Overview
SchoolAuction.net is a top choice for schools and nonprofits seeking a comprehensive fundraising platform. Its user-friendly interface helps organizations effortlessly manage various fundraising events, including auctions, golf tournaments, and online stores.
SchoolAuction.net offers flat-rate annual plans with no hidden fees and the ability to add unlimited items, guests, and donors. While Givebutter offers its basic platform for free if you have donor tips enabled, turning off tips incurs a platform fee of 1-5% depending on your campaign type.
Overall, SchoolAuction.net delivers a wider range of tools for various fundraising activities, along with more flexible tipping options and a transparent pricing model that ensures more money goes directly into your organization’s pocket.
Pricing Comparison
When looking at Givebutter, consider the amount paid by your entire community—some costs are covered by your organization while others are passed to your donors as “tips” at checkout. Although your donors might think that these tips are part of their contribution to your fundraiser, they don't actually reach your group and they aren't tax-deductible.
And crucially, your donors' tips aren't capped at some reasonable cost. You don’t know, and can’t tell, what the total amount your community will pay for the software.
In contrast, with SchoolAuction.net, your organization pays the plan cost upfront. You can still request tips from guests to help cover event costs, but unlike with Givebutter, all tips collected through SchoolAuction.net go directly to your organization.
|
Features |
SchoolAuction.net |
Givebutter |
|---|---|---|
|
Signup Costs |
$1,000* |
$0 (with donor tips enabled) |
|
Platform Fees |
None |
1-5% with donor tips disabled |
|
Gateway Fees |
3% + 30¢ donors can cover |
2.9% + 30¢ donors can cover |
|
Additional Fees |
None |
1-5% for pledge transactions |
|
% of Donations You Keep |
100% |
? |
|
Your Payout |
Automatic |
Must log in to app to request payout, can take up to a week |
* $1,000 is the price for the annual Essentials plan. See all plans and pricing here.
Features At a Glance
SchoolAuction.net offers a fully-loaded plan right from the start—you won’t have to worry about extra costs for additional features. Plus, their dedicated support team is ready to assist you seven days a week through email, their Help widget, and phone support during crucial times like your event day and the day your online auction closes.
While Givebutter’s basic plan does include many essential features, accessing some fundamental features requires an upgrade to Givebutter Plus, which is billed monthly, and this distinction is not shared on their website's product demo videos. Also, their support is limited to chat and email.
|
Features |
SchoolAuction.net |
Givebutter |
|---|---|---|
|
Auctions |
||
|
Donation forms |
||
|
Fundraising Pages |
||
|
Ticketing |
||
|
Online Appeals |
||
|
Custom Reports |
Only available with Givebutter Plus (monthly payment plan) |
|
|
Import Guests, Tickets, Donors, and Items |
Only available with Givebutter Plus (monthly payment plan) |
|
|
Customizable Offset Features |
Can modify offset amounts/text for fees and tips |
Enable/disable option only |
|
Platform |
Cloud-based, no app needed |
Must download mobile app |
|
Customer Support |
Email, Help widget, & Phone* |
Email and Chat |
*Phone support available on your event day and online auction items closing day
Conclusion
When choosing between SchoolAuction.net and Givebutter for your fundraising platform, we believe that SchoolAuction.net emerges as the more beneficial choice for schools and nonprofits. Its flat-rate pricing structure ensures that you can plan your budget without surprises, and its comprehensive suite of tools supports a wide range of fundraising activities.
With SchoolAuction.net, more of the funds raised go directly into supporting your mission, not the software provider. Consider making the switch to SchoolAuction.net today and take advantage of a platform that truly aligns with your organization’s needs.
"Easy, complete, accurate" — Michelle D. reviewing SchoolAuction.net on G2.com
About this comparison This analysis is based on publicly available information found on platform websites as of November 2024. If you have any updates or corrections, please email info@schoolauction.net.