Penelope

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Penelope
Score 6.7 out of 10
Mid-Size Companies (51-1,000 employees)
Bonterra’s Penelope is a configurable and secure case management system designed to help social good organizations save time for their staff, improve data quality and reporting, and better serve and connect with their participants.
$400
per year per user
Pricing
Penelope
Editions & Modules
Basic
$400
per year per user
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Penelope
Free Trial
Yes
Free/Freemium Version
No
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
Yes
Entry-level Setup FeeRequired
Additional DetailsPenelope software is priced on a Named Active Users model, with a minimum of 25 users. There’s also a one-time fee for implementation of the software, and our Tailored Services team is available to quote on additional services as required.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Penelope
Considered Both Products
Penelope
Chose Penelope
We have used a database from one of our sister agencies in the past but it was not catered to our specific needs and services the way Penelope is. We were able to create our own personalized database with only information pertinent to our organization in particular as opposed …
Chose Penelope
ICTechnology
Nova Brain Database
These were very small operations using Microsoft products. So, extremely limited in their abilities.
Chose Penelope
Penelope is more controlled, well designed, and easy to use. We like that Penelope has some structure to it while having a decent amount of opportunities to be configurable to our own specific needs. Our staff finds Penelope easy to navigate and enter their data into the system …
Chose Penelope
While I'm not familiar with using many other systems, we did perform an exhaustive database search before choosing Penelope. We liked Penelope because while it wasn't the cheapest, it offers an abundance of features that aligned with our operation and seems the simplest to …
Chose Penelope
We looked at many different programs available and we felt that Penelope met our needs the best. It was also in the right price range for our organization. Penelope’s staff were also the nicest, most helpful of the sales staff that we talked with. We also had really liked …
Chose Penelope
I did not select Penelope by Social Solutions
Chose Penelope
Creating our own database allowed us to fully customize it to meet our needs. The Xencia system allowed us to select from a plethora of choices to create/customize the system that worked best for us.
Chose Penelope
have note used anything else
Chose Penelope
Penelope is the only system that I have used.
Chose Penelope
I have used the HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) data base. I have not ever evaluated this particular data base. One thing different about it, we do not build our own profile, someone does it and it is the same for everyone that uses it. Also, they provide much …
Chose Penelope
Working at this particular job, this is the first time I have ever used Penelope and I have never used any other products by Social Solutions. Penelope, for me, is for a company that loves to be organized, who loves to save trees, and who needs things done in a timely manner.
Chose Penelope
Different use case scenarios. Penelope by Social Solutions is a better fit for case management and management of a nonprofit company as opposed to management of a private therapy office which is what I used therapy notes for. Penelope by Social Solutions would be recommended to …
Chose Penelope
My last job at a law firm used Needles and, although it was user-friendly, it wasn’t as pleasing, aesthetically. I wouldn’t say I “selected” Penelope, as it was upper management who chose the program. However, both programs are equally viable options in an administrative arena. …
Chose Penelope
Therapy Helper was one I looked at 10 years ago, but none really since then. Came across Dr. First for e-rx but haven't used it in the hopes Penelope will integrate.
Chose Penelope
I have not reviewed any new software in detail. I have looked at new software in summary and was informed the cost was too high to pursue a change in applications at this time.
Top Pros
Top Cons
User Ratings
Penelope
Likelihood to Recommend
7.0
(32 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(2 ratings)
Usability
7.0
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
10.0
(1 ratings)
Implementation Rating
8.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Penelope
Likelihood to Recommend
Social Solutions
Even if Penelope by Social Solutions is useful for case noting and any other file management, coordination and reports, it is not user-friendly. It does not let you delete your mistakes easily, it does not let you go back, and all the other issues mentioned, which are minor, added too much for a system that is supposed to support your work. However, some of the characteristics have been chosen by the system administrator and are not Penelope by Social Solutions's fault.
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Pros
Social Solutions
  • Provides time-saving features by automatically compiling data to an individual file from multiple areas.
  • Allows staff to be updated on important information in real time.
  • Provides a user-friendly experience and ease of access for staff with all levels of technical experience.
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Cons
Social Solutions
  • The feature for the date of birth times out too quickly.
  • You can't upload any files that may have a symbol such as a . in their title.
  • The learning modules could be more concise making it faster to find the help you need.
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Likelihood to Renew
Social Solutions
Penelope is saving us so much time and providing us with much-needed consistent regular data tracking and documentation. It has been a game-changer for our organization and we should have had it years ago. It has allowed us to have an efficient organized system to use daily in our non-profit agency.
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Usability
Social Solutions
Penelope has a lot of features and options which is one of the reasons why it is so great. With a lot of features also comes a lot of time to learn all of them. For someone who is part of the development and implementation process, it is a lot of learning to fully understand how everything works. This is good to know in advance when choosing a team to develop your database. The great thing about Penelope is that you can customize the features for each level of staff that will be using it so the staff only have access to the parts of Penelope that they need and will be using regularly. This makes the training process for staff a lot easier.
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Support Rating
Social Solutions
Our support person with Penelope has been a dream to work with since day one. She is accommodating to our ever-changing schedule and has worked around us for training and Zoom meetings. She is always available via e-mail and is quick to respond to our many inquiries throughout the development and implementation process. Our Zoom meetings have been like talking to a long-time staff member. She explains things in a way that everyone can understand and will review with us as needed. She has been innovative in ways that Penelope can work for us and our needs and we have been so pleased with the support we have received.
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Implementation Rating
Social Solutions
Be sure to have a good team of staff that will be on board with the training and will dedicate time and energy to the process. You want to have people who are motivated and excited about the new program that you are investing in.
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Alternatives Considered
Social Solutions
Penelope is more controlled, well designed, and easy to use. We like that Penelope has some structure to it while having a decent amount of opportunities to be configurable to our own specific needs. Our staff finds Penelope easy to navigate and enter their data into the system in a reliable and easy way. We valued that at the time of purchase, Penelope was a Canadian company that understood our specific needs as a Canadian nonprofit.
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Return on Investment
Social Solutions
  • Created the need to hire temps to correct data incorrectly entered based on a poor initial setup.
  • Frustrated staff to the point many stopped entering services that were essential for receiving funding.
  • Gave me an excellent understanding of what happens when core functions are lacking.
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