Kickstarter is perhaps the most well-known crowdfunding site around the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only one worth launching products on. In fact — there are more crowdfunding websites similar to Kickstarter than you might think.
Despite Kickstarter’s popularity, there might be better crowdfunding platform alternatives for achieving your goals depending on the type of product you want to launch. From platform features, to audiences, to funding models, there are so many options for those who want to crowdfund their products in 2024.
If you’re considering crowdfunding, it’s helpful to understand the full landscape of tools available to you before settling on the right launch platform. In this post, we’ll explore the top 15 websites similar to Kickstarter, and how to choose the right alternative for your product launch.
Key takeaways
- Reasons you might want to consider crowdfunding platforms besides Kickstarter
- A comprehensive look at the best Kickstarter alternatives
- Choosing the best platform for your crowdfunding project
Contents
Why look for alternatives to Kickstarter?
There are plenty of arguments to be made for why people choose Kickstarter to launch on. Since its inception, it has received more than $8.25 billion in pledges over the course of 639,000 projects. It’s a very safe bet in terms of its large user base and proven track record.
However, there are still reasons that turn people off to Kickstarter. Here are a few common criticisms people have for the platform:
- High fees: It’s important to know that Kickstarter charges a 5% platform fee on all funds raised, plus an additional 3-5% in payment processing fees. For those with tight budgets, these fees can feel more significant.
- All-or-nothing model: The all-or-nothing funding model means that if your campaign doesn’t meet its funding goal, you won’t receive any of the funds you managed to raise. This poses a certain monetary risk for some creators.
- Competition and saturation: Kickstarter is popular — very popular. As a result, a lot of creators launch on this platform, many of whom might be in your product category. This can cause problems for those looking to stand out above the rest.
- Geographic restrictions: Kickstarter isn’t available in all countries, and creators outside of supported locations won’t have easy access to the platform.
For these reasons and more, some creators look to alternatives to Kickstarter to be able to launch their products. Thanks to the breadth of options, there is a potential solution to any of the issues you might have with this major platform.
Top 13 crowdfunding platforms similar to Kickstarter
So, what are the alternatives to Kickstarter? From the biggest competitors to the relatively obscure, there are crowdfunding platforms to choose from to help you succeed in your product launch. Let’s look at the top 13 crowdfunding alternatives to consider that are similar to Kickstarter.
1. Indiegogo
Like Kickstarter, Indiegogo is a popular crowdfunding platform that allows creators to raise funds for their projects. Founded in 2008 as a platform for financing indie films, Indiegogo has grown into one of the largest platforms for crowdfunding a variety of product categories despite being roughly a quarter the size of Kickstarter in terms of traffic and around half the size in dollars raised.
Key distinctions and features
One way that the platform distinguishes itself is in its primary niche categories. While Kickstarter is firmly established as the place to launch creative projects like games, Indiegogo has become the main player in launching glamping sites and boutique hotels like Kosmos — a campaign we helped to raise $1,948,787.
This platform also has something called “flexible funding,” meaning that campaign owners still get to keep the money they’ve raised regardless of if they’ve reached their funding goal or not. However, creators need to be aware of something called the “reserved funds.” This is a 5% chunk taken out of your earnings when you’ve raised more than 1,000 in your local currency that the platform holds to cover refunds and chargebacks for at least six months after your campaign has ended.
Indiegogo is also more lenient on what campaigns they approve to run on their platform. Kickstarter requires projects to have a working prototype before getting approved, but Indiegogo will let a campaign run even if the creator can only provide photorealistic renders. Even with this leniency, though, Indiegogo still reviews each project carefully to protect its community against scams.
Other key features available to Indiegogo users include:
- Pre-launch pages: These are landing pages that you can create to collect email addresses from leads before you launch. Indiegogo’s are fairly customizable.
- Campaign page editor: Indiegogo’s page editor allows users to design their page using HTML.
- Secret perks: These are perks that can only be found using a secret link, making it a powerful tool for upselling. This feature is not available on Kickstarter.
- Custom link tracking: Indiegogo lets you add custom text to your campaign links to help track performance automatically.
- Ad tracking: You can add Meta Pixel, Google Analytics, and set up Meta’s Conversion API to track all traffic to your pages.
- Pledge management: Indiegogo has a built-in pledge manager to make order fulfillment easier.
- Indiegogo InDemand: This feature lets you continue to collect funding after your campaign has ended by turning your campaign page into a pre-order collection page. The platform takes 5% of funds raised on InDemand.
Indiegogo has historically been open to testing new features on their platform and offers creators a plethora of options to help make product launches as successful as possible.
When to use
Overall, Indiegogo separates itself from Kickstarter in that it’s a much more flexible platform to launch on. For creators who need this extra wiggle room to help get their crowdfunding campaign off the ground, this is definitely the better platform to consider. Additionally, if your campaign belongs to a niche that is prominent on Indiegogo, such as boutique hotels or e-bikes, this platform is a safer bet.
For a more in-depth breakdown of Kickstarter vs Indiegogo, check out our post detailing the key differences between the two platforms that you need to know before launching your campaign.
2. GoFundMe
GoFundMe is a crowdfunding platform founded in 2010 that lets people create personal fundraising campaigns and share their stories with the audience. It’s a platform that is primarily used for personal causes, charity, and nonprofit campaigns, focusing on helping individuals and communities raise money for needs like medical expenses, emergency situations, education, and other charitable causes.
Key distinctions and features
GoFundMe’s key distinction is that it’s more centered around donations than investment or product-based rewards compared to other crowdfunding platforms. Still, it provides a user-friendly and accessible platform for its campaigns, while granting many of the same features seen on Kickstarter like customizable campaign pages, campaign videos, and optional funding goals.
Once a campaign is live, donors can make secure online contributions with credit and debit cards. The advantageous feature that GoFundMe provides in this regard is no platform fees for most personal fundraising campaigns. Fitting with the donation nature of the platform, GoFundMe allows individuals to keep more of the funding they receive than Kickstarter or Indiegogo; however, standard payment processing fees still apply.
This platform also allows withdrawals at any time, meaning campaign organizers can withdraw funds at any point during a live campaign. There are usually best practices for when to launch a crowdfunding campaign, they don’t necessarily apply to GoFundMe since the platform doesn’t require a set campaign period to work around. Those who don’t reach their funding goal during the duration of the campaign can simply end their campaign and withdraw what they’ve raised.
Another unique feature is GoFundMe Charity, which is a separate platform designed for registered nonprofit organizations. Here, nonprofits get access to more advanced fundraising tools, like recurring donations, donor management, and event registration.
When to use
GoFundMe focuses on personal causes and charity fundraising. If you’re looking to raise money for one of the following, use this platform as your go-to:
- Medical emergencies
- Disaster relief
- Memorial funds
- Education and tuition
- Personal hardships
- Animal rescue and support
There have been plenty of success stories on this platform, so don’t hesitate to host a campaign for a personal cause if need be.
3. Patreon
Patreon is another popular crowdfunding website, but it uses a membership-based model to allow fans to support creators. From artists, to writers, to YouTubers and podcasters, creators with significant supporters on Patreon can earn sustainable income directly from their “patrons” in exchange for monthly or per-project contributions.
Key distinctions and features
There are three key distinctions on Patreon that set it apart from other crowdfunding platforms. They include:
- Subscription model: Patreon operates on a subscription basis where people can make recurring contributions to support their favorite creators. This gives people who use Patreon predictable income, unlike platforms based on one-time donations or crowdfunding campaigns.
- Membership tiers: Creators can set up different membership levels, or “tiers,” with varying benefits and perks. Each tier has a different price point, with higher tiers offering more exclusive content and experiences.
- Closer fan relationships: This platform enables creators to build more direct relationships with supporters. Creators can communicate with patrons via the platform and offer patron-only updates to foster a sense of community among supporters.
Patreon also lets creators set up membership tiers for offering various benefits and perks. People in higher tiers can be given access to exclusive content, early releases, and behind-the-scenes material that regular patrons won’t be able to see. Creating this “fear of missing out” (FOMO) is a powerful way that the platform creates incentive for fans to support creators even more for access to more community engagement.
As far as fees, Patreon takes a percentage of the income you generate at rates between 5% and 12% depending on the plan. Creators can then withdraw funds via direct bank deposits, PayPal, or other digital payment systems.
When to use
Patreon isn’t designed for rewards-based crowdfunding, but it is ideal for independent creators who are building a growing community. Third-party integration with other platforms like YouTube, WordPress, and Discord, makes this an ideal crowdfunding tool for creators who are delivering steady streams of content and want to monetize their fanbase through a subscription model.
4. StartEngine
Platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo are designed for rewards-based crowdfunding, but StartEngine is an equity crowdfunding platform. Founded 2014, this platform connects early-stage companies with potential investors, enabling startups to secure funding in exchange for ownership stakes. And an important note, another equity crowdfunding platform called SeedInvest was acquired by StartEngine in 2022, and now operates under this brand.
Key distinctions and features
The most notable distinction about StartEngine is the model of equity crowdfunding. There are two main actions that users can take on this platform:
- Investing: Investing on this platform, means you are purchasing securities directly from the company via their StartEngine campaign page. When you invest to a company actively raising funds, it’s in exchange for equity, or debt, in the company issued directly by who you’ve invested in.
- Trading: Through StartEngine Secondary, an Alternative Trading System, companies that have previously raised funds via equity crowdfunding can quote their shares for trade. This peer-to-peer platform gives investors the chance to buy and sell securities previously offered via equity crowdfunding campaigns.
The key distinction between the two is based on where the securities are being purchased or sold from. Buying securities directly from a company is considered investing, while buying or selling securities with other investors is considered trading.
Besides StartEngine Secondary, the platform has some other noteworthy features that include:
- Owner Bonus Program (10% bonus for shares purchased in participating offerings)
- Anti-fraud and background checks
- Account managers
- Campaign strategists and creative leads
When to use
While the features of this platform sound very technical, there is still a fairly low barrier to entry for people who’d like to invest. StartEngine allows non-accredited investors to participate in early-stage investment opportunities with the minimum sometimes being as low as $100. Anyone with the minimum monetary requirement can invest in startups regardless of income or net worth.
Because of the accessibility of StartEngine for individual investors, this platform is ideal for entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses who are seeking to raise capital through equity-based incentives.
5. Crowdfunder
Crowdfunder is another rewards-based crowdfunding platform that allows creators to raise money for projects. It aims to provide a flexible and creator-friendly environment for crowdfunding directly from supporters in exchange for rewards, donations, and community shares in some cases.
Crowdfunder is based in the UK and is widely used for projects that include community initiatives, business ideas, social causes, and environmental campaigns. Campaigns on this platform can run for four to six weeks, and Crowdfunder provides the option for either the all-or-nothing model or a keep-what-you-raise model depending on certain conditions.
Key distinctions and features
One key distinction of this UK-based crowdfunding platform is in the type of projects it hosts. Unlike other rewards-based platforms in the U.S., this offers a more inclusive crowdfunding environment for campaign creators. There are three main project types:
- Standard crowdfunding: These are projects that get launched by entrepreneurs and startups. Premium features for these projects include rewards, coaching, and always-on crowdfunding, which lets campaigns continue raising money after a campaign ends.
- Personal causes: Individuals who want to raise money for charities or causes that matter to them can also launch campaigns. These types of projects come with only basic crowdfunding features from the platform.
- Charity fundraisers: Like personal causes, charity fundraisers also come with basic functionality and are donation only.
With these differing project types and campaigns comes a unique fee structure on Crowdfunder. Here is how the fees differ on the platform at a glance:
Platform fee | Transaction fee | |
Charitable causes | 0% | 1.9% + 20p plus VAT |
Not-for-profit | 0% | 2.4% + 20p plus VAT |
For-profit | 5% | 2.4% + 20p plus VAT |
Crowdfunder also offers matched funding opportunities by collaborating with local authorities and corporate sponsors. This means that certain projects can double the impact of contributions after a campaign if there are willing participants who can match the total raise.
When to use
Crowdfunder aims to benefit projects that are not-for-profit and charitable causes. By incentivizing these with a favorable fee structure, this platform has built a userbase that is friendly to all types of creators and organizations. This makes it a great place to launch for UK-based individuals and organizations who’d like to bring about a positive impact on local communities.
6. Fundable
Fundable is another popular crowdfunding site that is used by startups and small businesses — but with a twist. This platform allows businesses to raise capital in two different ways, combining the rewards-based and equity crowdfunding models into one website.
Launched in 2012, this platform aims to connect startups with potential backers and investors with flexible crowdfunding options. The rewards-based side lets campaign owners offer rewards, such as products, services, or experiences to backers in exchange for financial pledges, while the equity feature allows shares or company equity to be given in exchange for money. Campaign owners can choose the model that fits best with their business goals.
Key distinctions and features
Aside from its dual crowdfunding model, Fundable distinguishes itself with a private equity crowdfunding system. Because it’s not open to the public, only accredited investors can access equity crowdfunding campaigns. This gives the platform a higher level of security and credibility for startups looking to raise money through the equity model. Companies looking to launch products still have the rewards-based system available to them, which is public.
Businesses have access to various campaign support features. Fundable provides tools, resources, and guidance for building professional campaigns, including strategy development, presentation support, and more. There are also consultation services available for startups who are navigating the platform’s equity crowdfunding features.
The fee structure is also different on Fundable. This platform charges a monthly fee of roughly $179 to use it, whether or not a campaign is successful. Additionally, there are no transaction fees for rewards-based campaigns, but transaction fees will apply when processing equity investments. Fundable uses an all-or-nothing model for rewards-based campaigns, so only successful campaigns can receive payout.
When to use
Fundable is geared toward startups and growth-stage businesses that are seeking new capital to continue scaling. Whether you’re looking to launch a high-tech software startup, or even a cool new restaurant, Fundable is the place for you.
Since the equity system is private, the platform connects businesses with a network of accredited investors who are actively seeking to back startups. Although the pool is technically smaller than public equity crowdfunding platforms, it gives companies the chance to get funding from experienced and serious investors who have significantly more resources than the average backer.
7. Ulule
Ulule is a European crowdfunding platform launched in 2010 that focuses on spotlighting projects that are creative, or make positive social and environmental impacts. It uses a rewards-based crowdfunding model and has the same all-or-nothing system as many other platforms utilize. It does have some distinguishing features that make it a very inclusive platform.
Key distinctions and features
Ulule differentiates itself in that it embodies its mission for positive social impact. Not only does it aim to host projects with this type of messaging, but it aims to give back by offering personalized support and resources to project creators.
Each campaign includes personalized tutoring, workshops and education from their team of experts whose aim is to impact the chances of success as much as possible. Because of this, Ulule boasts one of the highest success rates in crowdfunding at above 75% across 30,000 projects with a community of almost three million members.
Ulule also caters to a broad European audience by offering multi-language support. This helps creators reach international audiences more effectively than they could by running campaigns solely in their local language.
When to use
For European-based entrepreneurs looking to launch a product or project that can have a positive social impact, this is the platform for you. While their community may not be as big as platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, the platform’s accessibility and educational resources are second-to-none.
At LaunchBoom, we also understand the importance of education in crowdfunding. Like Ulule, we aim to make creators’ dreams a reality through personalized coaching and a suite of proprietary crowdfunding software called LaunchKit.
If you’d like to learn more, set up a talk with one of our experts today!
8. Fundly
Fundly is a crowdfunding platform designed to help people, nonprofits, and organizations raise money for a variety of causes. On their homepage, there’s a headline prominently featured that reads: “A Little Care Can Change the World.” This humanitarian focus makes it an ideal place to raise money for things like personal fundraising, charities, education, and community projects.
Known for its user-friendly interface and flexibility in supporting both large and small fundraising goals, Fundly aims to make crowdfunding as easy as possible in the name of doing good for all kinds of causes.
Key distinctions and features
This platform comes with many key features that make it an easy place to launch charity-centric crowdfunding campaigns.
- No minimum goal: Fundly does not require campaign owners to set a target funding goal, meaning there’s no punishment for failing to meet a minimum raise.
- Keep what you raise: With a keep-what-you-raise model, creators can keep the funds they’ve raised regardless of how much gets raised in the end.
- Donation flexibility: This platform allows contributors to make one-time and recurring donations as they see fit. This makes it easier for campaigns to attract repeat contributions.
- Social media integration: Fundly emphasizes sharing on social media, providing easy integration with many social platforms for multichannel fundraising.
Fundly claims not to have any hidden fees but is transparent in its platform and processing fee structure. The platform fee is around 4.9%, and the processing fees are roughly 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. All fees are deducted from donations before funds get distributed to the campaign owner.
When to use
This platform is ideal for personal and community causes. Whether for medical bills, education, charity, or raising money for disaster relief, Fundly’s flexible platform and social media integration for spreading awareness make it a great fundraising platform.
9. Kiva
Kiva is an interesting standout in the crowdfunding space. Not only is it a crowdfunding platform, it’s also a nonprofit organization that focuses on microlending, allowing people to lend money to low-income entrepreneurs and students around the world.
This platform launched in 2005 and aims to alleviate poverty by connecting lenders with borrowers in developing regions to grant access to small loans that can impact the lives of those who have less resources. To date, they have funded 2.3 million different loans, reached over 5 million people, and lent $2 billion to recipients around the world.
Key distinctions and features
Kiva is driven by its core mission to reduce poverty and increase access to capital for underserved populations. As a result, many of their key distinctions and features were designed to make this as easy as possible.
First is the concept of microloans. Kiva provides small loans, sometimes as low as $25, to individuals and small businesses in countries ranging from the U.S. to developing nations. These loans help people start or grow their businesses, create jobs, and support their families.
Kiva contributors also do not earn interest on the money they lend. This policy of interest-free lending puts the focus on social impact instead of for-profit opportunities. And because these loans are accessible in over 80 countries, borrowers who don’t have access to traditional financial institutions can get the money they need for business opportunities.
In order to get people their money as securely as possible, Kiva works with field partners that are mostly local organizations to administer the loans and work with the borrowers directly. These partners help vet borrowers and work with them to manage repayments. It should be noted that some field partners charge interest, but Kiva has a strict policy of not taking any for itself.
When to use
Unlike platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, Kiva provides financial loans with the expectation of gradual repayment instead of a product. Thanks to these microloans, millions have benefited from getting access to capital they otherwise wouldn’t. Because of this, Kiva is most attractive to individuals interested in making positive impact through investing by empowering entrepreneurs around the globe.
10. Chuffed
Chuffed is another not-for-profit focused crowdfunding platform supporting social causes and community projects. Founded in 2012 as Chip In, this UK-based company wanted to play a proactive role in bringing out change both big and small. Chuffed makes it easy for people seeking to fundraise to find a community of people willing to support them.
Key distinctions and features
The biggest thing that sets Chuffed apart is their refusal to charge platform fees for using their website. Because they don’t charge commission on money raised, it makes them extremely attractive for nonprofits and grassroots organizations. Instead, campaigns are encouraged to ask donors to tip the platform to help cover operating costs.
Chuffed also offers flexible funding options, giving campaign creators the choice between setting funding goals or running open-ended campaigns. No matter what, though, creators get to keep whatever they raise, and there’s no penalty for failing to reach a preset funding goal.
To help campaign owners raise as much as they can, the platform offers comprehensive campaign support. Chuffed offers various tools and resources, including guides on storytelling, promotion, and donor engagement. There’s also email marketing and social media integration, making it easier for campaigners to spread the word and engage their supporters.
When to use
Like other donor-driven crowdfunding platforms, Chuffed is ideal for organizations or individuals working on social or environmental causes. Its audience is equally focused on making positive impacts, and the platform emphasizes donor engagement through its features and tools.
11. Pozible
Pozible is an Australia-based crowdfunding site that helps creators and organizations raise funds for a variety of projects. From creative endeavors, like art, film, and music, to tech products and social causes, Pozible is a diverse platform for crowdfunding.
Per their website, they boast some impressive stats:
- 56% success rate across all projects
- More than $100 million raised via crowdfunding
- 15,700+ projects launched
- 105 countries pledged from
Their global reach, flexibility, and rewards-based model make them a good option for creators looking to launch a product or personal project.
Key distinctions and features
Pozible has a strong connection to the artistic community of Australia. While it does have global connection, it’s based in Australia and therefore comes with some perks for locals looking to launch artistic projects. The main perk is that the platform has strong ties with organizations like Creative Partnerships Australia, offering support and grants to projects in the arts.
Another way in which it supports creative endeavors is through its feature of subscription-based crowdfunding. Like Pateron, Pozible gives creators the option to receive ongoing monthly support from backers who’d like to become subscribers instead of just giving one-time payments. This is extremely effective for creators like artists, videographers, and musicians who want to make new work available to their fans on a regular basis.
As far as fees go, Pozible charges based on the funding model. Creators can choose all-or-nothing-style campaigns, in which case the platform would take a 5% fee. For flexible funding, the fees are slightly higher, and payment processing fees also apply across the board.
When to use
While this platform is available internationally, it’s still more recommended for crowdfunding hopefuls based in Australia. Pozible maintains a strong focus on the Australian market and often highlights local campaigns. It also caters to nice communities in Australia, making it a strong choice for projects with cultural or regional significance to that country.
12. Experiment
Unlike most crowdfunding sites which highlight consumer products or charitable causes, Experiment is a platform where researchers can raise money directly from people to fund their scientific projects.
This platform was founded by scientists, designers, and technologists, and it’s no surprise that its target audience is a more scientifically inclined community. Their belief is that science is a public good, and therefore the public should be rewarded with the ability to participate and engage with new research.
Key distinctions and features
As mentioned, Experiment distinguishes itself by exclusively supporting scientific research projects. From biology, to chemistry, to social sciences, to health research, this platform connects scientists in many fields to backers who are passionate about supporting discovery. Instead of physical rewards, backers usually receive acknowledgments like naming credits on research papers, early access to results, or participation in scientific discussions.
Experiment pushes for transparency and open communication. Researchers are expected to provide detailed project plans and regular updates to their backers. The emphasis on complete transparency establishes greater trust with backers, since project owners have to be open in how funds are used and provide frequent updates as research progresses.
Like many platforms, Experiment employs an all-or-nothing model, where research funding must hit the target goal before the end of the funding period. This reduces the risk for backers while ensuring researchers have enough resources to carry out their projects.
When to use
This platform may be based in the U.S., but Experiment allows researchers from around the world to host campaigns for their projects. Having a global outreach gives scientists on this platform a chance to find people from all over the world who have a shared interest in the research they are doing. This makes Experiment a no-brainer for scientists looking to get their research projects crowdfunded.
13. Mightycause
Mightycause is another player in the nonprofit crowdfunding community that has been helping people with online fundraising since 2006. They have helped over 150,000 causes throughout the life of the company, and have helped up to 1.2 million participants engage with difference-making projects.
Key distinctions and features
There is one key factor that sets Mightycause apart from the rest. It’s not a platform, but online crowdfunding software. With this software, they provide a host of online and mobile tools.
- Online fundraising
- Donor management
- Team and event fundraising
- Custom donation pages and widgets
- Giving day platform
Mightycause supports large-scale giving days, which are special days where multiple nonprofits can participate in a collective fundraising effort. The platform provides complimentary features to these funding rallies like leaderboards, matching gifts, and donation challenges to incentivize donations during giving day events.
The platform handles secure donation processing and provides detailed reports and analytics for tracking donor activity. Nonprofits get insights into donor trends, campaign performance, and financial summaries to help make campaigns a success. Furthermore, nonprofits using Mightycause receive all donations without platform fees, letting them maximize revenue gains for their causes.
When to use
Because of the lack of platform fees, as well as the tools and resources geared toward donation-based crowdfunding, this is an ideal platform for nonprofit organizations. Additionally, groups of regular people can create team-based crowdfunding efforts where multiple members collaborate on one project. This feature is especially useful for raising money for things like community efforts, charity walks, or volunteer projects.
How to choose the best crowdfunding platform for your project
Now that you’ve learned about 13 of the most popular crowdfunding platforms on the internet, it’s time to learn how to choose the best one for your project. From defining your project goals to taking stock of platform support and resources, there are several key steps you can take to make sure you find the right platform for bringing about a successful campaign.
Define your project goals
The common goal amongst all crowdfunding sites is to raise money, but it’s important to dig deeper and define other project goals to get a clearer picture of which platform to use. Here are some questions you can ask yourself:
- Are you trying to launch cool new technology? If so, what kind?
- Are you trying to start a business and need to raise capital?
- Is your main objective to be profitable or to make a social impact?
- Are you trying to raise money for a personal cause?
- Are you a content creator looking for a more steady stream of income?
By figuring out what’s driving your crowdfunding ambitions, you’ll have an easier time choosing the best crowdfunding platform for your project.
Consider funding models
Not every crowdfunding platform offers the same funding models. In order to choose the right platform, you have to narrow down the list by first determining which funding model you want to use. Here are the four main types you’ll see:
- Rewards-based: Backers pay money in exchange for things like products, services, or experiences.
- Equity-based: Investors get a stake in the campaign, making it suitable for startups trying to raise capital.
- Donation-based: Supporters donate without the expectation of receiving something in return.
- Debt-based: Also known as peer-to-peer lending, money is borrowed from backers, which is then repaid with or without interest depending on the platform.
Rewards-based is probably the most popular option in crowdfunding, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for your campaign. Be sure to look into the mechanics of each so that you’ll know exactly which is best for your goals.
Analyze platform fees
Fees are nearly universal to crowdfunding platforms, since they are businesses that have operating costs as well. Thankfully, they are fairly transparent with what fees their users can expect when using their services.
Once you have a list of two to three platforms narrowed down for your campaign goals, you can start analyzing the various fees you’ll have to pay. The two most common fees are platform fees and processing fees. These are meant to cover the costs of handling your campaign and money.
If your priority is getting as much of your funding raised into your hands as possible, go with a platform that has more favorable rates. Either way, take the time to educate yourself and your team about what fees you’ll have to pay so that you can budget for that when the time comes to receive your payout.
Evaluate audience and reach
Each crowdfunding platform has unique audience demographics, and some are better suited for particular projects than others. Here are some well-known examples:
- Kickstarter: Full of supporters of creative projects like art, design, and games.
- Indiegogo: Great for fans of technology, e-bikes, and glamping projects
- GoFundMe: Expects to support personal and charitable causes
- StartEngine: Looking for startup companies to invest in for equity
Certain platforms are no-brainers, such as Kickstarter with games and Indiegogo with e-bikes; however, since there’s a lot of overlap in certain audiences across various platforms, it’s up to you to scrutinize various features and resources offered that may give you the edge for success.
Review platform support and resources
Ease-of-use, tools, and platform support are essential factors by which you can judge the various crowdfunding platforms. Not only should their user interface make a good impression, but their creator support tools should be able to help you achieve your goals.
Does the platform provide marketing or promotional tools? Are there analytics to help track your campaign’s progress? Can you easily communicate with backers? Is there any kind of campaign setup support to make sure your page effectively communicates your project to potential backers? There are varying degrees of features available depending on the platform, so choose according to your most pressing needs.
But if you can’t find the exact support and resources you need, you can always turn to crowdfunding experts like LaunchBoom to help close the gap.
Final thoughts on the best crowdfunding alternatives to Kickstarter
When trying to answer the question what is #1 platform for crowdfunding, there is no way to give a definitive answer. There are so many different types of platforms out there, and each one excels in its own way. What’s best for one project is not always the best one for you.
That’s where LaunchBoom comes in. We understand that the world of crowdfunding can be difficult to navigate, and you may have a project you feel stands apart from many of the other success stories out there. But don’t worry, we’re here to make sure you land on the best platform for your crowdfunding goals.
If you’d like more insights into which is the best crowdfunding site for you, or you’d like to find out more about launching on Kickstarter, set up a call with one of our crowdfunding experts. We’re ready to help in any way we can.
Websites similar to Kickstarter: Frequently asked questions
What’s the best alternative to Kickstarter?
There’s no easy answer to what’s the best alternative to Kickstarter, because it depends on the needs of your crowdfunding ambitions. If you’re looking for a platform that has features and a community that is similar to Kickstarter, you can choose Indiegogo. If your campaign is more humanitarian focused, it’s better to go with GoFundMe or Kiva. If your aim is equity crowdfunding, the best alternatives are StartEngine or Fundable.
What replaced Kickstarter?
There is no singular crowdfunding platform that has replaced Kickstarter, but there are many alternatives that help different types of crowdfunding projects. From Indiegogo, to Patreon, to GoFundMe, there are so many options to choose from depending on the needs of your campaign, or what kind of crowdfunding niche you want to tap into.
What is the #1 fundraising platform for crowdfunding?
When analyzing which fundraising platform is #1, answers vary by category. For example, Kickstarter is the best when it comes to creative projects like games, whereas SeedInvest is the most popular for equity crowdfunding. When choosing which is best for you, analyze the specific needs and goals of your crowdfunding campaign, and select the platform that best aligns with your answers.
Which is the best crowdfunding site?
There is no objective answer for which is the best crowdfunding site, because what one person might consider the best might not actually suit the needs of another person’s crowdfunding goals. To select which is best for you, consider different factors like fees, audience, platform support, product category, etc. to find out where you might be more likely to have fundraising success.