Handbid
Handbid is a mobile fundraising platform that helps you manage silent auctions, peer-to-peer campaigns, and live events through an integrated mobile app to increase donor engagement and revenue.
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 | Handbid | Kickstarter |
|---|---|---|
| Website | handbid.com | kickstarter.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No 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 | 2011 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Centennial, USA | Brooklyn, USA |
Overview
Handbid
Handbid is a mobile-first fundraising platform designed to help you run more efficient and engaging charity events. Instead of dealing with paper bid sheets or clunky web forms, you provide your donors with a native mobile app where they can bid on auction items, buy tickets, and make donations instantly from their own devices. This real-time interaction keeps your audience engaged through push notifications that alert them when they have been outbid.
You can manage every aspect of your fundraiser from a single dashboard, including guest check-in, item management, and automated checkout. The platform is built to handle everything from small local school auctions to large-scale gala events and multi-day peer-to-peer campaigns. By removing the friction from the bidding process, you can focus on building relationships with your supporters while the software handles the technical logistics of your event.
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
Handbid Features
- Mobile Bidding App Give your donors a native iOS and Android app to browse items and place bids from anywhere in the room.
- Instant Push Notifications Alert your guests the second they are outbid so they can jump back into the action and drive higher totals.
- Livestream Integration Broadcast your live program directly to remote donors so they can participate in your auction from their own homes.
- Automated Checkout Eliminate long lines at the end of the night by allowing guests to pay their invoices directly through the app.
- Peer-to-Peer Campaigns Empower your supporters to create their own fundraising pages and raise money on your behalf through social sharing.
- Real-Time Analytics Monitor your fundraising progress with live dashboards that show you exactly which items are performing best during your event.
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
Handbid Pricing
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
Handbid
Pros
- Native mobile app provides a superior user experience over web-based tools
- Push notifications effectively drive up bidding wars and final revenue
- Streamlined check-in and checkout process reduces event night stress
- Robust reporting makes post-event reconciliation fast and accurate
Cons
- Initial setup of auction items can be time-consuming for large inventories
- Older donors may require extra assistance downloading and using the app
- Pricing structure can be high for very small organizations
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