Have a brilliant idea that needs funding? Dreaming of launching a creative project or social cause but lacking the initial capital? WordPress comes to the rescue again! With the help of crowdfunding plugins, you can transform your WordPress site into a powerful fundraising platform.
These plugins allow you to set up donation-based or reward-based campaigns, complete with eye-catching progress bars to keep your audience engaged. Integrate secure payment gateways to ensure a smooth transaction process and leverage built-in donor management tools to streamline your fundraising efforts.
Crowdfunding has become an essential way for individuals and organizations to raise funds for projects, causes, and businesses. WordPress, being a versatile platform, offers numerous plugins to facilitate crowdfunding campaigns.
Let’s start the world of WordPress crowdfunding plugins and explore how they can empower you to achieve your fundraising goals!
Top Crowdfunding Plugins for WordPress
Here are the 12 best WordPress crowdfunding plugins, complete with descriptions, features, and pricing information.
1. WP Fundraising
WP Fundraising is a freemium donation plugin for WordPress that allows you to collect donations online. It is easy to use and integrates with Elementor, a popular page builder plugin for WordPress. With WP Fundraising, you can create donation forms, track donations, and manage your donors.
It also includes features like a front-end dashboard for users and an admin dashboard for managing campaigns. WP Fundraising is translation-ready and supports a variety of payment methods, including PayPal and Stripe.
WP Fundraising is a comprehensive solution for creating crowdfunding campaigns. It supports both donation-based and reward-based crowdfunding.
Features:
- Multiple campaign types
- WooCommerce integration
- Flexible donation options
- Detailed reporting
- Social sharing tools
Pricing: Free version available; premium version starts at $79 per year.
2. GiveWP
GiveWP is a WordPress plugin designed specifically for creating donation forms for fundraising campaigns. It is designed to be easy to use and allows for customization of the donation forms to fit your specific needs.
GiveWP integrates with a number of payment processors, including Stripe and PayPal, to make the donation process smooth for your donors. It also offers premium add-ons that allow for recurring donations and other features to further enhance your fundraising capabilities.
GiveWP is a powerful donation plugin that can be tailored for crowdfunding. It’s highly customizable and offers extensive features for managing donations.
Features:
- Multiple payment gateways
- Recurring donations
- Donation forms
- Donor management
- Customizable receipt emails
Pricing: Free version available; premium add-ons start at $79 per year.
3. Charitable
Charitable is a WordPress plugin specifically designed to assist non-profit organizations with donation management. It provides features to create and manage donation forms, set up recurring donations, and even facilitate peer-to-peer fundraising and crowdfunding campaigns.
Charitable integrates with several popular payment gateways including PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.Net to ensure a smooth donation experience for your supporters. They also prioritize data security with GDPR compliance and allow you to export your donation data for record-keeping.
Charitable is a flexible and easy-to-use fundraising plugin. It allows you to create and manage multiple fundraising campaigns directly from your WordPress dashboard.
Features:
- Recurring donations
- Offline donations
- Customizable donation forms
- Donation tracking and management
- Integrates with popular email marketing services
Pricing: Free version available; premium plans start at $129 per year.
4. IgnitionDeck
IgnitionDeck is a WordPress plugin that allows you to create your own crowdfunding platform. It is used by hundreds of companies and boasts an easy-to-use interface that doesn’t require coding knowledge. IgnitionDeck integrates with nearly any WordPress theme and allows you to create projects, track their progress in real time, and accept secure payments through popular gateways like Stripe and PayPal.
IgnitionDeck is a feature-rich crowdfunding plugin designed to help you launch and manage campaigns efficiently. It works independently of third-party platforms, giving you complete control over your campaigns.
Features:
- Customizable project pages
- Multiple payment gateways
- Reward management
- Backer management
- Analytics and reporting
Pricing: Plans start at $149 per year.
5. FundPress
FundPress is a versatile WordPress crowdfunding plugin that integrates with WooCommerce. It is an all-in-one WordPress donation plugin designed to streamline the creation of donation and crowdfunding campaigns on your website. It boasts a user-friendly interface that eliminates the need for coding knowledge, making it accessible to users of all technical backgrounds.
FundPress integrates with several popular payment gateways including PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.Net to ensure a smooth donation experience for your supporters. They also offer a donate widget that can be placed anywhere on your site, allowing visitors to donate directly to your website in addition to your specific campaigns.
This flexibility makes FundPress a great choice for charities, non-profit organizations, and any website looking to raise funds for a cause.
Features:
- Multiple campaign types
- WooCommerce support
- Flexible funding goals
- User registration and login
- Social media integration
Pricing: Premium version starts at $49.
6. Crowdfunding for WooCommerce
Crowdfunding for WooCommerce extends the capabilities of WooCommerce to include crowdfunding functionalities. It is ideal for those who are already familiar with WooCommerce.
Features:
- Reward management
- Campaign analytics
- User-friendly setup
- Multiple payment gateways
- Email notifications
Pricing: Free version available; premium version starts at $99 per year.
7. WP Crowdfunding
WP Crowdfunding is a robust plugin designed for creating crowdfunding campaigns on WordPress. It integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce, making it easy to manage pledges and rewards.
Features:
- Native wallet system
- Stripe and PayPal integration
- User dashboard
- Detailed analytics
- Social sharing options
Pricing: Free version available; premium version starts at $149 per year.
8. Galaxy Funder
Galaxy Funder is a WooCommerce extension that transforms your store into a powerful crowdfunding platform. It supports both simple and complex crowdfunding setups.
Features:
- Flexible funding goals
- Multiple reward levels
- Customizable contribution forms
- Backer management
- Email notifications
Pricing: Premium version is available for $49.
9. WP Simple Pay
WP Simple Pay is a straightforward plugin for collecting payments, making it suitable for simple crowdfunding campaigns. It is built for ease of use and quick setup.
Features:
- Stripe integration
- One-time and recurring payments
- Customizable payment forms
- Easy setup
- Detailed payment records
Pricing: Free version available; premium plans start at $99 per year.
10. Seamless Donations
Seamless Donations is an easy-to-use plugin that allows you to collect donations and manage fundraising campaigns. It is highly customizable and integrates with various payment gateways.
Features:
- PayPal integration
- Recurring donations
- Customizable donation forms
- Donor management
- Email notifications
Pricing: Free version available; premium add-ons start at $19.
11. WP Invoicing
WP Invoicing is primarily an invoicing plugin, but it can be adapted for crowdfunding purposes. It is highly flexible and integrates with various payment gateways.
Features:
- Multiple payment gateways
- Recurring billing
- Customizable invoices
- Detailed reporting
- WooCommerce integration
Pricing: Free version available; premium add-ons start at $39.
12. Donation Thermometer
Donation Thermometer is a simple plugin that adds a visual representation of your crowdfunding campaign’s progress. It’s an excellent addition for engaging donors.
Features:
- Easy setup
- Customizable thermometer
- Shortcode support
- Real-time updates
- Lightweight and fast
Pricing: Free to use.
How to Create a Crowdfunding Website with WordPress?
Creating a crowdfunding website with WordPress involves several steps, from choosing the right hosting plan and domain name to installing the necessary plugins and customizing your site. This guide will take you through the entire process step-by-step to help you set up a successful crowdfunding platform.
Step 1: Choose a Domain Name and Hosting
1.1 Select a Domain Name Your domain name is your website’s address on the internet. Choose a name that is memorable, relevant to your niche, and easy to spell. You can purchase a domain name from registrars like Hostinger, GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Bluehost.
1.2 Choose a Hosting Provider Select a reliable hosting provider that offers good performance and support. I recommended Hostinger. Hostinger is a great choice for beginners or budget-minded users. It’s affordable, easy to use, and reliable with fast loading times. They offer features like free domain registration and website building tools. They provides managed WordPress hosting with robust features and known for excellent customer service
Step 2: Install WordPress
Most hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation. Here’s how to do it on Hostinger as an example:
- Log in to your hosting account and find the WordPress installation option. It’s usually under a section like “My Sites” or “Website.”
- Click on the “Install WordPress” button, follow the prompts, and fill in your site details (site name, admin username, and password).
- Once WordPress is installed, you can access your website’s dashboard by navigating to
yourdomain.com/wp-adminand logging in with the credentials you set up.
Step 3: Choose a Crowdfunding Theme
3.1 Select a Theme Choose a WordPress theme that is designed for crowdfunding websites. Some popular options are:
- Krowd: A modern and responsive crowdfunding theme.
- TheFude: Tailored for crowdfunding and fundraising websites.
- Born to Give: A versatile theme with various customization options.
3.2 Install the Theme From your WordPress dashboard, go to “Appearance” > “Themes” > “Add New.” Upload the theme you purchased or found, and click “Install Now.” After installation, click “Activate” to apply the theme to your site.
Step 4: Install Essential Plugins
Install WP Fundraising and activate this Crowdfunding plugin, which integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce to manage pledges and rewards.
Consider installing other useful plugins: Yoast SEO, contact form 7, and Elementor etc. WooCommerce is essential for handling payments. Install and activate it from the “Plugins” > “Add New” section.
Step 5: Configure Your Crowdfunding Plugin
5.1 Set Up WooCommerce Go to “WooCommerce” > “Settings” and configure your store settings, including currency, payment gateways (such as PayPal or Stripe), and shipping options if applicable.
5.2 Configure WP Fundraising Navigate to “Crowdfunding” > “Settings” to configure the plugin. Key settings include:
- General Settings: Set the default campaign status, page setup, and currency.
- Payment Settings: Connect your Stripe or PayPal accounts.
- Rewards Settings: Configure reward tiers for backers.
Conclusion
Selecting the right crowdfunding plugin depends on your specific needs and goals. Whether you’re looking for extensive features, ease of use, or budget-friendly options, there’s a plugin on this list to suit your requirements.
Each plugin offers unique features and pricing, so consider what aligns best with your crowdfunding strategy and start building successful campaigns on your WordPress site.