SimplyRaffle vs. fundraising platforms
Comparing SimplyRaffle to Givebutter, RallyUp, and similar tools? They solve a different problem. Here's the honest difference — and how to tell which one you actually need.
Two different categories
The most important thing to know: most "raffle platforms" are really payment platforms. SimplyRaffle is a drawing tool. That single difference drives everything else.
Fundraising platforms
(Givebutter, RallyUp, &c.)
These are full payment and fundraising platforms. Your supporters pay through the platform, and the platform earns revenue from that flow — through payment-processing and platform fees on the funds you raise, and at checkout some platforms add an optional "tip the platform" prompt that supporters often pay thinking it goes to your cause.
In exchange you get an all-in-one toolkit: ticketing, donation pages, donor management, recurring giving, email tools, and more. The drawing is usually one small feature inside a much larger product.
SimplyRaffle
(the drawing tool)
SimplyRaffle does not process payments at all. You collect ticket money however you already do — cash, check, Venmo, Square, Stripe, your own donation page — and supporters pay exactly the price you set. There's no checkout on SimplyRaffle, so there's nothing to add a fee or tip to.
What you get is the part the big platforms do worst: a fast entry experience (QR walk-up or magic link), and a fair, tamper-evident draw with a downloadable audit log. You pay one flat fee, and we take no percentage of your raffle.
Side by side
| SimplyRaffle | Fundraising platforms | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A raffle drawing tool | A payment & fundraising platform |
| Who handles ticket money | You do — any method you like | The platform processes it |
| What it costs you | One flat fee ($9–$99/event, or $99–$499/year) | Processing + platform fees on funds raised (and/or checkout tips) |
| Cut of your raffle revenue | None | A share of processed funds and/or supporter tips |
| Primary job | A fair, auditable winner draw | Collecting & managing donations |
| Proof the draw was fair | Downloadable audit log (seed, timestamp, entries, winner) | Varies by platform |
Fundraising platforms differ in their exact fee structures — check each provider's current pricing for specifics. This table compares the categories, not any single competitor's numbers.
Which should you use?
Use a full fundraising platform if…
You want one tool to sell tickets online, manage donors, run recurring giving and email campaigns, and accept card payments end-to-end — and you're comfortable with the platform taking a share of the money (or asking your supporters for tips) in return for that all-in-one convenience.
Use SimplyRaffle if…
The raffle is the fundraiser, you already have a way to collect money (cash box, Square, Venmo, your own portal), and what you actually need is a fast entry experience and a fair, auditable draw you can prove to your board — for a predictable flat fee, with no cut taken from your supporters.
And they're not mutually exclusive — plenty of organizers collect through one tool and run the actual draw in SimplyRaffle.
Comparison FAQ
Can I use SimplyRaffle together with a payment platform?
Yes. If you already collect ticket money through another tool or in person, export your buyer list to a CSV and import it into SimplyRaffle to run the draw. Keep whatever payment setup you like; use SimplyRaffle purely for the winner selection and audit log.
Does SimplyRaffle take a percentage of my raffle?
No. SimplyRaffle never processes your supporters' payments, so it takes no percentage. You pay one flat fee — per event, or per year for repeat organizers — and that's the entire cost. Every ticket dollar stays with you.
Is SimplyRaffle cheaper than a percentage-based platform?
It depends on how much you raise. SimplyRaffle is a fixed fee regardless of raffle size, so the more you bring in, the more a flat fee tends to favor you. For very small raffles, a free percentage- or tip-based platform may cost less in absolute dollars. Compare your expected ticket revenue against the relevant flat tier ($9–$99/event).
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