The Loomio Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Loomio in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Loomio
The Insider’s Guide
Group decision-making software for organizations and co-ops
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among course and community platforms, read from Loomio’s own pages.
Made by Loomio Cooperative Limited · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Loomio’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Loomio’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 23 of the 98 other course and community platforms we grade
Loomio gives a group one place to discuss a question, vote with reasons and record the outcome. It is open-source software built by a worker-owned cooperative in New Zealand and is sold as a hosted service priced for the whole group, not per person. Hosting can be in the USA, EU or Australia.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Loomio, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You build groups, invite people and set up proposals.
- 1
Best for group decisions with discussion and voting
Loomio puts a question, background and votes with reasons in one thread.
- 2
Paid plans start at $33 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $33 per month, billed annually ($39 billed monthly).
- 3
You can try it first
14-day free trial, up to 10 people and 10 discussions
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Discussion with context
Put the question, background and documents in one thread, and invite the right people to take part.
- 6
Voting with reasons
People record their position along with the reasoning, so concerns show up early and the proposal can change.
- 7
A searchable record
The discussion, reasons and final outcome stay searchable for later reference.
- 8
A 2.0 GPA, above 23 of 98
That is against the other course and community platforms we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
Loomio sits between: not beyond making, and not a weekend's work either.
Loomio at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $33 per month, billed annually ($39 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial, up to 10 people and 10 discussions
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Loomio Cooperative Limited, since 2011
- Category
- Courses & Communities
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for group decisions with discussion and voting
Loomio puts a question, background and votes with reasons in one thread. It does that one job and the price is per group, from $33 a month for one group of 30 members.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Starter is $33 a month billed annually for a whole group of up to 30, in the middle of the category's prices; Pro is $83. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A 14-day trial for up to 10 people and 10 discussions. The card is not mentioned. No free plan. |
| Features | C | Discussion, proposals and a searchable record cover decision-making fully, but it is a smaller job than running a community. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You build groups, invite people and set up proposals. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only, and no integrations are listed apart from Zoom on Pro. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Loomio is for
- Fits if a group needs to decide things in writing
- Works for co-ops and boards that want a record of reasons
Who it is not for
- Tight if your group is over 30, as Starter caps at 30 and one group
- Skip it if you want one-off subgroups on Starter, as it has none
- Watch out: SSO and custom branding need the custom Private Loomio plan
- Watch out: after cancelling, data is kept 30 days before it is deleted
Good to know
Good for
- Co-ops, unions and nonprofits that decide things by consensus or vote
- Distributed teams that need a record of why a decision was made
Worth knowing
- Starter is for one group of 30 people with no subgroups; larger groups need Pro.
- Prices are for the whole group, and the figures above are the commercial rate.
- After cancelling, data stays available for 30 days before it is deleted.
- Single sign-on and custom branding need the custom Private Loomio plan.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$33
A month to start
Loomio is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $33 per month, billed annually ($39 billed monthly).
Starter
$33
per month, billed annually ($39 billed monthly)
Commercial rate. One group of up to 30 members, no subgroups, email support. $399 a year when paid annually.
Pro
$83
per month, billed annually ($99 billed monthly)
Commercial rate. Up to 3,000 members, unlimited subgroups, Zoom and email support. $999 a year when paid annually.
Private Loomio
Custom
Dedicated server and database, SAML or OAuth single sign-on, custom branding and domain, unlimited users.
Trying it first
14-day free trial, up to 10 people and 10 discussions
Read from loomio.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Nonprofit
Nonprofit pricing
Eligible nonprofits and member-funded groups pay less: Starter is $299 a year and Pro $499 a year, with Pro covering up to 300 members.
Stated on loomio.comAnnual discount
Save about 15% by paying annually
The pricing page shows annual payment saving about 15% on Starter and 16% on Pro at the commercial rate.
Stated on loomio.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Group decision-making software for organizations and co-ops. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, community.
Discussion, proposals and a searchable record cover decision-making fully, but it is a smaller job than running a community.
- Discussion with context
- Put the question, background and documents in one thread, and invite the right people to take part.
- Voting with reasons
- People record their position along with the reasoning, so concerns show up early and the proposal can change.
- A searchable record
- The discussion, reasons and final outcome stay searchable for later reference.
- Subgroups
- Pro allows unlimited subgroups for teams and working groups within one organization.
- Data export and regions
- Group admins can export data as CSV, HTML or JSON, and choose hosting in the USA, EU or Australia.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Loomio is made by Loomio Cooperative Limited, and has been around since 2011.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
23/98
Other course and community platforms it is graded above
Loomio's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 23 of the 98 other course and community platforms we grade, and level with 21.
Its paid plans start at $33 a month, against a middle price of $36 for the category: 28 of the 65 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 26 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 99 course and community platforms we grade, cut by the letter each got. Loomio’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 17 of 98
- CFree plan and trialAbove 34 of 98
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 98
- CEase of useAbove 23 of 98
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 98
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 78 course and community platforms. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Loomio is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Your call
Loomio sits between: not beyond making, and not a weekend's work either.
What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. It costs $396 a year. Loomio is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- It runs in a browser, which is where something home-made would run too.
What you could not
- A members' space with posts, chat and events that people keep coming back to.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
What this rests on. Loomio’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Bettermode, Discourse, Hylo, Groups.io and Higher Logic
The 5 tools Loomio is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.8GPA
Bettermode
Free trial · from $149/mo
Branded community platform with Q&A, events and AI search.
- Loomio is open source, according to its own site.
- Bettermode also covers AI search and team chat.
- 2.6GPA
Discourse
Free plan · from $100/mo
Open-source discussion forum software with hosted plans.
- Discourse has a free plan. Loomio does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Discourse lists iOS and Android apps.
- Discourse also covers team chat.
- 3.2GPA
Hylo
Free
Free open-source platform for community groups and coordination.
- Hylo has a free plan. Loomio does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Hylo lists iOS and Android apps.
- Hylo also covers calendar and team chat.
- 2.6GPA
Groups.io
Free plan · from $20/mo
Email discussion groups with files, calendar and wiki.
- Groups.io has a free plan. Loomio does not, though it has a free trial.
- Loomio is open source, according to its own site.
- Groups.io also covers wiki, calendar and team chat.
- 1.8GPA
Higher Logic
Paid
Online community and member marketing software for associations.
- Loomio is open source, according to its own site.
- Higher Logic also covers chat assistant, marketing automation, reports and email campaigns.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Loomio free?
No, Loomio is a paid product, but you can try it first. 14-day free trial, up to 10 people and 10 discussions.
How much does Loomio cost?
Loomio lists 3 plans. Starter: $33 per month, billed annually ($39 billed monthly).
What platforms does Loomio work on?
Loomio is available on Web.
Does Loomio offer any discounts?
Loomio publicly lists the following: Nonprofit pricing; Save about 15% by paying annually.
Does Loomio have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Loomio is listed for Web.
Does Loomio have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Loomio is listed for Web.
Is Loomio open source?
Yes. Loomio is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Loomio?
Loomio is made by Loomio Cooperative Limited. It dates from 2011.
What are the alternatives to Loomio?
The closest alternatives to Loomio in our directory are Bettermode, Discourse, Hylo, Groups.io and Higher Logic.
How does Loomio compare with other course and community platforms?
Loomio's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 23 of the 98 other course and community platforms we grade, and level with 21.
Is Loomio good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Loomio C for value for money. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4.
Could I make my own version of Loomio?
Loomio sits between: not beyond making, and not a weekend's work either.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Loomio’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Loomio's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Loomio Cooperative Limited. Prices change, so check loomio.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Loomio, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/loomio
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Loomio: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/loomio
Know someone choosing between course and community platforms?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/loomio/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded course and community platforms after Loomio, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Courses & Communities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 99 course and community platforms we grade, compared
- Hylo Insider's GuideFree open-source platform for community groups and coordination3.2 GPA
- Academy LMS Insider's GuideWordPress LMS plugin with a free core and Pro licenses by site count2.8 GPA
- Circle Insider's GuideCommunity platform with courses, events, payments and branded apps2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Loomio’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Loomio is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Loomio Cooperative Limited. Prices and plans change: check loomio.com before you buy.