RallyUp vs.
GiveSmart 

Have you ever caught yourself thinking:

“I’m so overwhelmed by all these fundraising platforms. I can’t tell what distinguishes them from each other, or if I even need to use one in the first place!?”

Before throwing in the towel and sticking with what’s familiar, let’s simplify things and review your options together.

Most visitors who land on this page—whether through a Google search or someone’s suggestion—are seeking a more effective solution.

Many want a quicker, more streamlined way to gather donations. Some desire more polished-looking campaigns that leave donors impressed. Others are searching for personal assistance, real team members who can offer guidance or even create fundraisers for you. And naturally, everyone wants the tools and capabilities to maximize their fundraising results.

If you’re nodding along to any of this, you’ve come to the right place.

In this GiveSmart versus RallyUp comparison, we’ll highlight the main reasons to consider RallyUp as an alternative to GiveSmart.

Features Comparison

All-in-one fundraising platform

Advanced functionality for: Raffles, Auctions, Galas & Events, Sweepstakes, Events & Ticketing, Crowdfunding, Peer-to-Peer, A-Thons, Store, Livestreaming, and Donation Pages

No A-Thons and Sweepstakes.
Limited functionality and campaign types: No Raffles, Sweepstakes, A-Thons, or Store

An expert will build your campaign for you, for free

Fundraising experts build professional campaigns tailored to your cause

Expert campaign review and optimization, for free

Fundraising experts review your campaign and offer guidance for success before you launch

Professional campaign planning, for free

Personal meeting with a pro who will help you plan the perfect fundraiser

Predesigned campaign templates built into the app

Quick start campaigns with Instant Fundraiser Templates. Just pick one and go

Combine different campaign types in a single fundraiser

Combine any/all: Raffles, Auctions, Events & Ticketing, Sweepstakes, Crowdfunding, A-Thons, Store, Livestreaming

Peer-to-Peer with all types of fundraisers

Peer-to-Peer with Raffles, Events & Ticketing, Sweepstakes, A-Thons, Crowdfunding, Store, Livestream

P2P with Auctions, Raffles, Events & Ticketing, Crowdfunding, Online Store, Livestreaming

Expert support from real people

Live assistance with fundraising specialists

AI Bot on the chat. The Champion and Expert plans include one-on-one consulting, and on-site staff

Free to use
(No monthly/annual subscription)

Intuitive and user-friendly UX design

So easy, you can DIY in 15 minutes to an hour. Or set up with an Instant Fundraising Template in under 10 minutes

A steep learning curve with a trial-and-error self-training. Customization-heavy approach may require more setup time (hours to days)

Total Custom Branding

Fully white-labeled; RallyUp branding removable

Branding is minimal but present (e.g., URLs)

Platform fees

Free Pricing: No platform fee; donors are prompted to leave optional tips

Flex Pricing: Platform fees apply based on campaign type:

2.9% for Events

2.9% for Online Store

4.9% for Auctions

4.9% for A-Thons & Crowdfunding

6.9% for Raffles & Sweepstakes

0% for Donation Pages

0% for Peer-to-Peer

0% for Livestreaming

This is in addition to processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction or 1.9% + $0.30 for ACH transactions

Paid subscription plans only (Not publicly disclosed, but reported to start at over $2,000/year)

This is in addition to processing fees for Visa, Mastercard, Discover (3.5%), and American Express (3.95%)

Donor Tipping

Optional tips can be disabled (flat-rate platform fee). Option to allow tipping and keep donor tips

Lacks a tipping system altogether

Donors can optionally cover credit card processing fees

Livestreaming

Built-in Livestreaming with fundraising games and spotlights for instant donations

Integrated only with third-party platforms (e.g. YouTube)

Zapier integration

Affordable for small nonprofits with a limited budget

Diverse payment options

Credit and debit cards, ACH Transfers, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal

Credit/debit cards and digital wallets

No native ACH support, no PayPal, and

Google Pay is supported only on GiveSmart’s Champion and Expert subscription plans

Reviews

4.8 rating

4.5 rating

vs. GiveSmart

Final Takeaway

GiveSmart is your go-to for auctions and complex events. Think galas, silent auctions, and seating charts. It’s powerful, but it’s got a learning curve.

RallyUp? It’s like the Swiss Army knife of fundraising! Online donations, event ticketing, auctions, hybrid tools—it’s all there. With quick setup and our free Create My Campaign service, you’ll save 10+ hours!

Plus, it’s super user-friendly. No training wheels are needed!

With GiveSmart you’ll need to schedule a demo and negotiate terms. It’s a process but may be worth it if you’re planning a big auction or an exclusive event with assigned seating.

GiveSmart’s functionality, while comprehensive, is less intuitive and more event-focused, which could feel restrictive for organizations prioritizing quick setup or creative campaigns.

So, what is it going to be? Big, bold, live auctions with seating charts and complex event management? Go GiveSmart. Creative, varied campaigns and quick, easy, and all-in-one setup? RallyUp is definitely your go-to choice.