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.
Zeffy
Zeffy is a 100% free fundraising platform for nonprofits that covers all transaction fees through voluntary contributions from donors to ensure every dollar goes directly to your mission.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Kickstarter | Zeffy |
|---|---|---|
| Website | kickstarter.com | zeffy.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✘ No product demo | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2009 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Brooklyn, USA | Montreal, Canada |
Overview
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.
Zeffy
Zeffy is a specialized fundraising platform designed exclusively for nonprofits who want to keep 100% of their donations. Instead of charging platform fees or taking a cut of credit card transactions, the system relies on voluntary tips from donors. You can manage everything from simple donation forms and peer-to-peer campaigns to complex event ticketing and lottery management without worrying about hidden costs or monthly subscriptions.
You can easily track your donor database, automate tax receipts, and sell memberships or merchandise through a single dashboard. It solves the common problem of losing 3-5% of every gift to processing fees, making it an ideal choice for small to mid-sized charities, schools, and community groups looking to maximize their impact. The platform is accessible to any registered nonprofit in North America looking for a transparent, zero-cost financial solution.
Overview
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.
Zeffy Features
- Custom Donation Forms. Create branded, mobile-responsive donation forms that you can embed on your website or share via direct links.
- Event Ticketing. Sell tickets for galas or workshops and check in guests using a built-in QR code scanner on your phone.
- Peer-to-Peer Campaigns. Empower your supporters to launch their own fundraising pages and reach new donor networks on your behalf.
- Automated Tax Receipts. Save hours of admin work by automatically sending customizable, brand-compliant tax receipts to your donors instantly.
- Membership Management. Launch and manage recurring membership programs with automated renewals and dedicated member communication tools.
- E-commerce Shop. Sell branded merchandise or physical goods through a simple online store integrated directly into your fundraising dashboard.
Pricing Comparison
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
Zeffy Pricing
- Unlimited donation forms
- Zero transaction fees
- Peer-to-peer fundraising
- Event & ticket management
- Automated tax receipting
- Donor management (CRM)
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Optional donor tipping
- No cost to the nonprofit
- Transparent checkout
- Full platform access
- Standard support
Pros & Cons
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
Zeffy
Pros
- Completely eliminates credit card and platform fees
- Extremely simple setup process for non-technical users
- Automatic tax receipting saves significant administrative time
- Responsive customer support team for nonprofit needs
Cons
- Donor tipping prompt can occasionally confuse supporters
- Limited advanced customization for complex reporting needs
- Currently restricted to registered North American nonprofits