The 10 Best Crowdfunding Sites for 2021 and Beyond

The best crowdfunding sites should provide a wide array of options. In other words, allow you to raise funds to start (or boost) your business; help you collect funds for a cause you believe in… the possibilities are endless!

Therefore, we decided to do most of the heavy legwork for you and made a list of top-notch crowdfunding platforms, which in our opinion offer something truly unique.

 So, without further ado, let’s check them out!

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Overview — We start our top 10 crowdfunding sites list with none other than the industry giant — Kickstarter. Since its inception in 2009, the site has funded about 193,321 projects, including the Oscar-winning short animated movie “Hair Love.”

In a nutshell, Kickstarter can help fund your book, comic, or movie project. It can also help you raise the money you need to design a new gadget/app or even do something totally unexpected — like making a potato salad or translating Moby Dick into emojis!

Fun trivia: As one of the most popular crowdfunding sites, Kickstarter helped Jennifer Kent, the award-winning director, create special effects for her breakthrough psychological horror movie — the Babadook. 

Likewise, it helped Zack Danger Brown raise $55,000+ to make a simple potato salad (believe it or not) and someone actually did translate Moby Dick into emojis (a certain Fred Benenson)!

Terms and fees — There are eight categories you can choose from: 

• Arts
• Film
• Comics and illustration
• Games
• Music
• Design & tech
• Food & craft
• Publishing

The funding fee entails a 5% cut of the total sum, whereas the payment fee adds up to 3% + $0.20 per pledge and 5% + $0.05 for pledges under $10.00.

In addition, Kickstarter uses a reward system for contributors, and like most other top crowdfunding sites, it has an all-or-nothing funding approach. In other words, if you don’t complete your project, you won’t receive any money.

Also, while you can start any type of non-profit project on Kickstarter, you cannot offer investments, equity, or revenue sharing; all Kickstarter funds must go to the creator of the project. 

Application process — Anyone over 18 can apply for a project on Kickstarter. To create your campaign, simply choose the category, describe your project in a few words, and select your place of residence. If your project gets approved, you can set the duration of the campaign anywhere between 1–60 days. 

Availability — Kickstarter might be the best crowdfunding site overall, but do keep in mind that it’s available in only 25 countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.  

Pros:

• Popular platform for creatives
• Biggest marketplace
• The Kickstarter Live option
• You can start any nonprofit project

Cons:

• Some believe that the brand’s customer support could be more helpful 

Overview — The second place on our list of popular crowdfunding sites belongs to Indiegogo — the go-to platform for tech gadgets and similar startup projects. 

Namely, since its launch in 2008, Indiegogo managed to raise over $1.6 billion for a lot of startups.

Fun fact: Some notable Indiegogo projects include the palm-sized Micro Drone that shoots in HD and a somewhat funny piece of tech called BitBite — a thing you put in your ear that “tracks your eating habits.”

Terms and fees — Indiegogo offers three different categories to choose from:

• Tech & Innovation  
• Creative Works  
• Community Projects  

Indiegogo is the best platform for startups considering its variety of usage; from starting creative projects to charity fundraising and equity crowdfunding. 

If you compare several crowdfunding sites, you’ll notice that almost all of them use the exact same formula when it comes to fees, Indiegogo being no exception (5% funding fee for entrepreneurial projects). 

However, if you start your campaign for a particular cause, you don’t have to pay said funding fees. You are only required to pay 3% + $0.30 per transaction. 

Another thing that sets Indiegogo apart is its flexible funding and fixed funding model. Choosing the first model lets you get the money you raised even if you don’t meet project goals. With fixed funding, the money will be returned to your donors if the campaign fails. 

The minimum goal amount is always $500. 

Application process — Based on several crowdfunding site reviews, all individuals over 18 can start a campaign at Indiegogo. After choosing one of the options (Individual, Business, or Nonprofit), you’ll have to provide additional information about your campaign and select the country of operation. 

To protect your business, you can also launch your campaign with the help of a reliable LLC service. Likewise, the maximum time limit of a project is 60 days, but you can also ask for an extension. 

Availability — Indiegogo is available in 21 countries: Canada, the US, Australia, Belgium, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Hong Kong.

Pros:

• Flexible and fixed funding option
• Get funds even after your campaign officially ends
• For inventions and technology
• Extendable project time limit

Cons:

• Complaints concerning refunds for unfinished projects

Overview — Patreon is the number one place for artists and creators and it supports over 200,000 authors with some 6 million patrons. As such, it’s no wonder this site is included in almost every top 5 crowdfunding sites list that features podcasters, musicians, writers, visual artists, and creators-of-all-kind. 

The site was founded back in 2013 by a YouTube musician, Jack Conte, who wanted to create a place where fans could send money directly to their favorite artists. 

Terms and fees — You can start a project on Patreon for free. Afterward, you need to choose one of three Patreon monthly plans:

• The Lite plan — 5% fee   
• The Pro plan — 8% fee 
• The Premium plan — 12% fee 

Overall, you’ll agree that artists need to find the best crowdfunding platforms to help them get noticed in the wide ocean that is the internet and Patreon does this job impeccably. Once you choose a plan, you’ll be able to switch between Lite and Pro whenever you want, too. 

Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that switching is not possible if you choose the Premium plan. In fact, you’ll need to use it for at least three months before transferring to another plan.

In addition, the usual payment processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30 per payment (over $3.00) and 5% + $0.10 (for payments under $3.00) also apply. 

Application process — What is the best crowdfunding site for creators under 18? 

Yep, you guessed it — Patreon. 

As long as you’re over 13, you can start a campaign. Once you find your niche, you’ll get monthly contributions from patrons for your creations. 

What’s more, you’ll be able to communicate with your audience and allow them to take a sneak peek into your creating process (behind the scenes videos, for instance). 

On that note, if you want to be successful on Patreon, you need to frequently share your work; otherwise, you’ll lose your pledgers and subscribers.

Availability — Worldwide.

Pros:

• Outstanding platform for artists and creators
• Three subscription plans
• Get paid on a monthly or per creation basis 
• Switch between plans whenever you want

Cons:

• Lacks built-in promotional tools

Overview — One of the best crowdfunding sites for personal fundraising and charity, GoFundMe managed to raise over $9 billion from more than 120 million contributions since its inception in 2010. 

In fact, you’ve probably heard of the company’s latest project (the Official George Floyd Memorial Fund) that managed to raise over $14,595,200. Or perhaps you’ve heard about the $1K Project dedicated to helping families affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Talk about the power of money.

Terms and fees — GoFundMe is considered one of the best fundraising sites for individuals and charities as it allows a wide array of categories, including:

• Medical
• Emergency
• Memorial
• Education
• Nonprofit
• Coronavirus fundraising

Also, the site uses standard payment processing fees — 2.9% + $0.30 for each donation. It also uses the keep-it-all model, so you’ll be able to keep all the money you raised. In addition to that, if you’re a US citizen, you won’t have to pay a fee for your personal campaigns. 

Application process — The best fundraising sites and platforms use the same application process — namely, you have to explain exactly why you want people to donate money for your cause and state just how much you expect to raise. 

What’s more, you can add different photos, videos, and promotional material to ensure the success of your campaign. 

Availability — GoFundMe is available for the following countries: the Republic of Ireland, the US, Australia, Luxembourg, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Italy, Germany, France, Finland, Sweden, the UK, Switzerland, Denmark, Spain, Canada, and Portugal.

Pros:

• No platform fees 
• Raise money for yourself or a charity
• Suitable for any type of startup
• You get to keep all the money you raise

Cons:

• Some funds are taxable even though they are considered “personal gifts”

Overview — StartEngine was founded in early 2011 by Ron Miller, Howard Marks, and Kevin O’Leary and the main focus of this tech-oriented crowdfunding platform is to help people invest in startups; by now, they managed to raise over $200 million from some 300,000 users. 

Best of all, almost anyone can become an investor as long as they meet the minimum investment requirement ($100). Namely, as one of the best crowdfunding investment sites in the US, StartEngine allows you to invest no matter whether you’re an accredited or non-accredited investor.

Terms and fees — Although there are no fees for investors, StartEngine will take 7%–12% of your company’s total raised capital. That said, you can reduce this cost if you charge investors a processing fee of 2.5%. 

StartEngine is a service that’s available only for US citizens — hence, if you want to use this platform, you have to join the 30 million small businesses in the US. 

Although most of the best crowdfunding sites on our list allow you to set your own goal, StartEngine has a $10,000 starting minimum. 

On a similar note, if you want to collect your funds, you’ll need to raise at least 120% of your minimum funding goal. 

Application process — To launch a successful campaign, you need to make it appealing in order to attract more investors. Therefore, write an engaging story and do all you can in the allotted 60–90 days you have for your campaigns on StartEngine. 

When it comes to the investments themselves, several crowdfunding site reviews highlight that you can invest in any startup or growth-stage company on StartEngine. To narrow your search, simply use the following filters: search by progress, search by industry, most funded, and recently launched.

Availability — US-only.

Pros:

• $100 minimum investments 
• For accredited and non-accredited investors
• No fees for investors
• You can invest in any growth-stage company or startup

Cons:

• Customer service could be better

Overview — CircleUp most definitely fits the top equity crowdfunding sites bill and is the number one choice for entrepreneurs who need additional resources for growing their business in the fashion, beauty, personal care, food and beverage, and restaurant industries. 

The company managed to raise $390 million (so far) for about 250 startups. Its vast user list includes investors — of which 50% belongs to various institutions — experts, entrepreneurs, and retailers with whom you can connect to get more insight into their business. 

Terms and fees — Which crowdfunding site is the best? 

One that offers more than one financing option of course! Namely, CircleUp offers both equity and credit financing. 

In addition, CircleUp has a minimum investment limit of $10,000. And to our delight, there are no fees for family and friend investments. 

Then again, not everyone can invest in CircleUp; you need to be an accredited investor to do so. In other words, non-accredited investors won’t be able to fund companies on this platform.

How to become an accredited investor? Well, for starters, you need to have a large income — at least $200k per year.

Hence, although not one of the best crowdfunding sites for individuals, CircleUp offers plenty of opportunities for accredited investors.

Application process — You’ll have to go through some safety checks before getting approved. Once you get it (after a few days), you can introduce your campaign’s goals and set the funding goals, as well.    

And as previously mentioned, the minimum investment is $10,000. Since CircleUp follows an all-or-nothing model, meaning you won’t get the funds if you don’t achieve the set goal.

Availability — Worldwide.

Pros:

• Connect with experts, entrepreneurs, and retailers
• No fees for family and friend investments
• You can also qualify as an institution
• Available worldwide

Cons:

• Accredited investors only

Overview — Causes is one of the biggest platforms that target political, social, and cultural issues. As such, it works much like a social network with 186 million users from all over the world. 

Aside from creating a campaign by gathering pledges and donations, you can also create petitions and engage with people that share your cause. 

With its 100 million users, Causes might be the largest platform for social activism and the best crowdfunding site for nonprofits.

Terms and fees — Causes lets you raise funds by getting a specific amount of pledges, donations, and signatures. Best of all, you can choose any amount you want as your final goal. 

Likewise, there are no official deadlines. Hence, you are responsible for determining the duration of your campaign. You can even tamper with deadlines and extend them if needed. 

Lastly, there are no funding fees (except for the standard transaction fee), and you get to keep everything you raised. 

Application process — First, you need to create a topic for your project. After that, you need to click on the “fundraising” button and you’re good to go. 

Availability — Albeit considered one of the best crowdfunding sites for nonprofits, there is but one major downside to this platform. You have to be a US or Canadian citizen to start a project on this site. 

Pros:

• Great for personal fundraising 
• No funding fees or deadlines 
• Ideal platform for activists
• Works on donations and pledges

Cons:

• Not the best UI (info on the processing fees is somewhat lacking)

Overview — iFundWomen is a funding platform designed specifically with female entrepreneurs in mind. Its main focus is to provide all kinds of business services to women; from marketing and coaching to online fundraising and grants. After all, money is still the most popular form of business financing. 

Moreover, the platform is also pretty flexible when it comes to funding. For example, you can adjust your campaign’s duration and you can even change your primary goal at any time. 

Terms and fees — Like other top crowdfunding websites, starting a campaign is completely free. Nevertheless, you’ll still need to pay the 5% fee on your total funds raised including the payment processing fee (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). 

However, iFundWomen will use this percentage to invest a whooping 20% into campaigns and services led by women entrepreneurs. 

Either way, you can choose any crowdfunding campaign from the following categories: restaurants, tech apps, nonprofits, short films, etc. Moreover, you don’t have to be a woman to use this platform; you just have to be 18 years old. 

Application process — Based on several iFundWomen crowdfunding site reviews, you need to provide an image, a title, a tagline, and a campaign pitch to create a campaign. Be creative and add additional content as well (infographics, bullet points) to make your campaign even more personal.

Availability — iFundWomen is available in over 100 countries worldwide.

Pros:

• Designed for women entrepreneurs
• No gender discrimination, anyone can use this platform
• Flexible funding
• Invests 20% of the funds into campaigns led by women entrepreneurs

Cons:

• Lack of available customer reviews 

Overview — Bonfire is the only fundraising platform on our list that offers a rather unique way of raising money. Namely, the site’s main goal is to promote businesses by selling customized t-shirts to their supporters. 

As such, it’s designed for both individuals and nonprofit organizations that need to raise money for a particular purpose. 

Terms and fees — It’s safe to say that out of all the best T-shirt fundraising sites, Bonfire really takes the cake. For one, the platform is free to use, and after you finish your campaign, the money will be sent directly to the organization you named in your project. 

The only fee you need to pay is a 4.5% platform fee and a 3.5% processing fee. Additionally, you are free to set your own sales goals, t-shirt prices, and amounts.

Application process — Bonfire lets you customize t-shirts across different styles and colors, so let your imagination run wild. 

And if that’s not enough to satisfy your artistic cravings, this site has a special shirt design tool that you can use to make any pattern you like free of charge. 

Availability — US-only.

Pros:

• Excellent for both individuals and nonprofit organizations 
• Unique approach to fundraising 
• Adjustable T-shirt prices
• Shirt design tool for customization

Cons:

• Material is not always top quality

Overview — FreeFunder is a crowdfunding site where you can raise money through voluntary donations and contributions. Plus, you can also add team members, post updates, and send thank-you letters to contributors. 

Albeit the platform was primarily designed for personal causes, you can use it to gather money for your business. 

Terms and fees — FreeFunder is one of the best crowdfunding sites that comes with no funding fees. What’s more, you keep what you raise even if you don’t reach your given goal. Then again, you still need to pay the processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction).

Application process — You can create a unique campaign by adding colors, photos, changing fonts, adding members, or using tables. By utilizing multiple sharing options, you can significantly increase the outreach of your project. 

FreeFunder will donate $70.00 to your campaign if you have enough Facebook shares.

Useful tip: Is FreeFunder one of the best crowdfunding sites for medical bills? Yes, indeed! Simply choose the category “Emergency Help” or “Medical” to see (or create) the list of campaigns where you can donate money to help people in need. 

Availability — People from all over the world can donate money, but you can create a campaign only if you live in the US or Canada.

Pros:

• No funding fees
• You keep what you raise
• Multiple sharing options
• You can add members

Cons:

• No reward system

Now that you are familiar with some of the best platforms for crowdfunding, let’s explain how crowdfunding works in general; the difference between crowdfunding and fundraising; and which criteria you need to consider when making your choice.

What Is Crowdfunding?

In a nutshell, the term crowdfunding implies raising money through online platforms to finance various campaigns, projects, and businesses. 

Crowdfunding platforms are places where people can connect with different pledges to raise money through donations, rewards, loans, etc., instead of using credit repair companies to fix their credit score. 

What Is Crowdsourcing? 

While you’ve probably heard the term crowdsourcing, you shouldn’t mix it with crowdfunding. To clarify, crowdsourcing websites allow both organizations and individuals to obtain certain goods, services, information, etc. (think Wikipedia), whereas crowdfunding sites help people raise funds.

Furthermore, crowdsourcing is of immense help for brands as it provides additional insight into their customers’ needs for specific projects. One of the best examples of a successful crowdsourcing campaign is the Danish company, LEGO, and the e-commerce giant — Amazon (or so say the latest stats). 

What Is Fundraising?

Fundraising implies collecting funds from various donors for a particular cause that can be either business-related, charity-related, or individual and it’s most commonly done face-to-face. 

Types of Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding comes in four different types:

• Reward crowdfunding
• Debt crowdfunding
• Equity crowdfunding
• Donation crowdfunding 

So which crowdfunding site is the best? Let’s sort them by type.

Reward Crowdfunding

People that contribute funds to a cause will receive special “rewards,” depending on the donated amount. Also, the rewards can vary; most commonly, they come in the form of a product or service.

Debt Crowdfunding

Debt crowdfunding is best explained by its close synonym — peer-to-peer lending. With this approach, both individuals and organizations can borrow funds, which are then returned with an interest rate. 

Equity Crowdfunding

The best crowdfunding sites can also include something called equity funding. In short, people that pledge money to a company get some limited ownership over the company itself. For example, they can get shares, membership interest, etc. Consequently, entrepreneurs use this type of crowdfunding quite frequently.

Donation Crowdfunding 

People donate money to support the cause. They don’t get anything in return from the individual or the company that created the campaign.

All-or-Nothing vs. Keep-it-All

In terms of money, there are two different requirements for earning funds:

• Keep-it-all — you get all the funds even if you didn’t meet the campaign’s final goal
• All-or-nothing — you don’t get any funds unless you meet the final goal

Best Crowdfunding Sites, UK vs. US Regulations

Before starting a crowdfunding project, you have to consider several important regulations. Here are but a few. 

US Regulations:

• The investment limit is $1 million (raised in 12 months) 
• Investors don’t have to be accredited 
• All transactions need to take place online

UK Regulations:

• The Federal Trade Commission does not regulate donation and reward crowdfunding
• Debt crowdfunding might require FCA authorization
• If you don’t get authorization from the FCA, you won’t be able to start a P2P lending platform 

Useful tip: Regarding the best crowdfunding sites in India, it’s worth noting that equity crowdfunding is illegal in this country.

We started with a list of the ten best platforms for crowdfunding; we analyzed each one of them individually; and we covered all the bases — from fees, models, and types. As such, we hope our short reviews and crowdfunding guide helped you find the perfect match for your project.  

For any additional information, check the FAQs below!