8 GoFundMe alternatives: What you should know first

That’s where we come in.

We get it—fundraising is hard work. Between running campaigns, keeping donors engaged, and managing social media, it can feel like a full-time job. And honestly? It kind of is. But that’s exactly why we built Harness. Unlike other platforms, we don’t just give you a donation page and send you on your way. We handle the heavy lifting—from website management to automated donor outreach—so you can focus on what really matters: your mission.

In this guide, we’ll break down the best alternatives to GoFundMe, what to look for in a fundraising platform, and why Harness is the only all-in-one solution that actually helps you raise more—without adding to your workload.

Why look for a GoFundMe alternative?

GoFundMe is one of the biggest names in crowdfunding, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for every fundraiser. If you’ve ever used it, you’ve probably run into some of these common frustrations:

• Fees take a chunk out of your donations. Every time someone donates, GoFundMe takes a cut. Between platform fees, transaction fees, and processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 per donation), you’re losing money that could be going to your cause.
• You’re on your own when it comes to marketing. GoFundMe gives you a campaign page, but after that? It’s up to you to spread the word. If you’re not a marketing pro, it can be tough to reach enough donors.
• Customer support is hit or miss. Ever had an issue with your campaign? Many fundraisers struggle to get timely support when they need it most.
• Limited tools to keep donors engaged. GoFundMe is great for one-time donations, but if you want to build lasting relationships with your supporters, you’ll need more than a basic donation page.

Top GoFundMe alternatives and how they compare

There are plenty of crowdfunding platforms out there, but not all of them offer the same features, fees, or support. If you’re looking for a GoFundMe alternative, you need to think beyond just collecting donations. 

1. Harness: the all-in-one fundraising and marketing solution

Most fundraising platforms give you a campaign page and leave the rest to you. Harness is different. Instead of just providing a place to collect donations, we help you manage your entire fundraising strategy—from your website to your marketing to your donor outreach.

What makes Harness different?

• We handle your fundraising website. No need to build or manage a separate donation page. Harness creates, supports, and manages a fully branded fundraising site for you. 
• Built-in marketing tools. Fundraising is more than just asking for money. Harness provides automated donor messaging, email templates, social media tools, and impact storytelling features so you can keep your supporters engaged without extra effort​.
• Smart donor engagement. Harness tracks donor behavior and helps you send the right messages at the right time. Whether it’s a thank-you text, a reminder to give again, or an update on how their donation made an impact, Harness keeps your supporters engaged automatically​.
• Recurring donations made easy. One-time donations are great, but Harness helps you turn donors into long-term supporters. Our SmartAsk™ technology encourages donors to give smaller, recurring gifts instead of a one-time donation—leading to more stable, long-term funding for your cause​.
• Real-time fundraising insights. Instead of guessing what’s working, Harness provides detailed analytics and donor behavior tracking so you can make data-driven decisions to improve your fundraising results​.
• No hidden fees that eat into your donations. Unlike GoFundMe, which charges platform fees, processing fees, and transaction fees, Harness is designed to maximize your revenue.

2. Givebutter: great for peer-to-peer fundraising

Givebutter is a popular GoFundMe alternative that focuses on peer-to-peer fundraising, virtual events, and donor engagement. It’s a solid choice for organizations that want a mix of crowdfunding, ticketed events, and team-based fundraising.

What Givebutter does well

• Strong peer-to-peer fundraising tools. Givebutter makes it easy for supporters to set up their own fundraising pages and bring in donations on your behalf. This can help you expand your reach beyond your immediate network.
• Virtual events and live streaming. If you’re hosting a fundraising event, Givebutter lets you integrate live video, sell tickets, and accept donations in real time.
• Multiple donation options. Donors can give via credit card, Venmo, PayPal, and even Apple Pay, making it easy for supporters to contribute.
• No platform fees (but there’s a catch). Givebutter doesn’t charge a required platform fee, but it operates on a tipping model, which means donors are asked to leave a tip to support the platform.

Where Givebutter falls short

• The tipping model can be tricky. While Givebutter doesn’t charge a mandatory fee, donors are encouraged to tip the platform. If they choose not to, you might have to cover processing costs yourself.
• No built-in website management. Unlike Harness, Givebutter does not offer a fully managed fundraising website. You’ll need to create your own pages and manage them yourself.
• Limited automation and donor retention tools. Givebutter provides basic email tools, but it lacks the AI-powered donor engagement, automated messaging, and long-term fundraising strategy support that Harness offers.

3. Zeffy: the only 100% free crowdfunding site

Zeffy is one of the few GoFundMe alternatives that is completely free to use. Unlike other platforms that charge transaction fees or platform fees, Zeffy covers credit card processing costs so that every dollar donated goes directly to your cause.

What Zeffy does well

• Truly fee-free fundraising. Zeffy is the only platform that covers all payment processing fees, meaning you get 100% of every donation. Instead of charging fees, Zeffy asks donors to leave an optional tip.
• Basic fundraising tools included. You get access to ticketing, membership management, and donation forms, making it a good choice for small nonprofits.
• Simple setup. If you need to launch a fundraiser quickly, Zeffy offers straightforward campaign pages that are easy to customize.

Where Zeffy falls short

• Limited marketing and donor engagement tools. Unlike Harness, Zeffy does not include automated donor messaging, engagement tools, or branded marketing collateral. You’ll need to handle donor outreach on your own.
• No website management. Zeffy provides donation pages, but you still have to maintain your own website. If you need a fully managed fundraising site, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
• Less customization. Zeffy’s fundraising pages are basic and template-driven, which means you have fewer branding options compared to other platforms.

4. Donorbox: a solid fundraising hub for nonprofits

Donorbox is a well-known fundraising platform designed for nonprofits, churches, and membership-based organizations. It specializes in recurring donations and integrates with various CRM tools, making it a good option for organizations looking to manage donor relationships.

What Donorbox does well

• Recurring donation options. Donorbox is built to encourage monthly giving, helping nonprofits secure long-term funding.
• Integration with CRM and other tools. It connects with Salesforce, Mailchimp, Zapier, and QuickBooks, making donor management easier.
• Custom donation forms. You can embed branded donation pages directly into your website, so donors don’t have to visit a separate crowdfunding site.
• Flexible payment options. Donorbox supports credit cards, ACH bank transfers, Apple Pay, PayPal, and Google Pay, making donations easy for supporters.

Where Donorbox falls short

• No built-in website management. While Donorbox offers donation forms, you still need to maintain and host your own website. Harness, on the other hand, provides a fully managed fundraising site so you don’t have to handle the tech side.
• Marketing and donor engagement are limited. Donorbox has some email tools, but it doesn’t include donor engagement, automated messaging, or built-in social media marketing tools like Harness does.
• Fees can add up. While Donorbox’s base platform is free, its premium features (like text-to-give, crowdfunding, and donor management) require a paid plan. Transaction fees also apply, so it’s not truly free.

6. Fundly: simple crowdfunding for personal fundraisers

Fundly is a basic crowdfunding site designed for individuals, small causes, and nonprofits looking for a quick way to raise money. It’s easy to set up, and you don’t need any technical skills to launch a campaign.

What Fundly does well

• Simple, user-friendly campaign setup.
• No required fundraising goal or deadlines.

Where Fundly falls short

• Lacks marketing tools and donor engagement features.
• No website hosting or management. You’ll need to handle your own website if you want long-term fundraising support.
• Transaction fees apply, so you won’t receive 100% of your donations.

7. Bonfire: fundraising through custom merchandise

Bonfire is a great option if you want to raise money by selling custom T-shirts, hoodies, and other branded products. It handles everything from printing to shipping, so you don’t have to worry about inventory.

What Bonfire does well

• No upfront costs—Bonfire only takes a percentage of sales.
• High-quality merchandise with design tools included.

Where Bonfire falls short

• No donor management, marketing tools, or engagement features.
• Not a full fundraising platform. You’ll still need another tool for collecting direct donations.

8. Classy: powerful tools for large nonprofits

Classy is a high-end fundraising platform designed for large nonprofits that need robust peer-to-peer fundraising, event management, and recurring donation tools.

What Classy does well

• Advanced analytics and CRM integrations.
• Strong peer-to-peer and event fundraising features.

Where Classy falls short

• High fees and pricing tiers make it expensive for smaller organizations.
• No hands-on marketing support—you’ll still need to manage donor outreach on your own.

Key features to look for in a fundraising platform

Not all crowdfunding platforms are created equal. While some focus only on processing donations, others provide tools to help you engage donors, grow your community, and raise more money over time.

If you’re choosing a GoFundMe alternative, here are the most important features to look for:

1. Low or no platform fees

Some platforms charge platform fees, credit card processing fees, and transaction fees, which can take a big cut from your donations. Look for a platform that offers transparent pricing and doesn’t eat into your funds.

2. Customizable fundraising pages

Your campaign page should reflect your brand and mission. Some platforms limit how much you can customize, while others give you a fully managed fundraising site so you don’t have to build one yourself.

3. Marketing and donor engagement tools

A donation page alone isn’t enough. Fundraising success depends on how well you engage donors before, during, and after they give. Look for:

• Automated donor emails and text messages.
• Social media integration to easily share campaigns.
• Pre-designed marketing materials like email templates and graphics.

4. Recurring donation options

One-time donations are great, but sustainable funding comes from repeat donors. Choose a platform that makes it easy to set up monthly giving programs and encourages donors to give regularly.

5. Secure and flexible payment processing

Supporters want to give in ways that are quick, easy, and secure. The best fundraising platforms offer multiple payment methods, including:

• Credit/debit cards
• PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay
• ACH bank transfers

6. Strong customer support

If something goes wrong with your campaign, you need fast and reliable support. Some platforms offer live chat and phone support, while others rely only on email.

Why Harness is the best choice

There are plenty of GoFundMe alternatives, but most of them only handle part of the fundraising process. Some focus on peer-to-peer giving, others on merchandise sales, and a few specialize in recurring donations. But at the end of the day, they all leave the hard work—marketing, donor engagement, and website management—up to you.

Instead of just giving you a campaign page, we give you a full-service fundraising platform that helps you raise more while doing less.

With Harness, you get more than a donation platform—you get a partner that helps you grow, engage, and sustain your donor base.

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