No fundraising platform is truly free. The question is where the cost is hidden.
When a platform says 'free', it almost always means no platform fee — payment processing of roughly 2.9% + $0.30 per donation still comes out, and the platform is often funded by asking your donors for tips. That's not dishonest, but it isn't free, and on small gifts the processing alone can top 8–10% effective.
| Platform | Est. fees on $5,000 | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| Ralli — flat 2% + low-cost rails | $150 | 3.0% |
| GiveSendGo | $435 | 8.7% |
| GoFundMe | $445 | 8.9% |
| FundRazr | $445 | 8.9% |
| JustGiving | $495 | 9.9% |
| Ko-fi | $695 | 13.9% |
Estimated fees on a $5,000 raise across 1,000 small contributions; actual rates vary by country and payment method.
A flat, predictable fee can beat 'free' once the hidden processing is counted — especially on small donations. Ralli charges a flat 2% plus a few cents of low-cost rail per gift, paid direct to your own bank, so you can see exactly what you keep.
Run your own numbers — free, no sign-up.
Open the fee calculator →Not really. Payment processing (around 2.9% + $0.30 per gift) always applies, so 'free' means no platform fee rather than no cost. Some free platforms also rely on donor tips to fund themselves.
Both charge a 0% platform fee but pass through roughly 2.9% + $0.30 of processing on every donation, plus requested donor tips. On small gifts the effective rate can be well into double digits.
A flat 2% plus a small low-cost rail cost per gift, paid direct to your own bank. No hidden tips and no separate withdrawal fee.
Fee comparison calculator · How to raise money online · International fundraising · Low-fee fundraising · GoFundMe fees · Patreon fees
Figures are estimates based on each platform's published fee structure and typical processing rates, which vary by country and payment method. Platform names belong to their respective owners; Ralli is not affiliated with them.