Every European crowdfunding platform reviewed
Paris, France
Commission in euros, excluding VAT, by band of funds collected: 6.67% on card payments up to EUR 100,000, 5.83% up to EUR 250,000, 5.00% up to EUR 500,000, 4.17% above that. Cheque and transfer contributions are cheaper (4.17% falling to 1.67%).
Demo on request
Best for: Creators in France and Belgium who want a euro-denominated all-or-nothing campaign with French-language support
Ulule is a Paris platform that runs all-or-nothing reward campaigns, donation fundraisers and open-ended subscription pages for creators and associations. Its commission falls in bands as a campaign grows, from 6.67% on card payments up to €100,000 to 4.17% above €500,000, excluding VAT. Cheque and transfer contributions carry a lower commission, between 4.17% and 1.67%.
The contracting party is ULULE SAS, registered in Paris under RCS 794 710 830, with its office at 10 rue de Penthièvre. Euro payments run through Mangopay SA. The terms show a fee table that differs by currency and payment method, and the pages we read do not state where data is hosted or how many projects the platform has funded.
What Ulule does well
- Contracting entity is a registered French SAS in Paris
- All-or-nothing, donation and subscription modes in one platform
- Commission bands fall as the campaign grows
- Cheque and transfer contributions can be added at lower commission
- Euro payments run through Mangopay SA
Where Ulule falls short
- Card commission starts at 6.67% excluding VAT, above Kickstarter's 5% headline fee
- Fee table differs by currency and payment method
- Data location not stated on the pages we read
- Strongest audience is French-speaking
Standout feature. Ulule is the only platform here that lets backers send a cheque or transfer instead of a card, at a lower commission.
Dresden, Germany
Success commission by plan: Basis 5%, Pro 11%, Premium 14% for classic crowdfunding (4%, 10%, 13% for non-profits; 3%, 7%, 10% for private projects), plus payment costs; no running costs.
Demo on request
Best for: German-speaking creators, start-ups and non-profits who want a plan-based commission and guidance from the platform team
Startnext is a crowdfunding platform from Dresden that offers three plans, Basis at 5%, Pro at 11% and Premium at 14% for classic crowdfunding. Non-profit projects pay 4%, 10% and 13%, and private projects pay 3%, 7% and 10%. Payment costs are added on top, and nothing is charged before a payout.
The operator is Startnext GmbH at Grundstraße 1, 01326 Dresden, registered at the Amtsgericht Dresden under HRB 29328. The site calls itself a certified B Corp. Support tickets are stored by Zammad GmbH in Berlin, but the privacy text lists some US providers among its sub-processors, and most of the help material is in German.
What Startnext does well
- Costs only arise when a payout happens
- Separate lower tiers for non-profit and private fundraising
- Public fee page with plan percentages and volume discounts
- Certified B Corp according to its own site
- Imprint with register number and managing director
Where Startnext falls short
- Pro and Premium commission is 11% and 14% before payment costs
- Some sub-processors are US companies
- Help material is mostly in German
- Payment costs are not discounted
Standout feature. Startnext is the only platform here that sells three service levels, so a creator pays more to get coaching from the team.
Mataró (Barcelona), Spain
Starting a project is free. On success: 5% (excluding taxes) plus 1.5% for card payments; flat EUR 65 for projects raising under EUR 1,000. Presales: 5% plus 1.5%, flat EUR 35 under EUR 500.
Demo on request
Best for: Creators of music, film, comics and books in Spain and Catalonia who want a low fixed percentage
Verkami is a Catalan crowdfunding site where starting a project is free and a successful campaign pays 5% excluding taxes plus 1.5% for card handling. Projects raising under €1,000 pay a flat €65. A separate presale tool, Preventa, charges the same percentages and a flat €35 under €500.
The legal entity is VERKAMI, SCP, a civil partnership with tax number J65315566, based at C/ Santa Marta 7 in Mataró near Barcelona. Its terms set a 40-day campaign period. The platform says it has funded 13,783 projects, a figure we could not verify, and its legal text is mainly Spanish.
What Verkami does well
- Fixed 5% commission on success, 1.5% card handling
- Free to start a project
- 40-day campaign rule is written into the terms
- Presale tool for continued sales
- Interface in five languages
Where Verkami falls short
- Legal entity is a civil partnership (SCP)
- Terms mainly in Spanish, one page marked translation pending
- Flat EUR 65 charge under EUR 1,000 raised
- Hosting location not stated
Standout feature. Verkami is the only platform here with a Preventa tool that keeps selling to new customers once the campaign has ended.
not stated on the pages we read (Italy), Italy
PdB fee including VAT: 5% for Keep it all, 5% for All or nothing (charged only if the goal is met), 3% for Donation projects, plus payment processing fees.
Demo on request
Best for: Italian creators, associations and community projects that want to choose between keeping the money or all-or-nothing
Produzioni dal Basso is an Italian platform where the creator chooses between three modes before launch. Keep it all and All or nothing both cost 5% including VAT, and Donation projects cost 3%, each plus payment processing fees. In All or nothing mode the fee is charged only if the goal is met.
The operator is FolkFunding Srl Benefit, VAT number 08378490968, and the terms say the platform has operated since 2005. Lemonway SAS, a regulated payment institution, performs the identity checks and issues the wallet, and the platform disclaims delays that occur there. The registered address, hosting location and reach statistics are not shown on the pages we read.
What Produzioni dal Basso does well
- Choice between Keep it all, All or nothing and Donation
- Public fee percentages: 5% and 3% including VAT
- All or nothing fee only if the goal is met
- Operating since 2005 according to the terms
- English interface available
Where Produzioni dal Basso falls short
- Payment checks are in the hands of Lemonway SAS
- Reach statistics not shown
- Registered address not shown on the pages we read
- Terms are long and legalistic
Standout feature. Produzioni dal Basso is the only platform here that lets the creator pick between keeping all pledges and all-or-nothing.
Zurich, Switzerland
not shown on the pages we read
Demo on request
Best for: Swiss creators and local initiatives who want Swiss payment methods in German, French or Italian
wemakeit is a Swiss platform that supports one-off projects and a product called Communities for ongoing funding of a club or initiative. Backers can pay with PostFinance, TWINT, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay. The interface comes in four languages, and the site mentions a community-owner share model.
The operator is wemakeit AG at Reinhardstrasse 19, 8008 Zurich, register number CHE-260.625.831, and its terms name Zurich as the place of jurisdiction. Switzerland is outside the EU, under an adequacy decision. The platform reports 8,543 projects since 2012. The pages we read show neither the commission nor the hosting location.
What wemakeit does well
- Swiss payment methods including TWINT and PostFinance
- Communities product for ongoing funding
- Imprint with register number
- Four interface languages
- Community-owner share model
Where wemakeit falls short
- Commission not shown on the pages we read
- Switzerland is not in the EU
- Hosting location not stated
- Audience mainly Swiss
Standout feature. wemakeit is the only platform here that supports TWINT and PostFinance, the payment methods Swiss backers use daily.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
not shown on the pages we read
Demo on request
Best for: Dutch artists, collectives and cultural institutions who want a campaign environment built for the arts
voordekunst is a Dutch platform built for creative work, with campaign categories for visual arts, music, film, photography, media, theatre, dance, publications, design and heritage. A second product, creativefunding, serves cultural institutions, and crowdkeeping supports continued giving after a campaign.
The operator is Stichting voordekunst in Amsterdam, KvK 51175614, VAT number NL823132213B01. The site says it has run since 2010 and reports €68,979,644 in donations and 9,569 completed projects, both platform claims. The pages we read show no fees or payment provider, we did not read the terms of use, and the site is Dutch only.
What voordekunst does well
- Foundation structure with KvK and VAT number published
- Built for creative disciplines
- Institutional programme for cultural organisations
- Reports high volume of completed projects (platform claim)
- Operating since 2010 according to the site
Where voordekunst falls short
- Commission and payment provider not shown on the pages we read
- Dutch-language only
- Narrower scope than Kickstarter
- Terms of use not read
Standout feature. voordekunst is the only platform here built around the arts sector, with a separate programme for institutions.
England (address cut in extract), United Kingdom
A fee stated as a percentage (+VAT) of the project target, added to the campaign target before fundraising; the exact percentage is not clearly legible in our extract.
Demo on request
Best for: Councils, charities and residents running neighbourhood projects in the UK and Ireland
Spacehive is a British platform for community projects such as playgrounds, markets and city farms. Residents pledge money, and partners such as councils and funders add money to the same project page. The home page cites £7 million of partner funds available and over £42 million raised in total, both self-reported.
The operator is Spacehive Ltd, company number 7553730, registered in England and Wales, and card payments run through Stripe Payments Europe Limited. The fee is a percentage of the project target, added to the target before fundraising begins, and the exact figure was not legible in our extract. The audience is limited to the UK and Ireland.
What Spacehive does well
- Registered English company with public number
- Partner funds sit alongside pledges
- Clear focus on local and community projects
- Stripe handles card payments
- Guidance for first-time fundraisers
Where Spacehive falls short
- Fee percentage not clearly shown in our extract
- Limited to UK and Ireland
- Not for product launches
- Hosting not stated
Standout feature. Spacehive is the only platform here where public and charitable funders put money into the same project page as residents.
Berlin, Germany
not shown on the pages we read; investments from EUR 250
Demo on request
Best for: Investors and start-up founders in Germany who want an equity model instead of a rewards campaign
Companisto is a Berlin platform where investors buy a share in a start-up, from €250. It adds a secondary market for shares, an investor academy and podcasts. A Business Angel Club accepts tickets above €10,000, and the site carries information on the INVEST grant.
The operator is Companisto GmbH at Köpenicker Str. 154, 10997 Berlin, registered at the Amtsgericht Charlottenburg under HRB 132811 B. Securities business runs through Companisto Wertpapier GmbH in a tied-agent structure. Investors can lose everything, founder costs are not shown on the pages we read, and the platform has no rewards or presale function.
What Companisto does well
- Full imprint with register number and managing directors
- Investments from EUR 250
- Secondary market for shares
- Business Angel Club for larger tickets
- BaFin-registered tied-agent structure disclosed
Where Companisto falls short
- Equity risk, including total loss
- Costs for founders not shown
- Tied-agent and broker structure is complex
- Not for rewards or product presales
Standout feature. Companisto is the only platform here with a secondary market where investors can offer their start-up shares to others.
Brussels, Belgium
not shown on the pages we read
Demo on request
Best for: Belgian investors and companies who want regulated crowdfunding with a tax angle
Spreds is a Brussels platform where private investors fund start-ups, scale-ups, local authorities and renewable energy producers. A legal vehicle, Spreds Finance SA, holds the participations in funded companies, with a separate compartment for each, and represents the investors. Co-investing with professional investors is part of the offer.
The operator is Spreds SA at Rue des Colonies 11, 1000 Brussels, and the site says it has been active since 2011. Its home page advertises a tax shelter of 25%, 30% or 45% on qualifying start-up investments. The benefit depends on Belgian rules, pricing is not shown, and the interface is in Dutch, French and English.
What Spreds does well
- Belgian company with registered headquarters
- Dedicated legal vehicle that represents investors
- Tax shelter of 25%, 30% or 45% on qualifying start-up investments
- Interface in Dutch, French and English
- Active since 2011 according to the site
Where Spreds falls short
- Equity risk
- Pricing not shown on the pages we read
- Not for rewards or product campaigns
- Tax benefits depend on Belgian rules
Standout feature. Spreds is the only platform here that pairs crowd investing with a Belgian tax shelter of 25%, 30% or 45%.
Baar, Switzerland
not shown on the pages we read; example campaign minimum CHF 345
Demo on request
Best for: Swiss founders and investors who want local crowdinvesting
Conda is a Swiss crowdinvesting platform for start-up, SME and real estate financing, with a whitelabel offer for partners. The site includes an investment guide and impact investments. The example campaign we found had a minimum of CHF 345, and the platform claims over CHF 44 million invested and over 21,000 users.
The operator is Conda.ch GmbH at Bachweid 20, 6340 Baar, and its imprint lists a UID and membership of VQF, a FINMA-recognised self-regulatory organisation. The privacy policy names the servers of CONDA GmbH in Vienna and a Zoho Corporation CRM. The German policy is the binding one, and no fees are shown.
What Conda does well
- Imprint with UID and SRO membership
- Real estate and SME financing next to start-ups
- Whitelabel solutions
- Privacy policy names its hosting company
- English interface
Where Conda falls short
- Fees not shown
- Not for rewards campaigns
- German policy is the binding one
- Third-party CRM named in privacy policy
Standout feature. Conda is the only platform here that sells its software to other companies as a whitelabel crowdinvesting solution.
Paris, France
not shown on the pages we read
Demo on request
Best for: French companies raising equity or bonds from citizens and investors in France
Lita is a Paris service for equity, private debt, real estate and renewable energy investments, aimed at financing projects from citizens and investors. Its terms say it is authorised as a crowdfunding service provider by the AMF under number FP-2023-27. Investors hold accounts with Mangopay S.A.
The company is registered in Paris under RCS 805 139 383, and the legal name is cut in our extract. The legal notice states that the site is hosted in France by Amazon Web Services LLC, a US company. The site is French only, shows no fees and offers no product campaigns.
What Lita does well
- AMF authorisation number published
- Equity, debt, real estate and energy in one place
- Mangopay S.A. accounts
- Regulatory notices page
- Citizen financing track record (testimonial)
Where Lita falls short
- Hosted by Amazon Web Services LLC
- French only
- Fees not shown
- Not for product campaigns
Standout feature. Lita is the only platform here that groups equity, debt, real estate and energy projects in one place under an AMF number.
Netherlands (city not shown in extract), Netherlands
not shown on the pages we read; investors may face additional costs such as taxes, per the terms
Demo on request
Best for: Investors who want impact lending, and issuers of impact projects
Lendahand is a Dutch platform where investors lend to businesses in emerging markets, with a credit score shown on each project. The home page claims interest of up to 9% a year and €232 million lent since 2013, both self-reported. The interface comes in six languages.
The operator is Hands-on B.V., chamber of commerce number 55711766, VAT number 851829260B01, and the home page says it is regulated by the Authority Financial Markets. The terms warn that investors may face costs such as taxes. Fees are not shown, the city is cut in our extract, and the loans carry credit and currency risk.
What Lendahand does well
- Dutch BV with chamber of commerce number
- AFM regulation claimed
- Six languages
- Credit scores shown per project
- Transparent terms
Where Lendahand falls short
- Credit and currency risk
- Not rewards crowdfunding
- Fees not shown
- City not shown in extract
Standout feature. Lendahand is the only platform here that publishes a credit score per project for lenders.
