GoFundMe vs Steady
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 creators, independent journalists, podcasters, and publishers who want recurring income from paying members rather than one-off donation campaigns.
On a $100 donation, GoFundMe delivers $9.70 more to the recipient than Steady.
Per-method pricing vs Steady.
| Payment method | Per transaction | Of $100, recipient gets | Notes | Steady · fee | Steady gets | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venmo Popular in EN | 2.9% + $0.30 | $96.80 | US-only; same 2.9% + USD 0.30 transaction fee. | not supported | — | — |
| iDEAL | 2.9% + $0.25 | $96.85 | One per-donation transaction fee, identical across methods; no iDEAL-specific rate. | not supported | — | — |
| Credit card | 2.9% + $0.30 | $96.80 | 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). | 12.9% + $0.00 | $87.10 | +$9.70 |
| PayPal | 2.9% + $0.25 | $96.85 | Same per-donation transaction fee as every method. | not supported | — | — |
| Apple Pay | 2.9% + $0.25 | $96.85 | Same per-donation transaction fee as every method. | not supported | — | — |
| Google Pay | 2.9% + $0.25 | $96.85 | Same per-donation transaction fee as every method. | not supported | — | — |
| Bank Transfer | 2.9% + $0.25 | $96.85 | Same per-donation transaction fee as every method. | not supported | — | — |
Side-by-side.
| Metric | GoFundMe | Steady |
|---|---|---|
| Recipient gets ($100) | $96.80★ winner | $87.10 |
| Platform fee | 0%★ winner | 10% |
| Payment processing fee | 2.9% + $0.30★ winner | 2.9% + $0.00 |
| Trustpilot | 3.3 (23,930)★ winner | 2.6 (4) |
| Country coverage | 20 countries | 32 countries★ winner |
| Data residency | US | — |
| Languages | 7★ winner | 5 |
| Payment methods supported | 7★ winner | 4 |
Winner by category.
$96.80 vs $87.10 reaches the recipient.
3.3 vs 2.6 on Trustpilot.
32 vs 20 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
European creators, independent journalists, podcasters, and publishers who want recurring income from paying members rather than one-off donation campaigns.
- ✓Purpose-built recurring-membership tooling for creators, journalists, and publishers.
- ✓Free to register and create a project; fees apply only once you earn.
- ✓European data handling with multi-currency support (euro, pound, Swiss franc, US dollar).
- ✓Members can pay by card, PayPal, Apple Pay, and SEPA direct debit.
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 Steady?
On a $100 donation, GoFundMe delivers approximately $96.80 to the recipient and Steady delivers approximately $87.10. 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; Steady operates in 32.
Rankings are produced by a public editorial methodology — open to peer review. We disclose ownership, scoring weights, and every change.