Givebutter
Givebutter is an all-in-one fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise money, manage donor data, and engage supporters through modern tools like Venmo, digital wallets, and peer-to-peer campaigns.
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is a global crowdfunding platform that helps you bring creative projects to life by connecting you with a community of backers who fund your ideas in exchange for rewards.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Givebutter | Kickstarter |
|---|---|---|
| Website | givebutter.com | kickstarter.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✘ No product demo |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2016 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Austin, USA | Brooklyn, USA |
Overview
Givebutter
Givebutter is an all-in-one fundraising solution designed to help you raise more money with less effort. Instead of juggling multiple disconnected tools, you can manage your entire donor lifecycle—from initial outreach and ticket sales to secure payment processing and long-term donor retention—within a single, unified dashboard.
You can launch custom donation forms, peer-to-peer campaigns, and automated auction events in minutes. The platform is built for nonprofits of all sizes, offering modern payment options like Venmo and Apple Pay to meet donors where they are. It solves the problem of high software costs by offering a unique tip-based model, ensuring more of your hard-earned funds go directly toward your mission.
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is a specialized crowdfunding platform designed to help you fund creative projects through community support. Whether you are an independent filmmaker, a board game designer, or a tech innovator, you can launch a campaign to raise the capital needed for production. The platform operates on an all-or-nothing model, meaning you only receive funds if you reach your initial financial goal, which protects you from the risk of being underfunded for a large-scale project.
You can manage your entire campaign lifecycle from a single dashboard, from drafting your project story to communicating with your backers. The platform provides tools to offer tiered rewards, track funding progress in real-time, and manage post-campaign fulfillment. It is ideal for creators who want to validate a product idea and build a dedicated community before a full commercial launch.
Overview
Givebutter Features
- Modern Payment Options Boost your conversion rates by letting donors give via Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay instantly.
- Peer-to-Peer Campaigns Empower your supporters to create their own fundraising pages and spread your mission across their social networks.
- Built-in CRM Track every donor interaction and manage your contact database with automated profiles that update in real-time.
- Event & Ticket Management Sell tickets, manage guest lists, and check in attendees at the door using a built-in mobile scanning app.
- Auction Platform Run silent auctions with mobile bidding, automated outbid notifications, and instant checkout for winning participants.
- Marketing Automation Send personalized emails and text messages to your segments to keep your community engaged and informed.
Kickstarter Features
- Project Editor. Build your campaign page with images, videos, and text to tell your story and showcase your creative vision.
- Tiered Rewards. Create multiple support levels with unique incentives to encourage backers to contribute different amounts to your project.
- Backer Management. Communicate directly with your supporters through project updates and private messages to keep them engaged during development.
- Funding Dashboard. Monitor your funding progress and backer demographics in real-time with built-in analytics and tracking tools.
- Add-on Rewards. Offer extra items to your backers during the checkout process to increase your total funding and provide more value.
- Promotion Tools. Generate custom referral links and use social sharing features to track where your backers are coming from.
Pricing Comparison
Givebutter Pricing
- Unlimited users and admins
- All fundraising features included
- Full CRM access
- Email and SMS marketing tools
- Donors cover platform fees via tips
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Remove tip prompts from checkout
- 1% fee for donation forms
- 3% fee for events and tickets
- 5% fee for auctions
Kickstarter Pricing
- No upfront costs
- Access to all creator tools
- Project page hosting
- Community support access
- Mobile app management
- 5% Kickstarter platform fee
- 3% + $0.20 payment processing
- Funds transferred after 14 days
- Backer report exports
- Post-campaign update tools
Pros & Cons
Givebutter
Pros
- Extremely fast setup process for new campaigns
- Modern checkout experience supports Venmo and digital wallets
- Consolidates CRM, marketing, and fundraising in one place
- Zero platform fees when using the tipping model
Cons
- Tipping prompts can sometimes confuse older donors
- Limited customization for advanced website embedding
- Reporting tools lack some deep enterprise-level analytics
Kickstarter
Pros
- Massive built-in audience of active backers
- All-or-nothing model reduces financial risk
- High brand trust increases backer confidence
- Simple and intuitive campaign setup process
Cons
- No funds received if goal isn't met
- Platform fees can impact tight margins
- Limited customization for project page layouts