How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Every fundraising platform says it is free; the real cost is the platform fee plus processing, so compare fee structures, not headlines.
- Givebutter, Zeffy, Donately and Fundraise Up all start at $0 with different fee models; pick the one whose math works for your donation volume.
- Donorbox's free Standard plan (2.95% to 3.95% fees) is the most proven free option, used by 100,000 nonprofits.
- GoFundMe Pro, Bloomerang and Neon One are the paid choices for larger organizations that need CRM, peer-to-peer and enterprise reporting.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Givebutter | small nonprofits wanting free all-in-one fundraising | Free (tips enabled) | Yes |
 Donorbox | donation forms with a proven free tier | Free (2.95% to 3.95% fees) | Yes |
 Zeffy | nonprofits that want zero fees of any kind | Free ($0) | Yes |
 GoFundMe Pro | enterprise peer-to-peer and crowdfunding | See website | No |
 Bloomerang | donor retention with fundraising built in | $40/mo (billed annually) | No |
 Fundraise Up | maximizing donation form conversion | Free ($0 upfront) | Yes |
 Neon One | all-in-one CRM plus fundraising | See website | No |
 Bonterra | large organizations needing guided fundraising | See website | No |
 Donately | simple all-features-included pricing | Free (4% platform fee) | Yes |
 Funraise | free fundraising with flat-rate premium option | Free | Yes |
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We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Starting priceFree (tips enabled)
Free planYes
Givebutter is the nonprofit platform that made "free" a business model. Instead of charging subscriptions, it runs on optional donor tips: with tips enabled, nonprofits pay 0% in platform fees, and donors are given the chance to cover processing fees. The Givebutter Guarantee means that even when donors do not cover processing, Givebutter absorbs the cost, so the nonprofit still receives the full donation.
The product itself is broad. Donation forms with a claimed 47% conversion rate, fundraising pages, events and ticketing, auctions, a free donor CRM with unlimited contacts, email and texting tools, plus a mobile app and over 1,000 integrations. Support is 24/7 by live chat and email for all users, not just paying ones.
The honest catch is the tip dependency. Turn tips off and a flat 3% platform fee applies across all campaign types, plus standard processing (2.9% + 30 cents for cards). Some donors dislike being asked to tip a platform. And the advanced automation, workflows and priority support sit in Givebutter Plus, from $29 to $129 per month. For small nonprofits that want the best fundraising software experience without a budget line for it, Givebutter is the default recommendation.
What we like- Completely free with tips enabled (0% platform fees)
- Donation forms, events, auctions and CRM in one
- 24/7 support even on the free plan
Watch out for- Disable tips and a flat 3% platform fee applies
- Advanced features require Givebutter Plus ($29 to $129/mo)
Starting priceFree (2.95% to 3.95% fees)
Free planYes
Donorbox powers fundraising for 100,000 nonprofits, and its free Standard plan is why. The free tier includes unlimited donation forms, donation pages, crowdfunding campaigns, peer-to-peer fundraising and event ticketing, with fees of 2.95% to 3.95% per transaction. There are no setup or cancellation fees, and donors can be asked to cover the fees at checkout, which most do.
The platform has grown well beyond forms. Donorbox CRM offers AI-driven donor management, there is a Live Kiosk app for in-person giving, text-to-give, memberships, and crypto and stock donations on the Pro plan. The company reports 200,000 nonprofits worldwide have raised $4 billion through the platform.
The free tier's fees are the trade-off: 2.95% to 3.95% is higher than Zeffy's zero or Givebutter's tip-funded zero. The Pro plan at $150 per month cuts fees to 1.75% to 2% and adds advanced customization, analytics and API access. Donorbox is the best fundraising software pick for organizations that want a proven, battle-tested free plan from a vendor with massive scale.
What we like- Free Standard plan with unlimited forms and pages
- 100,000 nonprofits and $4B raised on the platform
- Donors can cover fees at checkout
Watch out for- Standard fees of 2.95% to 3.95% are higher than some rivals
- Pro plan is $150/mo
#3
Zeffy
Best for: nonprofits that want zero fees of any kind
Visit zeffy.com
Starting priceFree ($0)
Free planYes
Zeffy is the only platform on this list that charges nonprofits literally nothing. No platform fee, no transaction fee, and card processing is covered rather than passed to the nonprofit. Donors see an optional contribution at checkout, which they can change or decline, and that funds the company.
The feature set is wide for a free product: branded donation forms with one-time and recurring giving and automatic tax receipts, event ticketing, raffles, memberships, auctions, peer-to-peer campaigns, an online store and a tap-to-pay mobile app. Funds arrive in weekly payouts.
The caveat is the donor experience. The optional contribution defaults to 15% to 17%, which some donors find steep even though they can reduce it. And Zeffy is built for North American nonprofits. If your board will accept donor tipping, Zeffy is the cheapest way to fundraise online, full stop.
What we like- Genuinely 100% free for nonprofits, no platform or processing fees
- Donations, ticketing, raffles, auctions and P2P in one
- Weekly payouts
Watch out for- Donor tipping at checkout can be high (15% to 17% default, adjustable)
- North America focus
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
GoFundMe Pro, formerly Classy, is the enterprise end of this market. Acquired by GoFundMe in 2022 and rebranded in 2025 when the Classy name was retired, it is the nonprofit platform built on the consumer fundraising brand every donor already knows.
The product focuses on peer-to-peer fundraising, crowdfunding campaigns, events and supporter management, with marketing automation and advanced reporting. Social amplification tools are built for campaigns designed to spread, and the platform handles the team pages, milestone challenges and performance tracking that large annual drives need.
Pricing is an annual contract quoted by sales, estimated around $300 per month plus a per-donation fee. That puts it out of reach for small organizations, and it should be. GoFundMe Pro is for mid-size and large nonprofits running serious peer-to-peer programs where the brand credibility and infrastructure justify the contract. Everyone else should start with the free options above.
What we like- The GoFundMe brand donors already trust
- Mature peer-to-peer and crowdfunding infrastructure
- Strong social fundraising tools
Watch out for- Quote-only pricing aimed at large organizations
- Overkill and overpriced for small nonprofits
Starting price$40/mo (billed annually)
Free planNo
Bloomerang comes at fundraising from the donor retention angle. Its pitch is that keeping donors matters more than acquiring them, and the platform pairs fundraising tools with a CRM built around retention analytics, predictive giving insights and automated supporter journeys.
Pricing is refreshingly public. Bloomerang Fundraising starts at $40 per month billed annually, with donation forms, event management, text fundraising, auctions and peer-to-peer tools. The catch is the fine print: the Fundraising module must be purchased as part of a bundle with Bloomerang CRM (from $125 per month), and the full Giving Platform starts at $242 per month billed annually. Unlimited users are included, and pricing is based on constituents rather than seats.
For small-to-mid nonprofits that have outgrown free tools and want a real donor database with retention intelligence, Bloomerang is one of the best fundraising software upgrades. Just budget for the bundle, not the headline module price.
What we like- Fundraising plus CRM plus volunteer management on one platform
- Predictive donor insights
- Transparent published pricing
Watch out for- The $40/mo Fundraising module requires the CRM bundle
- Full platform starts at $242/mo billed annually
Starting priceFree ($0 upfront)
Free planYes
Fundraise Up is obsessed with one metric: the conversion rate of your donation form. The platform uses AI-driven checkout optimization, backed by more than 70 A/B tests a year, and claims 3x higher donation conversion than the industry benchmark, with about 30% larger average gifts and 80% recurring donor retention after one year.
The pricing model matches the pitch. There is $0 upfront, no setup fees, no fixed subscription and no long-term contract; instead Fundraise Up earns a small share of donations processed. Donors are asked to cover the fees, and most do, bringing the effective Fundraise Up cost to around 1% on average (plus standard processing). Trusted customers include UNICEF USA and the American Heart Association.
The model is honest but worth understanding: your costs rise exactly when your fundraising succeeds. For organizations that would rather pay for performance than pay a subscription regardless of results, Fundraise Up is the best fundraising software choice. If your finance team needs a fixed annual number, the percentage model will frustrate them.
What we like- $0 upfront with performance-based pricing
- AI-optimized checkout with 70-plus annual A/B tests
- ~1% effective cost after donor fee coverage
Watch out for- Performance fee means costs scale with volume
- No fixed subscription option for predictable budgeting
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Neon One is the all-in-one relationship platform for nonprofits that want CRM, fundraising and communications under one roof. Neon CRM includes donor management, campaigns and forms, peer-to-peer, recurring gifts, email marketing, text messaging and a donor portal, with websites and ticketing as add-ons.
The pricing philosophy is notable: Neon charges based on revenue instead of records, so growing your contact database does not raise your bill. Neon Fundraise, the peer-to-peer module, starts at $158 per month, and websites start at $69 per month, but the core CRM price is quote-based.
Neon One suits membership organizations and mid-size nonprofits that want one vendor for donor management, fundraising and communications, and that value the revenue-based model. Smaller organizations will find the free platforms above more economical.
What we like- CRM, fundraising, email, texting and websites on one platform
- Pricing based on revenue, not record count
- No hidden record caps
Watch out for- CRM pricing is revenue-based and not published
- Peer-to-peer module (Neon Fundraise) starts at $158/mo
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Bonterra is the giant in this list, formed from the merger of several major nonprofit software companies. Its Guided Fundraising product (the former Network for Good) targets smaller organizations and new executive directors who want hand-holding: built-in coaching, campaign templates and step-by-step guidance alongside the fundraising tools.
The broader Bonterra portfolio covers donor engagement, development, grants management and corporate social responsibility, which makes it a candidate for large organizations that want one vendor across the full mission lifecycle. OneCause, its event and auction platform, is a leader for galas.
The trade-offs are scale-related. Pricing is quote-based and enterprise-oriented, and the merged product suite can be complex to navigate. Bonterra fits organizations with the budget and the need for a full-suite vendor. Small nonprofits should start with the free and low-cost options instead.
What we like- One of the largest nonprofit software portfolios
- Guided fundraising with coaching
- Covers the full donor lifecycle
Watch out for- Pricing is quote-based and enterprise-oriented
- The product suite is complex after multiple mergers
Starting priceFree (4% platform fee)
Free planYes
Donately keeps its pitch simple: every plan includes every feature. There is no feature gating, so the free plan gets the same customizable donation forms, peer-to-peer campaigns, integrations, analytics and live support as the paid plans. You pick a pricing structure based on the platform fee: 4% pay-as-you-go with no commitment, 2% on the $99 per month plan, or 0% by prepaying $5,000 for up to $1 million raised.
The product covers the essentials well: multi-step donation forms, one-time and recurring giving, PayPal, Stripe and digital wallets, campaign pages with progress meters and leaderboards, and native integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, Mailchimp and 5,000 more via Zapier. Support is in-house, by email, video and live chat, with no bots.
The 4% free-plan fee is the highest base rate on this list, though donors can be asked to cover it. Donately suits small teams that value simplicity: one platform, all features, pick your fee. The $99 per month plan at 2% is the sensible upgrade once volume justifies it.
What we like- Every plan includes every feature, no paywalls
- Free to start with 4% platform fee
- Donors can cover fees at checkout
Watch out for- 4% platform fee on the free plan is higher than rivals
- $99/mo to drop to 2%
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Funraise combines a free donation platform with a flat-rate Premium tier. The free tier covers the essentials for getting started, while Premium is a flat monthly rate rather than priced per contact, which appeals to organizations with large donor lists that would be punished by record-based pricing.
The platform covers branded fundraising websites and donation pages, recurring donations, peer-to-peer campaigns, events and donor management with custom reports and dashboards. The company emphasizes donor experience and conversion, with features like company matching and automated emails.
Premium pricing is handled through sales, so you cannot price it without a conversation. Funraise fits small-to-mid nonprofits that want a free start and a predictable flat-rate upgrade path. It does not have the integration ecosystem of Givebutter or the scale of Donorbox, but the pricing model is one of the fairest in the category.
What we like- Free tier for getting started
- Flat-rate Premium instead of contact-based pricing
- Strong peer-to-peer and event tools
Watch out for- Premium pricing requires a sales conversation
- Smaller ecosystem than Givebutter or Donately
How we chose
We researched vendor pricing pages, product documentation and nonprofit software comparisons in October 2026. Every price above comes from the vendor's own site; where vendors do not publish pricing we say so. We prioritized platforms that serve nonprofits specifically rather than general payment tools, and we covered the full range from genuinely free options to enterprise contracts, because a volunteer-run charity and a national nonprofit have nothing in common except the mission. Fee structures are the heart of this category, so we read the pricing fine print on every vendor rather than trusting the "free" headlines.
The headline is never the price. A fundraising platform costs you the platform fee plus the payment processing fee, minus whatever donors cover. Compare the total. Givebutter with tips enabled costs you nothing and asks donors for tips. Zeffy costs everyone nothing and asks donors for a contribution. Donorbox's free plan costs 2.95% to 3.95% of each donation. Donately's free plan costs 4%. Fundraise Up costs about 1% after donor coverage. Run your own average donation through each model before deciding.
Watch for the tipping question. Free platforms are funded by asking your donors for extra money at checkout. That is a real cost, just one your donors pay instead of you. Some donors do not mind; some find it off-putting, and high default tip percentages can erode trust. Decide your organization's position on this before you shortlist, because it eliminates half the list.
Finally, separate the platform from the CRM. Some vendors sell fundraising tools and donor databases as one bundle (Bloomerang, Neon One); others sell fundraising alone and integrate with your CRM (Donorbox, Fundraise Up, Donately). If you already have a CRM you like, do not pay for another one. If you do not, a bundle can be cheaper than two vendors.
The mistakes that cost nonprofits real money
The first mistake is choosing on fees alone and ignoring conversion. A platform that costs 1% more but converts 20% more donors is cheaper in the only sense that matters: net revenue. This is Fundraise Up's entire argument, and the math deserves a hearing. Ask vendors for conversion data, not just fee schedules.
The second mistake is underestimating migration. Moving recurring donors between platforms is the riskiest part of any switch. Some vendors offer guided migration; some charge for it (Donorbox charges a $195 flat fee for recurring donor migration on some plans). Plan the migration before you sign, and ask who does the work.
The third mistake is buying enterprise software for a small-shop problem. A $300-per-month contract with an annual commitment is a heavy anchor for an organization raising $50,000 a year online. Start with a free platform, prove the channel, and upgrade when the fees you are paying exceed the cost of a subscription. The free tools on this list are genuinely good; "we'll grow into it" is how nonprofits end up paying for software they do not use.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best fundraising software for small nonprofits?
For small nonprofits, Givebutter, Zeffy and Donorbox offer the strongest free options. Givebutter provides the broadest free feature set (forms, events, auctions, CRM) funded by donor tips. Zeffy is completely free with no fees to the nonprofit. Donorbox's free Standard plan is the most proven at scale, with 100,000 nonprofits using it. Pick based on your comfort with donor tipping and your fee tolerance.
How much does fundraising software cost?
It ranges from $0 to several hundred dollars per month. Free platforms (Givebutter, Zeffy, Donorbox Standard, Donately, Fundraise Up, Funraise) charge platform fees of 0% to 4% per donation instead of subscriptions. Paid platforms start around $40 per month for Bloomerang Fundraising (bundled with CRM) and $99 per month for Donately's lower-fee plan, up to quote-based enterprise contracts for GoFundMe Pro and Bonterra. Payment processing fees (typically 2.2% to 2.9% plus 30 cents) apply on top unless donors cover them.
What is the difference between a fundraising platform and a donor CRM?
A fundraising platform collects money: donation forms, campaign pages, peer-to-peer, events and ticketing. A donor CRM stores and manages donor relationships: contact records, giving history, segmentation and communications. Some products do both (Bloomerang, Neon One, Givebutter); others focus on fundraising and integrate with a separate CRM (Fundraise Up, Donately, Donorbox). If you already have a CRM, choose a fundraising platform that integrates with it.
Do donors mind tipping on free fundraising platforms?
It varies. Most donors accept a small optional tip when asked, and platforms report that the majority cover fees when given the option. But high default tip percentages (Zeffy's 15% to 17% default) can surprise donors, and some organizations prefer to pay platform fees themselves rather than ask donors for extra. Every platform on this list lets donors adjust or decline tips, and several let you absorb the fees instead.
How do I switch fundraising platforms without losing recurring donors?
Plan the migration before you sign a new contract. Ask the new vendor whether they migrate recurring donors, who does the work, and what it costs; some include it, some charge. Export your donor data from the old platform first, keep the old account active until the first billing cycle completes on the new one, and email recurring donors about the change. A botched migration is the most expensive part of switching, so treat it as the central project, not an afterthought.
Sources we checked (10)
- https://givebutter.com/pricing
- https://donorbox.org/pricing
- https://www.zeffy.com/pricing
- https://pro.gofundme.com/
- https://bloomerang.com/pricing
- https://fundraiseup.com/pricing
- https://neonone.com/pricing/
- https://www.bonterra.com/
- https://donately.com/pricing
- https://www.funraise.org/pricing
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.