GoFundMe 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.
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, 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 for social media outreach
Givebutter - Awesome integration options
GiveCampus - Excellent school fundraising platform
Kickstarter - Great for creative projects
Patreon - Excellent membership tool
Why Do You Need a GoFundMe Alternative?
GoFundMe has helped raise over $15 billion for nonprofits, individuals, and groups through crowdfunding campaigns. The impact of GoFundMe is irrefutable, but other options may fit individual and organizations' campaigns better.
GoFundMe Pros:
GoFundMe is a trusted fundraising platform that will help individuals and organizations raise money. 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 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 think of looking 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 requirements for any supported countries, donations will be refunded
Top GoFundMe Competitors You Should Consider
Best Free GoFundMe Alternative Crowdfunding Platform for Nonprofits
Zeffy
Zeffy is the only 100% free fundraising platform for nonprofits in the United States and Canada. New and smaller nonprofits rely on holding onto all the money they receive from donors. Zeffy is the only online fundraising platform fee that lets them. Nonprofits can use Zeffy to collect online donations, sell event and raffle tickets, sell products and services, and run crowdfunding campaigns.
What makes this GoFundMe alternative stand out?
100% free fundraising platform for nonprofits
Testimonial:
"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)
Best GoFundMe Alternative for Individuals to Raise Money
Spotfund
Spotfund lets anyone start a crowdfunding campaign for any cause. 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?
Easy to set up and very flexible
Testimonial:
"I appreciate this platform. It was simple and easy to share. I was able to reach my goal and not feel like I was begging for money." - Terence
Pricing:
Spotfund has no setup or transaction fees, but there are credit card processing fees of 2.9% +$0.30 on each donation.
Best GoFundMe Alternative for a Product Crowdfunding Campaign
Bonfire
Create a design on Bonfire or upload custom artwork for selling t-shirts and other apparel. 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.
→ Check out these profitable things to sell for a school fundraiser.
Product costs are based on manufacturing, sourcing, and printing expenses. The simpler 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?
Design and sell custom apparel with no risk
Testimonial:
"I was really happy to participate in this campaign to help raise money for a great cause. It was very easy to order, I liked that there were so many color and size choices for the shirts. Site was easy to navigate and I appreciated the shipping updates. Items arrived quickly and they are so cute! Good quality and the design is awesome." - Amber
Pricing:
Bonfire product and processing fee is 8% per transaction.
Best GoFundMe Alternative for Businesses CRM Needs
Fundly
Fundly helps nonprofit organizations and individuals raise money with crowdfunding campaigns 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 social media accounts with easy sharing with their free Fundly mobile app and integrated fundraising forms on Facebook.
What makes this GoFundMe alternative stand out?
Lets you integrate your fundraising form into Facebook
Testimonial:
"It is very easy to set up a fundraiser and share it with a lot of people. A lot of useful tools are available on the website and the customer support in really good." - Veronica F.
Pricing:
There is no set up or platform fee to use Fundly, but there is a 2.9% + $0.30 credit card processing fee per transaction.
Best GoFundMe Alternative to Integrate With Other Tools
Givebutter
Givebutter lets nonprofits raise funds 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.
→ Check out our complete Givebutter review for nonprofits.
What makes this GoFundMe alternative stand out?
Integrates with more than 1,000 third-party apps
Testimonial:
"I like the aesthetic. It allows me to insert the look & feel of our nonprofit into our fundraising pages. I also like the interaction between our team & our donors, right there on the page!" - Jordan K.
Pricing:
Givebutter has no setup or platform fees. Payment processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30 can be covered by donors.
Best GoFundMe Alternative for Schools
GiveCampus
GiveCampus is 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 unique fundraising issues that many schools face.
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:
"I like how GiveCampus allows for there to be multiple giving campaigns listed and present on our homepage. We have lots of designations that donors can search and give for, which is really important for all of our various giving campaigns/goals." - Kyle T.
Pricing:
GiveCampus plans start at $1,000 a year for world-class support and a dedicated partner success advisor.
Best GoFundMe Alternative for Individuals with a Creative Project
Kickstarter
Kickstarter makes 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. If you have a unique and creative product or project that needs funding, a Kickstarter campaign is an excellent option.
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 stay in control of their ideas and reach supporters who really care. There is a chance your campaign will fail, and you raise no money, but many campaigns do find success.
What makes this GoFundMe alternative stand out?
History of successful fundraisers and $7.68 billion raised for users
Testimonial:
"I think that when people think of crowdfunding, they often think of Kickstarter. I like using Kickstarter, since it was one of the first major crowdfunding websites that became known to the mainstream. So when we can present an item or project through Kickstarter, I think that we're presenting ourselves to a wide audience in a credible platform. There are many excellent features to help present our items in an engaging way, including a very easy-to-use text editor that allows us to add images, video, and hyperlinks." - Emery D.
Pricing:
If your project is successfully funded, Kickstarter has a 5% platform fee + 3-5% payment processing fee per transaction. There are no fees for projects that don't meet their goals.
Best GoFundMe Alternative for Content Creators
Patreon
Patreon is another platform for individuals looking for personal fundraising success. You can raise funds for your favorite charity on Patreon, but their primary users are content creators connecting with their audience and raising 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:
"Patreon treats its content creators very well I feel and the creators get to ask for donations to help them with creating more content and maintaining their channels on Patreon. I feel like Patreon puts content creators in the driver's seat when it comes to controlling what they choose to produce compared to other platforms which are not as friendly to content creators of which I won't mention." - Lindsay H.
Pricing:
It's free to list products on Patreon, but most users sign up for one of Patreon's plans. Patreon's Pro plan includes an 8% fee of the income earned. 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
Subsplash - Gives churches access to mobile apps, websites, text and online giving
Indiegogo - Crowdfunding campaigns for groundbreaking products 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 schools, groups, and teams
Bloomerang - Donor management software and fundraising tool that helps organizations raise more funds and build stronger donor connections
Classy - Comprehensive fundraising campaigns to meet donors where they are
Frequently Asked Questions about GoFundMe
What are GoFundMe fees?
There is no setup or transaction fee, but GoFundMe has a small processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
Is there a free alternative to GoFundMe?
Zeffy is 100% free for nonprofit organizations' online donation forms, crowdfunding, event ticketing, and memberships.
Is GoFundMe for-profit or nonprofit?
GoFundMe is a for-profit company that operates the GoFundMe fundraising platform, while GoFundMe.org operates as an independent nonprofit organization.
Final Thoughts
Now that you've seen the pros and cons of GoFundMe and had a peek at many fundraising platform alternatives, which should you use?
The answer to that 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, there are many crowdfunding websites with lower platform fees. If you're looking for ways to promote an innovative product or project, you have fewer options, but they do exist.
Nonprofit organizations of every size have their pick from Zeffy's 100% free fundraising platform to pricier options like GiveCause.
Crowdfunding campaigns aren't your only fundraising option either. Many GoFundMe alternatives help nonprofits raise funds with online donation forms, memberships, event ticket sales, eCommerce stores, and donor management systems. Visit to see how you can get these features 100% free!
More articles about fundraising:
Fundraising for Nonprofits : Essential Guide + 12 ideas
101+ Fundraising ideas for nonprofits
Peer-to-Peer fundraising: The Definitive guide
Find the best tools for your nonprofit: