Choosing the right fundraising platform can feel like trying to solve a puzzle with a few missing pieces. Both Givebutter and Bloomerang are big names in the nonprofit world, and each brings different tools to the table. Whether you're just getting started or looking to grow your impact, it helps to see how they really stack up.
In this guide, we’ll break it all down, from donation forms to donor management, so you can make the best choice for your team and mission. We've spent years working with nonprofits and testing tools that promise to make fundraising easier. Here’s what we’ve learned along the way.
If you're looking for a solution that combines smart technology with real fundraising know-how, take a look at what we’re doing at Harness. We help nonprofits grow their support and reach their goals without all the guesswork. Visit goharness.com to see how we do it.
Why Harness is built differently, and why it matters
Most fundraising platforms give you tools. Some give you support. Harness gives you both, in one place, without the bloat.
We’ve seen what happens when nonprofits are forced to choose between flashy donation pages with no backend tools, or a powerful CRM that’s too complex to use without a full-time staffer. That’s exactly why Harness was built: to give growing nonprofits real fundraising power and the hands-on guidance to actually use it.
While Givebutter leans into peer to peer energy and Bloomerang goes deep on data, Harness meets you in the middle. We offer donation forms, recurring giving, donor journeys, engagement tools, and campaign design, all with automation built in. But here’s the difference: you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
We work alongside your team to set up campaigns, understand donor behavior, and optimize for results that matter, not just clicks or likes. And because we’re focused on growing long-term impact (not just quick hits), we’ve built tools that adapt with your team as you grow.
Comparing fundraising tools and features
Donation forms and campaign pages
One of the first things donors see is your donation form or campaign page, so it needs to work well and look good. Both Givebutter and Bloomerang let you create branded pages that tell your story and collect donations, but they go about it a little differently.
Givebutter offers modern-looking forms and pages that are easy to set up, even if you’re not tech-savvy. You can add your logo, choose colors, and include videos or pictures to bring your mission to life. Their forms work well on phones, and they even let donors pay with digital wallets like Apple Pay or Venmo.
Bloomerang’s pages aren’t quite as flashy, but they’re solid and dependable. They focus more on function than flair, which works fine for some teams. Their forms also support recurring donations, and you can pull donor data straight into their CRM.
From our experience helping nonprofits launch fundraising campaigns, we’ve seen how a great-looking, easy-to-use form can make a big difference. If your team wants something quick and flexible, Givebutter might have the edge here. But if you’re already using Bloomerang for donor tracking, their built-in tools could save you time.
Peer to peer fundraising and community engagement
Peer to peer fundraising is one of the best ways to grow your donor base through the people who already believe in your cause. Instead of just asking directly, you let your supporters raise money for you, kind of like turning your fans into teammates.
Givebutter shines here. Their peer to peer tools are easy to use and feel fun. Supporters can create their own fundraising pages, track donations, and share everything with a couple of clicks. There are built-in leaderboards, team pages, and live updates, which make campaigns feel exciting and social.
Bloomerang offers peer to peer fundraising too, but it’s more basic and usually depends on integrations with other tools. That means more setup time, and sometimes more cost, depending on what features you want to use.
We’ve worked with a lot of nonprofits running peer to peer campaigns, and what we’ve found is simple: the easier you make it for your supporters, the more likely they are to help. If peer to peer is a big part of your strategy, Givebutter gives you more right out of the box.
Fundraising page creation and donor journey design
When someone lands on your fundraising page, you’ve got just a few seconds to make a good impression, and move them to give. The design and flow of that page matter a lot more than most folks realize.
Givebutter gives you plenty of room to tell your story with eye-catching layouts, impact visuals, and progress bars that update in real time. You can add photos, videos, and testimonials that show donors exactly how their gift makes a difference. It feels personal, which helps people connect quickly.
Bloomerang’s pages are simpler and more focused on function than flair. They’re clean and straightforward, but they don’t offer as much control over the look and feel. That might work fine if your team already has a strong design elsewhere, but it’s not ideal if you want everything in one place.
From what we’ve seen helping partners design donation experiences, the most successful pages don’t just collect money, they build trust. The easier it is to understand where donations go and why they matter, the more likely people are to give again. If you want that extra emotional lift, Givebutter makes it easier to design pages that really pull people in.
Pricing transparency and flexibility
How Givebutter and Bloomerang price their platforms
When it comes to choosing a fundraising tool, price matters, but it’s not just about the number. You want to understand exactly what you're paying for and how it might grow with your organization.
Givebutter is known for being free to use, with optional tips from donors covering platform fees. That’s a big win for small or growing nonprofits. You can access most core features without paying upfront, and you only pay standard processing fees on donations. There are no contracts or hidden costs, which gives you more control.
Bloomerang works on a subscription model. You’ll pay a set fee each month or year based on your donor database size and the features you want. It includes donor management tools as part of the package, but the cost can add up, especially if you’re not using all the extras right away.
From our own experience helping nonprofits budget for tools like these, we’ve seen that transparency really matters. No one wants to get locked into a tool that doesn’t grow with them. Givebutter’s flexibility makes it easy to start fast. Bloomerang’s model is more traditional, it can be a great fit if you already know you’ll need full CRM features from the jump.
What pricing means for nonprofit organizations
Pricing isn’t just a budget line, it affects how you plan, grow, and choose where to spend your time. For nonprofit teams juggling limited staff and big goals, how a platform charges you can make or break the decision.
Givebutter’s tip-based model makes it easy to try features without risk. You don’t have to commit to monthly payments, and you can test out different tools as your strategy grows. It’s especially helpful for small teams who want to focus more on fundraising and less on platform math.
Bloomerang, on the other hand, is more of a long-term investment. You’ll pay upfront, but you also get access to donor management and reporting in one place. For midsize to larger nonprofits with steady income and more structured needs, that setup can be worth it, if you’re using everything it offers.
In our work with growing nonprofits, we’ve seen how pricing models can shape behavior. Teams using free or flexible platforms often experiment more. That leads to creative campaigns and better donor insights. With subscription-based tools, there's often pressure to “get your money’s worth,” which works well if you’ve got a plan and staff to back it up.
Donor management and CRM capabilities
Managing donor profiles and engagement
Keeping track of your donors, and building real relationships with them, is what turns one-time gifts into lasting support. That’s where donor management comes in, and it’s something both Givebutter and Bloomerang handle in different ways.
Bloomerang was built around donor management, so its CRM tools are front and center. You can track giving history, segment supporters, and even measure engagement with built-in tools. It’s all designed to help you build deeper connections and improve retention.
Givebutter offers lighter CRM features. You can see donor info, manage recurring gifts, and send updates, but it’s not as robust as a full database system. For smaller teams or simpler campaigns, that might be all you need, but if donor tracking is a big part of your strategy, it could feel limited.
From helping teams improve their fundraising results, we’ve seen that the best donor relationships start with good data and consistent follow-up. If you need a strong, centralized view of every donor, Bloomerang has the edge. But if you're more focused on raising funds and building community, Givebutter’s simple tools might be the perfect fit.
Native integrations and automation
No platform works in a vacuum, especially when your team is juggling email tools, accounting software, event platforms, and more. That’s why integrations matter. They save time, reduce errors, and help everything run smoother behind the scenes.
Bloomerang comes with a range of native integrations, including popular tools like QuickBooks, Mailchimp, and Eventbrite. You can also use their API to connect with other systems, which is great if your tech setup is more complex. The automation tools are solid, letting you set up tasks like thank-you emails or donor follow-ups with minimal effort.
Givebutter relies more on Zapier to handle integrations. That opens up thousands of connection possibilities, but it also means there’s an extra step to set things up. You’ll need to manage those workflows yourself or bring in someone who knows how to do it.
From our experience helping nonprofits streamline their work, we’ve seen how even small automations can make a big difference, especially for small teams. If you want plug-and-play simplicity with tools you already use, Bloomerang might be easier to connect. If you’re more comfortable experimenting with workflows, Givebutter gives you the freedom to customize.
Support and onboarding experience
Onboarding ease and training resources
Getting started with a new platform shouldn’t feel like you need a tech degree. The smoother the onboarding, the faster your team can focus on what matters, raising money and building relationships.
Givebutter keeps things simple. Most features are self-service, with setup guides and videos to walk you through the basics. If you hit a snag, their team is available to help, but the platform is designed to be plug-and-play. That makes it a solid choice for teams that want to dive in without a long training process.
Bloomerang offers more in-depth onboarding. You’ll get help from a real person, along with live training sessions, documentation, and webinars. It’s great if you’re new to donor management or want more structure as you ramp up.
We’ve helped plenty of nonprofits through their first fundraising campaigns, and we know how stressful those early weeks can be. If you’re short on time or staff, Givebutter’s quick-start approach can get you going faster. If your team prefers hands-on training with a guide, Bloomerang’s onboarding might give you more peace of mind.
Customer support responsiveness and availability
Even with the best tools, questions come up. Maybe something breaks mid-campaign, or you just need a quick answer before a big event. That’s when good customer support makes all the difference.
Givebutter offers chat and email support, plus a searchable help center with how-to articles. Their team is responsive, and most questions get answered pretty quickly. It’s a solid setup for folks who prefer solving things on their own with some backup available.
Bloomerang goes a step further with phone support, email, and a robust resource library. If you run into a more complex issue, especially something tied to your donor database, it helps to be able to talk to someone in real time. That extra layer of support is one reason some larger or more traditional teams lean toward Bloomerang.
From what we’ve seen, nonprofits feel most confident when they know help is just a call or chat away. If you like quick answers and solving things as you go, Givebutter has you covered. If you want more one-on-one support for deeper setup or strategy questions, Bloomerang gives you more options.
Platform strengths and weaknesses
Givebutter strengths and weaknesses
Strengths:
- Easy to use, even for beginners
- No upfront costs, most features are free with optional tips
- Great for peer to peer fundraising and community-driven campaigns
- Strong visual design tools for donation forms and campaign pages
- Supports digital wallets like Venmo and Apple Pay
Weaknesses:
- CRM features are limited compared to full donor management systems
- Heavier reliance on third-party tools like Zapier for integrations
- Less robust support structure compared to traditional platforms
If your team is scrappy, creative, and eager to launch campaigns quickly, Givebutter gives you the tools to do just that, without a steep learning curve or heavy upfront cost. But if you need deep data tracking or built-in integrations with tools you already use, it might require some extra setup.
Bloomerang strengths and weaknesses
Strengths:
- Built-in donor management system with deep CRM features
- Strong native integrations with email, accounting, and event tools
- Structured onboarding with live training and phone support
- Great for tracking donor engagement and improving retention
- Designed with long-term growth and donor relationships in mind
Weaknesses:
- Higher upfront cost with subscription pricing
- Less flexible or visually dynamic campaign pages
- Not as beginner-friendly for small teams without tech support
If your organization needs detailed donor tracking and wants a platform that can support long-term strategy, Bloomerang is built for that. But if you’re just starting out or need quick wins with flexible pricing, it might feel a little heavy. The value is there, especially for data-driven teams, but it comes with a learning curve and a cost.
Which platform is best for your fundraising strategy?
Recommendations based on nonprofit size and goals
Choosing the right platform often comes down to where your organization is now, and where you’re headed. Different tools work better for different stages of growth, and it’s important to match your needs with what each platform offers.
If you’re a small or newer nonprofit looking to get campaigns off the ground quickly, Givebutter gives you a strong set of tools without upfront costs. You can launch events, peer to peer fundraisers, and donation pages right away without needing a full-time tech person.
For mid-sized or more established nonprofits with deeper fundraising programs, Bloomerang offers long-term value. It’s built for donor management, so if you need to track engagement, run reports, and build detailed donor profiles, it gives you that infrastructure out of the box.
We’ve worked with nonprofits at every stage, from grassroots teams to growing organizations, and the key is picking a platform that fits your current bandwidth and your future goals. Start with what helps your team take action now, and grow into the features you’ll need down the road.
Platform fit by use case
The right tool also depends on what kind of fundraising you’re focused on. Different platforms shine in different areas, and it helps to know where each one fits best.
Peer to peer fundraising:
Givebutter is a clear winner here. It’s designed to help your supporters become fundraisers. With team pages, built-in sharing tools, and live progress updates, it makes campaigns feel exciting and social.
Event-based giving:
Both platforms offer event tools, but Givebutter keeps things simpler and more flexible. You can sell tickets, stream live, and accept donations all in one place. Bloomerang works too, but it often needs third-party integrations to handle event logistics.
Monthly donation programs:
Bloomerang has stronger tools for tracking recurring gifts over time. Its CRM helps you understand donor behavior and build retention strategies. Givebutter supports monthly giving too, but without the same depth in data or automation.
From what we’ve seen, choosing a platform based on your main campaign style makes things easier. You’ll waste less time on workarounds and spend more time connecting with your supporters.
Which platform should you choose?
Still unsure? You don’t have to settle for just one kind of tool. At Harness, we’ve blended smart fundraising tech with hands-on support, giving you the best of both worlds. Whether you’re building campaigns, managing donors, or planning your next big move, we’re here to help you do it all, without the overwhelm.
