Top 10 Fundraising Platforms: Features, Pros, Cons & Comparison

Introduction

Fundraising platforms are specialized websites or software programs designed to help nonprofits, schools, and individuals raise money online. In the simplest terms, they provide a safe place to process credit card payments and organize donor information. These tools are important because they move fundraising into the modern world where most people handle their money through phones or computers. Instead of waiting for paper checks to arrive in the mail or carrying around cash boxes that could be lost or stolen, organizations can launch a campaign online and start receiving help in minutes. This speed is vital when a community needs help immediately or when a goal needs to be met quickly.

These systems also help build a deep level of trust between the organization and the person giving the money. When a donor sees a professional-looking page with a secure lock icon, they feel safe sharing their information. Most of these tools also show real-time progress bars, which let supporters see how close the group is to reaching its goal. This creates a sense of teamwork and excitement that encourages more people to join in. Furthermore, these platforms automate the boring parts of the job, such as sending out tax receipts and thank-you emails. This means every donor gets a fast response, which makes them feel valued and more likely to give again.

When looking for the right tool, you should check how easy it is for your donors to navigate the page, what kind of fees the platform takes out of your donations, and whether the system can grow with you as you get more supporters. A good platform should handle high traffic without slowing down and should work perfectly on every type of mobile phone. It is also important to see if the tool can connect with your other software, like your email list or your accounting program, so all your data stays organized in one place.

Best for: These tools are a great fit for nonprofit staff members, school organizers, religious leaders, and community volunteers. Small groups love them because they are often free or very cheap to start using. Large organizations benefit from the heavy-duty security and the deep data they provide, which helps them track thousands of donors at once across different departments. They are ideal for anyone who wants to look professional and keep their money records organized.

Not ideal for: If you are just a single person trying to pay a one-time personal bill, like a phone bill or a utility bill, a simple personal payment app is a much better choice. Also, very large international businesses that have their own custom-built computer systems might find these ready-to-use tools too simple or restrictive for their very specific corporate needs. If your goal is not related to a cause, a group, or an event, you probably do not need a full fundraising platform.

Top 10 Fundraising Platforms Tools

1 — Donorbox

Donorbox is a fast and simple way for nonprofits to start taking donations directly on their own websites. It is built specifically for small and medium-sized groups that want a clean, professional look without having to do a lot of complicated technical work. This tool is a favorite because it doesn’t try to be too many things at once; it focuses on making the donation process as smooth as possible for the person giving. It is very reliable and is known for having one of the fastest “checkouts” for donors, which means more people finish their donation instead of giving up halfway through. Many users appreciate that it can be set up in minutes without needing to hire a web developer or an expensive consultant.

• Key features:
  • Simple donation forms that you can put directly on your own website with just a few clicks.
  • Options for people to give every month, every week, or even every year automatically to support you.
  • Ability to accept many different types of payments like major credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
  • A special feature that asks donors to pay for the credit card fees so your charity gets the full gift.
  • Easy-to-read donor management tools to keep track of who gave money and how to contact them later.
  • Quick-start pages for specific one-time goals, which is perfect if you do not have a website yet.
  • Support for many different languages and currencies so you can get help from people all over the world.
• Pros:
  • It is incredibly easy to set up and start using, even if you are not a computer expert.
  • The forms are built to work perfectly on mobile phones, which is where most people do their giving today.
  • It works well with other popular tools like email systems to help you stay in touch with your supporters.
• Cons:
  • You might have to pay a small monthly fee if you want to use some of the more advanced extra features.
  • It is not a full “all-in-one” system, so it doesn’t have deep tools for things like managing giant physical auctions.
• Security & compliance: Uses the strongest available encryption and is fully PCI compliant to keep everyone’s financial data safe.
• Support & community: Offers a very helpful online help center and email support that is known for being friendly and fast.

2 — Givebutter

Givebutter is a fun and modern platform that combines traditional giving with social media-style features and event tools. It is designed to make giving feel like a community activity rather than just a boring bank transaction. The platform uses live feeds and interactive elements to keep donors interested and excited about the cause they are supporting. It is a great choice for groups that want to bring a lot of energy and a “younger” feel to their fundraising campaigns. Because it puts everything—donations, events, and donor lists—in one spot, it helps small teams stay organized without needing a lot of different software programs.

• Key features:
  • A live social feed where donors can leave supportive messages and pictures to show their love for the cause.
  • Complete tools for selling tickets and managing guest lists for physical parties, dinners, or online events.
  • Team-based fundraising where groups of friends can compete to see who can raise the most money for you.
  • A simple way to send text messages to your supporters to give them updates or ask for a quick donation.
  • A built-in system to keep track of all your donor contacts and their history without having to pay extra.
  • Interactive goal bars that fill up in real time as money comes in, which helps encourage more people to give.
  • One-click giving options like Venmo, which makes it very fast for people to give using their favorite apps.
• Pros:
  • Most of the features are completely free because the company asks donors for a small, optional tip instead.
  • The social and fun design of the pages helps to get people talking and sharing your fundraiser on social media.
  • It provides a truly “all-in-one” experience, so you don’t have to keep jumping between different apps.
• Cons:
  • Some donors might be a little confused when they see a request for a “tip” at the end of their donation.
  • The data reports are very helpful, but they might not be deep enough for a giant charity with a massive team.
• Security & compliance: Fully PCI compliant and works with major safe payment processors to protect every transaction.
• Support & community: Has a very active and helpful group of users and lots of videos to show you exactly how to do things.

3 — GoFundMe Pro

GoFundMe Pro is the professional version of the world’s most famous website for raising money for causes. It takes the simplicity that regular people love and adds heavy-duty tools that real organizations need to manage big campaigns. This platform is perfect for groups that want to use a name that everyone already knows and trusts when they see it. Because people are used to seeing GoFundMe, they feel very safe putting their credit card information into the site without worry. It is built to handle anything from a small local fundraiser to a massive global project with thousands of donors giving at once. It also includes powerful features for managing long-term relationships with your most important supporters.

• Key features:
  • Professional pages that let you show your organization’s brand, logo, and story in a very clear way.
  • Tools to manage many different people who are all raising money on your behalf at the same time.
  • Deep data and analytics that show you exactly where your donations are coming from and what is working.
  • Automated receipts that follow all the official tax rules and are sent to donors the moment they give.
  • Large, easy-to-use buttons for sharing on social media that are built to help your campaign reach new people.
  • Specialized tools for setting up recurring giving so you can build a group of steady monthly supporters.
  • Professional communication tools that let you send updates and thank-you notes to all your donors easily.
• Pros:
  • The name is famous all over the world, which gives your organization an immediate boost in trust and safety.
  • The website is built to handle massive amounts of traffic, so it will not crash even during your busiest times.
  • It is very easy for donors to share your page with their friends, which helps your mission grow.
• Cons:
  • It can be more expensive than some of the simpler tools, especially for very small groups with small budgets.
  • Setting up the professional version takes a little more time and paperwork than setting up a simple personal page.
• Security & compliance: SOC 2 and GDPR compliant, making it a safe choice for large groups with strict rules.
• Support & community: High-level support teams are available for organizations that need extra help with their campaigns.

4 — Zeffy

Zeffy is very special because it is the only platform that is 100% free for nonprofits to use. This means they do not charge a monthly fee, and they do not even take a percentage of the credit card processing fees. They can do this because they rely entirely on optional tips from donors to pay for their own costs and services. This makes it an amazing choice for very small groups, local sports teams, or animal shelters where every single dollar is needed for the cause. Despite being free, it still offers a wide range of powerful tools that usually cost a lot of money on other sites. It is simple, honest, and very focused on helping the nonprofit community save as much money as possible.

• Key features:
  • Zero platform fees and zero transaction fees, so the nonprofit keeps 100% of the money donated.
  • Tools for selling tickets to events, including the ability to scan those tickets at the door using a phone.
  • Simple pages that let your volunteers or students raise money on your behalf in their own neighborhoods.
  • A membership system that lets people sign up to support you on a regular basis throughout the year.
  • Forms that can be customized with your own colors and pictures so they match your organization’s style.
  • Automated email receipts and thank-you messages are sent out to every person as soon as they make a gift.
  • Simple online “store” features that let you sell things like t-shirts or hats to raise extra money.
• Pros:
  • You keep every single penny that is donated to your cause, which is very rare in this industry.
  • It is designed to be very simple, so you don’t need to be a tech expert to set up your first campaign.
  • It removes the financial barrier for small groups who are worried about losing money to high fees.
• Cons:
  • It is missing some of the very advanced data tracking features that giant charities might want.
  • Because they only make money through tips, that request is very visible to your donors during the checkout.
• Security & compliance: Uses industry-standard encryption and follows all the rules for safe online payments.
• Support & community: Provides good email support and has a growing library of articles to help you learn.

5 — OneCause

OneCause is a powerful tool that focuses mostly on live events, silent auctions, and big charity galas. If you are planning a night where people will be bidding on items or participating in a live auction, this is often the best name to choose. It is built to handle the high-pressure environment of a live event where hundreds of people are all trying to bid at the same time. The platform makes the experience fun for the guests and much easier for the people running the event to manage. From the moment someone walks in the door to the final checkout, every step is designed to be as fast and professional as possible. It helps turn a stressful night into a smooth and successful fundraiser.

• Key features:
  • Mobile bidding that lets people bid on auction items using their own phones from anywhere in the room.
  • Digital check-in and registration tools that help prevent long lines when people arrive at your event.
  • “Text-to-give” features that let you ask for donations during a live speech and see results on a screen.
  • A system to keep track of all your auction items, who donated them, and who won them at the end.
  • Tools for running virtual events or live-streamed auctions for people who cannot be there in person.
  • Live scoreboards and “giving walls” that show the total amount raised in real time to get the crowd excited.
  • Very detailed reports that show exactly who bid on what and how much money each part of your event raised.
• Pros:
  • It turns what could be a very stressful and messy event into a smooth and professional experience.
  • The company is famous for providing incredible on-site support and training for your team.
  • It usually helps organizations raise much more money because bidding on a phone is so easy for guests.
• Cons:
  • It can be quite expensive, so it is usually only a good fit for groups raising a lot of money.
  • The system is very powerful and has many buttons, so it takes some time for your staff to learn it.
• Security & compliance: High-level security including PCI compliance and secure data storage for all your information.
• Support & community: Known for having excellent customer service and even dedicated managers to help with your event.

6 — Fundraise Up

Fundraise Up uses advanced computer math to help nonprofits get more money from every single person who visits their site. It looks at how a person is using the website and suggests a donation amount that is perfectly matched to that person’s history and behavior. This data-driven approach takes the guesswork out of asking for money and usually leads to much higher donation totals overall. It is designed to be “invisible” and very fast, so it feels like a natural part of your existing website. This is an excellent choice for organizations that have a lot of people visiting their site and want to make sure they are not missing any chances to grow. It focuses heavily on making the donor’s experience as modern and easy as possible.

• Key features:
  • Smart donation forms that automatically change based on the device the donor is using and how they act.
  • “One-click” giving that remembers a donor if they have ever used the system before on any other site.
  • Support for over a hundred different types of money and many languages for global organizations.
  • Built-in tools that ask donors to cover the costs of the transaction so the nonprofit gets the full gift.
  • Small, friendly “nudges” that encourage people to turn their one-time gift into a monthly donation.
  • The ability to connect the platform to many other popular nonprofit computer systems like Salesforce.
  • Real-time protection against credit card fraud to ensure that all the money you receive is legitimate.
• Pros:
  • Most organizations see an immediate jump in the total amount of money they raise after switching.
  • The donor experience is incredibly fast, modern, and works perfectly on every type of mobile phone.
  • It uses sophisticated data to find the “sweet spot” for donation asks, which increases your results.
• Cons:
  • It is a premium tool with a higher cost and is mostly designed for medium to large-sized charities.
  • You really need to have an existing website with a good amount of traffic to see the full benefits.
• Security & compliance: Top-tier security including SOC 2 and GDPR, following the highest safety standards.
• Support & community: Provides professional help with the initial setup and very detailed technical guides.

7 — Neon One

Neon One is what people call an “all-in-one” suite, which means it does much more than just take donations. It helps you manage your entire nonprofit organization, from your email lists to your volunteers and your big events. It combines many different tools into one unified system so that all your information stays organized in one place. This is a great choice for growing organizations that are tired of using five different websites to run their daily business. It is built to give you a complete picture of every person who supports you, helping you turn a one-time donor into a lifelong friend of your cause. It is a long-term solution for professional growth.

• Key features:
  • A complete database (CRM) that tracks every email, every gift, and every conversation with a donor.
  • Email marketing tools built right into the platform so you can send newsletters without leaving the site.
  • Volunteer management tools that help you see who is helping, track their hours, and assign them tasks.
  • Highly customizable forms for any kind of campaign, including memberships and simple donations.
  • Deep reports and dashboards that show you long-term trends and how well you are keeping donors.
  • Special “portals” where your donors can log in to see their history and print their own tax receipts.
  • Tools to help you track grants and foundation money so you never miss a deadline or a report.
• Pros:
  • Having all your data in one central location saves a massive amount of time and prevents data mistakes.
  • It is built to grow with you, meaning it can handle a small group today and a giant organization tomorrow.
  • The platform is very flexible, allowing you to build the exact system that your specific team needs.
• Cons:
  • Because the system does so many things, it takes a lot of time to set it up and learn how to use it all.
  • The price can be higher than simple donation buttons, which might be hard for very small groups.
• Security & compliance: Very strong focus on data privacy and follows all major international security rules.
• Support & community: Has a large network of users and expert consultants who can help you run the system.

8 — RallyUp

RallyUp is famous for being incredibly flexible and creative for any kind of fundraiser. It lets you mix and match many different ways to raise money, like combining a raffle with a walk-a-thon and a silent auction all on the same page. This platform is perfect for groups that want to try something different and engage their audience with games, competitions, or unique challenges. It is designed to make each campaign look and feel special to the people participating. It is a favorite for schools and community groups that run many different types of fundraisers throughout the year and want to keep their supporters excited and active.

• Key features:
  • Endless options for creative fundraisers like raffles, sweepstakes, and silent auctions for your group.
  • Special tools for “A-thon” events where people get pledges for walking, biking, or reading books.
  • The ability to let multiple different organizations fundraise together on one shared campaign page.
  • Beautiful pages that are built to look great and work perfectly on tablets and mobile phones.
  • Simple ways to sell branded items like t-shirts or event “add-ons” at the same time as donations.
  • Detailed leaderboards that show which teams or individuals are winning the fundraising competition.
  • Automated drawing tools for raffles that ensure the whole process is fair and follows all the rules.
• Pros:
  • It allows you to be very creative, which helps keep your donors excited about your mission.
  • The basic version is very affordable, which makes it a great choice for small community groups.
  • It handles all the technical complexity of running raffles and sweepstakes so you don’t have to.
• Cons:
  • The setup screens have a lot of options, which can feel a little bit overwhelming for a new user.
  • Managing many different types of campaigns at once requires a good amount of time from volunteers.
• Security & compliance: Fully PCI compliant and uses secure payment processing systems to handle the money.
• Support & community: Known for having very responsive chat support and many helpful guides to walk you through.

9 — BetterWorld

BetterWorld is built for the “modern fundraiser” who wants professional, high-quality tools without a high price tag or a complicated contract. It is simple, clean, and focuses on the most popular ways that people raise money for good causes today. The platform was created with a mission to make world-class tools available to every group, no matter how small their budget is. It is very fast to set up and provides a high-end experience for the people giving you money. It is a great alternative to big, expensive systems for those who want to keep things simple and focus on getting results quickly. It helps small teams look much larger and more professional than they might be.

• Key features:
  • Free and easy-to-use tools for running online auctions, giveaways, and ticketed community events.
  • Crowdfunding pages that look beautiful and are very easy for your supporters to share on social media.
  • A central dashboard that lets you see how all your different campaigns are performing in one view.
  • Quick “impact” pages that show exactly what a donor’s money will pay for, like a meal or a book.
  • Support for recurring monthly giving and a simple system for keeping your donor list organized.
  • A mobile-friendly checkout process that typically takes donors less than a minute to finish their gift.
  • Built-in tools for asking donors simple questions or gathering information while they give.
• Pros:
  • It is incredibly fast to go from signing up for an account to taking your first donation in minutes.
  • The pricing is very fair and easy to understand, which makes it simple for your group to plan a budget.
  • The design of the pages is very clean, which helps build immediate trust with people who don’t know you.
• Cons:
  • It does not have the deep database management tools that giant charities with millions of donors need.
  • Your options for changing the exact design of the donation pages are a bit more limited than others.
• Security & compliance: Uses encrypted data and full PCI compliance to make sure every transaction is safe.
• Support & community: Offers good email support and a very easy-to-read library of help articles.

10 — Bonterra

Bonterra is a major platform that brings together several famous tools into one massive and powerful system for big impact. It is designed specifically for large organizations that need to manage thousands of donors, hundreds of employees, and millions of dollars. This is an “enterprise-level” tool that covers everything from fundraising to advocacy and managing big government grants. It is built for the organization that needs the absolute best in data, security, and the ability to grow across many different regions. It is often the choice for well-known national charities that require deep integration across every part of their business. It is the most complete system for serious, large-scale work.

• Key features:
  • Enterprise-level donor management that can handle millions of records without ever slowing down.
  • Deep tools for managing complex corporate sponsorships, matching gifts, and foundation grant money.
  • Advanced marketing automation that sends the right message to the right donor at the perfect time.
  • High-level analytics and AI to help predict which of your donors are most likely to give more.
  • Specialized tools for advocacy, like getting people to sign petitions or contact their local officials.
  • Unified data that connects your fundraising, your marketing, and your daily operations in one system.
  • Sophisticated security settings that let you control exactly who can see sensitive information.
• Pros:
  • It is one of the most powerful and complete systems in the world for managing a large nonprofit.
  • It is perfect for groups with very complex needs, multiple teams, and operations in many countries.
  • The deep data insights it provides can help a major charity significantly increase its funding.
• Cons:
  • The cost is quite high and usually requires a long-term commitment and a big upfront investment.
  • It is much more complex than what a small or medium-sized nonprofit would ever need for their work.
• Security & compliance: Follows the highest possible security standards, including SOC 2 and complex audit logs.
• Support & community: Provides dedicated account managers and expert training sessions for your entire team.

Comparison Table

Evaluation & Scoring of Fundraising Platforms

When choosing a platform, it is helpful to look at how they score in the areas that matter most for your success. We have used a weighted system to show which tools are the most well-rounded for different types of users. This scoring helps you see that while one tool might be great at taking payments, another might be better at helping you manage a large team or a complex auction night.

Which Fundraising Platforms Tool Is Right for You?

Choosing the right tool is a big decision for your organization, but it becomes easier if you look at your specific situation and what you hope to achieve.

Solo Users and Small Groups

If you are just starting out or only have one or two people working on the project, focus on Ease of Use and Price. Tools like Zeffy or BetterWorld are fantastic because they don’t cost anything upfront and are very simple for a beginner to learn. You want to spend your time talking to your community, not fighting with a computer system. These tools are perfect for those who want to launch a simple campaign today and start seeing results tomorrow without a long learning curve.

Small to Medium Nonprofits (SMB)

For groups that are growing and have a small staff, you need a balance of Feature Depth and Automation. Donorbox and Givebutter are great choices here. They offer more professional features but still keep things simple enough that a small team can manage them without needing a full-time technology expert. These platforms help you look professional while saving your staff time through features like automated receipts and easy donor management.

Large Organizations and Enterprises

If you are raising millions of dollars and have many different departments, you need Security, Compliance, and Data Integration. Systems like Bonterra, Neon One, or GoFundMe Pro are built specifically for this. They allow you to connect your fundraising directly to your accounting and marketing departments, ensuring that everything is tracked perfectly and legally across the entire organization. These are for teams that need deep reporting and the ability to manage thousands of donors across different programs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are these platforms safe for my donors’ credit cards?

Yes, all the major tools mentioned use high-level encryption and follow strict payment rules called PCI compliance. This means your donors’ financial data is handled by experts who know how to keep it safe from hackers and unauthorized access at all times.

2. How long does it take to get the money in my bank account?

Most platforms send the money to your bank within two to seven business days. This depends on which payment processor you use (like Stripe or PayPal) and the specific rules of the fundraising site you have chosen for your campaign.

3. Do I need to be a tech expert to use these tools?

No, most of these tools are designed for regular people who may not have computer skills. If you can use a basic website or send an email, you can usually set up a donation page in about fifteen to thirty minutes.

4. Can I take donations from people in other countries?

Many platforms, such as Fundraise Up and GoFundMe Pro, are built to handle multiple currencies. They automatically show the right language and the right type of money to the person looking at your page, no matter where they are in the world.

5. What are the typical fees I should expect to pay?

Most platforms charge a small percentage (usually around 2% to 5%) plus a flat fee for every donation. Some sites like Zeffy are free but ask donors for a small tip instead of charging the organization a fee.

6. Can I use these tools for physical events?

Yes! Tools like OneCause and Givebutter are specifically built to help with in-person events like dinners or auctions. They provide check-in tools and let people bid on items right from their phones while they are at the event in person.

7. Do these platforms send out tax receipts automatically?

Almost all of them do. As soon as someone gives money, they receive an email with a receipt that they can use for their tax records. This saves your team a lot of manual work and ensures every donor is thanked right away.

8. Is it possible to have people give every month?

Yes, recurring giving is a core feature of most modern platforms. You just check a box when setting up your form, and your donors will see an option to make their gift repeat every month automatically to support you.

9. Can I put a donation button on my existing website?

Absolutely. Most platforms give you a small piece of computer code that you can copy and paste onto your site. This allows people to give without ever having to leave your organization’s main page or website.

10. What happens if I have a problem during a big campaign?

The best platforms offer live chat or emergency phone support to help you quickly. It is always a good idea to check what kind of support is included in your plan before your big event or your main campaign starts.

Conclusion

Finding the right way to raise money is one of the most important things a modern organization can do to ensure its mission succeeds. While there are many options available, the best one is always the one that fits your specific team, your budget, and your unique goals. Whether you need a simple button for your website, a complex auction system for a big night, or a data-driven tool to maximize your growth, the platforms we have discussed offer something for everyone. You should take the time to think about your technical skills and how your donors prefer to give before making a final choice. A little research now will save you a lot of time and money in the future.

Remember that these tools are more than just computer programs; they are partners in your mission. They handle the complex parts of technology so that you can focus on the heart of your work and the people you serve every day. As you look through these names, think about what will make the giving process easiest and most pleasant for your supporters. When a donor finds it easy and enjoyable to give, they are much more likely to come back and support you again. A smooth process shows your donors that you value their time and their contribution to your cause.

By choosing a system that matches your needs today while leaving room for you to grow tomorrow, you are setting your organization up for long-term success and a greater impact on the world. Don’t be afraid to try out a few demos or sign up for free trials to see which system feels most natural to your team. Every organization is different, and the “perfect” tool is the one that your team actually enjoys using. With the right technology in your hands, there is no limit to the good you can achieve for your community and your mission. Taking this step toward digital fundraising is a powerful way to ensure your cause survives and thrives for years to come.