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Nonprofit software

Top 8 Best GoFundMe Alternatives for Any Cause (free & paid)

December 20, 2024

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GoFundMe is a crowdfunding campaign that can be an excellent way to promote your organization's mission or cause. It can also be one of the best fundraising sites to raise funds quickly for an individual fundraising goal, such as personal causes, medical bills, or to support international fundraisers.

While popular, GoFundMe may not be the best fundraising tool for all situations. Fees and limits to an organization's outreach leave many looking for GoFundMe Alternatives. In this article, we'll supply eight alternatives to create personalized fundraising pages, delve into what they offer, and reviews from real users.

The best GoFundMe alternatives

  • Zeffy - The best free fundraising platform for nonprofits
  • Spotfund - Easy to set up and very flexible
  • Bonfire - Best t-shirt fundraising platform
  • Fundly - Best fundraising platform for social media integration
  • GiveCampus - Excellent school fundraising platform
  • Patreon - Excellent membership tool

Why do you need a GoFundMe alternative?

Through its crowdfunding platform, GoFundMe has helped raise over $15 billion for nonprofits, individuals, and groups. Its impact is irrefutable, but other options better suit individual and organizational campaigns.

Gofundme

GoFundMe pros:

GoFundMe is a trusted fundraising platform that helps individuals and organizations support their missions. The following pros are a few of the many reasons for this trust:

  • Secure payment encryption
  • Individuals, groups, and organizations can set up a campaign for themselves and others
  • Add pictures, video, and text to donation forms
  • Simple and intuitive campaign page design
  • Fundraiser doesn't end when you reach your goal

GoFundMe cons

The benefits of using GoFundMe are sometimes less than the cons. The following cons may make you look for alternatives.

  • 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fees deducted from each donation
  • Individual donations are processed in 1-14 days. After that, it takes 2-5 business days for transfers to reach your bank account
  • Only available in 19 countries. if you don't meet the requirements for any supported countries, donations will be refunded

Top GoFundMe competitors you should consider

Crowdfunding Platforms Best for Highlight feature Pricing Capterra rating

Zeffy

Newer and small nonprofits looking for free fundraising tools

100% free (no platform fee - no transaction fee)

100% free

4.8

Spotfund

Individuals looking for an easy-to-use crowdfunding tool

Easy to use and flexible for new campaigns

2.9% + $0.30 processing fee

n/a

Bonfire

Nonprofits and Individuals looking for product fundraising options

Customizable t-shirts and fundraising forms

8% processing fee for donations

4.5

Fundly

Individuals with a strong online following

Campaign donation forms that can integrate into Facebook

2.9% + $0.30 processing fee

3.8

Givebutter

Nonprofits looking for a tool that offers fundraising options

Seamless integration with over 1,000 third-party apps

2.9% + $0.30 processing fee

4.8

GiveCampus

Schools looking for a crowdfunding platform

Uses AI to craft compelling donor outreach in minutes

Plans start at $1,000 a year

4.5

Kickstarter

Individuals looking to raise money for creative projects

Create a project page to highlight your product or project with images, videos, and text

5% of total funds raised and 3% + 3-5% processing fee

n/a

Patreon

Content Creators looking for crowdfunding options

Excellent memberstransfers take

Plans start at 8% fees of your income for a Patreon Pro plan

4.5

1. Zeffy: Best Free GoFundMe Alternative Crowdfunding Platform for Nonprofits

Zeffy is the only 100% free fundraising platform for nonprofits. New and smaller nonprofits rely on holding onto all the money they receive from donors. Zeffy is the only online fundraising platform fee structure that lets them do so without hidden costs or false advertising. 

Nonprofits can use Zeffy to:

  • Personalize donation pages to match your branding
  • Expand your reach with supporter-led fundraisers and an intuitive interface to resonate with the right donors
  • Track and nurture donor relationships effortlessly with detailed information
  • Boost engagement with easy-to-manage raffles
  • Raise funds with in-person donations through a quick tap
  • Sell products online to raise more funds
  • Simplify managing member sign-ups and renewals
  • Accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other flexible methods
  • Combine ticket sales and donations seamlessly
  • Allow donors to give in just a few clicks
  • Access help whenever you need it
  • Keep donor data safe with advanced protections

What makes this GoFundMe alternative stand out?

Zeffy is a 100% free fundraising platform for nonprofits with all the features needed to successfully run various campaigns and manage donor relationships without the added cost.

Testimonial: 4.8 stars on Capterra

"I love how Zeffy has made my work life so much easier in many ways. I can manage my email list, send messages to different segments, tag individuals and their interests, sell event tickets, collect membership fees, and track income and engagement. Best of all, I can do all of this (and more) without having a portion of our income being snatched up by a supposed 'ally' of non-profit organizations." - Maude S.

Pricing: 100% free (no startup, platform, transaction, or processing fees)

2. Spotfund: Best GoFundMe alternative for individuals to raise money

Spotfund offers a crowdfunding platform for anyone to start a campaign for any cause. When you think about Spotfund vs GoFundMe, consider that Spotfund lets users share and post updates for your fundraising campaign and track its progress. 

You'll receive all funds regardless of whether you meet your financial goals. Donors worldwide can give to your campaign, but only users with US bank accounts can create a campaign and withdraw funds.

What makes this GoFundMe alternative stand out?

Spotfund is easy to set up and very flexible for individuals starting out or nonprofits.

Testimonial: 4.7 stars on Trustpilot

"I was able to create a safe and easy fundraiser to help with reaching out to friends and family during a hardship and everything worked seamlessly, efficiently and most effectively. " - Carolyn

Pricing: Spotfund has no setup or platform fees, but credit card processing fees are 2.9% +$0.30 on each donation and up to 3.9% + $0.30 per transaction for international payments.

3. Bonfire: Best GoFundMe alternative for a product crowdfunding campaign

Bonfire is one of the GoFundMe competitors that’s great for creators and small businesses. You can upload custom artwork to sell t-shirts and other apparel. You can also develop fundraising goals, choose item prices, and sell items like t-shirts, hoodies, tank tops, and more online. Nonprofits, sports teams, and social groups can use Bonfire to spread awareness and raise money for their cause.

Product costs are based on manufacturing, sourcing, and printing expenses. The simpler the design, the less it will cost. You can choose a default price or set prices to fit your organization and community.

What makes this GoFundMe alternative stand out?

Bonfire allows you to design and sell custom apparel with no risk, and big opportunity to raise money through creativity.

Testimonial: 4.5 on Capterra

"Ease of use not only for me but also the proposers and my evaluation committees. Bonfire allows the flexibility for me to set up my projects in a way that meets "my needs." It can handle very simple projects to very complex projects. " - Keri W.

Pricing: The Bonfire product and processing fee is 8% per transaction.

4. Fundly: Best site like GoFundMe for CRM needs

Fundly helps nonprofit organizations and individuals raise money with a crowdfunding campaign for just about anything. Whether it's a personal cause, medical expenses, or credit card payments, individuals can create donation forms with videos and photos to help tell a story.

Fundly lets users make the most of fundraising within social networks with easy sharing with their free Fundly mobile app and integrated fundraising forms on Facebook.

What makes this GoFundMe alternative stand out?

Fundly is a nice option for social sharing, as it lets you integrate your fundraising form into Facebook.

Testimonial: 2.9 stars on G2

"Fundly is fairly easy and straightforward to use and is a powerful tool - plus, it's in the cloud (so it can be accessed anywhere)." - Veronica F.

Pricing: There is no setup or platform fee to use Fundly, but there is a 2.9% + $0.30 credit card processing fee per transaction.

5. Givebutter: Best GoFundMe alternative to integrate with other tools

Givebutter lets nonprofits raise money with features like online donation forms, text-to-donate, recurring giving, DAF donations, and peer-to-peer fundraising tools. 

Givebutter's many features make it an excellent tool for growing organizations. Givebutter lets donors tip to cover fees and ensure their donations go entirely to the nonprofit.

What makes this GoFundMe alternative stand out?

Givebutter integrates with more than 1,000 third-party apps.

Testimonial: 4.8 stars on Capterra

"Givebutter's cool live fundraising tools are what drew me in. When I watched a fellow nonprofit owner raise $15k in at 15 minutes using a projection of Givebutter's live giving tool, I knew I had to try it." - Jordan K.

Pricing: Givebutter has no setup or platform fees. Payment processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30 apply, with an option to allow donors to cover this expense.

6. GiveCampus: Best alternatives to GoFundMe for schools

GiveCampus is an online fundraising site led by fundraisers from educational facilities like Stanford and Emory. Their experience raising money for schools and higher education facilities inspired them to create a fundraising platform to address many schools' unique fundraising issues.

GiveCampus lets schools raise funds with online donation pages, giving data and crowdfunding, events, and more. Their wealth data and volunteer management programs help schools identify and track donors and volunteers to help them grow.

What makes this GoFundMe alternative stand out?

GiveCampus uses AI to craft compelling donor outreach in minutes.

Testimonial: 4.7 starts on G2

"I love the ease of use and ability to create simple, effective campaigns. I can add as much or as little detail as needed, and have the ability to meet my donors where they are. The GC platform has been great, especially for giving days and one off projects." - Ashley S.

Pricing: GiveCampus plans start at $1,000 annually.

7. Kickstarter: Best GoFundMe alternative for individuals with a creative project

Kickstarter is one of the best crowdfunding sites for making ideas a reality.

Kickstarter has been around since 2009, and you may recognize it from campaigns for the fidget spinner or prolific fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson. A Kickstarter campaign is an excellent option if you have a unique and creative product or project that needs funding.

Kickstarter doesn't allow fundraising for charities, but individuals can see their dreams come true without needing bank loans, grant funding, or investor demand. Kickstarter lets people control their ideas and reach supporters who care. There is a chance your campaign will fail, and you raise no money, but many campaigns succeed.

What makes this GoFundMe alternative stand out?

History of successful fundraisers and $7.68 billion raised for users

Testimonial: 3.8 stars on G2

"What is most helpful about kickstarter is that it helps the ideas and projects of people come to reality through the funds they receive." - Joel A.

Pricing: If your project is successfully funded, Kickstarter has a 5% platform fee and a 3-5% payment processing fee per transaction. There are no fees for projects that don't meet their goals.

8. Patreon: Best GoFundMe alternative for content creators

Patreon is another platform for individuals looking to achieve personal fundraising success. You can fundraise for your favorite charity on Patreon, but its primary users are content creators who connect with their audience and raise money online.

Patreon lets users build a membership, sell digital products, and crowdfund to earn consistent income from their supporters.

What makes this GoFundMe alternative stand out?

Patreon puts content creators in the driver's seat.

Testimonial: 4.1 stars on G2

"The advantages of Patreon are it's well-known, and I can upload text or images in seconds. I'm blessed with some Patrons." - Linda S.

Pricing: It's free to list products on Patreon, but most users sign up for one of its plans. Patreon's Pro plan includes an 8% fee of the income earned, and Premium plans have a fee of 12%. Users can also sell digital products on Patreon for a 5% fee plus payment processing.

Other GoFundMe alternatives and fundraising sites

  • Subsplash - Gives churches access to mobile apps, websites, text and online giving
  • Indiegogo - Crowdfunding campaigns for groundbreaking products, scientific research, and innovative entrepreneurs
  • Donorbox - Tools like QuickDonate™ and UltraSwift™ checkout make it easier for donors to give
  • Snap! Raise - Group-based digital fundraising platform for school projects, groups, and teams
  • Classy - Comprehensive fundraising campaigns to meet donors where they are

Final thoughts: How to raise funds with a GoFundMe alternative 

Now that you've considered GoFundMe's reviews and looked at many fundraising platform alternatives, which should you use?

The answer is very personal and depends on your goals and financial abilities. Individuals have more options than ever before. Whether you're raising funds for yourself, a friend, or your favorite charity, you can find a crowdfunding website with lower platform fees. 

If you're looking for ways to promote an innovative product or project, you have fewer options, but they exist. Nonprofit organizations of every size have their pick from Zeffy's 100% free fundraising platform to pricier options like GiveCause.‍

Frequently asked questions about GoFundMe

There is no setup or transaction fee, but GoFundMe does have small standard processing fees that come out to 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

Sign up and start fundraising for free today with Zeffy, the only 100% free solution

Zeffy is 100% free for nonprofit organizations' online donation forms, crowdfunding, event ticketing, peer-to-peer fundraising, and memberships. While many tools claim they’re free because there is no platform fee, payment processing fees sneak up and deduct from the total fundraising potential.
With Zeffy, you get everything you need for nonprofit fundraising from crowdfunding sites to events and e-commerce without a single transaction fee.

Sign up for Zeffy today.

Anyone setting up a crowdfunding page and looking for the right crowdfunding platform with fundraising features that keep donors engaged and collect donations efficiently can look to the following GoFundMe alternatives.

  • Zeffy
  • Spotfund
  • Bonfire
  • Fundly
  • Givebutter
  • GiveCampus
  • Kickstarter
  • Patreon
  • Finding the right crowdfunding platform for your nonprofit can feel like a big task, but it’s worth exploring your options. Each platform has unique features, so choosing one that fits your specific goals is essential—whether it’s supporting recurring donations, integrating with your website, or helping you connect with donors more effectively.
    Reviewing and comparing what’s out there lets you make an informed decision that sets your fundraising efforts up for success. The right platform can make all the difference in reaching your goals and engaging your supporters.

    GoFundMe is a for-profit company that operates the GoFundMe fundraising platform, while GoFundMe.org operates as an independent nonprofit organization. GoFundme’s platform helps nonprofit organizations as well as individual fundraisers to access tools that help them successfully raise money and build awareness.

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