Let’s be honest – setting up crowdfunding on WordPress can feel overwhelming. I’ve seen firsthand how the right plugin can make or break a fundraising campaign. And trust me, there’s nothing worse than realizing your chosen plugin can’t handle your fundraising needs halfway through your campaign.
Here’s what I know from my own experience: you need a crowdfunding plugin that works reliably, makes it easy for donors to give, and doesn’t eat up your precious donations with hefty fees.
I’ve put together this list of eight plugins that I’ve actually used and tested. Some are perfect for small non-profits just starting out, while others are better suited for larger organizations handling multiple campaigns. I’ll cut through the marketing fluff and tell you exactly what each one is good at (and not so good at).
What’s In This Guide?
Here’s a table of contents to help you navigate to the plugins that interest you the most.
- What To Look For in Crowdfunding Plugins
- Review Of The Best Crowdfunding Plugins
- How To Choose The Right Plugin For You?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s get started.
What To Look For in Crowdfunding Plugins
Just to make sure we have the basics covered, crowdfunding is where you raise funds for your project, venture, or cause through donations or contributions where you offer benefits in return. Typically, you’ll set a funding goal and deadline.
You can crowdfund on platforms like Kickstarter but they usually have their own terms and conditions. You have to pay a platform fee, plus you have to meet your target to get your money.
On the other hand, with WordPress + a crowdfunding plugin, you have complete freedom on how you run your fundraisers.
The key to making crowdfunding a smooth success is to pick the right tool or plugin that will handle the technical aspects. Here are the main points to consider:
💳 Payment Options: First and foremost, consider your payment processing needs. The best plugin in the world won’t help if it doesn’t support your preferred payment methods. Most US-based non-profits will want PayPal and Stripe integration at minimum, but if you’re serving an international audience, you might need additional payment gateways. Watch out for transaction fees too – they can seriously eat into your donations if you’re not careful.
👥 Donor management: This is another crucial aspect that often gets overlooked in the excitement of setting up a new fundraising system. You’ll want a plugin that makes it easy to track donations, manage donor information, and generate reports.
🎨 Customization: Campaign flexibility matters more than you might think. Your needs today might be simple, but what about six months from now? Look for plugins that can grow with you. The ability to create different types of campaigns – whether they’re ongoing, time-sensitive, or goal-based – can be invaluable. One of my clients started with a simple donation form and now runs multiple themed campaigns throughout the year using the same plugin.
📩 Email integration: Your crowdfunding plugin should work seamlessly with your email marketing system to automatically thank donors, send tax receipts, and keep supporters updated about campaign progress. This automation not only saves time but helps build stronger relationships with your donors.
👍🏼User Experience: The interface matters – both for you and your donors. On the admin side, you need something your team can navigate without constant training. For donors, the donation process should be smooth and trustworthy. I’ve seen donation completion rates jump by 30% just by switching to a plugin with a cleaner, more professional-looking donation form.
🧑🏽💻 Customer Support: Lastly, don’t underestimate the importance of support. When something goes wrong (and at some point, something always does), you need to know help is available. Whether it’s comprehensive documentation, email support, or live chat, make sure the plugin developer has a solid support system in place.
Remember, the most expensive or feature-rich plugin isn’t necessarily the best choice. Focus on finding one that matches your team’s technical capabilities and your organization’s specific needs.
Reviewing The Best Crowdfunding Plugins
1. Charitable
If there’s one plugin I find myself recommending most often to smaller non-profits, it’s Charitable. I’ve used it on everything from local church websites to animal rescue organizations, and it consistently delivers a straightforward, effective fundraising solution.
What makes Charitable stand out is its clean, no-nonsense approach to fundraising. It’s easy to set up and start accepting donations in about 30 minutes – no technical headaches, no confused staff members. The donation forms integrate seamlessly with virtually any WordPress theme I’ve thrown at it.
There are readymade templates you can choose from so you won’t have to design campaigns from scratch. These templates come with all the fields you need like name, checkboxes, donation amounts, fundraiser thermometer, and more.
There’s an easy drag and drop visual builder to customize your campaign. Then you can set up automated emails to thank donors, send their receipt, notify admins, and more.
What I love about Charitable is the wide range of payment integrations it has. You’ll see all the big players like Stripe, PayPal, Braintree, and Mollie, as well as local options like Payrexx, PayFast, and more.
The biggest benefit is that you keep more money since there are no platform fees (unlike Kickstarter’s 5% + payment processing). You’ll only pay standard payment processing fees and keep 100% control of your donations.
Another major advantage is that you own everything. Your donor data stays with you, you have complete control over your website, and there are no third-party platform restrictions. This means you can build your own email list and maintain direct relationships with your supporters.
You can customize everything about your campaign, create your own donation forms, set your own rules and deadlines, and choose your payment processors. Plus, you can run unlimited campaigns without additional costs.
Overview & Pricing:
The free version of Charitable is surprisingly capable, which is rare in the crowdfunding plugin space. While the premium version starts at $69/year, many organizations can start with the free version and upgrade only when they need additional features. I appreciate that the free version has all the basic features you need.
The Good Stuff:
- Stripe donations included in free version
- Unlimited campaigns and donation forms
- No platform fees (just standard payment processor fees)
- Rock-solid donation tracking
- Built-in gift aid for UK organizations
- Mobile-friendly forms that actually work
The Not-So-Great:
The main limitation I’ve run into is that some advanced features like recurring donations and email marketing integration require the premium version. Also, the reporting features in the free version are basic – you’ll want the premium version if you need detailed analytics.
That said, Charitable’s premium plugin starts at $69 per year. That comes to $5.75 per month, which is a fraction of the cost other plugins charge for fewer features.
Pro Tip:
Even if you start with the free version, set up your donation forms with both suggested amounts and a custom amount field.
I’ve seen this simple strategy increase average donation sizes across multiple organizations.
2. WP Simple Pay
WP Simple Pay is perfect for you if you just need to collect donations or contributions quickly and securely. I’ve set up basic crowdfunding forms in under 15 minutes – if you can fill out a form, you can create a payment form with this plugin.
What I recommend is using a page builder like SeedProd to create a crowdfunding landing page where you detail what you’re raising funds for. Then add WP Simple Pay to process their payment.
There are tons of customization options so you can add fields like name, email, donation amount, recurring donation options, payment methods, and more.
You can easily embed these forms onto the landing page (or anywhere on your site) using shortcodes or the built-in block editor.
Security is built-in since WP Simple Pay uses Stripe’s secure payment processing. Your customers’ sensitive card data never touches your server, and you get the benefit of Stripe’s robust fraud prevention tools. Plus, you can accept payments from customers worldwide in multiple currencies.
With the Pro version, you get powerful features like subscription payments, custom fields, payment form templates, and the ability to collect billing details. You can also create user-friendly payment forms with multiple pricing options, instant Apple Pay and Google Pay support, and even set up payment plans.
The Good Stuff:
- Direct Stripe integration with instant setup
- Clean, conversion-optimized payment forms
- Apple Pay and Google Pay support
- Robust security features
- Custom fields and subscription options
- Excellent documentation and support
The Not-So-Great: No PayPal integration is the biggest drawback I’ve encountered. Also, if you need campaign pages or donor management, you’ll need to look elsewhere – this is strictly a payment form solution.
Overview & Pricing: Starting at $49.50/year for the premium version, with a limited free version available. While not the cheapest option, the reliability and feature set justify the cost for most organizations I work with.
3. GiveWP
GiveWP is a popular donation and fundraising plugin for WordPress sites. It comes with a crowdfunding feature that’s easy to use. They have created this functionality to better suit businesses that want to raise funds to launch a product similar to Kickstarter.
There are custom form fields that let you collect specific information from your donors such as t-shirt size, color, and so on.
You can also create campaigns for specific needs where donors contribute to different campaigns according to what they relate to the most.
You can ask donors to send you funds via Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo and even Text-to-Give.
The great part is the crowdfunding reports that show you how your campaigns are performing. You can see metrics like top donors, average donation amounts, and total funds raised.
The Good Stuff:
- Zero-fee platform (you only pay payment processor fees)
- Robust donor management system out of the box
- Beautiful, conversion-optimized donation forms
- Multi-gateway support including PayPal, Stripe, and offline donations
- Detailed reporting and donor insights
The Not-So-Great: Most features like annual receipts, recurring donations, peer-to-peer fundraising, and fee recovery are only available on the Plus plan that costs $349 per year! This puts it out of budget for many non-profits. There are many GiveWP alternatives that offer the same features for less.
Overview & Pricing:
GiveWP offers a free core plugin with basic features. The premium plan starts at $149 per year which is more than double other platforms like Charitable.
4. WP Crowdfunding
What makes WP Crowdfunding stand out is its unique approach to campaign-based fundraising. It’s built on WooCommerce, which means you get robust e-commerce capabilities alongside crowdfunding features.
Unlike simpler payment solutions, this plugin creates an entire ecosystem for fundraising, complete with project management, backer systems, and automated fund distribution. You can create campaigns like these:
The plugin gives you three roles: Admin, Owner and Backer.
As an admin, you get comprehensive control over your crowdfunding platform. You can
- Configure multiple payment gateways
- Review and approve campaigns
- Set commission structures
- Monitor campaign progress
- Process withdrawal requests
- Manage fund distribution
Campaign owners can quickly launch their fundraising projects through a user-friendly frontend interface. The process is straightforward: sign up, create a campaign with goals and timelines, await admin approval, and start raising funds. Once approved, they can track progress through their dashboard and request withdrawals when ready.
Backers enjoy a seamless experience too. They can browse campaigns, select reward tiers, choose their preferred payment method, and decide whether to donate anonymously.
The system keeps them updated on campaign progress and handles reward distribution if applicable.
The plugin’s native wallet system is a standout feature. It tracks all funds raised, manages website commissions, and handles withdrawal requests automatically. For international payments, the Stripe Connect integration ensures smooth fund distribution between project owners and administrators.
The Good Stuff:
- Native WooCommerce integration
- Flexible reward system for backers
- Multiple payment gateway options
- Campaign updates and messaging system
- Social sharing tools built-in
- Advanced campaign analytics
- User-friendly frontend submission forms
- Marketplace-style listing of campaigns
The Not-So-Great:
- Requires WooCommerce to be installed
- Steeper learning curve than simple donation plugins
- Can be overkill for basic donation needs
- Some users report performance issues with multiple campaigns
- Limited customization in the free version
- Email features are basic
Overview & Pricing: The free version is available on WordPress.org, while the premium version starts at $149/year.
Pro Tip: Start with a single well-planned campaign to learn the system before launching multiple campaigns. The WooCommerce integration can be powerful but needs proper setup to work effectively.
5. WPForms
WPForms has been my go-to form builder for close to a decade now. I love this plugin as it lets you build any kind of form you need.
I’ve even created full-fledged catalogues with stunning product photos for a website that sold a handful of products. Coming to donations, you’ll be surprised with what you can do with this form builder.
First, there are premade templates that you can get started with. They come with all the basic form fields you’ll need.
After that, you can drag and drop new elements into your form to make it your own.
The plugin integrates with payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, Square, Authorize.net, and others.
The best part about WPForms is that you have complete freedom to raise funds for what you need whether that’s a non-profit cause or a business idea.
What I personally love is the conditional logic feature. You can create sophisticated donation forms that change based on donor selections. For example, I recently set up a form where selecting different donation tiers would reveal specific reward descriptions and additional fields.
The Good Stuff:
- Powerful drag-and-drop form builder
- Multiple payment gateway integrations
- Pre-built donation form templates
- Advanced conditional logic
- Entry management and reporting
- Anti-spam protection
- Mobile-responsive forms
The Not-So-Great: While it’s extremely versatile, it lacks some specific fundraising features like campaign pages or donor management tools.
Overview & Pricing: There’s a lite version for free. The premium plugin starts at just $49.50 per year.
How To Choose The Right Plugin For You?
Look at Payment Methods You Need: Remember that not all plugins support every payment gateway. Consider which payment methods your donors prefer, whether you need to collect funds internationally. Aside from that, look at :
- Transaction fees for each gateway
- Payment processing time frames
- Currency conversion options
Consider Your Growth Plans: Think about where your organization will be in 1-2 years. Look for a plugin that scales with you as you grow. Here’s what to consider:
- Expected donation volume
- Number of campaigns you’ll run
- Additional features you might need
- Integration requirements with other tools
Evaluate Your Technical Resources: Be honest about your team’s capabilities like who will manage the plugin? Keeping that in mind, check for:
- Available technical support
- Time required for maintenance
- Automated tax receipts for donors
- Learning curve for new team members
- Access to development help if needed
Think About Your Budget: Remember to factor in not just the plugin cost but also:
- Payment processing fees
- Add-on costs for essential features
- Annual renewal fees
- Development costs if customization is needed
Assess Your Reporting Needs: Consider what data you need to track:
- Donor information management
- Campaign performance metrics
- Integration with accounting software
- Custom report requirements
The key is to be realistic about your needs and capabilities. I’ve seen organizations struggle with powerful but complex plugins when a simpler solution would have served them better. Start with your core requirements and choose a plugin that can grow with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which crowdfunding plugin is best for beginners?
Charitable is the most beginner-friendly option. It offers a clean interface, straightforward setup, and doesn’t overwhelm you with features. You can start accepting donations within 30 minutes of installation, and their documentation is excellent for newcomers.
Do I need a paid plugin to accept donations?
Not necessarily. WordPress plugins like Charitable and WP Simple Pay offer free versions that handle basic donation collection. However, paid versions offer essential features like recurring donations, better reporting, and email integration that can help increase your fundraising success.
Can I accept recurring donations with these plugins?
Yes, most plugins support recurring donations, but usually as a premium feature. GiveWP, WP Simple Pay, and Charitable all offer recurring donations in their paid versions.
What payment gateways do these plugins support?
It varies by plugin:
- WP Simple Pay focuses exclusively on Stripe
- Charitable supports multiple gateways plus local options like Payrexx, PayFast, Square, Authorize.net Braintree, Windcave, and more
- WPForms works with PayPal, Stripe, Square, and more
Will these plugins work with my theme?
Most modern WordPress crowdfunding plugins are designed to work with any standard WordPress theme. However, some might need minor styling adjustments to match your theme perfectly. Charitable and GiveWP are particularly good at adapting to existing theme styles.
What about transaction fees?
You’ll typically encounter two types of fees:
- Payment processor fees (unavoidable, usually 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)
- Platform fees (varies by plugin – some like Charitable (premium) have none, while others might charge a percentage)
Can I generate tax receipts automatically?
Yes, with a plugin like Charitable, you’ll get automatic tax receipt generation. You can custom receipts and set up automatic sending options.
Overall, I recommend Charitable. It’s the perfect balance of features and simplicity without breaking the bank.
Ready to start crowdfunding?
Get started with Charitable Now »
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