Better Giving review
An open-source fundraising platform with forms, recurring gifts and peer-to-peer campaigns.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Better Giving is an open-source fundraising platform for nonprofits, schools, faith charities and universities. Its core is a set of brandable, embeddable donation forms, with recurring donations and peer-to-peer fundraising alongside them. Technical teams that want control over how donation forms are hosted may value the option to self-host; organizations can also use the managed platform. The product is a closer fit for teams seeking flexible donation infrastructure than for those prioritizing a dedicated event-fundraising system.
The published pricing description presents the managed fundraising platform as free with no platform fees. That does not mean every gift is cost-free: third-party payment-processing charges may apply, and payment processing is separate. Payment options listed include cards, bank/ACH, PayPal, digital wallets, stock, donor-advised funds, IRA/QCD and cryptocurrency. Integrations include PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Chariot DAFpay. This range may suit organizations accepting varied gift types, though teams should account for payment costs when assessing the overall arrangement.
Customization and donor follow-up are notable parts of the offering: forms can use custom colors and wording, include goal-tracking progress bars, and integrate with an organization’s website. Better Giving also provides automated branded tax receipts and reporting, plus CSV and API donor-data exports. Self-hosting is available with the organization’s own payment gateway, making technical capacity relevant to that choice. It is worth considering for teams that want open-source donation tools and multiple giving methods; organizations that need verified event-fundraising capabilities or deeper reporting should compare alternatives before choosing.
Better Giving pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Embeddable, customizable forms support a wide range of gift types.
- Includes recurring donations and peer-to-peer fundraising.
- Offers branded receipts, reporting, exports and self-hosting.
- Where it doesn't
- Payment-processing charges may still apply.
- Self-hosting requires an organization’s own payment gateway.
- Event fundraising and reporting depth are not established.
Better Giving fact sheet, pricing and score →
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