There cannot be a single best crowdfunding platform that will suit everyone. What is simple to use may be costly, and vice versa. As a result, We have made extensive research and reviewed the top crowdfunding platforms to assist you in getting started. Here’s a list of top five crowdfunding platforms.
Top Crowdfunding Platforms for Fundraising
Kickstarter
Since its inception in 2009, the Kickstarter community has successfully facilitated the funding for over 156,000 projects, including physical products, movies, games, and other media, for a total of $4.1 billion.
Kickstarter is a platform for reward-based crowdfunding. Backers are rewarded for their contributions, which range from t-shirts to shoutouts to exclusive pre-order discounts. You can also provide different tiers of rewards; the more money a backer pledges, the better the rewards they will receive.
Kickstarter campaigns are all-or-nothing, which means you can only access your funds (and pay Kickstarter’s fees) if you reach your initial fundraising goal. If you fall short, your backers keep the entire sum.
As a result, projects on Kickstarter tend to be of high quality and novel—often creative or innovative enough to capture the attention of early adopters and press headlines. Backers also regard these projects as more trustworthy because they do not have to part with their money unless the campaign succeeds.
SeedInvest
SeedInvest Technology has attracted more than 620,000 investors and assisted over 250 startups in raising more than $410 million in financial backing, making it our choice as the best for startups. Until now, SeedInvest has facilitated funding for more than 250 companies making it an ideal choice for ventures needing startup capital. You will also not be charged any fees if your fundraiser remains unsuccessful.
If you are a founder looking to raise funds through SeedInvest Technology, you must first create an account with SeedInvest, fill out an application, and go through a screening process. This will include a due diligence review. If you are invited to fundraise on the platform, you must first create a profile before you can begin fundraising. When you close your round, SeedInvest will deduct a 7.5% placement fee and a 5% equity fee from your earnings.
The duration of a campaign will vary depending on your company, but it can last 45 to 60 days. All startups are subjected to a rigorous vetting process, but not all are chosen.
Indiegogo
Indiegogo is a clear choice for best overall because of its track record of success in funding over 800,000 ideas worldwide since 2008. While it may appear to be similar to Kickstarter at first glance, it has its own distinct features and campaign options.
The most notable distinction is the ability to choose between a fixed funding goal (all-or-nothing like Kickstarter) and a flexible funding goal for your campaign. Flexible funding goals allow you to receive funds regardless of whether you meet your goal by the deadline.
To begin collecting funding through the site, you can create a campaign for up to 60 days, with a 5% platform fee plus a 3% card processing fee and $0.20 third-party processing fee.
Their tools enable you to promote your campaign by integrating with other platforms such as Meta and Twitter. When you finish raising funds, you will receive it through your bank within 15 business days.
GadgetAny
GadgetAny is a crowdfunding community of more than 100,000 backers. Most startups are using GadgetAny to launch their tech crowdfunding projects. This platform is specifically designed for tech related projects and works on a reward based model.
Also, GadgetAny boasts about multiplying the number of backers within a very short span of time on the back of its large pool of tech-loving community members.
However, your project should have a clear end goal and a well-planned strategy for getting there.
The best thing about GadgetAny is that it doesn’t charge any platform fee. Also, it transfers the funds directly to the creator’s account the same day it receives the pledge amount. Moreover, it is dedicated to cater to tech projects, which implies the best experience for tech specific products.
GoFundMe
GoFundMe is a free crowdfunding platform designed to help individuals and causes.
Because GoFundMe is best suited to personal causes—and anyone can start a campaign—backers tend to support campaigns that come from their own personal networks and communities, as well as causes they are familiar with.
GoFundMe, unlike the other platforms on this list, is not intended for commercial crowdfunding campaigns. If you’re a small business owner who has fallen on hard times, or if you need money to overcome a personal challenge, you can try leveraging this platform for help from your personal network.
If you need help setting up your page or have any questions, GoFundMe provides expert support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Patreon
The Patreon platform is trusted by over 200,000 creators, including podcasters, musicians, artists, and writers, because it offers simple fundraising and subscription options for artists and other creative folks looking for “patrons.”
Unlike many of the top crowdfunding sites, Patreon was created for creators and internet personalities with loyal audiences to generate recurring revenue through paid memberships. Patrons can pay “per month” for special community perks, or “per Creation” to encourage you to create more.
Patreon creators provide a variety of exclusive benefits based on payment tiers, including exclusive content, branded swag, sneak peeks, shoutouts, and more. If you’re a creator who releases new content on a regular basis and has a sizable online fan base, it might be worth setting up a Patreon page.
There are a number of crowdfunding platforms on the market. However, it is advisable to check the track record and the niche of the platforms before choosing it for your crowdfunding campaign. Also, examine the flexibility and fee structure of the platform before deciding it for your campaign.