If you are weighing GoFundMe vs GiveSendGo, the honest answer is that the two platforms look similar on price and differ mostly on reach, rules and philosophy. Both charge no platform fee as of October 2026, both ask donors for an optional tip, and both deduct a card processing fee from each donation. Where they part ways is in who can start a fundraiser, how quickly money moves, what their terms of service allow, and what kind of audience each platform already brings to the table.
This guide compares the two side by side using each platform’s own pricing pages, help center articles and terms of service. It covers GoFundMe fees and GiveSendGo fees with worked examples, tipping, payout timing, eligible countries, content policies, donor protections and tax rules, and finishes with a simple way to decide which one fits your campaign.
A quick note on scope: this is a practical comparison for organizers, small businesses, nonprofits and marketers running campaigns for real people. It describes what each platform’s published terms say, without commentary on any individual fundraiser or cause.
GoFundMe vs GiveSendGo at a Glance
The table below summarizes the key differences as of October 2026. Details and sources for each row follow in the sections below.
| Feature | GoFundMe | GiveSendGo |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 0% | 0% |
| Standard processing fee | 2.9% + $0.30 per donation (US) | 2.7% + $0.30 per donation (USD fundraisers) |
| Non-USD fundraisers | Varies by country, shown in its fee calculator | 3.5% + $0.30 per donation, plus possible currency exchange fees |
| Recurring donations | 5% per donation | No separate rate listed on its pricing page |
| Donor tips | Optional, can be set to 0 | Optional, retained by GiveSendGo, refundable for 14 days |
| Payout timing | 2 to 5 business days per transfer after setup and verification | Within 1 to 2 business days of a request, after verification |
| Where organizers can be based | 20 listed countries in North America, Europe and Australia | Global, with minimum payouts listed for dozens of countries |
| Donor protection | Giving Guarantee: full refund for up to one year if something isn’t right | Guarantee that donations go only to the stated recipient |
| Stated mission | General crowdfunding and nonprofit fundraising | Crowdfunding inspired by Christian values |
| Tax receipts | Automatic for GoFundMe nonprofit fundraisers in five countries | No representation that donations are deductible |
What Is GiveSendGo and How Does It Compare to GoFundMe?
GoFundMe is one of the best known crowdfunding platforms for personal causes such as medical bills, memorials, emergencies and community projects. It also runs dedicated nonprofit fundraisers, which matters for tax receipts (covered below). Its biggest practical advantage is name recognition, which helps when your donors do not know you personally.
GiveSendGo describes itself as “the place where help and hope go hand-in-hand.” According to its About page, it was founded in 2014 by three siblings, launched in beta in early 2015 and publicly in October 2015. Its terms of service state that it “operates with a mission to share hope through crowdfunding, inspired by Christian values of compassion and generosity.” Anyone can use it, but faith-based fundraisers, missions trips and church projects are a natural fit, and the site includes community features such as a prayer wall.
In short, when people search for givesendgo vs gofundme, they are usually comparing a mainstream, highly recognized platform with a smaller, values-driven alternative that publishes different content rules. If you want a wider view of the market beyond these two, our roundup of the best GoFundMe alternatives compares more options, including platforms built specifically for nonprofits.
GoFundMe Fees vs GiveSendGo Fees
Neither platform charges a percentage platform fee. Both make money from optional donor tips, and both pass through a payment processing fee on each donation. The processing fee is where the small differences show up.
GoFundMe fees
GoFundMe’s help center states that “it’s always free to start and manage a fundraiser on GoFundMe.” For US fundraisers, a transaction fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 is deducted from each donation. GoFundMe’s own example: a $50 donation to a US fundraiser leaves the recipient with $48.25. Recurring donations carry a fee of 5% per donation. Fees for other countries are shown in the fee calculator on GoFundMe’s pricing page, so check your country before you launch. The full breakdown is in GoFundMe’s pricing and fees article.
GiveSendGo fees
GiveSendGo’s pricing and fees page lists a platform fee of “0% + $0 per donation” and a standard processing fee of 2.7% plus $0.30 per donation for USD fundraisers. Fundraisers in other currencies pay 3.5% plus $0.30 per donation, donations made in non-USD currencies to USD fundraisers incur an additional 1% fee, and non-USD fundraisers may also incur currency exchange fees set by GiveSendGo’s payment processor. The same page lists a minimum payout amount by country, for example $7 CAD in Canada and $7 AUD in Australia.
What the difference means in dollars
For a typical US campaign, the gap is small. Here is how the standard US fees compare on common donation sizes:
| Donation | GoFundMe fee (2.9% + $0.30) | Recipient gets | GiveSendGo fee (2.7% + $0.30) | Recipient gets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25 | $1.03 | $23.97 | $0.98 | $24.02 |
| $50 | $1.75 | $48.25 | $1.65 | $48.35 |
| $100 | $3.20 | $96.80 | $3.00 | $97.00 |
| $500 | $14.80 | $485.20 | $13.80 | $486.20 |
On a $10,000 campaign made up of 200 donations of $50, GoFundMe would deduct about $350 and GiveSendGo about $330, a difference of roughly $20. Fees alone rarely decide the matchup for US organizers. The math changes more for international campaigns, where GiveSendGo’s 3.5% non-USD rate and GoFundMe’s country-specific rates should be compared directly in each platform’s calculator.
How tipping works on each platform
Both platforms rely on voluntary tips at checkout. On GoFundMe, donors “have the option to leave a voluntary tip,” and the help center confirms that tipping is optional and the amount can be changed to 0. On GiveSendGo, optional tips go to the platform, and its terms let donors request a full or partial refund of a tip “for up to 14 days after the donation was made.” On both sites the tip is a separate, optional amount for the platform, not part of the processing fee. It can help to mention this in your campaign updates so donors know they can adjust it at checkout.
Payout Timing: How Fast You Get the Money
GoFundMe’s help center says that setting up and verifying transfers “can take up to 7 business days or longer,” and that once a transfer is sent, “it will take 2-5 business days for the funds to safely be deposited into the bank account on file.” GoFundMe may also place holds on transfers when it needs more compliance information, suspects a terms violation or detects fraudulent donation activity.
GiveSendGo’s terms state that recipients authorize it and its banking partners to process payments “within 1-2 business days of a request.” Its terms also say its team verifies “the authenticity and quality of every fundraiser published on the platform prior to funds disbursement,” and fraud checks can extend the timeline. In practice, plan for verification to be the slowest step on either platform, and complete identity and bank details before you promote the campaign.
Who Can Use Each Platform
GoFundMe eligibility and countries
As of October 2026, GoFundMe’s supported countries article lists organizers in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States (excluding American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the US Virgin Islands). If you are based outside those countries, check GoFundMe’s help center for your options or consider a platform with wider coverage.
GiveSendGo eligibility and countries
GiveSendGo presents itself as a global platform. Its terms require users to meet the legal age in their country of residence, and recipients must be at least 18 years old to receive funds. Its pricing page lists minimum payout amounts for many countries across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific. For organizers outside GoFundMe’s 20 countries, this wider reach can be the deciding factor.
Content Rules and Terms of Service
This is the area where the two platforms differ most, and where organizers should read the terms carefully before launching. Both reserve broad discretion to remove fundraisers.
What GoFundMe’s terms allow and prohibit
GoFundMe’s Transparency Center explains that its systems look for “illegal, inappropriate, harmful, violent, hateful, or explicit content that violates our Terms of Service.” When it finds a violation, it may ban or disable the account, suspend or terminate the fundraiser, remove user content, hold transfers pending investigation, or report activity to law enforcement. Organizers whose fundraisers are placed under review can submit an appeal through the help center. If your campaign touches on a sensitive subject, read the full terms of service and its prohibited conduct section before you publish.
What GiveSendGo’s terms allow and prohibit
GiveSendGo’s terms of service list specific categories of fundraisers it does not allow. As of its July 14, 2025 terms, these are fundraisers that:
- Benefit groups that support physical violence of any kind
- Promote or fund abortions
- Promote or fund gender reassignment surgeries for minors
- Raise funds for illegal activities
- Impersonate individuals or organizations
- Fail to provide sufficient details about how funds will be used
The same terms state that “GiveSendGo reserves the right to cancel or suspend any fundraiser for any reason.” In practice, GiveSendGo publishes a shorter, more specific list of prohibited categories, while GoFundMe describes broader content standards and enforcement processes. Neither approach is right for every organizer; what matters is whether your campaign clearly fits within the rules of the platform you choose.
Donor Protections and Refunds
GoFundMe offers the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee. According to its Transparency Center, “every donor is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee, which guarantees a full refund in the rare case something isn’t right, for a full year after donating.” Donors request a refund through GoFundMe’s support center.
GiveSendGo’s guarantee is narrower in wording: “We guarantee every donation on our platform will only be directed to the stated Recipient in the fundraiser.” Its terms say donations are non-refundable except as provided in the terms, and that refunds for a base donation may only be issued before funds are transferred to the recipient. Optional tips can be refunded for up to 14 days. GiveSendGo also states it does not guarantee “the legitimacy, truthfulness, or execution” of fundraisers, and places responsibility on givers to assess credibility.
For organizers, this matters because some donors, especially larger corporate or first-time givers, look for a refund guarantee before they give. If your campaign depends on donors who do not know you personally, GoFundMe’s guarantee is a real selling point.
Are Donations Tax Deductible on Either Platform?
For most personal campaigns, the answer is no on both platforms. The IRS states in Publication 526 that “you can’t deduct contributions to specific individuals,” including contributions to individuals who are needy or worthy, even if made through a qualified organization for the benefit of a specific person. Deductions apply to gifts to qualified organizations such as registered charities.
GoFundMe’s donor tax article says donations to a personal fundraiser “are generally considered to be personal gifts and aren’t guaranteed to be tax-deductible.” Only donations to GoFundMe nonprofit fundraisers are guaranteed to be tax deductible in the US, the UK, Canada, Ireland and Australia, and those donors receive tax receipts automatically. GiveSendGo’s terms state that it “makes no representation or warranty that any Donation is tax-deductible.” If deductibility matters to your donors, raise money for or through a registered charity and confirm the details with a tax professional.
Nonprofits that raise money this way tend to do best when the campaign is backed by relationships with local businesses, churches and community groups. Our piece on networking and partnerships in nonprofit success covers how to build that support before you launch.
How to Choose Between GoFundMe and GiveSendGo
Use these questions to make the call quickly:
- Where are you and your beneficiary based? If you are outside GoFundMe’s 20 supported countries, GiveSendGo is likely the simpler option.
- Who are your donors? Broad public appeals and donors who do not know you personally benefit from GoFundMe’s name recognition and one-year Giving Guarantee. Faith communities and church networks may feel more at home on GiveSendGo.
- Does your campaign fit the content rules? Read both terms of service. If your cause falls into a category one platform prohibits, the choice is made for you.
- Do donors need tax receipts? Use a registered nonprofit and GoFundMe’s nonprofit fundraisers (or another charity-focused tool). Neither platform makes personal campaigns deductible.
- How fast do you need the money? GiveSendGo states transfers are processed within 1 to 2 business days of a request; GoFundMe quotes 2 to 5 business days once a transfer is sent. Verification can add time on both.
- Are you raising in a currency other than USD? Compare GiveSendGo’s 3.5% plus $0.30 rate with GoFundMe’s country rate in its fee calculator before deciding.
For a standard US personal campaign, the fee difference is close to a rounding error. Choose the platform whose audience, rules and donor protections best match your cause, then spend your energy on the story, the updates and the outreach that actually move donations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GoFundMe tax deductible?
Donations to personal GoFundMe fundraisers are generally treated as personal gifts and are not tax deductible, which matches IRS guidance that contributions to specific individuals cannot be deducted. Donations to GoFundMe nonprofit fundraisers are guaranteed deductible in the US, the UK, Canada, Ireland and Australia, and donors receive receipts automatically.
Does GoFundMe charge fees?
GoFundMe charges no platform fee to start or run a fundraiser. In the US, a transaction fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 is deducted from each donation, and recurring donations carry a 5% fee. Donors can also add an optional tip, which can be set to zero.
What is GiveSendGo?
GiveSendGo is a crowdfunding platform founded in 2014 by three siblings and publicly launched in October 2015. Its terms describe a mission to share hope through crowdfunding inspired by Christian values. It charges no platform fee and a 2.7% plus $0.30 processing fee on USD donations.
Is GiveSendGo safe?
GiveSendGo says its team verifies every fundraiser before funds are disbursed and guarantees donations go only to the stated recipient. However, it does not guarantee the truthfulness of campaigns, and base donations are generally non-refundable once funds are transferred. As with any crowdfunding site, check who the organizer is and how the money will be used before you give.
How much does GoFundMe take in fees compared to GiveSendGo?
On a $100 US donation, GoFundMe deducts $3.20 and GiveSendGo deducts $3.00, as of October 2026. Neither takes a platform percentage. The gap widens for international campaigns, where GiveSendGo charges 3.5% plus $0.30 on non-USD fundraisers and GoFundMe rates vary by country.
Conclusion
The GoFundMe vs GiveSendGo decision is rarely about fees. Both platforms charge 0% platform fees and similar processing fees as of October 2026, with GiveSendGo slightly cheaper on US donations. GoFundMe offers wider recognition, a one-year Giving Guarantee and tax-receipted nonprofit fundraisers in five countries. GiveSendGo offers broader international availability, fast stated transfer times and a Christian-values mission with its own published content rules.
Read both terms of service against your specific cause, confirm your country is supported, and be upfront with donors about tips and tax status. The right platform is the one your donors already trust and your campaign clearly fits.
