The best crowdfunding platform is the one built for what the money is for. As of Oct 2026, the eight below split four ways: reward crowdfunding for creative projects, personal fundraisers you share by link, nonprofit campaigns with donor tools, and ongoing membership support from fans. They're listed unranked, so match the platform to your project first.
You've got a project, a cause or a creative idea, and you'd like the people who care about it to help fund it. That's crowdfunding, but the platforms built for it don't all do the same job, and picking one made for a different kind of campaign is the quickest way to stall.
The eight platforms below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order. Each description comes from the platform's own website. Equity crowdfunding, where backers buy a stake in a business, isn't on this list: that's investing, with its own rules and risks, and it needs a guide of its own.
Crowdfunding platforms side by side
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Crowdfunder | UK crowdfunding and fundraising site | Community, arts and business projects with a set target |
| Fundly | Group and peer-to-peer fundraisers | One group campaign or a peer-to-peer drive |
| FundRazr | Fundraising platform for causes and people | Personal causes, nonprofits and white-label campaigns |
| Givebutter | Nonprofit fundraising suite with a CRM | Donations, events and donor records in one place |
| GoFundMe | Personal and charity fundraisers | Personal causes you share by link |
| Kickstarter | Reward crowdfunding for creative work | Creative projects backed by a community |
| Mightycause | Nonprofit fundraising and giving days | Nonprofit campaigns, giving days and school fundraising |
| Patreon | Membership platform for creators | Ongoing fan support, not a one-off campaign |
Eight places to start a crowdfunding campaign
Crowdfunder
Best for: UK projects, from community causes to small businesses, where supporters donate or pledge towards a set target, with match funding from partners described.
Fundly
Best for: Groups running one campaign together, or a peer-to-peer drive where every supporter fundraises; the page says it's now SignUpGenius Fundraisers and names a free start.
FundRazr
Best for: Organisations wanting crowdfunding under their own brand, and individuals raising money for medical, pet or memorial causes; the page names a free start.
Givebutter
Best for: Nonprofits that want donation forms, events, auctions and a built-in donor CRM together, with outreach by email, text or direct mail.
GoFundMe
Best for: Individuals raising money for a personal cause, guided by prompts to set a goal, then sharing the fundraiser link to reach donors.
Kickstarter
Best for: Creators launching a new creative project who'd like backers to fund it and spread the word, while keeping control of how the work comes together.
Mightycause
Best for: Charities running everyday giving, dedicated campaigns or a community giving day, with peer-to-peer templates; the page names a free start for nonprofits.
Patreon
Best for: Makers who'd rather earn steady support from fans through a membership than run a single campaign; the page names a free start.
One word, four different jobs
Here's the part most lists skip: crowdfunding covers four different jobs, and each platform's own page tells you which one it's built for. Kickstarter says its mission is to help bring creative projects to life, so it's the reward route for makers, artists and inventors whose backers fund something new. GoFundMe guides you through setting a goal, then asks you to share your fundraiser link and use the resources in your dashboard to gain momentum, which is the shape of a personal or community appeal.
Crowdfunder, a UK platform, describes supporters who donate or pledge money towards your project to help reach your target. Mightycause calls itself fundraising software for everyday nonprofit giving, dedicated campaigns and community-based fundraising, Givebutter pairs its fundraising tools with a built-in donor CRM, and FundRazr goes as far as offering white-label crowdfunding under your own brand. Those three are built for organisations, not one-off personal appeals.
Then there's membership. Patreon is where creators share videos, podcasts, writing, art and music with their most passionate fans, for support that carries on month after month, which is a different thing from a single campaign with an end date. And the page for Fundly now says it's SignUpGenius Fundraisers, so expect the new name when you sign in.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Match the platform to the money
- A creative project with a launch. Reward crowdfunding fits: backers fund a new piece of work and help spread the word, and the community around the project does much of the selling.
- A personal or community cause. A fundraiser you share by link suits medical needs, memorials, local appeals and emergencies, where a clear goal and quick sharing matter most.
- A nonprofit or school campaign. Pick a platform built for organisations, with donor records, peer-to-peer pages and giving days, so supporters keep hearing from you after they give.
- Ongoing support for your work. If you make something every week or month, a membership gives fans a reason to stay, rather than a single push that ends.
Running a nonprofit, or about to start one? My tips for starting a nonprofit organisation cover the groundwork before any campaign goes live.
Setting up a campaign people want to share
- Decide what the money is for, and the smallest target that gets the job done.
- Create your page and tell the story plainly: who you are, what you'll do with the money and why it matters now.
- Set a clear goal and show progress, because supporters give more readily when they can see how close you are.
- Tell everyone you know first. Friends, colleagues and your community are the people who get a campaign moving.
- Post updates while the campaign runs, so early supporters have something new to share.
- Read the platform's own terms on payouts and on what happens if you miss your target, before you launch.
For more ways to bring money in beyond one campaign, see my guide to fundraising online. And if you're a founder weighing a campaign against other routes, my startup funding guide lays out the options.
Do you make a crowdfunding or fundraising platform? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing where to raise money
Start with what the money is for, not with the biggest name. A creative launch belongs on a reward platform with a community of backers, a personal cause belongs on a fundraiser you can share in minutes, and a nonprofit gets more from a platform that keeps donor records and runs peer-to-peer drives. If your work is ongoing, skip the one-off campaign and set up a membership instead.
Whatever you pick, have your story, your target and your first circle of supporters lined up before you press launch, and read the platform's own terms so there are no surprises when the money comes in.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between crowdfunding and fundraising?
Crowdfunding usually means raising money from many people for one project, often with something in return for backers. Fundraising is the wider term and includes donations to a cause or a nonprofit. Several platforms here do both, so check what each one's page says it's built for.
Which kind of platform suits a creative project?
A reward crowdfunding platform built around creative work, where backers fund a new project and help spread the word. The table above shows which platforms describe that job on their own pages.
Can a nonprofit use a crowdfunding platform?
Yes. Several platforms on this list are built for nonprofits, with donor records, peer-to-peer pages and giving days alongside the campaign itself.
Is a membership platform the same as crowdfunding?
Not quite. A membership gives fans a way to support your work every month, while a crowdfunding campaign usually raises money once, for one project, by a set date.
Why isn't equity crowdfunding on this list?
Equity crowdfunding means backers buy a stake in a business. That's investing, with its own regulations and risks, so it needs a separate guide rather than a place on a fundraising list.
How do I get people to back my campaign?
Start with the people who already know you. Tell friends, colleagues and your community first, post regular updates and show progress towards your goal, so early supporters have a reason to share it.
