Software · head to head
Donorbox vs Facebook Fundraisers
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Donorbox standard plan charges 2.95-3.95% platform fee per donation on top of payment processor fees (2.2-2.49% + card processing); Facebook Fundraisers no donor email collection unless donor explicitly opts in, limiting donor stewardship and relationship-building
- They diverge on capability: Donorbox covers Custom donation forms, Facebook Fundraisers covers Campaign creation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Donorbox and Facebook Fundraisers actually diverge.
| Attribute | Donorbox | Facebook Fundraisers |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Unknown |
| Platforms | Web | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2016 | 2004 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Donorbox
- Custom donation forms
- Peer-to-peer fundraising
- Payment processing
- Donor management
- Stripe
- PayPal
- Mailchimp
- Zapier
Only in Facebook Fundraisers
- Campaign creation
- Donation collection
- Social sharing
- Donation tracking
- Team fundraising
- Facebook Pages
- Messenger
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Donorbox
- Small to mid-sized nonprofits needing affordable donation processing in 96+ countriesnot Facebook Fundraisers
- Organisations seeking integrated event ticketing and peer-to-peer fundraisingnot Facebook Fundraisers
- Multi-channel giving strategies including text-to-give and membership programmesnot Facebook Fundraisers
Facebook Fundraisers
- Business operationsnot Donorbox
- Productivitynot Donorbox
- Automationnot Donorbox
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Donorbox
- Standard plan charges 2.95-3.95% platform fee per donation on top of payment processor fees (2.2-2.49% + card processing)
- Premium plan pricing requires contacting sales, not displayed publicly
- Pro plan limited to growing organisations; larger nonprofits must upgrade to Premium with custom pricing
Facebook Fundraisers
- No donor email collection unless donor explicitly opts in, limiting donor stewardship and relationship-building
- Slow payouts of 15-45 days for enrolled nonprofits, up to 90 days for unenrolled organizations
- No recurring giving option after discontinuation in 2023, limiting lifetime donor value
- Limited customization and branding control compared to dedicated fundraising platforms
- Not available in European Economic Area countries as of July 1, 2024
Pricing, plan by plan
Donorbox
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Donorbox review.
Facebook Fundraisers
Free- Standard$undefined/mo
- Donation collection
- Birthday fundraisers
- Matching donations on Instagram
Which should you pick?
Choose Donorbox if
- You need custom donation forms.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want peer-to-peer fundraising.
Choose Facebook Fundraisers if
- You need campaign creation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want donation collection.
Questions people ask
- Is Donorbox or Facebook Fundraisers better?
- Neither clearly leads. Donorbox starts at Free and Facebook Fundraisers at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Donorbox or Facebook Fundraisers?
- Donorbox starts at Free and Facebook Fundraisers at Free.
- Does Donorbox or Facebook Fundraisers run on more platforms?
- Donorbox runs on Web. Facebook Fundraisers runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Donorbox for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Donorbox best used for?
- Donorbox is most often used for small to mid-sized nonprofits needing affordable donation processing in 96+ countries, organisations seeking integrated event ticketing and peer-to-peer fundraising, multi-channel giving strategies including text-to-give and membership programmes. Of those, small to mid-sized nonprofits needing affordable donation processing in 96+ countries and organisations seeking integrated event ticketing and peer-to-peer fundraising are not what Facebook Fundraisers is typically brought in for.
- What can Donorbox do that Facebook Fundraisers cannot?
- Donorbox covers Custom donation forms, Peer-to-peer fundraising, Payment processing, Donor management. Facebook Fundraisers covers Campaign creation, Donation collection, Social sharing, Donation tracking. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Facebook Fundraisers: Are there any fees for Facebook Fundraisers for nonprofits?
Meta covers payment processing fees for 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. However, PayPal Giving Fund, which processes all donations, applies 1.99% + $0.49 per donation in the US. For eligible nonprofits, Meta covers these fees, so the nonprofit keeps 100% of donations.
SourceFacebook Fundraisers: When will I receive my donations?
Enrolled nonprofits receive donations within 15-45 days. Unenrolled organizations wait up to 90 days. Payouts go through PayPal Giving Fund.
SourceFacebook Fundraisers: Can I collect donor email addresses?
No. Facebook only provides the donor's name and donation amount unless the donor explicitly opts in to share their email during the donation process.
SourceFacebook Fundraisers: Does Facebook Fundraisers support recurring monthly donations?
No. Native recurring giving was discontinued in October 2023. Donors can only make one-time contributions.
SourceFacebook Fundraisers: What platforms can I use to fundraise on?
Facebook Fundraisers are available on Facebook Pages, Instagram, and WhatsApp for verified 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Donors can contribute via donation buttons on posts, stories, live streams, and matching donation features on Instagram.
Source