GoFundMe vs OnParticipe
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.
French and European organisers running cagnottes, ticketed events, or association fundraising who want a no-commission, French-hosted platform with identity controls, and who will read the terms for inactivity and refund charges.
Of every 100 donated, OnParticipe delivers 3.20 more per 100 to the recipient than GoFundMe.
Each platform is priced in its own currency: GoFundMe in USD, OnParticipe in EUR.
Per-method pricing.
| Payment method | Per transaction | Of $100, recipient gets | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| iDEAL | 2.9% + $0.25 | $96.85 | One per-donation transaction fee, identical across methods; no iDEAL-specific rate. |
| Credit card | 2.9% + $0.25 | $96.85 | Single per-donation transaction fee, same on every method; varies by country (UK 2.9% + GBP 0.25, US 2.9% + USD 0.30, AU 2.2% + AUD 0.30). |
| PayPal | 2.9% + $0.25 | $96.85 | Same per-donation transaction fee as every method. |
| Apple Pay | 2.9% + $0.25 | $96.85 | Same per-donation transaction fee as every method. |
| Google Pay | 2.9% + $0.25 | $96.85 | Same per-donation transaction fee as every method. |
| Bank Transfer | 2.9% + $0.25 | $96.85 | Same per-donation transaction fee as every method. |
| Venmo | 2.9% + $0.30 | $96.80 | US-only; same 2.9% + USD 0.30 transaction fee. |
Side-by-side.
| Metric | GoFundMe | OnParticipe |
|---|---|---|
| Recipient gets (per 100) | $96.80 | €100.00★ winner |
| Platform fee | 0% | 0% |
| Payment processing fee | 2.9% + $0.30 | 0% + €0.00★ winner |
| Trustpilot | 3.3 (23,930)★ winner | 3 (21) |
| Country coverage | 20 countries★ winner | 1 countries |
| Data residency | US | France |
| Languages | 7★ winner | 1 |
| Payment methods supported | 7★ winner | 1 |
Winner by category.
€100.00 vs $96.80 reaches the recipient.
3.3 vs 3 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
French and European organisers running cagnottes, ticketed events, or association fundraising who want a no-commission, French-hosted platform with identity controls, and who will read the terms for inactivity and refund charges.
- ✓No commission on collections, so organisers keep the entire amount raised and ticket revenue.
- ✓Designed and hosted in France, with French customer support available seven days a week.
- ✓Funded by an optional donor tip rather than a mandatory platform charge.
- ✓Systematic identity-document checks on organisers for fraud control.
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 OnParticipe?
Of every 100 donated, GoFundMe delivers approximately $96.80 to the recipient and OnParticipe delivers approximately €100.00. 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; OnParticipe operates in 1.
Rankings are produced by a public editorial methodology — open to peer review. We disclose ownership, scoring weights, and every change.