Donorbox vs Givebutter: compare features, fees, and tools

Two names you’ve probably come across are Donorbox and Givebutter. Both promise to make fundraising easier, but they go about it in different ways.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re looking for something that helps you build better relationships with donors, keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes, and maybe even makes the process a little fun. 

And hey, if you're ready to explore a third option built to grow with your nonprofit, Harness might be just what you’re looking for. We help you simplify giving, connect with your supporters, and raise more without the usual headaches. 

Now, let’s dive into the details and see how Donorbox and Givebutter compare.

Differences between Donorbox and Givebutter

At first glance, Donorbox and Givebutter might seem pretty similar, they both help nonprofits collect donations online. But once you get into the details, their approaches and strengths start to show.

Donorbox is known for its simplicity. It’s great if you want to plug in a donation form quickly and start raising money without a lot of fuss. It fits nicely into your existing website and focuses heavily on recurring giving, donor management, and integrations with tools like Salesforce or Mailchimp.

Givebutter, on the other hand, feels more like a social fundraising platform. It’s built around peer-to-peer campaigns, live events, and storytelling. It’s very donor-facing, designed to create moments that feel fun and personal. It also gives you more tools for community-style giving, like text-to-donate and live donation feeds during events.

Think of Donorbox as more of a “steady workhorse” and Givebutter as the “flashy showrunner.” One’s about ease and structure, the other’s about energy and interaction. Depending on your nonprofit’s needs, one might feel more like home than the other.

Donation forms and customization options

Let’s talk donation forms, because that’s where your supporters actually give. And honestly, the difference between a clunky form and a smooth one can make or break a donation.

Donorbox keeps things simple. Their forms are clean, easy to add to your website, and work well on mobile. You can customize them a bit, add your logo, pick some colors, choose preset amounts, but it’s more about function than flair. If your nonprofit wants something fast and dependable that just works, Donorbox has your back.

Givebutter goes bigger with design. You can build forms that match your campaign vibe, drop in impact images, and even add live donation feeds or supporter messages. It’s made for storytelling. If your goal is to make giving feel like an experience, especially during events or peer-to-peer drives, Givebutter gives you more creative room.

Donor engagement and communication tools

Keeping donors around isn’t just about asking for money, it’s about building relationships. The way your platform helps you stay in touch can make a big difference.

Donorbox gives you tools to manage donor info, track giving history, and set up automated thank-you emails. It’s more on the practical side, helpful for making sure no one slips through the cracks. If your team is small or your time is limited, those built-in automations are a big help. You can also connect Donorbox to tools like Mailchimp for more advanced email campaigns.

Givebutter leans hard into connection. It lets you send personalized messages, show real-time donor feeds, and even share impact updates through supporter pages. It’s more about creating excitement around giving, especially during campaigns where engagement really matters. Think peer-to-peer drives, live events, or anything with a social feel.

Pricing comparison: platform fees and transaction costs

When you're picking a fundraising tool, price matters. And it's not always about just the monthly fee, it’s about the little charges that add up, like platform fees and payment processing costs.

Donorbox has a “freemium” model. You can start using it for free, but there’s a 1.75% platform fee on donations unless you upgrade. They also charge processing fees through Stripe or PayPal, which usually adds another 2.2%–2.9% plus 30¢ per donation. If you want extras like text-to-give or a donor management CRM, you’ll need to pay for a plan or add-on features.

Givebutter is technically free from a platform fee, but only if your donors cover the cost. They suggest a small tip during checkout to help keep the platform running. If donors skip the tip, your nonprofit covers a 1%–5% fee depending on the features used. On top of that, payment processing (via Stripe, Venmo, PayPal) still costs 2.9% + 30¢ per donation.

Peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities

Peer-to-peer fundraising is like turning your biggest fans into your best fundraisers. It’s powerful, and the platform you choose should make it easy, not stressful.

Givebutter was practically built for this. It lets your supporters create personal fundraising pages, tell their stories, and share them with friends. Everything feels fresh and social, supporter feeds, team fundraising, live updates. If you’re running an event or challenge and want donors to feel part of something big, Givebutter makes it simple and fun.

Donorbox offers peer-to-peer too, but it’s a little more tucked in. Supporters can create campaign pages and raise funds under your banner, but the setup takes a bit more time and feels less interactive. It’s more functional than flashy.

Support and onboarding: what kind of help do you get?

Let’s be honest, tech can be tricky, and when something breaks or feels confusing, good support is everything.

Donorbox offers email support for all users, and you can unlock live chat or priority help by upgrading to a paid plan. They also have a big knowledge base with how-to guides, videos, and FAQs. It’s more of a self-service setup unless you pay for more hands-on help.

Givebutter gives every user access to live chat, email support, and a helpful library of tutorials, even on the free plan. Their team is pretty responsive, especially when you're in the middle of a campaign or event. They also offer webinars and tips to help you get the most out of the platform.

Pros and cons of Donorbox and Givebutter

Sometimes it helps to see it all laid out. Here’s a quick snapshot of what each platform does well, and where it might fall short.

Donorbox pros:

• Easy to set up and integrate into your website
• Great for recurring donations and donor management
• Solid automation tools for thank-you emails and receipts
• Works well with tools like Salesforce, Zapier, and Mailchimp

Donorbox cons:

• Limited customization unless you upgrade
• Peer-to-peer feels less dynamic
• Support can be slow unless you’re on a paid plan

Givebutter pros:

• Fun, social features for peer-to-peer and live fundraising
• Lots of free tools (if your donors cover the tip)
• Customizable donation pages and events
• Good real-time support, even on the free plan

Givebutter cons:

• Tips model can confuse donors
• Some tools (like CRM features) are less advanced
• More visual, which might feel overwhelming for simpler needs

Streamline your operation

If you’re still weighing your options, it helps to think about what kind of experience you want, for both your team and your donors. What tools matter most to you? What kind of support do you need? What kind of growth are you aiming for?

And if you’re looking for something that blends the best of both worlds, simple, powerful tools with real human support, consider Harness. We’ve helped nonprofits unlock recurring giving, streamline their operations, and turn one-time donors into loyal supporters. Plus, we don’t just give you tools, we give you a team.

Ready to see what smarter fundraising looks like? Let’s chat about how Harness can help you build lasting donor relationships and drive real impact.