GoFundMe vs iDonate.ie
Individual fundraisers in the US, UK, and English-speaking markets running personal causes (medical, memorial, emergencies) where brand reach matters more than EU data residency.
Irish charities, clubs, schools, and community causes that want low transaction-only fees and a broad set of fundraising tools, including donation pages, crowdfunders, raffles, and events.
Of every 100 donated, iDonate.ie delivers 1.00 more per 100 to the recipient than GoFundMe.
Each platform is priced in its own currency: GoFundMe in GBP, iDonate.ie in EUR.
Per-method pricing.
| Payment method | Per transaction | Of £100, recipient gets | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| iDEAL | 2.9% + £0.25 | £96.85 | 0% platform fee |
| Credit card | 2.9% + £0.25 | £96.85 | 0% platform fee |
| PayPal | 2.9% + £0.25 | £96.85 | 0% platform fee |
| Apple Pay | 2.9% + £0.25 | £96.85 | 0% platform fee |
| Google Pay | 2.9% + £0.25 | £96.85 | 0% platform fee |
| Bank Transfer | 2.9% + £0.25 | £96.85 | 0% platform fee |
| Venmo | 2.9% + £0.30 | £96.80 | 0% platform fee |
Side-by-side.
| Metric | GoFundMe | iDonate.ie |
|---|---|---|
| Recipient gets (per 100) | £96.80 | €97.80★ winner |
| Platform fee | 0% | 0% |
| Payment processing fee | 2.9% + £0.30 | 1.95% + €0.25★ winner |
| Trustpilot | 3.3 (23,930)★ winner | — (0) |
| Country coverage | 20 countries★ winner | 1 countries |
| Data residency | US | — |
| Languages | 7★ winner | 1 |
| Payment methods supported | 7★ winner | 4 |
Winner by category.
€97.80 vs £96.80 reaches the recipient.
3.3 vs — on Trustpilot.
20 vs 1 countries.
Both share the same residency posture.
Choose based on who you are.
Individual fundraisers in the US, UK, and English-speaking markets running personal causes (medical, memorial, emergencies) where brand reach matters more than EU data residency.
- ✓Largest global brand in donation crowdfunding with strong organic discoverability
- ✓0% platform fee since 2017 (donor tips fund the platform)
- ✓Wide international country coverage and currency support
- ✓Established trust signals through high-profile media coverage
Irish charities, clubs, schools, and community causes that want low transaction-only fees and a broad set of fundraising tools, including donation pages, crowdfunders, raffles, and events.
- ✓0% platform fee with a transaction-only cost of 1.95% + EUR0.25 per donation.
- ✓No setup or monthly fees.
- ✓Donor-covers-the-fee option can reduce the net deduction for causes.
- ✓Broad fundraising toolkit: donation pages, crowdfunders, raffles, and event fundraising.
A third option.
Dutch and other social-impact initiators running Global-Goals-aligned campaigns who value personal coaching and community-building over a high-volume, self-serve crowdfunding marketplace.
Other comparisons.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, GoFundMe or iDonate.ie?
Of every 100 donated, GoFundMe delivers approximately £96.80 to the recipient and iDonate.ie delivers approximately €97.80. Real costs depend on the payment method donors choose.
Which is better for European nonprofits?
Both platforms operate inside the EEA framework. Choose based on local payment-method coverage and language support.
Which platform has more country coverage?
GoFundMe operates in 20 countries; iDonate.ie operates in 1.
Rankings are produced by a public editorial methodology — open to peer review. We disclose ownership, scoring weights, and every change.