{"id":99616,"date":"2025-04-25T10:08:41","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T17:08:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog?p=99616"},"modified":"2026-03-10T03:10:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T10:10:55","slug":"actblue-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/actblue-alternatives","title":{"rendered":"Donorbox vs. ActBlue: Comparing Fundraising Solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the first 21 months of the 2023-2024 presidential election cycle, political parties raised a whopping $2.1 billion<\/a>.<\/strong> ActBlue, a democratic fundraising platform, was the partner of choice for many politicians. But some fundraisers are looking for reliable ActBlue alternatives to help them raise more and spend less.<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll compare Donorbox vs. ActBlue to help you make the right choice. We\u2019ll also elaborate on why some political fundraisers may be looking for ActBlue alternatives.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n

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<\/a>What is ActBlue?<\/h2>\n

ActBlue is a Democratic political action committee<\/a> and online fundraising platform for Democratic and progressive candidates, other political action committees (PACs), and nonprofit organizations.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Similar to political fundraising platforms like WinRed, ActBlue aims to streamline the process of online fundraising for electoral and ballot measure campaigns.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>Why are fundraisers looking for ActBlue alternatives?<\/h3>\n

ActBlue has been a popular political fundraising platform for many U.S. organizations. However, some ActBlue users struggle with limited functionality and fundraising options<\/strong>, leaving them looking for ActBlue alternatives<\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The platform also offers limited ways to donate. Currently, donors can only give via credit\/debit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Venmo.<\/p>\n

ActBlue requests optional tips from donors that go directly to its platform. While it is transparent about this practice, it may be problematic for fundraisers who don\u2019t want to tap into donors\u2019 tipping fatigue.<\/p>\n

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ActBlue investigation<\/h3>\n

In April 2025, the Trump Administration directed the Justice Department to investigate ActBlue.<\/strong> The goal of the investigation is to review allegations that ActBlue was making “dummy” or foreign contributions to political candidates or PACs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This development has left many democratic fundraisers feeling uncertain about the future of the platform.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>Political Donation Platforms: What to Look For<\/h2>\n

Whether you\u2019re looking at Donorbox vs. ActBlue or other options, it can be daunting to find a fundraising platform that meets the requirements of your political organization. Here are five things to look for if you\u2019re on the hunt for ActBlue alternatives.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>1. No setup or monthly fees<\/h3>\n

There is so much pressure involved in raising extraordinary amounts of money to keep your political campaign competitive.<\/p>\n

Online fundraising platforms are a lucrative way to help put your campaign on potential voters\u2019 radars. But setup costs and monthly fees can take a large chunk out of your funding and affect your financial planning.<\/p>\n

Look for a political fundraising platform<\/a> that allows you to set up your political campaign for free<\/strong> \u2013 without any contracts or monthly fees involved.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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<\/a>2. Easy FEC filing<\/h3>\n

Filing with the Federal Election Commission (FEC)<\/a> is a tedious and often overwhelming process for applicable political fundraisers in the U.S. From when to file to what to include, there are many steps involved.<\/p>\n

Opt for a political campaign fundraising platform that lets you easily generate FEC-compliant reports.<\/strong> These kinds of reports typically include much of the information required to file, which minimizes your workload and streamlines the FEC filing<\/a> process.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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<\/a>3. Security<\/h3>\n

It goes without saying that safeguarding fundraising data and sensitive donor information is paramount. After all, your supporters are more likely to give to your campaign if they know their information is well-protected!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re considering ActBlue alternatives, make sure that they maintain industry-leading security standards<\/a>. Look out for political campaign fundraising platforms that offer round-the-clock fraud detection<\/a> and monitoring, two-factor authentication, and reCaptcha<\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

24\/7 security, form encryption, and PCI compliance are also among the top things to prioritize where security is concerned.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>4. Customization options<\/h3>\n

A brand-aligned donation form<\/a> will boost credibility and instill trust among your supporters, encouraging them to donate to your political campaign.<\/p>\n

Make sure that the fundraising platform you go for allows you to customize your donation form and webpage to align with your brand.<\/strong> You can instill donor trust<\/a> with customization options like custom CSS, which allows you to personalize your donation form and donation page to match your branding.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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<\/a>5. Recurring donations<\/h3>\n

While one-time donors are very important, recurring donors<\/a> ensure donor retention and create a sustainable source of income for your organization. Recurring donations are also easier for your supporters, since they don\u2019t have to be reminded to give constantly!<\/p>\n

Look for a fundraising platform that makes recurring donations easy for you and your donors<\/strong>, providing a steady revenue stream for your campaign.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Why Political Fundraisers Choose Donorbox Over ActBlue<\/h2>\n

While some ActBlue users are already looking for alternatives, the Trump Administration’s ActBlue investigation has created some uncertainty for fundraisers.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, you need your fundraising platform to work for you \u2013 to help you get the funding you need to build your campaign or advocate for your cause.<\/p>\n

Donorbox offers powerful, reliable, and varied tools to accelerate your fundraising.<\/strong> With industry-leading security, streamlined FEC filing reporting templates, and easy-to-use tools, raise more for your campaign with less stress. We have your back 24\/7 with our world-class customer support team, too!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sign up for free to see why political candidates like this example<\/a> use Donorbox to bring in campaign-sustaining recurring donors, major donors, and crowd support.<\/p>\n

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\"Screenshot<\/p>\n

Get Started with Donorbox<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/a>Donorbox vs. ActBlue<\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s compare two popular political fundraising platforms, Donorbox vs. ActBlue, to see which one may be most suitable for your organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Features<\/th>Donorbox<\/th>ActBlue<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Donation pages<\/td>X<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Crowdfunding<\/td>X<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Peer-to-Peer fundraising<\/td>X<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tandem fundraising<\/td><\/td>X<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Event ticketing<\/td>X<\/td>X<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Donation forms<\/td>X<\/td>X<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
In-person fundraising app<\/td>X<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Memberships<\/td>X<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Recurring donations<\/td>X<\/td>X<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Text-to-give<\/td>X<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Quick giving <\/td>X<\/td>X<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Form A\/B testing<\/td><\/td>X<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Integrations<\/td>X<\/td>X<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pricing<\/td>1.75% - 2.95% platform fee, depending on plan; payment processing fee of up to 2.9% + 30\u00a2<\/td>3.95% platform fee; asks for optional tips from donors<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n
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<\/a>Donorbox<\/h3>\n

\"Screenshot<\/p>\n

More than 100,000 organizations \u2013 including political organizations! \u2013 have trusted Donorbox to help them raise a collective $3 billion and counting.<\/p>\n

Our powerful fundraising tools help you boost donations to your cause, create better relationships with your donors, and streamline reporting.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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<\/a>Features<\/h4>\n