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Software · head to head

Donorbox vs InitLive

Donorbox logo

Donorbox

Software

Online fundraising platform for nonprofits

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
InitLive logo

InitLive

Software

Event management and mobile app platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Donorbox has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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); InitLive email notification system is weak, lacking ability to track sent emails and resend to unopened recipients
  • They diverge on capability: Donorbox covers Custom donation forms, InitLive covers Event creation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Donorbox and InitLive actually diverge.

Attributes where Donorbox and InitLive differ
AttributeDonorboxInitLive
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20162013

Identical on both: 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
  • Mailchimp
  • Zapier
  • Mobile-responsive support

Only in InitLive

  • Event creation
  • Mobile app
  • Registration
  • Check-in
  • Feedback collection
  • Networking tools
  • Salesforce
  • Slack

Both cover

  • Stripe
  • PayPal
  • 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 InitLive
  • Organisations seeking integrated event ticketing and peer-to-peer fundraisingnot InitLive
  • Multi-channel giving strategies including text-to-give and membership programmesnot InitLive

InitLive

  • 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

InitLive

  • Email notification system is weak, lacking ability to track sent emails and resend to unopened recipients
  • Discrepancy between mobile app and web version features and functionality
  • Mobile app tablet optimization is suboptimal compared to phone version
  • Initial setup requires substantial preparation time and configuration

Pricing, plan by plan

Donorbox

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Donorbox review.

InitLive

On request
  • Starter$100/month
    • Event creation
    • Basic mobile app
  • Professional$250/month
    • Advanced features
    • Customization
    • Integrations

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.
Donorbox review

Choose InitLive if

  • You need event creation.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want mobile app.
InitLive review

Questions people ask

Is Donorbox or InitLive better?
Neither clearly leads. Donorbox starts at Free and InitLive at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Donorbox or InitLive?
Donorbox has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Donorbox and On request for InitLive.
Does Donorbox or InitLive run on more platforms?
Donorbox runs on Web. InitLive runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Donorbox for free?
Yes. Donorbox has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. InitLive starts at On request.
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 InitLive is typically brought in for.
What can Donorbox do that InitLive cannot?
Donorbox covers Custom donation forms, Peer-to-peer fundraising, Payment processing, Donor management. InitLive covers Event creation, Mobile app, Registration, Check-in. Both handle Stripe, PayPal, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

InitLive: What communication features does InitLive have?

InitLive includes a broadcasting system that allows sending messages to staff lists with ease, real-time communication during events, and staff can delegate volunteer management to other volunteers.

Source
InitLive: How is InitLive licensed to nonprofits today?

InitLive was acquired by Bloomerang in March 2023 and rebranded as Bloomerang Volunteer in July 2023. The product continues to operate as part of the Bloomerang nonprofit relationship management platform.

Source
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Related pages

More on Donorbox

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