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
- 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?
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Zeffy | Newer and small nonprofits looking for free fundraising tools | 100% free (no platform fee - no transaction fee) | 100% free |
Spotfund | Individuals looking for an easy-to-use crowdfunding tool | Easy to use and flexible for new campaigns | 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee |
Bonfire | Nonprofits and Individuals looking for product fundraising options | Customizable t-shirts and fundraising forms | 8% processing fee for donations |
Fundly | Individuals with a strong online following | Campaign donation forms that can integrate into Facebook | 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee |
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 |
GiveCampus | Schools looking for a crowdfunding platform | Uses AI to craft compelling donor outreach in minutes | Plans start at $1,000 a year |
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 |
Patreon | Content Creators looking for crowdfunding options | Excellent memberstransfers take | Plans start at 8% fees of your income for a Patreon Pro plan |
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: 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)
Best GoFundMe alternative for individuals to raise money
Spotfund
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?
Easy to set up and very flexible
Testimonial: 4.7 stars on Trustpilot
"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 credit card processing fees are 2.9% +$0.30 on each donation.
Best GoFundMe alternative for a product crowdfunding campaign
Bonfire
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?
Design and sell custom apparel with no risk
Testimonial: 4.9 stars on Trustpilot
"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 sites like GoFundMe for CRM needs
Fundly
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?
Lets you integrate your fundraising form into Facebook
Testimonial: 2.9 stars on G2
"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 setup 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 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?
Integrates with more than 1,000 third-party apps
Testimonial: 4.8 stars on Capterra
"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. Donors can cover payment processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30.
Best alternatives to GoFundMe for schools
GiveCampus
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 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: 4.7 starts on G2
"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 annually for world-class support and a dedicated partner success advisor.
Best GoFundMe alternative for individuals with a creative project
Kickstarter
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
"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 + a 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 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
"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 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
- 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
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.
Zeffy is 100% free for nonprofit organizations' online donation forms, crowdfunding, event ticketing, peer to peer fundraising, and memberships.
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.
GoFundMe is a for-profit company that operates the GoFundMe fundraising platform, while GoFundMe.org operates as an independent nonprofit organization.
Final thoughts: How to raise funds with a GoFundMe alternative
Now that you've considered GoFundMe's pros and cons 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 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 support nonprofit fundraising 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!
