For many Indian nonprofits—especially those operating with limited budgets and lean teams—choosing the right MIS (Management Information System) or M&E (Monitoring & Evaluation) platform is often a challenge. Cost, ease of use, the learning curve for field teams, and ongoing support all play a critical role.

Below is a curated list of MIS and M&E tools that are widely used in the development sector, both globally and in India. These options cover a range of budgets and operational needs, making them suitable for NGOs of various sizes.

1. Avni

Website: https://avni.io

A configurable, open-source MIS platform built in India with strong offline-first capabilities. Particularly suited for community programmes and field data collection.

2. Dhwani RIS / Goonjan

Website: https://dhwaniris.com / https://www.goonjan.com

India-based social impact tech providers offering MIS products and custom implementations for diverse programmes.

3. ERPNext for Nonprofits

Website: https://frappe.io/erpnext/for-non-profits

A comprehensive open-source ERP that NGOs use for donor management, finance, and programme tracking.

4. CommCare

Website: https://www.dimagi.com/commcare

A global mobile-data collection platform designed for field programmes, case management, and community-based interventions.

5. KoboToolbox

Website: https://www.kobotoolbox.org

A free, open-source tool widely used for surveys, baseline data, assessments, and monitoring.

6. ActivityInfo

Website: https://www.activityinfo.org

A cloud-based M&E system suitable for indicator tracking, reporting, and multi-project aggregation.

7. TolaData

Website: https://www.toladata.com

A lightweight M&E tool offering logframes, indicators, and reporting dashboards with a simple user interface.

8. M&E Cloud

Website: https://www.mandecloud.com

A web-based monitoring and evaluation solution with India-friendly pricing and structured M&E features.

9. M&E Desktop

Website: https://www.mandemis.com

A one-time-license desktop tool used by small NGOs for basic monitoring and indicator tracking.

10. OpenProject

Website: https://www.openproject.org

An open-source project management platform that NGOs often adapt for programme monitoring and collaboration.

11. CiviCRM

Website: https://civicrm.org

An open-source CRM commonly used for donor/volunteer management and occasionally for lightweight programme tracking.

12. Metabase / Superset / Power BI / Looker Studio

Websites:
Metabase: https://www.metabase.com
Apache Superset: https://superset.apache.org
Power BI: https://powerbi.microsoft.com
Looker Studio: https://lookerstudio.google.com

These tools are not MIS systems by themselves but are frequently used by NGOs to build dashboards and visual reporting layers on top of existing data (Excel, Google Sheets, field apps, etc.).

Closing Thoughts

Selecting the right MIS or M&E system depends on the NGO’s size, programme complexity, field conditions, and available capacity. For many organisations operating below the ₹3 crore annual budget range, the best fit is usually a tool that offers simplicity, predictable costs, and minimal training requirements for field teams.

If you’d like help evaluating the right option for your organisation, digiSarathi is always happy to assist.