ySite vs. Open Y

Support is included with a ySite

Not only do we have a dedicated ySite support team, but it is also included with every ySite. This makes support needs and costs very predictable with no surprises. Did something break accidentally? Did you forget how to do something? Do you need some ideas on how to implement a solution? Want to call or email for help? All of this is included with your ySite.

Test our support right now & see for yourself, call Support at 419-776-7000 x5 today! And our support team is based here, in Ohio.

According to the Open Y website, any time something on your site "breaks" or needs repair, you will have to pay for additional costs that they estimate can range from a few thousand to upwards of $60K for larger sites per year.

Design options

Both the ySite and Open Y have different design options to choose from.

A ySite is built more like a Rubik's Cube with many "cubes" of design elements, it's very modular in that way. It's easy to reconfigure in numerous ways. Your YMCA can have its own custom homepage that is all included —no extra costs! Currently, there are 4 header/footer combination options, 3 slideshow area options, 5 color schemes, and 8 examples of the main content section on the page that you can mix and match into over 1,000 combinations.

Currently, the Open Y has 3 design options and their website notes that many Ys choose to pay more to customize the website & design.

Membership Machine™ Tools

Do you want to gain new members? Better serve your current members? Generate more revenue?

We built the Membership Machine™ Tools so your website can do just that. The Membership Machine™ is packed with tools designed to increase revenue for your YMCA. Tools like the Silent Salesman and the Countdown Timer.

Do you know what 1 new member a month can do for your YMCA? What about 5 or 10 new members a month? Use our Lifetime Value Calculator to see the potential of what Membership Machine™ tools can do for your website.

With a ySite the tools are built and ready to go. 

Supported CMS vs. Open-source CMS

A ySite is built on a supported, closed-source CMS that was specifically built for non-profits, called Freedom CMS.

What does that mean?

It means it is actively being improved and it won't break during upgrades. 

And if you ever have a question or problem, our dedicated YMCA support team is available for you. Want to test it & see for yourself? Call Support at 419-776-7000 x5 today! And we're based right here, in Ohio.

The Open Y is built on an open-source CMS named Drupal 8. It was not built specifically for non-profits. It also relies heavily on third-party plugins that could break during upgrades. 

It is not uncommon for open-source plugins to be poorly documented and for the developers to be no longer around to fix. 

Hosting

With a ySite, the hosting is included in the CMS license. It is predictable, worry free, and also includes support. We have measures in place to make sure you have the correct size server for the amount of traffic you get to your YMCA website. You get keys to your full website, already online, ready for you to begin updating, within 1-2 days of getting a ySite.

With the Open Y you are allowed to host it anywhere. There is a lot to choose from and costs will vary. Do you know which size server that your Y requires? Who is going to support it if you need help? Who is going to support your website? Are you going to install the website yourself or will you hire someone to do that for you?

Pricing

No matter what, you will have to pay for hosting for your website—ySite, Open Y, or other. Outside of that, how much will your website cost?

A ySite has predictable pricing & packages to choose from, including tools to make your website a revenue generator, not an expense. Support is included & hosting is always predictable.

Open Y can be downloaded for free. If you are a web developer you can take it from there and do all of the appropriate next steps of buying a server for hosting, installing Drupal, installing the Open Y and setting up your site. 

Otherwise, the price of Open Y varies from developer to developer and is based on setup, how much customization needs are required, and future support needs.

Interested in a Free ySite*?

If your annual revenue is less than $2 million, you probably qualify for our No Y Left Behind initiative. 

*FREE SETUP, FREE INSTALLATION, FREE TRAINING. HOSTING IS STILL REQUIRED.

No long term contracts

With a ySite you can cancel any time, for any reason. Simply give us a 30 day notice. No penalties. No hassle. We'll part as friends and come back any time.

With Open Y, there are a variety of partners each with different regulations. For example, some companies may lock you into a 3 year contract. We highly suggest discussing this part of your contract when negotiating your next website contract. Look for a partner company that allows you to cancel at any time without a penalty. No one likes being stuck.