A WordPress donation plugin adds a donation form or button to your site, and the bigger ones add recurring gifts, campaigns and donor records. A small cause taking the odd gift can use a simple button, while charities that issue receipts or claim Gift Aid need a plugin that handles donor details. Ten free plugins follow in no particular order.
A donate button is easy to add. What's harder is everything after the gift: the thank-you, the receipt, the record of who gave what, and in the UK, the Gift Aid declaration that lets you claim more from each gift. Those are the jobs that separate a payment button from a donation plugin.
The ten below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, with each description taken from the plugin's own WordPress.org plugin directory page. If you're also choosing where to keep donor records, my guide to the best CRM for nonprofits covers that.
Donation plugins for WordPress, compared
All ten are free plugins in the WordPress.org plugin directory, as of Oct 2026, so the free plan column reads Yes. Several makers sell extra features on their own sites, so check the plugin's page before you plan an appeal around one.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accept Donations with PayPal & Stripe | PayPal and Stripe donation button | A donate button with no coding | Yes |
| AidWP | Stripe donation form plugin | Stripe donation forms without WooCommerce | Yes |
| Charitable | WordPress donation plugin | Recurring donations and crowdfunding campaigns | Yes |
| Donation Platform for WooCommerce | Donation plugin for WooCommerce | Donations inside a WooCommerce store | Yes |
| Donations via PayPal | Donation button for PayPal | A PayPal button as a widget or shortcode | Yes |
| Donorbox | Donation platform plugin | Recurring donations managed on Donorbox's platform | Yes |
| FundEngine | Fundraising and crowdfunding plugin | Crowdfunding with PayPal, Stripe and WooCommerce | Yes |
| GiveWP | WordPress donation plugin | Donation forms, campaigns and donor management | Yes |
| Mission | WordPress donation plugin | Recurring giving and peer-to-peer fundraising | Yes |
| SureDonation | WordPress donation plugin | Campaigns and donor management with offline payments | Yes |
Ten donation plugins in brief
Accept Donations with PayPal & Stripe
Best for: A PayPal or Stripe donation button with no coding, including a recurring monthly PayPal option for donors.
AidWP
Best for: Fast donation and payment forms that take Stripe payments on WordPress, with no WooCommerce required.
Charitable
Best for: Fundraising forms, recurring donations, donor management and crowdfunding campaigns from one donation plugin.
Donation Platform for WooCommerce
Best for: Stores already on WooCommerce that want an open source donation system with recurring donations.
Donations via PayPal
Best for: Adding a simple PayPal donation button to a page, either as a widget or with a shortcode.
Donorbox
Best for: Organisations that want secure donation management, with forms and recurring gifts run on a hosted platform.
FundEngine
Best for: Fundraising and crowdfunding campaigns that take payments through PayPal, Stripe or WooCommerce.
GiveWP
Best for: Donation forms, multiple campaigns and complete donor management, with a donation history donors can view themselves.
Mission
Best for: Nonprofits that want recurring giving and peer-to-peer fundraising from a free WordPress donation plugin.
SureDonation
Best for: Campaigns, donation forms and donor management, with Stripe, PayPal and offline payments accepted.
Receipts come before form design
In the US, the IRS says a written acknowledgment is required to substantiate a charitable contribution of $250 or more, as of Oct 2026. It has to include the organization's name, the amount of a cash contribution, and a statement of whether any goods or services were provided in return.
That's why the receipt matters more than how the form looks. Two plugins here say so on their pages: GiveWP lists tax-deductible receipts, and Donation Platform for WooCommerce lists automatic PDF donation receipts. For the rest, read the plugin page before you promise donors a receipt.
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Gift Aid needs the donor's declaration
In the UK, GOV.UK says a charity can claim back 25p every time an individual donates £1, as of Oct 2026. That's Gift Aid, and the donor has to make a Gift Aid declaration for you to claim it. Without one, a claim is only possible on cash donations of £30 or less.
So a UK donation form has to collect that declaration, along with the donor details you'll need when you claim. If the plugin you like doesn't mention Gift Aid on its page, ask the maker before you launch an appeal, not after the gifts have come in.
Button, form or platform?
- A single donate button: a PayPal button you can drop in as a widget or shortcode, with no coding.
- Stripe forms without a shop: a Stripe donation form that doesn't need WooCommerce.
- Donations inside an existing store: a donation plugin built on WooCommerce.
- Campaigns, donor records and recurring gifts: a full donation plugin.
- Peer-to-peer fundraising: one plugin here names it in its description.
- Donations managed off your site: a connector to a hosted donation platform, where the gift and the donor record live with that service.
If you take cheques or bank transfers as well, look for offline payments. One plugin here lists them alongside Stripe and PayPal.
Small rating counts and PHP versions
Several of these are new or small. Going by the directory as of Oct 2026, SureDonation has 4,000+ active installs but a single rating, and Mission has 70+ installs and 3 ratings. Scores built on that few reviews don't tell you much yet, good or bad.
Check the PHP line too. Two plugins here list PHP 8.0 as their minimum, while the oldest minimum in the list is PHP 5.4. If your hosting is a few years old, ask your host which version you're on before you pick one of the newer plugins.
Do you make a WordPress donation plugin? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on donation plugins
Choose the plugin by what happens after the gift. If you're a US charity, make sure it can send a written acknowledgment for gifts of $250 or more. If you're in the UK, make sure it collects the Gift Aid declaration. If you only need a donate button, a simple one is less to look after.
For more ways to bring gifts in, my guide on ways to fundraise online has ideas beyond the form.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
Does a WordPress donation plugin send tax receipts?
Some do. Two plugins here list receipts on their pages, tax-deductible receipts and automatic PDF receipts. Check the plugin page for the others.
What does the IRS need in a donation acknowledgment?
For a gift of $250 or more, the IRS lists the organization's name, the amount of a cash contribution, and whether any goods or services were provided in return.
Can a WordPress donation form collect Gift Aid?
It needs to collect the donor's Gift Aid declaration, which GOV.UK says a charity must have to claim 25p for every £1. Check the plugin mentions Gift Aid before you rely on it.
Can I take recurring donations on WordPress?
Yes. Several plugins here name recurring donations, including a PayPal button that lets donors choose a monthly gift.
Are WordPress donation plugins free?
All ten here are free plugins in the WordPress.org plugin directory, as of Oct 2026. Some makers sell extra features separately.
