed access logs, interactions and voting records. With Aprio’s customizable reporting tools, you can aggregate meeting and activity data easily and create expense reports for more efficient compliance.
AI-enabled board governance: Aprio vs. BoardEffect
As a Diligent brand, BoardEffect now has some of the same AI-enabled features that Diligent has. This includes a suite of AI tools called GovernAI, which allows board members to summarize board books, generate meeting minutes from notes or transcripts, and search for topics or documents using AI.
Boards in highly-regulated industries with sensitive data should evaluate AI tools carefully to ensure their security and accuracy. This could include questions such as:
- What models does BoardEffect use? Is our data ever shared with external vendors, even for AI training?
- Can we customize or limit AI features, such as opting out of AI-generated summaries?
- How does GovernAI ensure compliance with industry-specific regulations such as HIPAA or GDPR?
At Aprio, we understand that AI use needs to be balanced with careful risk assessment, transparency, and governance alignment. Aprio is currently holding back on AI features due to customer concerns – for example, that AI-generated summaries and meeting minutes could create compliance risks.
Board portals using large language models from external providers using OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google may create additional risk as data leaves the vendor’s direct control. Security-conscious implementations must ensure data remains encrypted, and that the LLM doesn’t store prompts or use them for training.
To ensure regulatory compliance, boards in finance or healthcare will need to weigh the risks and benefits of AI – and for many organizations, accuracy and security takes top priority.
Protecting your board data: Aprio vs BoardEffect security features
While both platforms prioritize security and compliance management, including maintaining several key security certifications such as ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type 2 and HIPAA compliance, Aprio provides more comprehensive data protection features.
For encryption, Aprio uses AES 256-bit standards for all data (both in transit and at rest) and SHA-256 for enhanced password protection. Its granular access controls include customized user permissions, temporary access capabilities for auditors and legal counsel, and multi-factor authentication with single sign-on options. Additional security measures include hosting in tier 4 data centers and Microsoft Azure servers, daily backups, 24/7 security monitoring, and remote data wiping capabilities for lost devices.
While BoardEffect offers compliance with many common industry standards, specific details about their encryption methods are not publicly available.
Board management software pricing comparison: Aprio vs. Board Effect
Both Aprio and BoardEffect platforms use subscription-based pricing, but costs can vary widely depending on your needs, especially as portals like BoardEffect evolve to include costly AI features. Request detailed quotes that outline all potential fees, including those for additional administrators, committees, reports, training and data storage.
BoardEffect pricing
Since its acquisition by Diligent, BoardEffect’s pricing has increased, with some customers reporting they discontinued service due to costs outweighing the benefits. Its current pricing model is quote-based, with a “Pro” plan that includes basic features and a “Plus” plan that includes Minutes, Messenger, and Data Integrations.
Ensure you understand how pricing may scale with additional users and features, as AI-enabled features and integrations sometimes come with add-on costs.
Aprio pricing
We offer pay-per-user pricing plans for corporate and nonprofit organizations, with all features included in each plan. Both plans allow any number of users to be administrators, and include unlimited committees at no extra cost. If there are features in Aprio you don’t currently need, you can hide them and activate them later as your board’s needs evolve, at no additional cost.
All Aprio plans also include onboarding, board member training, and 24/7 expert support from our team of former board administrators. For more on how Aprio’s pricing compares to BoardEffect, request a quote.
Onboarding and support: how Aprio and BoardEffect compare in customer experience
Not all board portals offer the same caliber of responsive service. Because a board portal is used by some of the most influential and time-starved people in your organization, it is paramount that product support is highly professional and useful.
BoardEffect offers 24/7 technical support, a self-serve online knowledge base and webinars to keep users up to date on the platform. Customer reviews indicate that since BoardEffect’s acquisition, users have experienced longer response times and less personalized customer support.
What’s different about Aprio’s service? We offer expert service unmatched in our industry. When you call us, you’ll talk with a former board administrator who knows firsthand the stresses and urgencies of boards—24/7, 365 days a year.
Unlike other board portals such as BoardEffect, with Aprio you won’t deal with hard-to-reach call centers or have to search for your answer in an online knowledge base. We’re committed to being first in service with our customers and continuing our track record of excellence in customer support and training, achieving a 95% customer loyalty rate.
Aprio vs. Board Effect: Worth the switch?
BoardEffect and Aprio offer many of the same core features, but they differ in how those features are designed. BoardEffect’s AI-driven GovernAI suite may appeal to boards looking to experiment with emerging technologies to save time. For organizations in less tightly regulated environments, these tools could boost efficiency.
However, Aprio’s strength lies in its security, consistency, and user-friendly features. We offer all the practical tools that boards can rely on day-to-day without introducing added complexity or risk – especially crucial in environments where privacy, compliance, and long-term reliability matter most.
Board members appreciate how easy it is to log in and use Aprio from day one. We help many boards like yours lighten the work of getting ready for meetings by combining intuitive technology with expert support.
“My experience using Aprio has been great. The platform is very easy to use, training is easily obtained and customer support is quick when requiring help. The platform has a lot to offer, you can use whatever features suit your board best. The implementation process was flawless, and the onboarding of new Directors to using the software is simple.” – G2 Review
Making the switch in a few weeks is possible! Curious about switching board portal providers? Here’s what you can expect with Aprio.
We’re happy to help assess your needs and the fit with Aprio. Take the first step – talk to our team about your needs.
See how Aprio compares to other board portals:
- Board portal comparison – Aprio vs. Diligent
- Board portal comparison – Aprio vs. Onboard
- Board Portal Comparison – Aprio vs. Govenda
Disclaimer: The information presented in this blog is current as of October 22, 2025, and is accurate to the best of our knowledge. Our insights are derived from publicly available sources, such as product review websites and social media websites, as well as direct conversations with customers. This information is intended to provide a general software comparison and may not reflect the most recent updates or changes in the products mentioned.
