GoFundMe alternative: fees and differences compared

What GoFundMe charges

According to GoFundMe’s official pricing page, there is no platform fee in the Netherlands, Belgium, France or Spain. Each donation does carry a transaction fee of 2.9% + €0.25, VAT included. When paying, donors are asked whether they’d like to support GoFundMe with an optional contribution. It isn’t compulsory, but it is how the platform earns part of its income. Depending on the payment method, international or currency conversion fees may also apply.

The main differences with DonoLink

• Fees: DonoLink keeps 3.5% of each donation and Stripe charges transaction fees per payment method on top. GoFundMe only deducts transaction fees.
• Tips: DonoLink doesn’t ask your donors for a contribution to the platform. On GoFundMe, donors are offered an optional contribution.
• Profile: on DonoLink all your campaigns appear together on your profile page, each with its own updates and supporters’ wall.
• Payouts: on DonoLink, money goes through your own connected Stripe account.
• Keep-it-all: on DonoLink every donation comes through, even if you don’t reach your goal.

Fees side by side

The table shows what’s left from a €25 donation on each platform, based on published rates and the payment method most common in your country. Any tip donors pay on top of their gift isn’t included. Local platforms are listed too, so you can see how GoFundMe compares with what’s available where you live.

Rounded examples using the payment method shown, excluding any tip donors pay on top of their gift. Fees can change; always check the platform’s current page.

When GoFundMe is a better fit, and when DonoLink is

If your priority is the lowest deduction per donation and you don’t mind donors being asked for a tip, GoFundMe is attractive. If you’d rather have a fixed percentage you know in advance, no tip requests, all your campaigns on one profile and payouts through your own Stripe account, DonoLink is the better fit. Switching is easy: create a new campaign with your story and photos and share the new link.

Read next: Crowdfunding platform fees compared (2026)

What goes into your campaign

A DonoLink campaign is a page of its own with a title, a one-line summary of what it’s about, a goal and an end date. At the top you add a cover photo or a YouTube video, followed by your story and a gallery of up to six photos. You pick an accent colour and the amounts you suggest to donors. Visitors can see at a glance how much has been raised, what share of the goal that is, how many people have chipped in and how many days are left.

Along the way you post updates with a title, text and an optional photo, so everyone can see what the money is doing. The supporters’ wall shows who donated, by name or as ‘Anonymous’, together with their message. You decide whether amounts are shown and whether anonymous donations are allowed. You can share your campaign on WhatsApp, with a link to copy or with a QR code for a poster or flyer. All your campaigns sit together on your profile page.

Keep-it-all: every donation reaches you

With DonoLink, every successful donation comes through, even if you don’t reach your goal. After the end date the campaign closes to new donations, but the page stays online so everyone can look back at what you achieved together. Payouts go through your own connected Stripe account; Stripe asks you to verify your identity.

This is always donation crowdfunding. Donors don’t get a return, shares or a loan repayment, and there are no rewards or perks. People who give are simply backing your cause.

Linky helps you get started

When you sign up, Linky, DonoLink’s mascot, asks what you want to do and who you’re raising money for. Then you set up your first campaign together with a title, a goal and an end date. During the campaign Linky gives you a shout at milestones, such as your first donation or reaching half your goal, and a gentle nudge if you haven’t posted an update for a week. That makes crowdfunding easy, even if you’ve never run a fundraiser before.

Payments and fees in your country

If you run your campaign in the Netherlands, use donolink.nl. Your donors pay with iDEAL and, depending on the methods you switch on, by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. DonoLink keeps 3.5% of each donation and Stripe charges €0.29 per iDEAL payment on top. From a €25 iDEAL donation you keep about €23.83. There is no subscription, and DonoLink never asks your donors for a tip.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Stripe: pricing
• ACM (Dutch consumer authority): donation platforms clearer about fees