Crowdfunding: the classy way to ask people for money. Whether it’s your next big business venture, an expressive artistic project, or an obstacle that needs a little bit of financial help to overcome, there are all manner of reasons to look to crowdfunding to accomplish your goals.

But which platform should you use? Which site’s policies are best for your goals? And what should you expect from each site?

To answer these questions and more, we’ve compiled a list of the best crowdfunding sites of 2024.

1. Kickstarter

After all these years, Kickstarter remains one of the largest crowdfunding platforms there is. 

Kickstarter is a rewards-based crowdfunding platform that incentivizes backers from around the world to invest in a creator’s passion project in exchange for a tangible reward. Kickstarter is best for crowdfunding projects that create something that can be distributed to backers. If you’re an entrepreneur, company, or artist, you should seriously consider Kickstarter.

But if that’s the case, then why would you ever use a different platform? The answer is Kickstarter’s policies. 

Kickstarter takes a firm stance against projects that state or imply that they solve an illness or health condition. 

Thus, if your product has a healthcare component and part of your messaging is the improvement of health outcomes, then Kickstarter has a high chance of rejecting your campaign. But, if your campaign stays within Kickstarter’s rules and can create something physical OR digital to reward your backers, then Kickstarter is the place for you.

2. Indiegogo

Indiegogo is similar to Kickstarter in that both are reward-based crowdfunding platforms, i.e., your campaign needs to present your backers with a physical or digital item to reward your backers. Kickstarter is the number one crowdfunding platform in the world, so why go with Indiegogo? 

There are a few reasons:

First, Kickstarter prohibits campaigns that claim or imply that their product can treat or prevent a condition or illness, so if your campaign has a healthcare element, then Indiegogo is the place to go. 

Second, Indiegogo allows for flexible funding goals, while Kickstarter is all or nothing. Normally, this isn’t worth considering for a business, because your funding goal should be the minimum investment needed to break even. But if you’re trying to fund a creative work, for instance, and you need all the money you can get, then the flexible funding goal can work in your favor.

Finally, unlike Kickstarter, Indiegogo doesn’t care if your product was launched on another platform. So, you can feel free to launch on Kickstarter, then double-dip into the Indiegogo community to expand the reach of your campaign.

3. Gofundme

Gofundme is primarily a need-based fundraising platform. This is a platform you can tap into when you need support for medical bills, end of life care, volunteer projects, etc. 

You can also use GoFundMe for creative projects, and unlike the above two platforms, people will be donating to your campaign without an expectation that they will be receiving a reward. 

The focus of this platform is much more charitable than the above two platforms discussed in this article. That makes a big difference when planning your campaign. 

If you’re weighing different options for crowdfunding and thinking about using Gofundme, consider the fact that an enticing reward on Kickstarter or other reward-based crowdfunding platform is likely to draw in much more interest than simply asking for money with no reward.

So, if you’re trying to crowdfund your next big idea, we recommend trying a platform like Kickstarter. GoFundMe remains a great option, however, for nonprofits and those in need of emergency funding.

4. Patreon

Anyone who’s been on YouTube for the last half-decade has heard of Patreon by now. Yes—Patreon is technically a form of crowdfunding!

What makes Patreon unique is that it’s tailor-made for content creators to escape the ‘all-eggs-in-one-basket’ pitfalls of YouTube monetization. On Patreon, users subscribe to a creator at a monthly fee in exchange for exclusive content, video shoutouts, personalized engagement with the creator… the options are endless. 

If you’re an artist or release regular YouTube videos, you should definitely consider Patreon. As for how you should customize your Patreon reward tiers, your creativity is the limit. Just make sure you give your Patrons something extra every month to justify their subscription. 

No matter which way you do it, Patreon remains the best way for content creators to tap into the world of crowdfunding. We definitely recommend it for any YouTubers or influencers out there.

5. Fundly

Fundly is a bit different from the platforms we’ve discussed above. If you’re an organization who regularly needs fundraising and hosts events on platforms like Facebook, then Fundly is tailor-made for you. 

Nonprofits, charities, community groups, and churches all have a lot to gain from using this platform. 

Compared to the above platforms, Fundly is more for groups and organizations that need continual support or emergency funding. In that sense, it’s similar to GoFundMe. But GoFundMe has a bit more support for individuals needing emergency funds, while Fundly is made for organizations with event integration. 

The customizability of Fundly’s options is also worth pointing out, which can make them more flexible for your crowdfunding needs. 

Fundly, Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Patreon, GoFundMe… now that we’ve broken down all of our options, which one should you go for?

If you’re looking for reward-based crowdfunding, you can’t go wrong with Kickstarter. Meanwhile, Indiegogo can be a good alternative to consider for niche products. For need-based crowdfunding, GoFundMe and Fundly are excellent options, and for content creators, Patreon is the king. 

That's all for our thoughts on the best crowdfunding platforms of 2024. Do you want further insight into crowdfunding platforms for your next big idea? Feel free to reach out to the Funding Insider team. We'll help you get your idea off the ground and more with our extensive campaign management service.