Wild Apricot is one of the most established names in membership software. But established doesn't always mean the best fit — especially if your organisation needs digital trail access cards, day passes, Trailforks integration, and pricing that doesn't balloon at scale.
This guide breaks down exactly how Hivepass and Wild Apricot compare for trail associations and MTB clubs.
Wild Apricot is one of the longest-established membership management platforms in the market. It is a broad-market solution used by thousands of associations, clubs, and non-profits worldwide, covering everything from email campaigns and event management to website building and donation collection.
Wild Apricot uses a contact-tier pricing model — the more members you have, the higher the monthly fee. For large organisations managing thousands of contacts, this can become a significant recurring cost.
Because it serves a wide range of organisation types, Wild Apricot is a generalist platform. It has not been built with the specific needs of outdoor sports clubs or trail associations in mind.
Hivepass is a membership management platform purpose-built for trail associations, mountain bike clubs, and bike parks. It is used by over 200 outdoor organisations across New Zealand, Australia, and beyond.
Where Wild Apricot is broad, Hivepass is deep. Every feature has been built around the real workflows of outdoor clubs: digital membership cards as trail access credentials, Trailforks integration, short-term day passes, digital waivers, and a native mobile app with offline capability.
Hivepass uses per-member pricing — costs scale predictably as your membership grows, without the steep contact-tier jumps of Wild Apricot.
Not sure yet? Read our full buyers guide or see how other clubs use Hivepass.
Wild Apricot brings breadth — it covers many membership management scenarios across many organisation types. Hivepass brings depth — every feature is built specifically for trail associations and MTB clubs, including tools Wild Apricot has never offered.
Hivepass members carry a live digital card usable as a trail access pass. Wild Apricot has no equivalent.
Hivepass uses per-member pricing with no extra platform fees. Wild Apricot pricing scales steeply with contact count.
Trailforks, day passes, trail management, digital waivers — Hivepass has them, Wild Apricot doesn't.
Feature information verified March 2026 — verify current features at wildapricot.com.
| Hivepass | Wild Apricot | |
| Cloud based member database | ||
| Member mobile app (iOS & Android) | ||
| Live digital membership card | ||
| Offline capable (app works without data) | ||
| Group & family memberships | ||
| Short-term day passes | ||
| Push notifications to members | ||
| Partner deals for members in app | ||
| No advertising shown to members | ||
| QR code for direct app download |
| Hivepass | Wild Apricot | |
| Automated email renewal reminders | ||
| Email campaign / newsletter tool | ||
| Event registration & management | ||
| Website builder | ||
| Donation / fundraising tools | ||
| In-app chat support for admins | ||
| Customisable member fields | ||
| Membership application workflows |
| Hivepass | Wild Apricot | |
| Digital waivers | ||
| Trail management tools | ||
| Trailforks integration | ||
| Downloadable trail signs & stickers | ||
| Purpose-built for MTB / trail organisations | ||
| No contact-tier pricing jumps |
Hivepass uses per-member pricing. Wild Apricot charges by contact tier — costs increase materially as your membership grows. Verify current Wild Apricot pricing at wildapricot.com/pricing.
Wild Apricot uses contact-count tiers with significant price jumps at higher member volumes. For growing trail associations, this means your software costs scale alongside your success — often becoming the largest line item in your technology budget. Verify current pricing directly with Wild Apricot.
Wild Apricot: Wild Apricot has a mature feature set but this means a steeper learning curve for volunteer-run committees. Initial configuration — membership levels, renewal workflows, website templates — takes time and familiarity with the platform. Wild Apricot provides self-service documentation and community forums.
Hivepass: Hivepass is designed for rapid onboarding without the weight of a generalist platform. Most clubs are live within days. The Hivepass team provides hands-on support via in-app chat throughout your setup, guiding your committee through configuration in a platform built around how outdoor clubs actually work.
There is no setup fee for Hivepass. Your members download the app via a unique QR code that takes them directly to your club in the App Store or Google Play.
Independent reviews are one of the most reliable ways to evaluate software. Below are current ratings for both platforms.
4.9 / 5 — verified reviews from trail associations and MTB clubs
Wild Apricot is well-reviewed on Capterra with a large volume of reviews across many organisation types. Ratings are generally strong. Note that most reviews come from non-sports or general community organisations.
Wild Apricot may be worth considering if:
For trail associations and MTB clubs specifically, Wild Apricot's lack of digital membership cards, Trailforks integration, day passes, and outdoor-specific tooling is a material limitation.
Purpose-built for trail associations and MTB clubs
Hivepass is trusted by over 200 trail associations and mountain bike clubs across New Zealand, Australia, and beyond. This isn't a generic membership platform adapted for cycling — it has been built from the ground up around the specific needs of outdoor organisations.
That depth of experience matters. Hivepass understands trail access management, the difference between a day pass and an annual membership, how clubs use digital cards as trail access credentials, and the administrative reality of a committee-run volunteer organisation. Every feature in the platform has been shaped by feedback from real clubs just like yours.
When Hivepass is the right call
See how real trail associations and MTB clubs use Hivepass →
Wild Apricot is a well-established platform used by many organisations. However it is not purpose-built for outdoor or sports clubs — it lacks digital membership cards, trail-specific tools, Trailforks integration, and the MTB-focused features that platforms like Hivepass provide.
Wild Apricot uses contact-count pricing tiers that increase significantly as your membership grows. Hivepass uses a flat-rate model that scales more predictably. For growing trail associations, this can mean Hivepass becomes substantially cheaper at 300+ members. Verify current Wild Apricot pricing directly at their website.
Wild Apricot has a mobile app for members and a separate admin app. However the Hivepass member app — with live digital membership cards, offline capability, trail access tools, and Trailforks integration — offers a significantly richer experience for outdoor clubs.
Yes. The Hivepass team assists with member data migration during onboarding. Most clubs are live and accepting payments within a few days of signing up.
Hivepass is trusted by 200+ trail associations and MTB clubs and every feature is built around their needs — digital trail access cards, day passes, Trailforks integration, digital waivers, and transparent per-member pricing. Wild Apricot is a generalist platform that was not designed with this use case in mind.
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