Charity Navigator vs Givebutter: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Charity Navigator and Givebutter side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Charity Navigator
Empowering informed philanthropic decisions through unbiased charity ratings and donor resources.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Givebutter requires payment)
Givebutter
All-in-one fundraising software for nonprofits with 0% fees and built-in rewards.
Best for you if:
- • You want 0% platform fees, allowing nonprofits to keep more donations
| At a Glance | Charity Navigator | Givebutter |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan, paid from $29/mo, billed monthly Givebutter Plus (250 or less contacts) plan |
Category | Nonprofit Tools Fundraising | Nonprofit Tools Fundraising |
Rating | 3.5/5 Trustpilot 3.5 5 reviews | 4.7/5 G2 4.7 · Capterra 4.8 3,088 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Charity Navigator or Givebutter?
Choose Charity Navigator if
- You want a fully free tool (Givebutter requires payment)
- You want free access to extensive charity data and ratings
- You want unbiased ratings, as charities are not charged for evaluation
Choose Givebutter if
- You want 0% platform fees, allowing nonprofits to keep more donations
- You want comprehensive suite of fundraising and CRM tools in one platform
In-Depth Analysis
Charity Navigator
Empowering informed philanthropic decisions through unbiased charity ratings and donor resources.
Strengths
- Pro: Free access to extensive charity data and ratings
- Pro: Unbiased ratings, as charities are not charged for evaluation
- Pro: Simplifies multi-charity giving through the Giving Basket
- Pro: Provides detailed insights into a charity's financial health and impact
- Pro: Offers curated lists for timely and impactful giving
Weaknesses
- Con: Only evaluates IRS-registered 501(c)(3) organizations
- Con: CEO salary is displayed but not directly factored into the overall rating metric
- Con: Relies on charities to provide data for evaluation, which may not always be complete for unrated organizations
Key features
Givebutter
All-in-one fundraising software for nonprofits with 0% fees and built-in rewards.
Givebutter's pricing is incredibly generous, especially with its robust free tier offering core fundraising functionalities.
Strengths
- Pro: 0% platform fees, allowing nonprofits to keep more donations.
- Pro: Comprehensive suite of fundraising and CRM tools in one platform.
- Pro: Givebutter Wallet offers 2.5% APY rewards on funds with no fees or minimums.
- Pro: Supports a wide variety of payment methods, including PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App.
- Pro: High conversion rates for donation forms (47% reported).
Weaknesses
- Con: Givebutter Plus, with advanced features, is a paid add-on.
- Con: Nonprofits might need to encourage donors to cover processing fees to maintain 0% platform costs.
Key features
Plans and prices: Charity Navigator vs Givebutter
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Charity Navigator | No plan prices on file | charitynavigator.org |
| Givebutter |
| givebutter.com/pricing read Oct 14, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Charity Navigator pricing and Givebutter pricing.
Key Takeaways
Charity Navigator
- Choose if you want empowering informed philanthropic decisions through unbiased charity ratings and donor resources
Givebutter
- Choose if you want all-in-one fundraising software for nonprofits with 0% fees and built-in rewards
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (3.5/5 from 5 reviews for Charity Navigator, 4.7/5 from 3,088 reviews for Givebutter; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Givebutter starts at $29/mo, billed monthly; Charity Navigator has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Charity Navigator and Givebutter compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (3.5/5 from 5 reviews for Charity Navigator, 4.7/5 from 3,088 reviews for Givebutter; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Givebutter starts at $29/mo, billed monthly; Charity Navigator has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Charity Navigator and Givebutter used for?
Charity Navigator: Empowering informed philanthropic decisions through unbiased charity ratings and donor resources. Givebutter: All-in-one fundraising software for nonprofits with 0% fees and built-in rewards.
What does Charity Navigator cost vs Givebutter?
Charity Navigator is free. Givebutter's cheapest paid plan is Givebutter Plus (250 or less contacts) at $29/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 14, 2026.
What's the main difference between Charity Navigator and Givebutter?
Charity Navigator's main strength: free access to extensive charity data and ratings. Givebutter's main strength: 0% platform fees, allowing nonprofits to keep more donations.