11 Best Crowdfunding Sites in 2025 (Raise Money for Anything!)

But with so many sites out there, how do you know which one is right for you?

A platform that’s perfect for a creative project might be a terrible choice for a personal fundraiser.

Don’t worry, I’ve done the research for you.

This is my guide to the best crowdfunding platforms, based on your needs and what you’re trying to accomplish.

For Creative Projects: The Titans of Crowdfunding

These are the two biggest names in the game.

If you’ve heard of crowdfunding, you’ve probably heard of them.

They are known as reward-based crowdfunding sites.

That means you offer your backers rewards (like a pre-order of the product or something exclusive) and you have to hit your funding goal to get the money.

Here are the two best crowdfunding platforms that are reward based.

Kickstarter

Kickstarter is the big name in crowdfunding.

It’s perfect if you’re launching a creative project with a clear start and finish (like a new board game, tech gadget, indie film, or fashion line).

They have a strict review process, so your project needs to be sharp and polished to get approved.

But once you’re in, you get tons of credibility and traffic from their huge audience.

• Best for: Creative projects with a clear goal that offer a physical or digital reward.
• Fees: 5% of what you raise, plus around 3-5% for payment processing.

Indiegogo

Indiegogo is more flexible than Kickstarter.

It’s great for launching products and tech, but their rules aren’t as strict.

One cool feature is their “Flexible Funding” option. Basically, you get to keep whatever money you raise, even if you don’t hit your goal.

Just a heads-up: that can sometimes make backers less confident in your project.

• Best for: Entrepreneurs and creators who might not fit Kickstarter’s strict project model.
• Fees: 5% of funds raised, plus payment processing fees.

For Startups & Business: Equity and Film Funding

If your goal is to launch a full-fledged business and attract real investors (not just backers), then you need a platform that speaks that language.

These are the crowdfunding sites for entrepreneurs & startups.

Crowdfunder

This is where crowdfunding gets serious.

Crowdfunder isn’t about handing out t-shirts, it’s about selling a piece of your company.

This is called equity crowdfunding.

You raise cash from accredited investors in exchange for ownership in your startup.

The stakes are high, but the funding potential?

Huge. Some campaigns pull in millions.

• Best for: Serious startups after real venture capital from accredited investors.
• Fees: Monthly subscription starting at about $349.

Seed&Spark

Seed&Spark is dedicated to one thing: getting independent films made.

What makes it special is that it’s more than just a fundraising site; it’s a whole ecosystem.

You can build a following, find collaborators, and even stream your finished film on their platform.

If you’re a filmmaker, this is your place.

• Best for: Independent filmmakers and TV creators.
• Fees: 5% of funds raised, plus payment processing fees.

Fundable

I see (usually when I am browsing Reddit’s entrepreneur related subs) Fundable compared to Crowdfunder, and for good reason.

It’s a bit of a hybrid, allowing companies to offer either rewards (like a presale of a product) or equity in their business.

While not as high-profile as it once was, it is still a platform used by established startups looking to raise $50,000 or more from real investors.

• Best for: Established startups looking to raise big money from serious investors.
• Fees: Flat monthly fee while your campaign runs, usually starting around $179/month.

For Personal Causes & Charities

This is crowdfunding for life!

Whether you need help paying for dental work or other medical bills, are raising money for a community project, or fundraising for a charity, these platforms are designed for personal causes.

Here are the best fundraising sites for individuals.

GoFundMe

I love GoFundMe because it’s the easiest way to raise money for personal causes.

Whether you need money to pay rent, fix your car, go on a vacation after 10 years, or any other reason, GoFundMe is really a great place to fundraise.

Setting up a campaign takes minutes, sharing it on social is simple, and donations start coming in fast.

Whenever anyone asks me for peer-to-peer fundraising platforms for emergency stuff like medical bills, I mention FoFundMe.

Plus, I love their name, lol!

• Best for: Personal emergencies, medical bills, memorial funds, and individual causes.
• Fees: There are no platform fees for personal campaigns in the US; you only pay standard payment processing fees (around 2.9% + $0.30).

Fundly

Fundly is another great option for both personal and non-profit fundraising.

It has a clean interface and great social sharing tools.

It’s very similar to GoFundMe, but a lot of people like it for its ease of use for team-based fundraising, like for a local sports team or school trip.

• Best for: Non-profits, charities, and team-based personal fundraising.
• Fees: There is no platform fee, just standard payment processing fees.

For Life Events & Gift Giving

Sometimes, you don’t need another toaster; you need cash to help fund a big life event. This is a special category of crowdfunding focused on gift-giving.

Honeyfund (formerly Plumfund)

I’m a big fan of Honeyfund because it makes asking for cash gifts way less awkward.

Originally built for honeymoon money, it’s now perfect for anything, anniversaries, baby showers, down payments, whatever big life event you’ve got going on.

I personally think it’s a much more polite and organized way to ask for cash gifts for a specific, shared goal.

Instead of a traditional gift registry, your guests can give money towards your honeymoon flights, a down payment on a new home, a baby shower fund, or whatever you happen to be saving for.

• Best for: Engaged couples, newlyweds, baby showers, and anyone who wants cash gifts instead of stuff.
• Fees: They offer a free option where you get paid through PayPal or Venmo. You just pay their usual processing fees.
• Payout Options: Payments are made directly to your linked PayPal, Venmo, or bank account.

Niche & International Platforms

Big platforms are great for most projects, but sometimes you need something more specialized.

Here are a few trusted sites built for specific communities or causes.

Ulule

The impossible-to-pronounce Ulule is a European-focused crowdfunding site, which is also based on a reward system.

It’s actually a great alternative to Kickstarter for creators with a European audience.

It’s a rewards-based platform known for its strong community and a high project success rate, with a focus on creative and community-impact projects.

Pozible

If you’re in Australia, you may want to check Pozible first as it’s very similar to Kickstarter.

It works just like Kickstarter, helping fund creative stuff, from films and music to publishing and art.

Pozible has a strong local reputation for turning Aussie ideas into reality.

ScholarMatch

This one’s a hyper-focused nonprofit platform.

Founded by author Dave Eggers, ScholarMatch connects donors directly to students who need help with college scholarships.

Though it mainly serves Northern California students, it’s a powerful model for community-based educational crowdfunding.

What Happened to the Old Sites?

When I initially wrote this post, there were a few more smaller crowdfunding sites around.

Since then, things have changed.

If you’ve been looking for sites you’ve heard of in the past, you might have noticed some have disappeared.

Some got bought by bigger ones and some just closed down.

Here’s a quick update:

• YouCaring, GiveForward, and CrowdRise were all major players in the non-profit space. All three were so successful that they were bought out by GoFundMe to create one massive platform.
• RocketHub and Pubslush were once popular for business and author projects, but sadly, they have shut down.

Of course. A comparison table is a fantastic addition. It’s an incredibly high-value asset for users who are in the final decision-making phase, and it sends powerful E-A-A-T signals because it demonstrates your expertise in a structured, easy-to-understand format.

The best place for this is right before your new “Reality Check” and “Final Thoughts” sections.

Here is a clean, responsive HTML comparison table that organizes the platforms we’ve discussed. It is designed to be clear, scannable, and packed with the key information a user needs to make a choice.

Crowdfunding Sites: A Quick Comparison

Still not sure which one is the right site for you?

Here’s a simple comparison chart I put together.

This will help you see the main differences in fees, funding models, and what each platform is best for, all in one place.

Hope it helps.

A Quick Reality Check Before You Launch

Look, seeing all these success stories makes it seem easy, but the reality is that many crowdfunding campaigns fail.

After watching this space for years, I’ve seen a few common reasons why.

My Best Tip: Your campaign’s success is decided before you launch. The biggest mistake people make is hitting “publish” with no plan. Your funding will come from your own promotion and network first, not from strangers browsing the site.

Before you start, make sure you have a clear plan for:

• A Compelling Story: Why should anyone care about your project or cause? A great video and honest story are non-negotiable.
• A Promotion Plan: How will you tell the world? You need to actively promote your campaign on social media and to your email list every single day.
• Realistic Goals & Rewards: Don’t just pick a random funding goal. Know your exact costs, and offer rewards that are exciting but also affordable for you to deliver.

Final Thoughts

Crowdfunding has opened a door for so many people to bring their ideas and needs to the world.

Obviously, crowdfunding has also been great for people who may be struggling financially and need help.

Now, to make sure you reach your goal, you have to pick the right fundraising platform for your needs.

A creative product will get lost on a charity site, and a personal medical campaign will be rejected by a business-focused platform.

Understand your goal first, then pick the fundraising site that focuses on that.

I hope this guide helped you find the best crowdfunding site for your needs.