Freedom251 › Government Website Builders
OpenCities
What OpenCities is
OpenCities gives local governments tools to provide information and digital interactions through their websites. Its government-focused search is designed to make official terminology easier for residents to navigate. The low-code/no-code platform includes flexible design, content templates, and tools for organisation-wide content creation. Staff across departments can publish through custom approval processes while maintaining a consistent organisational brand and voice. Analytics, page-level feedback, form value questions, and surveys help teams assess website use and identify possible improvements. Website templates support resident self-service, and staff can adjust homepage layouts and page themes without a full redesign. The platform supports multilingual publishing, document management, multi-site use, and API access. Its accessibility statement says it meets WCAG 2.1 Level AA, with automated testing and specialist manual checks. The maker says it serves local governments of all sizes and is trusted by 170+ government agencies serving more than 15 million people. Pricing uses a population-based subscription model and is available on request.
Who it suits
OpenCities suits local governments that need shared website publishing controls, resident self-service tools, and ways to assess how people use their sites. It may also fit teams that need multilingual publishing or WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility.
What it does well
- Government-focused search simplifies official terminology.
- Departments can publish with custom approval processes.
- Homepage layouts and page themes can change without redesign.
- Supports multilingual publishing and multi-site use.
- Accessibility statement says it meets WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
What to know first
- Pricing is available on request.
- Subscription pricing is population-based.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced Web Package | one-time · enhanced web implementation package | $20,000, paid once |
| OpenCities Intranet | annual · mobile-friendly intranet · Azure AD directory sync · message boards · profiles · news · events | $5,500 a year |
| OpenCities SaaS License | annual · out-of-box functionality · Azure Government hosting · WCAG AA maintenance · 99.9% uptime SLA · 24/7 Priority-1 support | $8,000 a year |
| OpenCities | Population-based subscription; price not stated on the page | On request |
As granicus.com.au lists them, read 21 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the OpenCities product page.
- Schedule a demo to discuss the population-based subscription.
- Contact the OpenCities Help Centre or email [email protected] for support.
Verdict
OpenCities combines government-oriented search with content controls, analytics, and resident self-service tools. Its population-based subscription price is not published, so prospective customers need to request details.
Questions
How much does OpenCities cost?
The subscription model is population-based, but the product page does not publish a price and directs prospective customers to schedule a demo.
Which platform does OpenCities support?
Web is the listed platform.
Who is OpenCities for?
The maker describes it as serving local governments of all sizes. It says more than 170 government agencies use it to serve over 15 million people.
Does OpenCities support multiple languages and websites?
Yes. Multilingual publishing and multi-site support are listed.
Does OpenCities meet an accessibility standard?
Its accessibility statement says the platform meets WCAG 2.1 Level AA and is checked using automated tools and specialist manual checks.
How can customers get support?
Customers can use the OpenCities Help Centre at help.opencities.com or email [email protected].
Facts from OpenCities's own pages
- Accessibility
- The platform is tested with automated and specialist manual checks and is stated to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA. · granicus.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Accessibility limit
- The help centre says custom-theme accessibility fixes may incur charges and audit reviews generally take at least two weeks. · help.opencities.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Analytics and feedback
- Website analytics, page-level feedback, form value questions, and surveys help customers assess website use and identify improvements. · granicus.com.au, 4 Oct 2026
- API access
- API Management requires the OC Developer role and API keys; the help centre documents both Basic and HMAC authentication guides. · help.opencities.com, 21 Oct 2026
- API protocol
- The API uses /api/v1 endpoints, JSON or XML, Basic Authentication, ISO 8601 dates, UUID identifiers and offset/limit pagination. · help.opencities.com, 21 Oct 2026
- API scope
- The API manages forms, responses, content pages, files, folders, address and waste data, and embeds. · help.opencities.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The maker says OpenCities serves more than 170 government agencies and over 15 million people. · granicus.com.au, 21 Oct 2026
- Changelog security
- A June 2024 release moved asset files to Azure Blob Storage and documented ongoing scans for XSS, outdated modules and command injection. · help.opencities.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Company founded
- Granicus states that it and GovDelivery were independently founded in 1999. · granicus.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Company headquarters
- LinkedIn lists Granicus headquarters in Denver, Colorado, with a 1,001–5,000 employee company-size range. · linkedin.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Company legal entity
- The Australian business registry lists GRANICUS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD as an active private company with ABN 60 648 475 101. · abr.business.gov.au, 21 Oct 2026
- Company ownership
- Granicus says Vista Equity Partners acquired a majority stake in 2016, with K1 retaining a minority stake and Harvest Partners joining as a major investor in 2021. · granicus.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Connector limitation
- EngagementHQ synchronization is one-way, runs every four hours, and only one EngagementHQ site can connect to one OpenCities site. · help.opencities.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Content tools
- The low-code/no-code platform offers flexible design, content templates, and tools for organisation-wide content creation. · granicus.com.au, 4 Oct 2026
- Deployment model
- The product is described as a SaaS service with managed cloud hosting rather than a downloadable self-hosted package. · granicus.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Embeds
- Administrators can embed HTML and JavaScript such as videos, chatbots, widgets and social feeds, but Granicus does not guarantee accessibility of external content. · help.opencities.com, 21 Oct 2026
- EngagementHQ connector
- The EngagementHQ connector publishes public consultation projects into OpenCities search, homepages and maps. · help.opencities.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Theme Builder supports custom CSS, JavaScript, files, navigation styles, previews, rollback and import/export, with Granicus recommending experienced front-end developers. · help.opencities.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Feedback tools
- Sites can collect page comments, form value questions and survey responses for improvement research. · granicus.com.au, 21 Oct 2026
- Google Play listing
- A Google Play app named OpenCities shows 100+ downloads and no displayed rating, but it is an unrelated emergency-reporting app by a Bolivian developer rather than Granicus OpenCities. · play.google.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Government search
- Its purpose-built government search engine simplifies government terms to help users find information. · granicus.com.au, 4 Oct 2026
- Hosting
- Customer order terms describe managed Azure Government cloud hosting, ongoing security updates and a 99.9% uptime SLA. · ravalli-mt.granicus.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Independent acquisition report
- InnovationAus reported that the OpenCities acquisition required four months of FIRB review and that the transaction amount was undisclosed. · innovationaus.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Integration
- The OpenCities/EHQ connector is named as a platform upgrade; the EngagementHQ page says the connector is among Granicus integrations. · granicus.com.au, 4 Oct 2026
Where OpenCities stands on Freedom251
- Government Website Builders#22 of 33