CHARMS vs Need Navigator

CHARMS7.9Visit Need Navigator7.7Visit

Higher score CHARMS #6 in Social Work Case Management 7.9/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 1 features Visit CHARMS

vs

Need Navigator #8 in Social Work Case Management 7.7/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 1 features Visit Need Navigator

• CHARMS fits best

  Multi-agency teams managing placements and care plans

• Need Navigator fits best

  Smaller teams needing intake, shelter, and casework tools

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Side by side

Feature	CHARMS 7.9/10 Visit ↗	Need Navigator 7.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	7.9	7.7
Ranking	#6 in Social Work Case Management	#8 in Social Work Case Management
Best for	Multi-agency teams managing placements and care plans	Smaller teams needing intake, shelter, and casework tools
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	Pricing on request	—
Free plan	Not checked yet	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Phone	Phone, Email
Compliance	GDPR	SSO/SAML, 2FA
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features CHARMS 0/1 · Need Navigator 0/1
Client portal	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Case management features	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Mobile access	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Reporting tools	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Deployment	Not checked yet	Cloud
Documented integrations	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Links referrals and placements with care plans and outcome tracking Chronological records, audit trails and role-based access controls Secure portals support multi-agency collaboration	Combines client and household records, intake, casework, and shelter management Configurable forms and workflows support agency-specific programs and processes Audit trails, reporting dashboards, and scheduled exports support oversight
Cons	Pricing requires contacting sales Designed for social care rather than general-purpose case management Web-only access may not suit teams seeking a dedicated mobile app	Paid subscription has a five-user minimum A baseline one-time setup fee applies Agencies need to configure programs, roles, fields, and workflows
Our verdict	CHARMS is a cloud-based case management platform for organisations delivering children's and adults' social care. Its settings include fostering, adoption, residential care, supported accommodation, shared lives, family hubs, homelessness… Read the review →	Need Navigator brings client and household records, intake, casework, assistance tracking, documents, reporting, and shelter management into a web-based system for human-services organizations. Its stated audiences include community action… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• CHARMS — where it wins

  • Links referrals and placements with care plans and outcome tracking
  • Chronological records, audit trails and role-based access controls
  • Secure portals support multi-agency collaboration

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contacting sales
  • Designed for social care rather than general-purpose case management
  • Web-only access may not suit teams seeking a dedicated mobile app

• Need Navigator — where it wins

  • Combines client and household records, intake, casework, and shelter management
  • Configurable forms and workflows support agency-specific programs and processes
  • Audit trails, reporting dashboards, and scheduled exports support oversight

  Where it doesn't

  • Paid subscription has a five-user minimum
  • A baseline one-time setup fee applies
  • Agencies need to configure programs, roles, fields, and workflows

• CHARMS7.9/10 · Pricing on request

  A broad care-record and placement system for teams coordinating services across agencies.

  Visit CHARMSFull verdict →
• Need Navigator7.7/10 · Paid

  A broad web-based casework system for agencies that need configurable intake and shelter tools.

  Visit Need NavigatorFull verdict →