What this calculator is meant to prove
Campaign software cost is not just the list price. A useful comparison includes setup fees, send volume, voter-data outputs, channel credentials, services, and the campaign's actual operating workflow.
VoterFile is priced around the voter-data operations layer: segmentation, CRM, canvassing, exports, and handoff. Voter.Vote and PDI both cover broader vendor surfaces, so their public numbers need to be read with scope in mind.
- VoterFile founding pricing is $299 per race
- Voter.Vote publishes à la carte email, texting, setup, social, and hourly service fees
- PDI publishes data-order minimums, Campaign Center starting pricing, per-send rates, and output blocks
- Custom data quotes, district-specific subscriptions, and outside delivery costs can change the final bill
How the estimates are calculated
The interactive model uses VoterFile's public beta entry point, Voter.Vote's public email and texting fees, and PDI's public Campaign Center starting point, data-order minimum, email/SMS rates, and prepaid Mail and Field output blocks.
That makes the calculator useful for directional buying decisions, especially for local California campaigns comparing whether they need integrated voter operations or a larger vendor stack.
Where VoterFile should win
VoterFile should win when the buyer values connected targeting, CRM, mail, email, SMS activation, phones, canvassing, consultant operations, reporting, and portable delivery options.
It should not be positioned as cheaper for every possible full-stack campaign operation, because Voter.Vote and PDI may include or sell execution channels that VoterFile intentionally keeps outside the core product.
- Local races with one or a few contests
- Campaigns that need list clarity before paid outreach
- Consultants who want client-separated workspaces without enterprise overhead
- Teams that already have email, SMS, mail, or field vendors and need cleaner inputs
Cost model assumptions
These are the public pricing assumptions used by the calculator. Final vendor invoices can differ after custom quotes, subscriptions, and channel services are added.
| Provider | Included in estimate | Important exclusions |
|---|---|---|
| VoterFile | $299 per race founding rate for voter-data workflow access ($499 list). | Voter-file acquisition, campaign-owned delivery credentials, mail production, ads, and outside vendors. |
| Voter.Vote | Published email setup/send fees and texting setup/send fees. | Custom voter-data purchase price, added contact enrichment, social ads, direct mail, hourly work, and services. |
| PDI | Published starting subscription reference, data-order minimum, email/SMS send rates, and prepaid output blocks. | Exact district-based subscription quote, tier coverage, phone/MMS, consulting, and services. |
Compare known public costs
Enter a realistic local-race scenario. The calculator uses VoterFile's current founding price, Voter.Vote's published à la carte outreach fees, and PDI's public minimums, send rates, and prepaid output blocks.
VoterFile
Focused voter-data workspace: segmentation, CRM, canvassing, exports, and handoff.
- Campaign-owned voter-file acquisition or refresh costs
- External delivery-provider costs when a campaign uses its own SMS, email, mail, or ad vendor
Voter.Vote
Broad outreach platform with custom voter-data pricing and à la carte delivery fees.
- Custom voter-data purchase price
- Adding missing emails or phone numbers
- Direct mail, social ads, creative work, and hourly services
Political Data (PDI)
Established California data vendor with district-based subscription and output pricing.
- Exact district-based subscription quote
- Files or outputs already covered by higher subscription tiers
- Phone calling, MMS, direct mail production, consulting, or vendor services
The savings you’re looking at are real — California campaigns on VoterFile pay $299 for one race, flat, no annual commitment. Request beta access and bring the same numbers above into the intake.
Complete California access review before any file upload.
Submit the campaign, requester, issuing source, viewer list, geography, and intended use. VoterFile does not open upload, import, browse, export, or voter-level modeled output until the California activation checklist is complete.
Questions
Is this a final quote for any vendor?
No. It is a public-pricing calculator for directional comparison. Final vendor pricing can change based on district, voter count, subscription tier, custom data, and services.
Why does Voter.Vote show custom data as excluded?
Voter.Vote publishes detailed outreach fees, but its voter-data pricing is presented as custom pricing. The calculator separates known public fees from unknown quote-based costs.
Why does PDI use a floor or block estimate?
PDI says software pricing is primarily based on voter count or district and publishes prepaid output blocks. The calculator uses those public references, but a real quote may differ.
When is VoterFile the lower-cost fit?
When the campaign needs voter segmentation, CRM, canvassing, exports, and handoff more than it needs a broad all-in-one execution vendor.