Experiment alternatives
8 products compared · Updated October 18, 2026
The short answer
The three strongest alternatives to Experiment are Patreon, GoFundMe, and DonorsChoose. Patreon suits creators who want recurring membership revenue from a fan community. GoFundMe fits individuals and nonprofits raising for personal or community causes. DonorsChoose is for U.S. public school teachers funding classroom supplies.
Your shortlist, at a glance
Read the comparisons ↓
Patreon10% of income + feesCreators like podcasters, video makers, and artists who want recurring membership revenue from a dedicated fan community.GoFundMeNo fee + transaction fIndividuals and nonprofits raising funds for personal, medical, or community causes who want a simple, widely recognized platform.
DonorsChooseNot publishedPublic school teachers in the U.S. who need funding for classroom materials and projects.
RocketHubNot publishedTeams that want to buy lifetime software licenses at a discount, not run science crowdfunding campaigns.
FundlyNot publishedNonprofits, schools, and community groups that need a versatile fundraising platform with peer-to-peer campaigns and event ticketing.
CrowdriseNo fee + transaction fNonprofits, charities, and individuals running fundraising campaigns for causes, events, or personal needs.- SStartSomeGoodSee websiteCrowdfunding platform for social good and impact projects
ChuffedNot publishedNon-profits, charities, and social enterprises running crowdfunding campaigns for social justice causes.
About Experiment and its alternatives
Experiment is a crowdfunding platform built specifically for scientific research. It connects scientists with funders, supports grant programs, and offers features like lab notes, peer review, and free DOI archival.
When comparing alternatives, weigh the pricing structure, such as platform fees and transaction costs. Consider whether the platform supports your region and payment methods. Check if it offers integrations with your workflow, and review the level of support and contract terms, like whether you can start for free.
Explore the alternatives
- 10% of income + fees
1.Patreon
Best for: Creators like podcasters, video makers, and artists who want recurring membership revenue from a dedicated fan community.
- Pricing
- 10% of income + fees
- Category
- E-commerce
Patreon is a membership platform for creators to build communities and earn recurring income from fans. Choose it over Experiment if you are a podcaster, artist, or writer looking to monetize a fanbase, not a scientist seeking crowdfunding for research.
Where it is strong
- Built-in tools for memberships, digital products, and one-time payments.
- Handles payments, chargebacks, and taxes for you.
- Supports 16+ currencies and global payment methods like PayPal and Venmo.
Where it falls short
- 10% platform fee is higher than Experiment's model (which is donation-based).
- Not designed for scientific research projects or grant applications.
- Pricing:
- Patreon is free to start, and takes 10% of the income you earn, plus payment processing, currency conversion, and payout fees.
- Switching from Experiment:
- Moving from Experiment means shifting from a science-focused crowdfunding and grant platform to a general creator membership model, which may not fit research funding needs.
- No fee + transaction f
2.GoFundMe
Best for: Individuals and nonprofits raising funds for personal, medical, or community causes who want a simple, widely recognized platform.
- Pricing
- No fee + transaction f
- Category
- E-commerce
GoFundMe is a general-purpose crowdfunding platform for personal causes, medical expenses, nonprofits, and emergencies. Choose it over Experiment if you need to raise money for a non-scientific project or a cause that isn't hypothesis-driven research.
Where it is strong
- No fee to start or manage a fundraiser.
- Optional donor contributions to GoFundMe.
- Trusted platform with Trust & Safety experts.
Where it falls short
- Transaction fee applies to each donation.
- Not designed for scientific research projects or grant applications.
- Pricing:
- In the United States, there is no fee to start a fundraiser. A transaction fee is automatically deducted from each donation, and donors can optionally contribute to GoFundMe.
- Not published
3.DonorsChoose
Best for: Public school teachers in the U.S. who need funding for classroom materials and projects.
- Pricing
- Not published
- Category
- E-commerce
DonorsChoose is a crowdfunding platform for public school teachers to request classroom supplies and learning materials. Choose it instead of Experiment if you are a teacher in the U.S. seeking donations for your classroom, not a scientist funding research.
Where it is strong
- Trusted by teachers and donors, with high ratings on Charity Navigator.
- Transparent reporting on how every dollar is spent.
- Supports historically underfunded schools and urgent projects.
Where it falls short
- Limited to public school teachers in the U.S., not for scientific research.
- No open lab notes, peer review, or grant programs like Experiment.
- Pricing:
- Pricing is not published on the site.
- Not published
4.RocketHub
Best for: Teams that want to buy lifetime software licenses at a discount, not run science crowdfunding campaigns.
- Pricing
- Not published
- Category
- E-commerce
RocketHub is a crowdfunding platform that has pivoted to selling lifetime deals on software. It is not a science-focused platform like Experiment, so it suits teams looking for discounted software deals rather than research funding.
Where it is strong
- Lifetime deals on software can save money over subscriptions.
- Site is live and reachable.
- Category is e-commerce, so it fits software purchasing.
Where it falls short
- No science-specific features like lab notes or grant programs.
- No pricing details available on the site.
- Pricing:
- Pricing is not published on the site.
- Not published
5.Fundly
Best for: Nonprofits, schools, and community groups that need a versatile fundraising platform with peer-to-peer campaigns and event ticketing.
- Pricing
- Not published
- Category
- E-commerce
Fundly is a general-purpose fundraising platform that now runs on SignUpGenius. It handles one-time donations, recurring giving, product sales, and ticketed events, plus peer-to-peer drives where each supporter gets their own page. Choose it over Experiment if you need a flexible fundraiser for a school, nonprofit, or community group rather than a science research project.
Where it is strong
- Supports multiple campaign types: one-time, recurring, product sales, ticketed events
- Peer-to-peer drives with personal pages, goals, and leaderboards
- Free plan available with no credit card required
Where it falls short
- No science-specific features like lab notes or grant programs
- Payment processing fees apply: 3.95% + $0.95 for credit cards
- Pricing:
- Pricing is not published on the site.
- No fee + transaction f
6.Crowdrise
Best for: Nonprofits, charities, and individuals running fundraising campaigns for causes, events, or personal needs.
- Pricing
- No fee + transaction f
- Category
- E-commerce
Crowdrise is a fundraising platform for personal causes, charities, and nonprofits, now part of GoFundMe. Choose it instead of Experiment when you need to raise money for a cause, event, or individual, not for hypothesis-driven scientific research.
Where it is strong
- No fee to start or manage a fundraiser.
- Donors can add an optional tip to support GoFundMe.
- GoFundMe Guarantee offers donors a 100% refund in rare cases.
Where it falls short
- Transaction fees apply to certified fundraisers only.
- Not designed for scientific research projects or grant applications.
- Pricing:
- In the United States, there is no fee to create a fundraiser, but a transaction fee is automatically deducted from each donation. Donor tips are optional.
- SSee website
7.StartSomeGood
E-commerce
StartSomeGood focuses on social impact and nonprofit projects including research and education campaigns. Unlike Experiment's open science platform it emphasizes community-driven change with less category depth for neuroscience or biology. It offers good visibility for mission-aligned experiments but limited lab notebook functionality.
- Not published
8.Chuffed
Best for: Non-profits, charities, and social enterprises running crowdfunding campaigns for social justice causes.
- Pricing
- Not published
- Category
- E-commerce
Chuffed is a crowdfunding platform for non-profits, charities, and social enterprises, focused on social justice causes. Choose it over Experiment if you're running a campaign for a social or political cause and want a platform that's free to use, rather than one built for scientific research.
Where it is strong
- Free to use for all campaigns
- Supports a wide range of social causes
- Includes trending campaigns and updates to build momentum
Where it falls short
- No pricing details available on the site
- Not designed for scientific research projects
- Pricing:
- Pricing is not published on the site.
- Switching from Experiment:
- Moving from Experiment means shifting from a science-focused platform to one centered on social causes, with no built-in support for lab notes or grant programs.
See more comparisons in E-commerce alternatives.
FAQ
Questions about Experiment alternatives
What is the main difference between Experiment and Patreon?
Experiment is for scientific research projects with features like lab notes and grant programs. Patreon is for creators like podcasters and artists who want recurring membership income from fans. Patreon charges a 10% platform fee, while Experiment is donation-based.
Can I use GoFundMe for a science project?
GoFundMe is a general-purpose platform for personal causes, medical expenses, and nonprofits. It is not designed for hypothesis-driven research, so it lacks science-specific features like peer review or grant applications. For a science project, Experiment is more suitable.
Are there any free alternatives to Experiment?
GoFundMe has no fee to start a fundraiser in the U.S., but a transaction fee is deducted from each donation. Chuffed is free to use for all campaigns, though pricing details are not published. Patreon is free to start but takes 10% of income.
Which alternative is best for teachers?
DonorsChoose is specifically for public school teachers in the U.S. to fund classroom supplies and materials. It is trusted by teachers and donors, with transparent reporting. It is not for scientific research, unlike Experiment.
Do any of these alternatives support grant programs like Experiment?
None of the listed alternatives mention grant programs. Experiment offers grant opportunities and allows the same project to be used for crowdfunding and grant applications. For grant support, Experiment is the only platform with this feature.
Last updated October 18, 2026.