Donation and payment platforms for small sites and charities

Why platform choice matters

Charities and small businesses need to accept donations or payments safely, without building their own payment system. The right platform keeps fees manageable, keeps the journey simple for donors and customers, and works for people using assistive tech or mobile [2]Source 2 .

For more on donation journeys and charity sites, see the charity website playbook.

What you need from a platform

• Fees you can live with: Transaction fees, monthly fees, and any hidden costs. Compare total cost per donation or sale, not just headline rates.
• Donation-friendly features (for charities): One-off and monthly options, Gift Aid where applicable, preset amounts, and clear confirmation and receipts.
• Security and compliance: PCI compliance handled by the platform (you do not store card details). Clear terms and privacy.
• UX and accessibility: Checkout or donation flow that works on mobile, with keyboard and screen readers, and without unnecessary steps.
• Integration: Can you embed a button or link, or redirect to a hosted page? Do you need something more custom?

Common approaches

Hosted donation or checkout pages

You add a “Donate” or “Pay” button that sends users to a page hosted by the platform (e.g. Stripe Checkout, PayPal, JustGiving, Donr, GivePenny). The platform handles the form, validation, and payment.

• Pros: Quick to set up, secure, often accessible if the platform has invested in it. You do not handle card data.
• Cons: User leaves your site (or sees an iframe). Branding may be limited. You rely on their UX and accessibility.

For many small sites and charities, a well-chosen hosted page is the best balance of simplicity and safety [1]Source 1 .

Embedded or custom forms

Payment form lives on your site (or in an iframe), styled to match your brand.

• Pros: User stays on your domain; you control more of the journey.
• Cons: More technical work; you must ensure the form and any iframe are accessible and secure.

Only choose this if you have the technical and accessibility expertise to do it properly.

Fees and charity options

• Compare transaction fees (per cent and per transaction), monthly fees, and any setup or integration costs.
• Some platforms offer reduced or waived fees for charities; ask and get it in writing.
• Gift Aid (UK) is separate from payment processing: you need a process to collect and submit Gift Aid. Some platforms integrate with this; others do not.

Accessibility and UX

• Test the flow: Use keyboard only and a screen reader on the donation or checkout page. Can you complete a donation or purchase without a mouse?
• Mobile: Is the form usable on a small screen? Are buttons and inputs large enough?
• Clarity: Is it clear what amount is being given, whether it is one-off or monthly, and what happens next?

If the platform’s default page is poor, see if they offer a more accessible option or consider a different provider.

Summary

Choose a platform that fits your fees, donation or sales needs, and security requirements. For most small sites and charities, a hosted donation or checkout page is the simplest and safest option; only go embedded or custom if you have the skills to do it accessibly and securely. Compare fees, test the flow with keyboard and screen reader, and keep the journey clear for donors and customers.