Givebutter pricing depends on tips. With tips on, Givebutter is free to use and covers the transaction fee on every transaction where a tip is offered. With tips off, it charges a 3% platform fee, and it doesn't offer an upfront flat fee. GalaBid offers three plans with 100+ features: a Free plan supported by optional tips, a Pro plan at 4.9% with no tip prompts, or a $1,250 flat fee.
So which costs less depends on whether you want tips and how much you plan to raise. Without tips, Givebutter's 3% is cheaper than GalaBid's Pro plan, and cheaper than GalaBid's flat fee up to about $42,000 per campaign. Above that, GalaBid's flat fee costs less. With tips on, GalaBid shares 10% of each tip with your cause, and pays straight into your own Stripe account. Fundraisers outside the US and to groups that aren’t registered nonprofits can use GalaBid.
If you're comparing Givebutter alternatives for auctions and events, this guide also shows where GalaBid may be the better fit.
Note: Pricing and tip options were last checked October 2026.
Givebutter pricing vs GalaBid pricing
If you don't want tips, Givebutter's 3% is the lower rate, and it stays cheaper than GalaBid's $1,250 flat fee until a campaign raises about $42,000. Above that, the flat fee wins: on a $60,000 campaign, for example, Givebutter's 3% comes to $1,800. That compares platform costs only, before card processing.
How the tip ask changes with the amount
Both platforms default to a 15% tip on invoices up to $1,000. Above $1,000, they split. Givebutter's default drops to 5%, with preset options from 3% to 10%, and its "Other" box is pre-filled with 10% of the amount. GalaBid's default stays higher, at 12.5% up to $5,000 and 10% above that, with a lowest preset option of 5%.
For mid-size purchases, the order flips. Between $101 and $1,000, the lowest preset tip on GalaBid is 7.5%, while on Givebutter it's 10%.
What the "cover fees" box means
Givebutter's checkout adds a processing fee and asks supporters whether they want to cover it. Here's what that looks like on a $1,050 invoice:
On GalaBid, card processing runs through your own Stripe account. GalaBid's own figures show 85% or more of supporters choose to cover the transaction fee, so in practice the difference may be small.
A Free plan that shares tips with your cause
On GalaBid's Free plan, GalaBid shares 10% of each tip with your cause. Givebutter doesn't share tips with the cause.
A flat fee for large campaigns
Givebutter doesn't offer an upfront flat fee. GalaBid's $1,250 flat fee covers a campaign with no tip prompts, which makes it the cheaper option for campaigns raising more than about $42,000.
Watch How to Set Up Payments on Your Fundraising Campaign
Full control of your funds
With GalaBid, payments go straight to your own Stripe account, and you control the payout schedule.
Givebutter vs GalaBid: nonprofit fundraising software comparison
When Givebutter might be the better fit
Givebutter may be the best fit if:
- You’d prefer no tip prompt at checkout, and you’ll raise under about $42,000. With tips off, Givebutter charges 3%. That’s less than GalaBid’s Pro plan (4.9%), and less than GalaBid’s $1,250 flat fee until you’ve raised about $42,000.
- Your supporters spend more than $1,000 each. Givebutter's default tip ask drops to 5% above $1,000, with preset options from 3% to 10%.
- You want certainty on transaction fees. With tips on, Givebutter covers the transaction fee on every transaction where a tip is offered, so your cause receives 100% of each supporter's invoice amount.
- Your supporters want more ways to pay, such as ACH.
- You want recurring donations.
- You run peer-to-peer campaigns.
- You need integrations with your donor CRM or other tools.
- You want a donation widget for your website.
Givebutter alternatives: when GalaBid might be the better fit
GalaBid may be the best fit if:
- You're raising more than about $42,000 per campaign. GalaBid's $1,250 flat fee costs less than Givebutter's 3% from that point, and Givebutter doesn't offer an upfront flat fee.
- You want your cause to share in tips. On the Free plan, GalaBid shares 10% of each tip with your cause.
- Your supporters' purchases are mostly between $101 and $1,000. The lowest preset tip on GalaBid is 7.5%, against 10% on Givebutter.
- You want full control of your funds. Payments go straight to your own Stripe account, and you control the payout schedule.
- You fundraise outside the US, or you're not a registered nonprofit. GalaBid is available in Canada, Europe, the UK, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and is open to fundraisers that aren't registered nonprofits.
- You want advanced auction features, such as sealed bids. GalaBid has run auctions since 2011.
- You run events and want event features, such as volunteer accounts.
- You run raffles and want built-in raffle drawing, with a raffle drawing leaderboard.
- You want an integrated no-risk auction item catalog, adding items to your campaign in a couple of clicks.
- You want outbid alerts by text message included on the Free plan.
- Downloadable reports meet your CRM needs. GalaBid doesn't integrate directly with donor CRMs, but its reports can be uploaded into them.
How a 5K scholarship fundraiser took its raffle online and reached more supporters
At a glance
- Organization: Colleen Ritzer Memorial Fund, launched in 2014 in memory of Colleen Ritzer, a teacher from Andover, Massachusetts, to fund scholarships for future teachers
- Event: Step Up for Colleen, an annual 5K walk-run held the first weekend in May since 2014
- Used GalaBid for: the raffle that runs alongside the 5K, with around 30 prizes
- Result: less legwork, and a raffle that reached supporters who couldn't come in person
The challenge
For the last few years, the fund has run a raffle alongside its 5K. Participants could buy raffle tickets in person when they picked up their race packets. As Kristen Walsh, the fund's Director of Public Relations, put it, the logistics were a pain and there was a lot of legwork. And only people who came to packet pickup could take part.
How they used GalaBid
Kristen first tried GalaBid as a supporter, buying a raffle ticket in a GalaBid raffle run by another local nonprofit. She wanted to move the fund's raffle online, so it was a test of how it worked. She found it super easy, and after checking with the other nonprofit, which highly recommended it, she launched the fund's own account.
This year's raffle had around 30 prizes, focused on experiences: tickets to events, a hotel stay, concert tickets and even goat yoga. Kristen sourced them from local sports teams, hotels and concert venues, following each company's preferred donation process. This year, she kept prizes as individual items rather than bundles, so more people could win.
When questions came up, she used GalaBid's live chat, and the team always got her an answer.
The results
- Less legwork. Moving the raffle to GalaBid made everything so much easier.
- More reach. The fund could promote the raffle on social media and in emails, so supporters who weren't coming to packet pickup could still take part.
- Support that answers the question. Kristen called GalaBid's live chat the best customer service chat she's used.
- Growing next year. With the first year done, Kristen plans to grow the raffle on GalaBid, and the fund is also using GalaBid for an upcoming golf ball drop, selling 1,000 golf balls for a chance to win $5,000.
Watch Colleen Ritzer Memorial Fund’s Case Study Video
How to switch from Givebutter to GalaBid
- Choose your GalaBid plan. Pick Free (optional tips, with 10% shared with your cause), Pro (4.9%, no tip prompts) or the $1,250 flat fee. If you're raising more than about $42,000, the flat fee is likely to cost less.
- Set up your campaign. Sign up and build your campaign.
- Connect your own Stripe account. Payments go straight to it, and you control the payout schedule.
- Add your items and features. Upload your items, add no-risk auction items from the catalog in a couple of clicks, and set up raffles and volunteer accounts for your event.
- Plan for your CRM. Download GalaBid's reports to upload into your donor CRM.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Givebutter cost?
Givebutter is free to use with optional tips turned on. With tips off, it charges a 3% platform fee. It doesn't offer an upfront flat fee.
Is Givebutter really free?
With tips on, Givebutter is free for your organization: it covers the transaction fee on every transaction where a tip is offered, whether or not a supporter tips. Supporters see a tip prompt at checkout and are asked to cover processing fees.
What does Givebutter charge if I turn off tips?
3% platform fee. GalaBid's equivalent, the Pro plan with no tip prompts, is 4.9%, and its flat fee is $1,250 per campaign.
How much does Givebutter ask supporters to tip?
On invoices up to $1,000, Givebutter defaults to a 15% tip, with preset options from 10% to 15%. Above $1,000, the default is 5%, with preset options from 3% to 10%. The "Other" box is pre-filled with 10% of the amount.
Who pays the processing fee on Givebutter?
Supporters are asked to cover it at checkout. With tips on, if they don't, Givebutter covers the transaction fee, not your cause.
Is Givebutter cheaper than GalaBid?
It depends on tips and campaign size. With tips off, Givebutter's 3% is cheaper than GalaBid's Pro plan, and cheaper than GalaBid's $1,250 flat fee up to about $42,000 per campaign. Above that, GalaBid's flat fee costs less.
Does Givebutter have a flat fee?
No. Givebutter doesn't offer an upfront flat fee. GalaBid's flat fee is $1,250 per campaign, with no tip prompts.
How much does GalaBid ask supporters to tip?
GalaBid defaults to 15% on invoices up to $1,000, 12.5% up to $5,000 and 10% above that. The lowest preset option is 7.5% on invoices from $101 to $1,000, and 5% above $1,000. GalaBid shares 10% of each tip with your cause.
How long does Givebutter hold funds?
One Trustpilot reviewer (September 2026) reported Givebutter holding funds for up to ten days in some cases. On GalaBid, payments go straight to your own Stripe account, and you control the payout schedule.
Is Givebutter available outside the US?
Givebutter is open to US nonprofits only. GalaBid is available in Canada, Europe, the UK, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and to fundraisers that aren't registered nonprofits.
Does Givebutter offer recurring donations and peer-to-peer fundraising?
Yes, Givebutter offers both. GalaBid doesn't offer recurring donations, or peer-to-peer fundraising at the time of writing.
What are good Givebutter alternatives for auctions and events?
GalaBid has run auctions since 2011, with sealed bids, volunteer accounts, built-in raffle drawing with a leaderboard, an integrated no-risk auction item catalog, and outbid text alerts on its Free plan. Givebutter launched auctions in 2022.
Weighing up Givebutter pricing against GalaBid?
Get expert advice instantly via live chat. Our team is online 7 days a week, including evenings and weekends, or you can set up your campaign yourself today.
