Top Solstice Alternatives for Data Management & Governance

Solstice is a powerful operating system designed for governance in low-resource regions, offering a free data management platform used in over 170 countries. It also collaborates with governments, civil society organizations, and academic researchers to leverage data for poverty reduction. While Solstice provides invaluable services, organizations may seek alternatives due to specific feature requirements, platform compatibility, or a desire for different deployment options. This article explores the best Solstice alternatives to help you find the perfect fit for your data management and governance needs.

Top Solstice Alternatives

Whether you're looking for open-source solutions, robust mobile data collection tools, or platforms with advanced visualization capabilities, these Solstice alternatives offer a diverse range of features to support your initiatives.

Open Data Kit

Open Data Kit (ODK) is a free and open-source set of tools ideal for organizations needing to author, field, and manage mobile data collection solutions. As a strong Solstice alternative, ODK runs on Web, Android, and Android Tablet platforms, making it highly versatile for field operations.

Ona

Ona is a comprehensive mobile data collection and data visualization platform that offers both offline and online data collection capabilities across a wide range of devices. This freemium Solstice alternative supports Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, iPhone, Chrome OS, Android Tablet, Windows Phone, iPad, Self-Hosted, and Blackberry 10. Key features include a robust form builder and support for multiple languages, making it highly adaptable for diverse project needs.

DHIS2

DHIS2 is a free and open-source platform specifically designed for managing aggregate data with a flexible data model, field-tested for over 15 years. It’s an excellent Solstice alternative for large-scale health and development programs, available on Windows, Linux, Web, Android, and Self-Hosted platforms. Users can easily set up data elements, data entry forms, and validation rules.

SurveyCTO

SurveyCTO is a powerful, reliable, and user-friendly commercial survey platform for collecting, transporting, and processing data for academic research, M&E, mHealth, and market research. This Solstice alternative operates on Web, Android, and Android Tablet, offering robust features for high-stakes data collection.

Magpi

Magpi provides free mobile technology that simplifies data collection, collaboration, and communication in the field. This Solstice alternative is highly versatile, supporting Web, Android, iPhone, Java Mobile, S60, Android Tablet, and iPad platforms, making it suitable for a wide range of users from nonprofits to oil and gas inspectors.

CommCare

CommCare is a free, open-source mobile platform that empowers anyone to build mobile apps, making it a powerful Solstice alternative. This freemium solution works on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, Java Mobile, Android Tablet, and Self-Hosted platforms, and notably features offline functionality, crucial for data collection in areas with limited connectivity.

Choosing the right Solstice alternative depends heavily on your specific project requirements, budget, and technical capabilities. We encourage you to explore each option further, considering their platform compatibility, open-source status, and unique features, to find the best fit for your data management and governance initiatives.