Choosing the right event fundraising platform is critical to saving time, raising more and engaging your valuable donors. A Givebutter comparison to ClickBid.
Choosing between ClickBid and Givebutter comes down to the complexity of your event versus the simplicity of your digital giving. While Givebutter offers a broad suite of free tools for year-round fundraising, it often lacks the robust, in-person auction infrastructure required for high-stakes galas. ClickBid bridges this gap by providing professional-grade event management, seamless check-in flows, and advanced auction features that Givebutter’s simplified model can’t match.
ClickBid started in 2002 as an in-person event fundraising platform. Using computer based bidding, charities were able to increase the frequency of bids, shorten lines at check-in and check-out and give donors an exciting and competitive experience. Over the years, ClickBid has expanded to provide online auctions, mobile bidding, ticket sales and live video.
The key to ClickBid is the simplicity of using a single tool for unlimited events throughout the year. Backing up your simplified experience is a dedicated support representative who follows your account all year. They will help you setup all your events and guide you through all the fundraising opportunities.
Givebutter is an all-in-one digital fundraising platform designed for small-to-midsized nonprofits seeking a user-friendly, “free” entry point for donations, peer-to-peer campaigns, and basic silent auctions. It operates on a “tip-based” model where the platform remains free if donors are asked to cover costs, but it charges platform fees if those tips are disabled. While it excels at modern, social-media-style giving and includes a built-in CRM, it is often criticized for a complex setup and a lack of critical live-event features—such as the ability to pre-register guest credit cards and native “Raise the Paddle” functionality.
While Givebutter is often marketed as a “free” solution, it relies on a pricing model that many organizations find intrusive and unpredictable. For 2025, Givebutter has standardized a model that shifts the financial burden onto your donors, often leading to hidden costs that far exceed the price of a professional, flat-fee license.
The primary breakdown of their costs is as follows:
Ultimately, Givebutter’s “free” model is funded by your donors’ generosity. For organizations that value a clean, professional donor experience and predictable costs, the percentage-based “tip” model often creates more friction than value.
Annual License: $1,495 (unlimited events)
Credit Processing Fee: $1,575 (3.5%)
Per Transaction Fee: $0
Donor Requested Fees: $0
Post Event Platform Fee: $0
Total Costs: $3,070
Annual License: $0
Credit Processing Fee: $1,305 (2.9%)
Per Transaction Fee: $36 ($0.30 per transaction)
Donor Requested Tips: $4,500 – $11,2550 (10-25%)
Platform Fee: $2,250 (5%)
Total Costs: $8,091-$14,841
To help clarify the features available to ClickBid and Givebutter, we have provided the following matrix.
Feature | ClickBid | Givebutter |
Ticket Sales | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Bidding | Yes | Yes |
Fixed Pricing and Raffles | Yes | Yes |
Live Auctions | Yes | Yes |
Registration/Guest Management | Yes | Limited |
Event Promotional Page | Yes | Yes |
Real Time Event Leaderboards | Yes | Yes |
Customizable Messaging | Yes | No |
Embeddable Donation Forms | Yes | Yes |
Real-Time Video Streaming | Yes | No |
Event Night Support | Yes | Limited |
Ongoing Customer Service | Yes | No |
There are several key takeaways in the Givebutter comparison to ClickBid. First, ClickBid’s pricing is ideal for the charity running multiple events and raising at or above $40,000 in a twelve-month period.
Platforms like Givebutter that do not charge an annual license will cost much more over time due to repetitive costs like tips and performance fees charged on every transaction. However, if your charity is running a smaller, one-time event, a DIY platform like Givebutter can be a great solution.
ClickBid has spent more than 20 years focusing on maximum fundraising for charities all over North America. Our recipe of simple software and dedicated support has helped us become a top level event fundraising provider.
Our support team consists of seasoned, US based representatives who call ClickBid their home. Each talented team member attends events in-person to know what it feels like to be in your shoes. They personally walk you through your onboarding, answer all your questions along the way and manually review your events before they start. This isn’t extra! It’s the ClickBid Experience.
Our team is trained in helping charities migrate their event data from Givebutter to ClickBid. We will walk you through a customized demo and focus on the process of migration. Unlike switching CRMs, the process is surprisingly simple and takes only minutes.
Connect directly to your account manager who will support you for the entire year. Unlike a call center, our team is dedicated to your organization. Tell your story only once and then let your account manager help you stay engaged with your donors.
With your first event set up, you’re ready to engage and raise more money. Best of all, there’s no more $$ to spend on multiple events. The road ahead of you is wide open for maximizing your donor experiences and raising more funds.
We love our nonprofits and they have loved using a proven platform.
This information was taken from review sources in 2025.