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Head-to-head · School Fundraising Software

PledgeStar vs GoPledge

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score PledgeStar #1 in School Fundraising Software 9.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit PledgeStar
GoPledge #6 in School Fundraising Software 7.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit GoPledge

PledgeStar leads on 0 checks, GoPledge on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePledgeStar · 9.6/10
  • Free planboth

PledgeStar scores higher on our rubric for school fundraising software: 9.6 against 7.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #6.

PledgeStar is the better fit for schools running pledge drives with multilingual families. GoPledge is the better fit for small schools needing free per-unit pledge pages.

  • PledgeStar fits best

    Schools running pledge drives with multilingual families

  • GoPledge fits best

    Small schools needing free per-unit pledge pages

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. It never changes our verdict. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature PledgeStar 9.6/10 Visit ↗ GoPledge 7.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.6 7.7
Ranking #1 in School Fundraising Software #6 in School Fundraising Software
Best for Schools running pledge drives with multilingual families Small schools needing free per-unit pledge pages
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Support Email, Phone Email, Phone, Docs
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market
Features PledgeStar 4/4 · GoPledge 4/4
Pledge tracking ✓ ✓
Event fundraising ✓ ✓
Family messaging ✓ ✓
Peer-to-peer pages ✓ ✓
Specs
Campaign limit Not published Not published
Participant limit Not published Not published
Platform access Both Both
Our review
Pros
  • Student pages support flat and per-unit pledges with post-event payment notices.
  • Automates email and text requests and tracks outstanding pledges.
  • Offers translations in more than 50 languages and cash/check entry.
  • Supports both flat donations and per-unit pledges
  • Participant profiles include shareable links and goal trackers
  • Leaderboards, reminders, analytics and ACH payouts are included
Cons
  • The Standard plan charges a 7% platform fee, capped at $1,195 per campaign.
  • The FREE plan still applies standard credit-card processing fees.
  • Access is web-based, which may not suit teams seeking a native app.
  • Online transactions carry Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee
  • Access is web-only through a cloud deployment
  • ACH payouts occur only after a fundraiser concludes
Our verdict

PledgeStar is a cloud-based platform for schools, youth sports teams, booster clubs and community organizations running jog-a-thons, walk-a-thons, read-a-thons or event-free pledge drives. It gives each student a personalized fundraising…

Read the review →

GoPledge is an online fundraising platform for schools, youth organizations and teams running campaigns such as fun runs, walk-a-thons, read-a-thons and dance-a-thons. It supports both flat donations and per-unit pledges, with…

Read the review →
  1. PledgeStarSchool Fundraising Software 9.6Free plan
  2. GoPledgeSchool Fundraising Software 7.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • PledgeStar — where it wins

    • Student pages support flat and per-unit pledges with post-event payment notices.
    • Automates email and text requests and tracks outstanding pledges.
    • Offers translations in more than 50 languages and cash/check entry.

    Where it doesn't

    • The Standard plan charges a 7% platform fee, capped at $1,195 per campaign.
    • The FREE plan still applies standard credit-card processing fees.
    • Access is web-based, which may not suit teams seeking a native app.
  • GoPledge — where it wins

    • Supports both flat donations and per-unit pledges
    • Participant profiles include shareable links and goal trackers
    • Leaderboards, reminders, analytics and ACH payouts are included

    Where it doesn't

    • Online transactions carry Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee
    • Access is web-only through a cloud deployment
    • ACH payouts occur only after a fundraiser concludes

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

Last updated · How we research and update