Kickstarter Fees Calculator
Kickstarter takes 5% of funds raised plus 3–5% + $0.20 per pledge in payment processing — roughly 8–10% of your campaign total. On your own Shopify store, Fundpop usage is 0.5–1% after a free allowance (first $1k–$5k/cycle by plan) and never more than $999.99 usage per cycle, plus Shopify Payments. Use the calculator to see the difference in dollars for your campaign size.
| Platform | Fee structure | Total fees | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kickstarter | 5% + 3–5% processing + $0.20/pledge | $4,200–$5,200 | $44,800–$45,800 |
| Indiegogo | 5% + ~3% processing + $0.30/pledge | $4,300 | $45,700 |
| Gamefound | 5% + ~3% payment processing | $4,000 | $46,000 |
| Fundpop + ShopifyYour store | 1% after first $2,000/cycle · max $999.99 + Shopify Payments | $2,230 incl. $480 Fundpop usage | $47,770 |
vs Kickstarter, running this campaign on your own store keeps $1,970–$2,970 more in your pocket.
Estimates based on published fee schedules (US, 2026): Kickstarter 5% + 3–5% + $0.20/pledge; Indiegogo 5% + ~3% + $0.30; Gamefound 5% + ~3%. Fundpop usage: 1% on funds above the first $2,000 raised per 30-day cycle (Standard $1,000 / Pro $2,000 / Premium $5,000 free), never more than $999.99 usage per cycle, plus Shopify Payments ~2.9% + $0.30. Monthly subscription ($29.99) not included. Actual processing costs vary with card mix and country. Fundpop is not fee-free.
What the numbers don't show
Two platforms are missing from the table on purpose. Makeship is not a fee model: it takes a 30–50% revenue share of every unit sold. Ulule (EUR) lands around ~8% including contributor fees of 2.2% + €0.10 per transaction (since April 2025).
Fees are also only the campaign layer. Most Kickstarter creators still pay for a pledge manager afterward to collect addresses, sell add-ons, and run late pledges. On Shopify those steps are regular orders — no second tool, no per-backer fees.
For the full breakdown with a worked $50K example, read Kickstarter Fees Explained, or compare platforms directly: Kickstarter alternative, Gamefound alternative, BackerKit alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kickstarter charges 5% of funds raised on successful campaigns, plus payment processing of 3–5% + $0.20 per pledge in the US. Most creators should budget ~8–10% total. On a $50,000 campaign, that is $4,000–$5,000 in fees.
It uses each platform's published fee schedule (US, 2026): Kickstarter 5% + 3–5% + $0.20/pledge, Indiegogo 5% + ~3% + $0.30, Gamefound 5% + ~3%. For Fundpop it applies your plan’s free usage allowance (first $1,000 / $2,000 / $5,000 raised per cycle), then 1% or 0.5%, capped at $999.99 usage per cycle, plus Shopify Payments ~2.9% + $0.30. Monthly subscription is listed in the footnote but not in the campaign totals. Processing costs vary a little with card mix and country.
Payment processors charge a fixed fee per transaction ($0.20 on Kickstarter, $0.30 on Shopify Payments and Indiegogo) on top of the percentage. Many small pledges mean more fixed fees; fewer large pledges mean fewer. The calculator uses your average pledge to estimate the number of transactions.
Each 30-day billing cycle, the first $1,000 (Standard), $2,000 (Pro), or $5,000 (Premium) raised through Fundpop has no usage fee. Above that, usage is 1% (Standard/Pro) or 0.5% (Premium). Usage charges never exceed $999.99 per cycle, no matter how much you raise. Shopify Payments still apply on every order.
On fees, yes — but not free. After your plan’s free allowance, Fundpop usage is 0.5–1% and never more than $999.99 per cycle, plus Shopify Payments (~2.9% + $0.30). Kickstarter is typically ~8–10% with no usage cap. On large raises the Fundpop usage cap makes the gap even wider. The bigger difference is also operational: backers become Shopify customers automatically, with no separate pledge manager.
No. Platform fees only cover the campaign itself. Most Kickstarter creators add BackerKit or a similar pledge manager afterward for surveys, add-ons, and shipping — an extra cost on top of the ~8–10%. On Shopify with Fundpop, those steps are normal store orders, so there is no second system to pay for.
Keep More of What You Raise
Run your next campaign on your own Shopify store — same crowdfunding mechanics, about half the fees.