With more than £10 million raised through successful Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns over the past year, our team of experts knows something about selecting the best crowdfunding platform. Although creating a unique product is important, the platform you choose and how you utilise it will often determine the likelihood that you'll meet your funding goals or struggle to get momentum.
With a list of crowdfunding platforms, our team will assist you in understanding the basics of crowdfunding web platform development. We can help you pick the top crowdfunding sites to support your cause or the most effective crowdfunding platforms for start-ups. If you're a start-up looking to raise capital for your venture, a non-profit looking for support to carry out your mission or a creative person with a unique idea, these platforms will help you achieve your objectives. We will review the available capabilities, their usability and each platform's success rate, helping you make a well-informed choice regarding which one is the best for you.
Different Types of Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding has changed the way people, businesses and organisations raise money to fund their projects. Based on the objectives and nature of the venture, There are four main kinds of crowdfunding. Each one has its distinct purpose and attracts different kinds of audiences. Here's a complete breakdown:
Equity-Based Crowdfunding
Equity-based crowdfunding lets contributors become part-owners of the project or business they finance. Investors receive Equity shares or even ownership stakes in exchange for their contribution.
Lending-Based Crowdfunding (Peer-to-Peer Lending)
The lending-based crowdfunding system, also known as peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, permits the backers to offer loans to individuals or businesses in exchange for a repayment that includes interest.
Reward-Based Crowdfunding
In a crowdfunding campaign based on rewards, the backers offer money for non-monetary rewards. The rewards are usually tied to the service or product being supported.
Donation-Based Crowdfunding
In donation-based crowdfunding, supporters make donations without expecting anything in exchange. It is typically used to fund personal, philanthropic and charitable causes.
What is Crowdfunding?
Crowdfunding is a fundraising method that allows businesses, individuals or organisations to raise small amounts of cash from many people. It is usually done via websites. Crowdfunding is a convenient method of financing startups, projects or cause-related initiatives by harnessing the support of a group.
In crowdfunding, supporters provide funds in exchange for various benefits, including the first access to a product or company's equity or just the satisfaction of helping an organisation or cause. The process removes the need for traditional financing sources such as loans or venture capital, which makes it perfect for entrepreneurs with a creative flair, nonprofits and start-ups.
Top 10 Crowdfunding Platforms and Websites for 2025
We've categorised the top crowdfunding platforms based on their track records of success with specific types of campaigns to help you determine which will benefit your campaign most effectively. Based on thousands of campaign types, we'll reveal the areas where each platform shines and what it does not.
Kickstarter
One of the most well-known crowdfunding platforms on the internet, Kickstarter, is synonymous with crowdfunding. Since its inception in 2009, the Kickstarter community has financed over 250,000 projects, including digital and physical products.
Kickstarter is a platform that rewards its users. Fundraisers reward potential backers by offering exclusive discounts on pre orders, gifts and shoutouts. Sometimes, they design tied rewards, compensating more pledges with higher rewards.
Kickstarter campaigns are all-or-nothing. You will only be able to receive your money (and pay Kickstarter's platform fees) when you reach the goal you set for fundraising. If you don't and don't, the entire amount remains with your contributors.
Projects funded on Kickstarter tend to be high-standard original and innovative enough to attract the interest of early adopters and journalists. Most Kickstarter supporters trust Kickstarter projects because they will not be liable unless the campaign succeeds.
Indiegogo
Indiegogo is one of the most popular crowdfunding web platforms for entrepreneurs and creatives who want to fund their ideas and projects. Based on our experiences using this platform, Indiegogo has flexible and fixed funding options. It allows the campaigner to select their venture's most appropriate funding method. It also boasts a global network of more than nine million backers across over 235 countries.
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Insist on the latest innovations and innovative ideas
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A global community of more than 9 million backers across more than 235 countries and territories
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Flexible and fixed options for funding
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Resources and tools for campaign management and creation
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Smooth transition to Indiegogo's InDemand
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Add-on perks feature
Fundable
Fundable is a part of the Startups.com platform and is one of the most popular crowdfunding websites for UK startup companies to exchange rewards, such as equity, for funding.
Fundable offers self-managed fundraising and fundraising support. It will assist you in creating a pitch deck and finding potential investors. It can also be used to manage fundraising events and monitor investor interest.
According to Fundable, startups offering rewards usually raise less money but have more supporters. However, equity crowdfunding generally attracts smaller investors.
For success in the equity crowdfunding process, you must offer all the necessary background information accredited investors require, such as evidence of growth, a pitch deck and a strong business plan.
Mightycause
Mightycause is a crowdfunding platform designed for people who wish to raise funds for personal or charitable causes. The platform provides various cutting-edge mobile and online tools, including online fundraising and donor management teams, event fundraising with custom donation pages, widgets, a giving day platform and personal crowdfunding. Mightycause is committed to creating the most advanced and innovative tools for fundraising online and donor involvement.
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Modern online and mobile devices
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Tools and software for fundraising that can be customised
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Variety of products, such as online fundraising and team management, donor management, event fundraising, customised donation pages and widgets giving day platform, as well as personal crowdfunding
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Support and resources for the creation of campaigns and their management
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A user-friendly interface with customisable options for pages for fundraising
Crowdfunder
If you have an existing Shopify store and you want to fundraise a product via your website, think about the Crowdfunder application.
Many websites for crowdfunding and donations applications require you to sign up on their websites for your campaigns. Crowdfunder is bucking this trend by allowing you to convert your website's product pages into crowdfunding pages, including the ability to track progress, bar graphs and pre-order buttons.
Crowdfunder allows crowdfunding in its most basic form by accepting customer preorders to verify ideas and help fund production. Additionally, you pay a fixed monthly cost instead of commissions imposed by third-party platforms.
Use Crowdfunder to gauge consumer desire to purchase and test new product concepts, raise funds for the cause you support or create a limited-run item.
Patreon
Patreon is a subscription-based platform that allows creators to earn money from their content and develop an audience of fans. Patreon assists creators in managing their patrons, keeping in touch, monitoring their income and transferring it to their bank accounts. It also serves as the creators with a way to create an online community of patrons.
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Transparent business model
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It lets creators earn money from their content
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The company offers membership tiers with exclusive content and rewards
Patreon is charged a platform charge between 5% and 12% on all funds generated, depending on membership level, along with the processing fee for payments of 2.9% plus £0.30 for every transaction.
Crowdcube
Businesses outside the UK should read the conditions and terms of the crowdfunding platforms listed to ensure they are eligible to utilise all of their features.
Contrary to the websites above, Crowdcube is a UK-based equity crowdfunding platform designed specifically for European companies. On Crowdcube, you can set up various kinds of equity crowdfunding, including private rounds and subsequent ones.
Like Fundable, Crowdcube helps with everyday tasks like managing the follow-up rounds and disbursing dividends.
Crowdcube hosts only a handful of campaigns. Companies that have been approved and successfully achieved their fundraising goals through the platform can sign up for the company's Funded Club, enjoying exclusive advantages from partner organisations.
Promote your pitch to seek investors through your network or to draw Crowdcube's existing community.
GoFundMe
GoFundMe is an online crowdfunding platform that enables people and organisations to raise money for medical, personal and charitable purposes. The platform provides financial tools that allow supporters to sign up for projects that offer creators a steady stream of income while they create content.
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Concentrate on your charitable causes
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It allows for the customisation of fundraising, including education expenses, medical costs, funerals and memorials
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Friendly interface for users
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Global audience
GoFundMe has a 2.9% fee for processing payments on every donation and £0.30 for each donation. The transaction charges are 2.2% plus the £30 fee per donation to fundraises for charitable organisations.
CrowdStreet
CrowdStreet gives investors as individuals the chance to donate funds to real estate developments. It has helped to fund more than £4 billion in investment.
Real estate investors can apply for access to the marketplace on the platform to raise passive capital for finance or construction projects. CrowdStreet provides projects with investment management services and also offers an online marketing campaign for pitches.
As an exclusive crowdfunding platform, CrowdStreet is best suited for established real estate companies that specialise in commercial properties. Its monthly market forecast report identifies the types of projects that attract the greatest interest from investors.
Ulule
Ulule is an open-source crowdfunding platform that supports creative and innovative socially responsible initiatives. Ulule's transparency in its business model is great for patrons and creators. Creators are aware of when their monthly income will be distributed and can count on the income they receive to help fund their work. Patrons can see how their membership benefits the creator. Patrons can change or cancel their subscription by pressing one button.
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Concentrate on innovative, creative and socially responsible projects
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Crowdfunding based on rewards
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Transparent business model
Ulule charges a platform fee of 5% of the total amount raised and a processing fee of 3.4% + £0.26 for every transaction.
The Key Takeaway
Make sure that choosing the right platform for crowdfunding app development is only the first step. The real magic is in the execution. That's why having a knowledgeable team behind you can make all the difference. If you're looking to achieve a six-figure amount for launching a product through Kickstarter or creating a loyal community of patrons, success boils from the right strategy, time, planning and execution.
Selecting the best crowdfunding platform is crucial in ensuring the achievement of your crowdfunding campaign. Each platform is tailored to meet your specific requirements, whether money for your creative venture, personal cause or business venture. Platforms such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo are perfect for entrepreneurial and creative ventures and GoFundMe excels at fundraising for personal or non-profit organisations.
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