Softwr

Nonprofits · head to head

InitLive vs Raisely

InitLive logo

InitLive

Nonprofits

Event management and mobile app platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Raisely logo

Raisely

Nonprofits

Peer to peer and campaign fundraising platform funded by optional donor tips rather than a platform fee

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: InitLive email notification system is weak, lacking ability to track sent emails and resend to unopened recipients; Raisely the tip model performs unevenly, so an organisation with an older or offline recruited donor base sees a lower tip rate and quietly absorbs more of the platform cost than the model assumes.
  • They diverge on capability: InitLive covers Event creation, Raisely covers Peer to peer fundraising.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which InitLive and Raisely actually diverge.

Attributes where InitLive and Raisely differ
AttributeInitLiveRaisely
Pricing modelsubscriptionFree core platform funded by optional donor tips
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded2013Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Nonprofits).

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 InitLive

  • Event creation
  • Mobile app
  • Registration
  • Check-in
  • Feedback collection
  • Networking tools
  • Stripe
  • PayPal

Only in Raisely

  • Peer to peer fundraising
  • Customisable campaign pages
  • Recurring giving
  • Matched giving and appeals
  • Open API and webhooks
  • Automations

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

InitLive

  • Business operationsnot Raisely
  • Productivitynot Raisely
  • Automationnot Raisely

Raisely

  • A charity running a challenge or endurance event where supporters raise money on their own pagesnot InitLive
  • A campaign team that wants each appeal to look bespoke without rebuilding infrastructure each timenot InitLive
  • An organisation unwilling to give a platform a percentage of a large peer to peer income linenot InitLive
  • A digital team with front end skills or an agency partner who will customise the supporter journeynot InitLive

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

Raisely

  • The tip model performs unevenly, so an organisation with an older or offline recruited donor base sees a lower tip rate and quietly absorbs more of the platform cost than the model assumes.
  • It is a campaign platform, not a CRM, so supporter data must be synced onward and organisations that skip that step lose cross channel giving history.
  • Getting the most out of the customisation requires front end capability, and charities without it run campaigns that look like the default template while paying for a platform built for the opposite.
  • Support hours are anchored to Australian time zones, which leaves European and North American teams waiting overnight during a live campaign.
  • Payment processing is tied to a small set of processors, so organisations with an existing merchant relationship or unusual regional payment needs may not be able to keep it.

Pricing, plan by plan

InitLive

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

Raisely

On request
  • Raisely$undefined/year
    • No platform percentage charged to the organisation on the core plan
    • Donors are prompted to add an optional contribution to the platform at checkout
    • Card processing is charged separately by the payment processor

Which should you pick?

Choose InitLive if

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

Choose Raisely if

  • You need peer to peer fundraising.
  • You also want customisable campaign pages.
Raisely review

Questions people ask

Is InitLive or Raisely better?
Neither clearly leads. InitLive starts at On request and Raisely at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, InitLive or Raisely?
InitLive starts at On request and Raisely at On request.
Does InitLive or Raisely run on more platforms?
InitLive runs on Web, iOS, Android. Raisely runs on Web.
What is InitLive best used for?
InitLive is most often used for business operations, productivity, automation. Of those, business operations and productivity are not what Raisely is typically brought in for.
What can InitLive do that Raisely cannot?
InitLive covers Event creation, Mobile app, Registration, Check-in. Raisely covers Peer to peer fundraising, Customisable campaign pages, Recurring giving, Matched giving and appeals.

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
Raisely: How does Raisely make money if there is no platform fee?

Donors are prompted to add a voluntary contribution to the platform at checkout, and some organisations pay for plans that remove the prompt.

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
Raisely: Does the tip prompt reduce donation totals?

It changes the checkout, and results vary by audience. Test it against your own list rather than relying on published averages.

Raisely: Is it a donor CRM?

No. It runs campaigns and pushes data to a CRM through the API or an integration.

Raisely: Who is it best for?

Peer to peer and challenge event fundraising where a percentage platform fee on high volume would be the largest single cost.

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