Buzz vs AnimalsFirst

Animals First is a clean-looking, modern software package mostly designed to meet the needs of shelters and centralized brick-and-mortar locations. Buzz is also clean and modern, but tends to work more with foster-based rescues and sanctuaries (although Buzz can help large organizations as well).

Built specifically for nonprofits, Buzz’s sole focus is helping rescues streamline daily operations. Buzz's has a flat monthly rate that covers everything, including a combination website and animal rescue software. All of Buzz's features come included, we don't sell our software in modules or charge for add-ons.

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With no pricing information available on the Animals First website, measuring functionality and price to determine value can be difficult. To learn anything about cost, you must schedule a demo first. This means they likely price based on your needs, raising or lowering costs based on the ability to pay.

Buzz vs. Animalfirst at a glance

See how Buzz and Animalfirst features compare.

FEATURE
Pricing	A single, transparent, all-inclusive price with no extra fees.	Different levels of service may unlock specific modules, so pricing can escalate as you add features.
Payment Processing	Buzz is payment processor agnostic. Rescues can use whatever system they feel most comfortable with.	Adopters must pay through the Animals First portal, and partnerships with microchip partners mean you might face additional fees or be incentivized to use certain providers.
Website	Buzz is a fully-integrated website and software product, included together.	Must pay separately for the website and the software.
SEO	Buzz’s integrated website solution helps keep all traffic on your own domain, boosting your SEO efforts.	Primarily a standalone software; you may embed or link from another site, which can dilute your domain’s SEO.
Ease of Use and Setup	Modern and intuitive design; most users can learn the system quickly with guided onboarding and minimal training.	Can be flexible, but potentially complex to configure; volunteers may need significant training.

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What Clients Think

it's been fantastic

It has reduced the amount of time we spend processing applications and posting dogs, and we even eliminated a couple of volunteer "positions" so that those folks could be used for different tasks.

~ Amanda A. | Board Member

A great move for our rescue

Our adoptions and intakes have increased since using Buzz. We are able to have custom reports made within weeks rather than months(or years) and we have more access to the information we need. Most of our information can be stored in the software so we have far fewer side documents to manage. We love having easy access to our website right in the software, even for folks who know nothing about building or maintaining a website.

~ Janean L. | Foster Coordinator

It does EVERYTHING

Buzz to the Rescues is a seriously passionate team with a nonstop dedication to rescues and animals. The platform itself is so good (easy, modern, intuitive, customizable) I wish I could use it for other parts of my life!

~ Tania L. | Board Member

Operational Design

Buzz works with organizations of all sizes, but was originally targeted to streamline the work of foster-based rescues and sanctuaries. It has deep, customizable functionality, but a tighter focus.

Animals First has design features that suggest it has a broader application, meant to appeal to centralized shelters and animal control, among others. For example, they have transport modules, field services modules, lost and found services with integrated maps. They also support third-party integrations with microchip companies and pet recovery services.

Buzz Keeps It Simple While Staying Highly Functional

Pricing, Transparency and Value

Buzz is transparent about its pricing. Clients pay a flat monthly fee (usually $99/month) for a powerful, fully-integrated combination website and animal rescue software.

There are no additional costs, we don't charge per-adoption or donation-related fees and we don't force you to use our payment processor. Buzz helps rescues keep every dollar they earn.

Animals First does not have a pricing page, and likely tailors their fees based on the organization's size and needs - but only after you schedule a demo. It is unclear if Animals First charges extra for additional functionality or add-on modules, if there are per-user fees, or if they prefer you use their payment processor.

Prices may rise along with the size and complexity of your organization.

Buzz is Transparent

Online Reviews and Credibility

There are no online reviews of Animals First available online. Popular software comparison sites like Capterra, a tool to compare software options during your research phase, usually captures a large amount of user feedback. It does for Buzz. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to find anything on Animals First.

By contrast, Buzz has been reviewed dozens of times by happy customers, earning an average rating of 5 stars. There are almost 40 reviews on Capterra stretching back years. Buzz clients show their appreciation because we built the system based on their needs, and over the years we improved it based on their suggestions. Buzz has a great reputation, and it's only getting better.

Ask the Audience - Buzz is Better

Digital Influence & Reach

A website that has been optimized for search develops a stronger ‘digital footprint.’ Rescues with better SEO adopt more pets and raise more money. With Buzz, not only do we include the cost of running your website, you retain all the traffic and SEO equity your rescue has generated over time.

By contrast, Animals First connects to your existing website (which you still have to pay for), but embeds an iFrame that actually reduces your digital footprint, boosting their own at your expense.

Although it might not be obvious, applicants exploring available animals are effectively navigating away from your website as they dig deeper into animal profiles. iFrames also cause some websites to load more slowly, reducing the quality of the user experience.

Buzz doesn't hurt your SEO, it helps you maximize the digital reach of your organization. Buzz makes it easier to spread the word, build community, raise money, and engage with people online.

Maximize Your SEO Equity with Buzz

Buzz's Has a Unique All-In-One Solution

Buzz is completely unique in the marketplace, in that it is the only combination website + animal rescue software. There is no need to pay for website hosting, and Buzz handles the technical details such as hosting, site speed, data security and server issues.

Anything you change in the backend is instantly reflected on the client-facing website, and the data you enter is leveraged across all modules, all for a flat monthly fee. Buzz streamlines day-to-day operations so you can focus on fundraising and day-to-day operations.

Buzz's All-In-One Product Simplifies Your Day-to-Day

POPULAR INTEGRATIONS

In addition to our all-in-one website + animal rescue software platform,
you can connect your essential business tools to Buzz to the Rescues and make it your rescue control center.

Pets

PAYMENTS

EMAIL

SOCIAL

ANALYTICS

Boost Adoptions, Donations and Community with Buzz

Loved By Over

Users

0

In 11 Countries
On 5 Continents

Awards

Customer Stories

How to Switch to Buzz from Animalfirst

Whether you’re joining Buzz from another animal rescue system or upgrading from emails and spreadsheets, all it takes is a few simple clicks to get started onboarding. Our typical onboarding workflow is included below. We say “typical” because Buzz will always adjust onboarding to fit a new client’s needs.

Website

Use one of our many templates or use your own design.

Your Rescue Coach will create the shell of your site, add your logo, colors and fonts. We will teach you how to edit the site (HINT: Its super easy). You will have access to the site throughout the onboarding process.

We have an entire library of 30 pages chock full of content that is available to you. Use what you like and delete what you don't.

Applications

The Buzz Team will completely customize your Adoption, Foster and Volunteer Applications.

This step is simple and should not take long. All we need to complete this task is for you to share your current Adoption, Foster and Volunteer applications.

When onboarding, we’ll provide a spreadsheet like the one below. You’ll share the fields you want applicants to fill out, and voila - you’re done! Simply follow the instructions you find at the top of each sheet and check the box on the last sheet to let us know when you’re done.

Need any help? Refer to one of our helpful onboarding videos for further instruction, or email us for direct assistance.

Click to See How the Customization Process Works

Data

We will import your Animals, Adopters, Fosters, & Volunteers.

Transferring your existing data into Buzz is a breeze. Just like with your Applications, once we receive your Data in our spreadsheets, our team will import it and upload it to your new site so you can hit the ground running.

To help you do so, we have created step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow. As long as we know which software you are migrating from, we can provide the documents and assistance you need to get started.

The Buzz Team will also review all spreadsheets prior to launch to ensure the data has been entered correctly.

Click See How We Upload Your Data

Click here to see sample spreadsheets,

Training

Now that we're getting close launch, let's make sure your team is trained!

We offer two types of training sessions:

Train the Trainer:
This is used by organizations that have more than 20 people.
We recommend that directors or team leaders in each area of your organization learn their roles and responsibilities in Buzz so they can effectively train other team members.
All Team Training:
This is used by organizations that have fewer than 20 people.
We suggest that all members of your organization attend and learn their workflows in the software.

Each training session will be recorded and provided to the Director for members who cannot attend the training session. Each session runs for approximately 45 minutes.

Launch

We cannot make your site live without you!

In order to activate your new website, we need to point your domain to the new site files on the Buzz server. This is a simple process that the Buzz Team will do for you.

Needed Access

Buzz requires the following to complete the process:

Name and link to your domain hosting company
(IE: GoDaddy, Network Solutions, HostGator)

Technical Access to that account

Access to the person in your organization on the day of launch in case there are security codes that we need.

Please Note: Our Team is only authorized to point domains from the domain hosting companies listed above. If you use a different company to host your domain, we can still handle it fairly easily, but you may need to get the hosting company’s helpdesk involved as well.

WHat Is Happening Behind The Scenes

Step One: Pointing the NameServers

You or the Buzz team will update the NameServers in your Domain Hosting account (GoDaddy, Blue Host, Network Solutions, etc.).

Time: Typically 2-24 hours (NOTE: This period is called Domain or DNS Propagation and refers to the amount of time needed for DNS changes to update across the web. Updating the nameservers of a domain usually takes 0 to 24 hours to take effect, but they are known to take as long as 48 hours to go into full effect.)

Step 2: Securing the site

Once the NameServers have propagated, the Buzz Team will add the SSL certificate to your domains. From the time of propagation until the SSL certificates are installed the site may show a red warning sign to site visitors showing the site is not safe. This will change as soon as the SSL certificate has been installed.

Time: This typically takes approximately 30 minutes.

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AnimalFirst FAQ

1) Can companies like Buzz help my organization grow?

Absolutely! Buzz to the Rescues is designed to amplify your rescue’s impact by streamlining your operations. Buzz doesn’t just help you increase adoptions and engage more with your community, our tools also help optimize your organization’s workflows.

Research Tip: The right software should help your team focus on what matters most: saving the lives of more animals and helping them find their forever homes.

2) How simple is it to use and train my team to use?

Buzz is built with simplicity in mind. Its user-friendly interface and step-by-step onboarding process ensure your team can hit the ground running. Comprehensive training materials, tutorials, and guided walkthroughs make adoption seamless for everyone, regardless of tech-savviness.

Research Tip: The software your team is most likely to adopt is the simplest tool that solves their daily frustrations. Make sure your new platform is easy for them to navigate.

3) What kind of support does Buzz offer?

Buzz to the Rescues offers customer support from real people. When you need help addressing issues or answering questions, we meet you where you are, whether it’s through an email or a one-on-one Zoom meeting. If you’re more independent, Buzz offers a detailed knowledge base so you can solve problems on your own. We’re here to help, and our dedicated onboarding specialists are always available to get you up and running smoothly.

Research Tip: When choosing animal rescue software, make sure the platform you choose has people willing to meet with you to resolve issues. This will save time and frustration for your team.

4) What kind of customizations does Buzz offer?

Every rescue is unique, and Buzz reflects that! You can tailor workflows, forms, and communications to fit your specific needs. Adjust branding, messaging, and settings to match your rescue’s voice and processes and ensure Buzz is integrated seamlessly into your organization.

Research Tip: Browse the websites of potential software platforms to see if they connect with your existing tools.

5) What kind of reporting capabilities does Buzz have?

Buzz delivers powerful reporting tools to help you track key metrics like adoption rates, volunteer hours, donation trends and more. Generate custom reports to analyze your rescue’s performance and make data-driven decisions that drive growth.

Research Tip: Establish a set of essential report metrics you need to track, then make sure the software platform can build them for you.

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Buzz vs AnimalsFirst