GoFundMe vs WhyDonate
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.
European nonprofits and individuals who want a transparent, low-fee, GDPR-native crowdfunding platform with broad multilingual and multi-currency support.
Of every 100 donated, WhyDonate delivers 1.55 more per 100 to the recipient than GoFundMe.
Each platform is priced in its own currency: GoFundMe in USD, WhyDonate in NZD.
What the data says.
Paying by Credit card, WhyDonate delivers about 1.00 more of every 100 donated than GoFundMe (NZ$97.85 vs $96.85 per 100).
WhyDonate holds the stronger Trustpilot record: 4.9/5 across 388 reviews, against 3.3/5 across 24,037 for GoFundMe.
WhyDonate stores donor data inside the EEA — a practical advantage for GDPR-sensitive campaigns — while GoFundMe does not.
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 | WhyDonate |
|---|---|---|
| Recipient gets (per 100) | $96.80 | NZ$98.35★ winner |
| Platform fee | 0% | 0% |
| Payment processing fee | 2.9% + $0.30 | 1.4% + NZ$0.25★ winner |
| Trustpilot | 3.3 (24,037) | 4.9 (388)★ winner |
| Country coverage | 20 countries | 115 countries★ winner |
| Data residency | US | EEA★ winner |
| Languages | 7 | 19★ winner |
| Payment methods supported | 7 | 24★ winner |
Winner by category.
NZ$98.35 vs $96.80 reaches the recipient.
3.3 vs 4.9 on Trustpilot.
115 vs 20 countries.
EEA data residency for GDPR-sensitive donor data.
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
European nonprofits and individuals who want a transparent, low-fee, GDPR-native crowdfunding platform with broad multilingual and multi-currency support.
- ✓Zero platform fee with a transparent voluntary-tip model
- ✓EEA data residency and GDPR-native compliance
- ✓Broad coverage of local European payment rails (iDEAL, Bancontact, Klarna, Twint, Swish, MobilePay, Vipps, Blik, Cartes Bancaires, Satispay, MultiBanco, EPS) plus global rails (cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, Link, Revolut Pay)
- ✓19-language interface and 27 supported currencies for cross-border 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 WhyDonate?
Of every 100 donated, GoFundMe delivers approximately $96.80 to the recipient and WhyDonate delivers approximately NZ$98.35. Real costs depend on the payment method donors choose.
Which is better for European nonprofits?
WhyDonate is generally better suited to European nonprofits handling GDPR-sensitive donor data because of its EEA data residency.
Which platform has more country coverage?
GoFundMe operates in 20 countries; WhyDonate operates in 115.
Rankings are produced by a public editorial methodology — open to peer review. We disclose ownership, scoring weights, and every change.