ChristianAppReviews.com
+ Submit app
Sign in
A free, all-in-one fundraising and donor-management platform, funded by optional tips, that has processed billions in donations.
Our verdict
Givebutter has become the darling of the nonprofit fundraising world by doing something bold: charging organizations zero platform fees. It funds itself through optional tips that donors add at checkout, and the company says roughly 92% of donors leave one. When tips are enabled, the org pays no platform fee and, under the Givebutter Guarantee, no processing fee either, Givebutter absorbs whatever tips do not cover. That is a remarkable value proposition for cash-strapped ministries.
The feature set punches well above its free price. Givebutter bundles donation forms, campaign and event pages, auctions, a built-in CRM, and communication tools into one platform, so a church or nonprofit can consolidate several paid subscriptions into a free account. If tips are turned off, a flat 3% platform fee plus standard processing applies, which is how organizations that dislike the tip prompt can still operate transparently.
The honest caveat is the tip model itself: the cost does not vanish, it moves to the donor, and critics argue the prompted tip can inflate what givers effectively pay. For most churches and nonprofits comfortable with that tradeoff, Givebutter is one of the strongest values in the entire category and a deserved high scorer. Just be transparent with your congregation about how the tip works.
How we scored it
Standout features
Zero platform fees
No org fees when donor tips are enabled at checkout.
Donation forms
Fast, mobile-friendly forms for one-time and recurring gifts.
Events & auctions
Sell tickets and run auctions alongside campaigns.
Built-in CRM
Track donors and history without a separate subscription.
Campaign pages
Launch branded fundraising and peer-to-peer campaigns quickly.
Fee guarantee
Tips can cover processing so you net the full donation.
Pros & cons
✓ Pros
- 0% platform fees for organizations when donor tips are enabled
- All-in-one: forms, campaigns, events, auctions, and a free CRM
- Givebutter Guarantee can cover processing fees, netting the full gift
- Genuinely free to start with no monthly subscription required
- Strong, modern donor experience across giving and events
– Cons
- The tip prompt shifts cost to donors and can inflate their effective giving
- Turning tips off triggers a flat 3% platform fee plus processing
- Church-specific tooling is lighter than dedicated ChMS-linked platforms
Best for
Budget-conscious churches and nonprofits that want a full fundraising suite, forms, events, and CRM, at no platform cost and are comfortable with the donor-tip model.
Look elsewhere if
You object to prompting donors for tips, or you need deep church-management integration that a general fundraising platform does not provide.
Pricing
How it compares
| Givebutter | Donorbox | Tithe.ly | Vanco | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.7 | 8.3 | 8.6 | 7.6 |
| Fees & pricing | 9.3 | 7.8 | 8.4 | 7.6 |
| Value | 9.4 | 8.0 | 8.9 | 7.7 |
| Church admin tools | 8.2 | 8.0 | 8.8 | 7.5 |
| Ease for donors | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 7.8 |
FAQ
How is Givebutter free?
It funds itself through optional tips that donors add at checkout, about 92% do, so organizations pay no platform fee when tips are enabled.
What happens if I turn tips off?
Disabling the tip prompt applies a flat 3% platform fee plus standard processing of 2.9% + $0.30 on cards and 1.9% + $0.30 on ACH.
What is the Givebutter Guarantee?
When tips are enabled, Givebutter covers any processing fees that donor tips do not, so your organization can receive 100% of each donation.
Is Givebutter good for churches?
Yes, especially for churches that also run events, auctions, and campaigns, though its church-specific management tooling is lighter than dedicated platforms.
Does the tip model cost donors more?
The cost shifts from the organization to donors who tip; it is transparent, but critics note the prompt can raise what givers effectively pay.
