Explore what goes into the cost of text-to-give platforms. CharityAuctionsToday offers insight into text-to-give pricing to help you make a decision.
Text-to-give platforms have become increasingly popular for nonprofits, churches, and organizations seeking to make giving easier and more accessible. With a simple text message, donors can contribute to causes they care about. However, for organizations considering this tool, understanding the cost is crucial. So, how much does text-to-give really cost?
The cost of text-to-give services depends on several factors, including the provider, the features offered, and the size of your organization. In this article, we’ll break down the typical pricing structures and associated fees so you can make an informed decision.
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Launch Your Transparent Auction1. Pricing Structures for Text-to-Give Platforms
Most text-to-give platforms use one of the following pricing models:
Subscription-Based Pricing
This is the most common pricing structure, where organizations pay a monthly or annual fee to access the service.
- Typical Costs: $19–$150/month for basic plans; $200–$500+/month for premium features or larger organizations.
- Features Included: Basic plans often include a keyword, donation tracking, and donor receipts, while higher-tier plans may offer additional keywords, analytics, and integrations with accounting software.
Pay-As-You-Go Pricing
In this model, there’s no monthly subscription fee, but the organization pays a small fee for each transaction.
- Typical Costs: $0.25–$0.50 per text message sent or received, plus transaction fees.
- Best For: Organizations with seasonal campaigns or low-frequency use.
Freemium Models
Some platforms offer a free version of their service with limited features. These are often funded by passing the cost onto the donor. Organizations can upgrade to paid plans for more advanced functionality.
- Typical Costs: Free for basic features, with paid plans starting around $20/month.
- Considerations: Free plans may include fewer keywords, limited customization, or transaction fees.
2. Transaction Fees
Transaction fees are a major component of text-to-give costs. These fees are charged per donation and typically include:
- Processing Fees: These are charged by payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal).
- Typical rate: 2.2%–3.5% + $0.30 per transaction.
- Platform Fees: Some text-to-give providers charge an additional fee on top of the processing fee.
- Typical rate: 1%–2% of each donation.
Example: For a $100 donation:
- Payment processor fee (2.9% + $0.30): $3.20.
- Platform fee (1%): $1.00.
- Total fees: $4.20.
- Organization receives: $95.80.
3. Additional Costs to Consider
Beyond subscription and transaction fees, there are other potential costs:
Setup Fees
Some platforms charge a one-time fee for onboarding and setup.
- Typical Cost: $100–$500.
Custom Keywords
Most plans include one or two keywords, but additional keywords may cost extra.
- Typical Cost: $5–$20 per additional keyword/month.
Text Message Fees
If the platform doesn’t include unlimited text messages, you may pay per message sent or received.
- Typical Cost: $0.05–$0.10 per message.
Integration Fees
Connecting the text-to-give tool with your existing systems (e.g., donor management, accounting software) may incur additional charges.
- Typical Cost: $50–$500, depending on the complexity.
Training and Support
Some providers charge for live training sessions or priority customer support.
- Typical Cost: $50–$200/hour or a flat fee.
4. Examples of Text-to-Give Platform Costs
Here’s an overview of pricing for popular text-to-give platforms:
Tithe.ly
- Pricing: Free for basic text-to-give with 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (depending on payment method). Paid plans start at $119/month.
- Features: Unlimited donations, integration with church management systems, and recurring giving options.
Kindrid
- Pricing: Starts at $19/month + 2.6% + 35¢ standard processing fee/transaction.
- Features: Unlimited users, keywords, and customizable giving options.
Pushpay
- Pricing: Custom pricing starting around $200/month, depending on the organization’s size.
- Features: Advanced analytics, event registration, and seamless integrations.
Snowball
- Pricing: $0/month for the basic plan, 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. The next tier is $549/year and includes unlimited text-to-give.
- Features: Fundraising pages, multiple keywords, and donor management.
5. Tips for Choosing a Cost-Effective Platform
To make the most of your budget, consider the following tips:
Assess Your Needs
- How many donors do you expect?
- Do you need multiple keywords or advanced features like recurring giving?
- Will you run campaigns year-round or seasonally?
Compare Transaction Fees
Even small differences in fees can add up over time. Choose a platform with competitive processing and platform fees.
Look for Bundled Services
Some providers include text-to-give as part of a broader suite of tools, such as donor management or event registration software. Our platform offers unlimited text-to-give as part of our Prepaid plan, and as an add-on to our Flex plan.
Test Free Plans
If you’re unsure about the long-term value, start with a free or low-cost plan to evaluate the platform’s effectiveness.
Final Thoughts
The cost of text-to-give services varies widely depending on the provider, features, and your organization’s needs. Basic plans start at around $19/month, with premium options costing several hundred dollars. Transaction fees typically range from 2.2% to 3.5% per donation, with some platforms charging additional platform fees.
By carefully evaluating your requirements, comparing providers, and considering hidden costs, you can select a text-to-give solution that fits your budget while making giving easy and accessible for your donors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes up the total cost of a text-to-give program?
Total cost usually includes: platform/software fees, phone number rental/verification (10DLC, toll-free, or short code), carrier/A2P registration fees, per-message charges (SMS/MMS), payment processing on donations, optional add-ons (extra keywords, automations, integrations), and any overage or support fees.
How do platforms price text-to-give—what models should we expect?
Common models include monthly subscriptions (with message allotments), pay-as-you-go per-message pricing, per-transaction fees on donations, or a hybrid of these. Some vendors advertise “free” tiers that still pass through messaging and processing costs.
How do number types (10DLC, toll-free, short code) affect cost?
Local 10DLC numbers are typically the most affordable and fast to provision. Toll-free numbers add verification but can improve deliverability. Dedicated short codes offer the highest throughput and branding but come with the highest ongoing costs and longest setup timelines.
What are A2P registration and verification fees—and do we have to pay them?
Many carriers require brand and campaign registration (A2P) and/or toll-free verification for organizations that text supporters. These steps often include one-time and/or recurring fees and are typically required for reliable delivery and compliance.
How do per-message costs work—and what increases them unexpectedly?
Vendors charge per SMS segment; long texts, emojis, or special characters can split into multiple segments. MMS (images/video) typically costs more than plain SMS. High-volume sends may trigger overages if you exceed your plan’s allotment.
What fees apply when donors complete gifts from a text link?
Donations processed through your gateway incur standard payment processing fees (e.g., card and wallet transactions). These are separate from messaging costs and usually apply regardless of your texting plan.
Do extra keywords, automation flows, or integrations cost more?
Often yes. Additional keywords, advanced automation, CRM/email integrations, or premium features (like surveys or rich media) may be add-ons. Confirm what’s included vs. billed separately before you launch.
Are “free” text-to-give plans actually free to run at scale?
Not usually. Even if software fees are waived, you still pay for carrier messages, registration, number rental/verification, and payment processing. Free tiers may also limit throughput, features, or support, creating soft costs in staff time and performance.
Can donors cover fees so the program costs us nothing to run?
Fee-cover options can offset processing or platform costs, but they’re optional for donors and not guaranteed. You should still budget conservatively for messaging and processing expenses.
Will we pay extra for live support or event-hour coverage on big days?
Some plans include standard support only. Priority or event-hour coverage may be an add-on. If you rely on texting during galas or match windows, clarify support SLAs and costs up front.
How can we estimate a realistic monthly budget for text-to-give?
Forecast sends per month × average segments per message + expected MMS volume + platform and number costs + processing on projected donations. Add a buffer for spikes around events and year-end campaigns.
What are practical ways to keep text-to-give costs down without hurting results?
Keep messages concise to avoid multi-segment texts, reserve MMS for key moments, segment your list so only relevant supporters get each send, schedule waves for very large broadcasts, and enable donor fee-cover options on forms.
What questions reveal the true cost before we choose a platform?
Ask for: a written fee table (messages, MMS, overages), number rental/verification costs, A2P registration fees, support SLAs and pricing, included keywords/features, payment processing rates, data export rights, and a sample invoice based on your expected volume.
How do we compare total cost of ownership (TCO) across vendors?
Tally platform + number + registration + per-message/MMS + processing + add-ons + staff time, then weigh against expected revenue lift from better deliverability, UX, automation, and support. Choose the option that maximizes net proceeds—not just the lowest sticker price.
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