Crowdfunding platforms: Comparison of the best crowdfunding platforms in 2025

The most important points in brief

• Crowdfunding has become one of the most important means of financing for products in the field of technology and IT, enabling new ideas to be brought to market and actively involving customers in the projects.
• Crowdfunding is not limited to financial support for the development of new products or initiatives. Nowadays, you can finance just about anything through such platforms.
• There is almost always a suitable crowdfunding website that specializes in the field. If this is not the case, the major providers still offer good opportunities to finance your project.

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Crowdfunding has become one of the most important means of financing for products in the field of technology and IT, enabling new ideas to be brought to market and actively involving customers in the projects. Thanks to crowdfunding, the days of adventurous capitalism and high debt for such projects are a thing of the past. With the right idea, consumers themselves will finance it for you. But make sure you have the capacity to deliver the product in the end!

However, crowdfunding is not limited to financial support for the development of new products or initiatives. Nowadays, you can finance just about anything through such platforms. From the next high-end game to your new crypto project to a share or stake in a particular company. If everything goes smoothly, you will achieve your financing goal with crowdfunding. We will now show you seven of the best crowdfunding platforms on the market. Just try not to publish your product on Amazon before you ship it to your buyers. That usually doesn’t end well. These are the top 10 candidates on our list of the best crowdfunding providers on the web:

An overview of the best crowdfunding platforms

Below, we provide a clear overview of the best crowdfunding platforms on the market. In addition to a brief description, you will also learn what types of projects the platform is suitable for, what prerequisites or requirements are necessary for publishing projects, and what costs you can expect for your crowdfunding project.

1. The market leader – Kickstarter

Kickstarter is probably the best known and most widely used portal among crowdfunding websites. The provider has already supported numerous successful products that have become genuine global hits. Examples include the Pebble Watch, the Ouya game console, and the reboot of Reading Rainbow. Those interested in seeking funding first set a goal and then have a certain amount of time to achieve it. In addition, entrepreneurs are expected to offer potential customers a reward for their support. The type and amount of this reward depends on the sum.

The all-or-nothing principle is particularly practical with Kickstarter. The purchase is only debited from the patrons’ accounts once the goal has been achieved. If the set goals are missed (even if only by a small margin), no payment is necessary. Creating projects is free of charge with this provider. However, if the project is successful, Kickstarter charges 5% of the total revenue generated. The provider also charges processing fees of 3-5%.

2. The Pursuer – Indiegogo

Indiegogo works in much the same way as Kickstarter. The biggest difference here is that you are not limited to an all-or-nothing strategy with your project. Instead, you also have a flexible funding option available. The site describes itself as being primarily intended for projects where every bit of funding can help. It is also less about actual products and more about ideas and initiatives. Indiegogo’s partnership with retailers is particularly useful. The provider has contracts with Amazon and Brookstone to help developers finalize their products and bring them to market. This provider has also supported a number of important and successful projects, such as the Jibo Family Robot, the Solar Roadways Project, and a project to teach children programming.

The costs: Indiegogo charges a 5% platform fee for all projects. If you are raising money for a good cause, you don’t have to pay a cent if you use Indiegogo’s sister portal, GoFundMe.

3. Crowdfunder

Are you interested in venture capitalism rather than simply financing a project? In that case, the Crowdfunder portal could prove to be an important ally. Unlike other crowdfunding websites, where donors usually receive coins, beta access, special documents, etc. for their participation, all participants who support a project on Crowdfunder receive one or more shares in the company itself. However, this portal is not suitable for every project. Unlike most portals, there is a minimum investment amount. This can quickly add up to many thousands or tens of thousands of dollars! Nevertheless, with the right project, you can hope for huge returns here. So think carefully!

Costs: Crowdfunder offers three different subscriptions. In addition to a free plan, there is also a Starter ($299 per month) and a Premium ($499 per month) subscription. Each of these plans comes with its own benefits and services, such as document storage, individual support, etc.

4. Experiment

Do you love science? Then why not use a website like Experiment, which specializes in financing scientific experiments? As with Kickstarter, there is an all-or-nothing model here. This means that if a project does not reach its target, no payment is made. As the project owner, you will come away empty-handed in this case. On the other hand, you don’t pay any fees either. In addition, all projects must be approved in advance. This provides additional security.

According to Experiment, anyone can post a project at will. However, before it is published, it is reviewed by the Experiment team. In particular, they make sure that the science makes sense and that the project is feasible. In addition, you can track the progress of the funded research project at any time, as the project managers are committed to absolute transparency towards the backers. All of this is free of charge at first. However, once the target is reached, a fee of 8% is payable. In addition, there are payment fees of between 3% and 5%.

We help you raise successful crowdfunding financing

5. For artists: Patreon

Patreon is popular among people who are involved in digital creativity. Examples include bloggers, podcasters, and YouTubers. Unlike traditional crowdfunding portals, where interested parties contribute to the project with a single donation, Patreon uses a subscription model. This means that interested parties can make one-time donations or contribute at regular intervals. Another advantage of Patreon is that project operators and managers can build an active relationship with their fans and interested parties. It is even possible to distribute some exclusive extras to subscribers. Needless to say, this type of platform is only suitable for projects where you want to share progress and benefits with the community. All subscribers can cancel their subscription at any time if the managers do not publish content or show progress. The biggest disadvantage of Patreon compared to providers such as Indegogo or Kickstarter is that the site does not market the creators as extensively.

Like most crowdfunding sites, Patreo is initially free of charge. However, the provider charges five percent on all successfully completed payments as a fee for its services and for the use of the platform. There is also an additional processing fee for payments, which is normally due once a month. You should also expect to pay fees for transferring funds from your Creator Account to PayPal or a bank account.

6. Crowdsupply

Crowd Supply is a crowdfunding portal that is probably less well known than the websites mentioned above. The reason for this is that this provider mainly deals with unusual, original, or obscure ideas that you are unlikely to find on other crowdfunding portals. Many users consider Crowd Supply to be something like Kickstarter for hackers. What does that mean? Well, some projects on Crowd Supply include an inexpensive budget stick PC or a French press made of stone. Whenever you are looking for funding for an unusual or exotic project, Crowd Supply is the place to go!

Crowd Supply also differs in terms of costs. The website offers various subscription options. The standard rate is five percent of the campaign’s revenue. The guided rate is five to ten percent, and for the custom plan, you can expect costs of ten to 15%. None of these rates include payment processing fees. With each rate, you also benefit from various extras.

7. Top candidate for personal fundraising – Gofundme

If you are looking for a provider for a private, personal crowdfunding campaign, then Gofundme is the right choice for you. The provider has enjoyed relatively high popularity for some time now, as it enables users to finance personal projects or necessities. Project managers have used the site to raise money for their families or to fulfill otherwise impossible wishes for themselves or their loved ones. Other projects, on the other hand, deal with disaster relief or helping families who have been victims of violence or tragedy, while other fundraising campaigns deal with things like medical research or assistance with illnesses. For example, more than $5 million was raised for families who were victims of the nightclub shooting in Orlando, and nearly $600,000 was raised to fund and support a clinical research project dealing with a particularly rare form of cancer. Gofundme is, as you can easily imagine, completely free of charge.

8. Crowdfunding for charities – Chuffed

If you are interested in charity and philanthropy, then Chuffed is a provider that you should definitely take a closer look at. There is no fancy design or unusual extras here. This portal simply lists various groups that deal with social issues or other charitable causes and are looking for help. As with Experiment, you can submit all your ideas for a crowdfunding project to this provider as you wish. However, Chuffed does this in a very special and slightly different way. The platform requests a short teaser of 50 words or less, and if Chuffed likes the concept, they approve it and publish it on their website. This also offers participants a real degree of additional security, as it can be assumed that project managers who are able to write a project description are also seriously committed to it.

The provider also takes a slightly different approach to costs. The people who decide to support their project cover the necessary fees. For example, for a donation of $100, the platform charges a fee of $3. In addition, all donors are encouraged to support the provider Chuffed with a small donation to help cover the costs of the platform and the project.

9. WeFunder

WeFunder allows you to raise between $50,000 and $50 million from investors for your projects. Most campaigns run for between one and three months to achieve their set goals. From breweries and restaurants to tech startups and fashion stores, you can find everything on WeFunder. There are currently more than 150,000 investors on the platform. You can create your profile for free, and the provider does not charge any management or transaction fees. Only administrative fees are payable, and the revenue is used to finance Wefund.

10. SeedInvest

SeedInvest primarily works with high-growth industries. The platform supports both professional companies and those that are still in their early stages. Funding can be obtained either through equity or convertible note funding. For pricing rounds, you must provide a pre-money valuation. For convertible notes, you must also specify a valuation cap, interest rate, project duration, and conversion discount.

Before you can create a profile and use the platform, you must develop an app, convince the screening committee of your project and knowledge, and demonstrate your sense of responsibility. SeedInvest is for professional companies with big plans. You should allow at least 60 days for the entire process. The provider charges a fee of 7.5% for its services as a crowdfunding platform, calculated on the total revenue generated by the project. This fee is only payable if your project has been successfully completed and has achieved the desired amount. In addition, you can expect approximately 5% in additional costs up to an amount of $10,000, which will be used to cover expenses such as marketing, legal, escrow, etc.

11. Fundly

“Raise money for anything” is Fundly’s motto. There are no restrictions or requirements and no fees to publish a project. That’s what it says on this provider’s homepage. The website supports everything from health needs and requirements to politics and even travel and vacations. Create a new project and then manage your campaign via the Fundly app. Use Facebook OpenGraph integration to maximize the reach of your crowdfunding campaign. With Fundly, you don’t have to reach a certain amount to receive the funds you’ve raised. Payments can be made within 48 hours of a donation, and you even have the option to set up automatic transfers.

Costs: All members pay a platform fee of 4.9 percent. There are also processing fees for credit card payments of 2.9 percent and a country-specific fee of $0.30 per transaction.

12. LendingClub

LendingClub is not a crowdfunding platform in the true sense of the word. Rather, it is a private credit broker. Private individuals can publish projects and request up to $40,000, while business customers can apply for up to $300,000. As with all crowdfunding sites, you must present your project here as well. The site features numerous investors who are willing to grant loans. Another difference is that LendingClub is exclusively responsible for brokering loans. Unlike other crowdfunding portals, the borrowed sums must be repaid.

To participate, both private individuals and companies must meet a number of relatively strict requirements that are comparable to those of banks, albeit not quite as strict. For example, you must not have filed for personal bankruptcy, you need a good credit score, etc. The fees range from 1.00 to 8.99 percent for using the platform and for brokering. In addition, monthly repayments are of course due. These range from $227 to $955 per $10,000 loan.

13. StartSomeGood

StartSomeGood is a website that also focuses primarily on charity and non-profit projects. If you have a promising project that needs help, StartSomeGood may be able to assist you. Your organization can be either a non-profit or an aid organization. In addition, associations and organizations that are for-profit or unincorporated are also welcome. All that matters is your ability to make a social impact. You can publish your project on StartSomeGood free of charge. The five percent processing fee is only payable if your project achieves its funding goals. There is also a processing fee for handling the payment.

14. Crowdcube

Crowdcube is a crowdfunding website for like-minded people. Here, project managers don’t seek outside help, but instead try to turn friends, family, acquaintances, fans, customers, etc. into investors. They help you set realistic goals and lead your project to success. In addition, there is a friendly and experienced community of investors. Once you have reached 20% of your goal, you will receive publicity. You will normally reach the full scope of your campaign within 22 days. When you reach the 75% mark, Crowdcube’s legal team will step in and help you get your project legally secured. Listing projects is free of charge. Only if your campaign is successful will the platform charge a success fee of seven percent. You will also have to pay fees for payment processing.

15. Funding Circle

Expand your business, hire new employees, or finance your next big project with an affordable business loan. That is the goal of Funding Circle. In the past, the platform has already supported various companies, such as veterinary clinics, cosmetics companies, etc. Interest rates are typically between 4.99% and 26.99%. You have between six months and five years to repay the loan. Conveniently, there are no penalties or fees for early repayment. The loan amount ranges from $25,000 to half a million dollars. To get started, all you have to do is fill out an online form. You will then be assigned a personal account manager and receive a quick response with a decision.

In addition to the interest due on the loan, you will also pay a brokerage and processing fee of 0.99 to 6.99 percent. A fee of five percent will be charged for late payments.

Some honorable mentions from providers

Below, we would like to honorably mention a few providers that we believe deserve to be mentioned, at least in passing.

16. Crowdrise

Crowdrise is a platform that specializes primarily in helping with real-world problems rather than financing profitable projects. For example, there have been projects for Haiti. There are no limits to your imagination. The platform is also suitable for financing weddings, birthday parties, tuition fees, etc. CrowdRise was purchased by GoFundMe in 2017.

17. PledgeMusic

• PledgeMusic is a crowdfunding platform that specializes in the often high costs incurred by musicians, bands, and musical projects.
• As with most crowdfunding providers, PledgeMusic allows you to reward your supporters for their contributions in various ways, such as with digital downloads of songs or albums, etc.

18. MightyCause

• MightyCause was known as Razoo for a long time. It is a provider that specializes primarily in meaningful or charitable causes.
• MightyCause enables fundraising for charities, special events for children and families, education, animals, pets, etc. NuDay Syria, Doctors Without Borders, and the Southern Poverty Law Center are just a few examples of well-known organizations that use MightyCause for fundraising.

19. InKind

• The crowdfunding site is unusual in that it is specifically aimed at restaurants. Since many restaurants quickly run into financial difficulties, it is good to see that InKind is there to help in such cases.
• You can obtain funding with InKind by providing the platform with gift cards and vouchers. InKind then sells these for you as a house account, which leads to repeat visitors. The platform was originally known as “EquityEats.”

20. Give

• Give is a WordPress plugin. It allows you to integrate it into your blog or website to collect money from visitors.
• Unlike many other crowdfunding platforms, Give does not appear to charge any fees based on the amount of revenue generated.
• The developers of Give earn money by selling premium advertising for their plugin. The project is therefore ad-supported. You can also activate a premium account for a fee. This offers additional features.

21. Charitable

• Another WordPress plugin. It allows you to collect money on your website and receive it directly into your account via PayPal. No transaction fees are charged. If you don’t want to use PayPal, there are a number of well-known credit card processors available.
• Charitable and Give are particularly interesting for non-profit organizations and charities that don’t want to pay fees.
• The disadvantage is that you have to set up and manage a WordPress blog or website yourself. Or you need to have someone who can do this for you.

22. AngelList

• AngelList is an unusual crowdfunding platform. Here, you are not looking for financial support but a new job. For whatever reason. AngelList offers you a total of more than 600,000 startups, all with their own job offers for you to choose from. With just a single application. But even if you’re looking for a new investment opportunity, AngelList offers you several options. Of course, you can also apply for funding yourself, even if this is not the provider’s main focus. The same applies to credit and loans.

23. Ulule

• Ulule is a crowdfunding platform that specializes primarily in supporting creative projects. To date, the website has helped more than 16,000 artists and has supported projects in 198 different countries.

24. CircleUp

• If you want to develop a customer brand, it’s worth taking a look at CircleUp. The crowdfunding platform has helped generate more than $260 million for 1,996 startups. The site enables both
  financing through donations and loans and credits and has an extensive network of experts and investors for this purpose.
• This company is best suited for companies and investors who want to scale their ideas rather than develop them (from scratch).
• Unfortunately, the selection process is very competitive, and you must have at least $1 million in revenue to be listed on CircleUp.

Conclusion

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