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Head-to-head · School Fundraising Software

PledgeStar vs HometownLift

  • 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
HometownLift #4 in School Fundraising Software 7.9/10 Free plan · paid from $190/yr Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit HometownLift

PledgeStar leads on 0 checks, HometownLift 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 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #4.

On platform access, PledgeStar gives you Both where HometownLift offers Web.

PledgeStar is the better fit for schools running pledge drives with multilingual families. HometownLift is the better fit for small schools focused on reading-a-thons.

  • PledgeStar fits best

    Schools running pledge drives with multilingual families

  • HometownLift fits best

    Small schools focused on reading-a-thons

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 ↗ HometownLift 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.6 7.9
Ranking #1 in School Fundraising Software #4 in School Fundraising Software
Best for Schools running pledge drives with multilingual families Small schools focused on reading-a-thons
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Support Email, Phone Email
Compliance 2FA PCI DSS
Integrations 9 integrations 1 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business
Features PledgeStar 4/4 · HometownLift 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 Web
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.
  • Per-book and per-minute pledges with automatic payment calculations
  • Student pages show reading goals and fundraising progress
  • Free Core plan includes campaigns, donor CRM, and volunteer tracking
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.
  • Read-a-thon totals must be entered by a teacher or organizer
  • Advanced event and operations tools require paid annual plans
  • Web-only access, with Stripe listed as the integration
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 →

HometownLift is cloud-based fundraising software for schools, booster clubs, youth sports teams, and other community organizations. Its clearest fit is a small school running a read-a-thon: each student receives a shareable page,…

Read the review →
  1. PledgeStarSchool Fundraising Software 9.6Free plan
  2. HometownLiftSchool Fundraising Software 7.9Free plan · paid from $190/yr

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.

  • HometownLift — where it wins

    • Per-book and per-minute pledges with automatic payment calculations
    • Student pages show reading goals and fundraising progress
    • Free Core plan includes campaigns, donor CRM, and volunteer tracking

    Where it doesn't

    • Read-a-thon totals must be entered by a teacher or organizer
    • Advanced event and operations tools require paid annual plans
    • Web-only access, with Stripe listed as the integration

More comparisons

All school fundraising software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

Last updated · How we research and update