Connect ClickBid to the Tools You Love
Connect ClickBid to the Tools You Love
Choosing the right event fundraising platform is critical to saving time, raising more and engaging your valuable donors. Zero hidden fees.
Choosing between ClickBid and Givebutter comes down to the complexity of your event versus the simplicity of the donor experience. While Givebutter offers a broad suite of free tools for fundraising, it often lacks the robust, in-person auction or event features required to pull off high-stakes galas and fundraising events. ClickBid, on the other hand, provides professional grade event management, seamless check-in and check-out processes, and advanced auction features that Givebutter’s simplified model can’t match.
Givebutter utilizes a controversial “tipping’ model that defaults to asking donors for an extra 15% at checkout. This aggressive tactic can be off-putting to donors, forcing organizations to risk their brand reputation and donors’ trust to use a ‘free’ tool.
In contrast, ClickBid is an established, trusted choice for nonprofits, offering straightforward and flat fee pricing with all the fundraising features needed to pull off any event, in-person, virtual, or in between.
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 a digital fundraising platform designed for nonprofits seeking a “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 to nonprofits 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 for nonprofits, it relies on a pricing model that many organizations find intrusive and unpredictable. Givebutter has a pricing model that shifts the financial burden onto your donors, often leading to exponential costs that far exceed the price of a professional, flat-fee license. Givebutter Plus, their paid subscription, has advanced features including automation, custom reporting, and other CRM features at a pricing model based on the number of contacts or supporters.
Don’t let the “no upfront cost” label fool you. This structure shifts the financial weight to your donors, who may feel pressured or accidentally misled, into paying an extra 10-25% at checkout. Tips can be disabled in exchange for a flat 3% of all event sales, possibly punishing organizations for having a successful and goal-breaking event.
It’s important to note that Givebutter does not offer dedicated phone support or live human assistance during events. Their support model relies on a Help Center, email, and AI-driven live chat. Because AI chat is their primary method for real-time troubleshooting, nonprofits will not have access to a phone number for immediate assistance on the night of an event.
Be aware that Givebutter lacks the native functionality to support live auctions or paddle raises. These high-impact moments are the cornerstone of successful nonprofit galas, yet they are missing from Givebutter’s feature set. Without dedicated tools built for the intensity of in-person fundraising, the platform is not designed to handle these critical revenue-generating tasks effectively.
$45,000 fundaiser
Unlimited Events
$1,495
Credit Processing Fee
$1,575
Per Transaction Fee
$0
Donor Requested Fees
$0
TOTAL COSTS
$3,070
$45,000 fundaiser
Event Fee
$1,350
Credit Processing Fee
$1,350
Per Transaction Fee
$36
Donor Requested Fees
$6,750
TOTAL COSTS
$8,249
ClickBid offers a broader feature set for event fundraising, paired with support on event day, while Givebutter focuses on social-sharing and peer-to-peer features and lacks features for live auctions or paddle raise fundraisers.
| Feature | ClickBid | Givebutter |
|---|---|---|
| Event & Auction | ||
| Mobile Bidding | ||
| Silent Auctions | ||
| Live Video Event Stream | ||
| Raise the Paddle / Fund-a-Need | ||
| Online Auctions | ||
| Event Ticket Sales | ||
| Event Check-In | ||
| Custom Event Pages | ||
| Fundraising | ||
| Online Donations | ||
| Peer-to-Peer Fundraising | ||
| Text to Give | ||
| Recurring Donations | ||
| Communication & Marketing | ||
| Mass Email Messaging | ||
| Mass SMS Messaging | Limited (Event Only) | |
| Event Registration | ||
| Platform & Support | ||
| Dedicated Account Manager | ||
| US-Based Support Team | Limited | |
| Unlimited Events per License | ||
| Published Pricing | Variable | |
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.
*This information was taken from review sources in 2025.
ClickBid Wins
ClickBid Wins
ClickBid Wins
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.