BackerKit Comparison and Review
BackerKit has earned its reputation as the gold standard for pledge management. But their crowdfunding platform charges 5% of every dollar raised — plus payment processing fees. If you’re building a crowdfunding marketplace, that percentage becomes a serious liability at scale.
This comparison breaks down when BackerKit makes sense, when IgnitionDeck is the smarter choice, and what the real costs look like for platform operators processing significant volume.
BackerKit platform fee on every dollar raised
The 5% Reality Check
Here’s what BackerKit’s 5% platform fee actually costs at scale:
| Monthly Volume | BackerKit 5% Fee | Annual Platform Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $5,000/month | $250 | $3,000/year |
| $10,000/month | $500 | $6,000/year |
| $25,000/month | $1,250 | $15,000/year |
| $50,000/month | $2,500 | $30,000/year |
| $100,000/month | $5,000 | $60,000/year |
IgnitionDeck Core
Flat pricing. No percentage fees. Ever.
Break-even Point
Above this, IgnitionDeck saves you money.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | IgnitionDeck | BackerKit |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Fee | 0% ($349/year flat) | 5% of all funds |
| Annual Cost at $50K/mo | $349 | $30,000+ |
| Payment Gateways | 10+ (Stripe, PayPal, crypto) | Stripe only (PayPal on Pro) |
| Funding Models | All-or-Nothing + Keep-It-All | All-or-Nothing only |
| Data Ownership | 100% yours | BackerKit servers |
| WordPress Native | Yes | No |
| Multi-Creator Marketplace | Yes (Stripe Connect) | No |
| White-Label | Yes | No |
| Pledge Manager | Basic | Industry-leading |
| Backer Support Team | You handle it | 90% handled |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does IgnitionDeck have pledge management like BackerKit?
IgnitionDeck focuses on campaign creation and payment processing. For post-campaign pledge management (surveys, shipping, add-ons), you’d use WooCommerce integration or separate fulfillment tools. BackerKit’s pledge manager is genuinely best-in-class if that’s your primary need.
Can I use BackerKit’s pledge manager with IgnitionDeck campaigns?
BackerKit’s pledge manager is designed for Kickstarter/Indiegogo campaigns. It doesn’t integrate directly with IgnitionDeck. However, you could export IgnitionDeck backer data and import it into other fulfillment tools.
Why is BackerKit’s success rate so high (90%)?
BackerKit curates projects and provides campaign support. They’re selective about what launches on their platform. IgnitionDeck lets you run any campaign you want — success depends on your marketing and community.
Which is better for tabletop games?
BackerKit dominates tabletop gaming ($19M+ raised in 2024). If you’re launching a board game or RPG with complex rewards, BackerKit’s ecosystem is purpose-built for this. If you’re building a platform to host multiple game creators, IgnitionDeck lets you own that infrastructure.
Can I charge my own platform fee with IgnitionDeck?
Yes. Stripe Connect integration lets you configure your own commission percentage on every transaction. This is how you build a revenue-generating marketplace — you become the platform operator, not just a campaign creator.
Why Platform Operators Choose IgnitionDeck
Build a Revenue-Generating Marketplace
With Stripe Connect, route payments to creators while taking your platform cut. Set your own commission percentage — you become the platform earning revenue, not just avoiding fees.
Payment Gateway Freedom
BackerKit is Stripe-only. IgnitionDeck supports 10+ gateways including PayPal, Authorize.Net, Square, and CoinPayments for cryptocurrency.
Complete Data Ownership
All backer data lives in your WordPress database. Export anything, anytime. No vendor lock-in. Your developers can access everything. Full white-label capability.
Flexible Funding Models
BackerKit only supports All-or-Nothing. IgnitionDeck offers both All-or-Nothing and Keep-It-All funding — essential for ongoing fundraising and campaigns that can proceed with partial funding.
Where BackerKit Excels
BackerKit didn’t become the industry standard for pledge management by accident. They’re genuinely excellent at specific things:
Pledge Management
Industry-leading post-campaign tools: backer surveys, add-on sales (35% avg. revenue boost), late pledges, tier upgrades.
Backer Support
BackerKit’s team handles 90% of backer inquiries: address changes, order status, survey issues. Valuable for physical product fulfillment.
Fulfillment Tools
Professional shipping logistics: address validation, regional rules, VAT/tax handling, tariff management, fulfillment partner integrations.
Live Features
Overtime Mode, Backer Train, Pay Over Time ($150+), Cross-Colab partnerships. 90% campaign success rate.
Annual Savings: IgnitionDeck vs BackerKit
At $50K/month volume:
That’s money staying with your creators or growing your business.
| Annual Volume | BackerKit Fees (5%) | IgnitionDeck Cost | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $1,250 | $349 | $901 |
| $100,000 | $5,000 | $349 | $4,651 |
| $250,000 | $12,500 | $349 | $12,151 |
| $500,000 | $25,000 | $349 | $24,651 |
| $1,000,000 | $50,000 | $349 | $49,651 |
Pricing Comparison
BackerKit
- Platform Fee: 5% of funds raised
- Processing: 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe)
- Total: ~8.2% effective rate
- Email activation: $99 (external campaigns)
- PayPal: Professional plan required
IgnitionDeck
- Core: $349/year (full platform)
- Deployed: $679/year (setup help)
- Managed: $299/month (hosted)
- Platform fees: 0% always
- 10+ payment gateways included
When to Choose Each Platform
Choose BackerKit if you’re:
- Running a single physical product campaign
- Need post-campaign pledge management
- Want backer support handled (90%)
- Shipping complex rewards internationally
- Value turnkey simplicity over ownership
Choose IgnitionDeck if you’re:
- Building a multi-creator marketplace
- Processing significant volume (5% hurts)
- Need multiple payment gateways
- Want to charge your own platform fees
- Require data ownership and white-label
Consider both if you:
- Run campaigns on IgnitionDeck
- Use BackerKit for pledge management after
- Want platform ownership + fulfillment tools
- Have complex physical product rewards
Migration Path
Already on BackerKit? Switching to IgnitionDeck doesn’t mean starting over:
- Export backer data — Download CSV exports from BackerKit
- Set up IgnitionDeck — Install on your WordPress site
- Recreate campaigns — Migrate campaign content
- Connect gateways — Your Stripe account works with both
- Redirect URLs — Point old links to new location
Need Migration Help?
IgnitionDeck’s Deployed plan ($679/year) includes setup assistance and migration support. Learn about multisite options.
Ready to Own Your Crowdfunding Platform?
IgnitionDeck gives you the infrastructure to build a crowdfunding marketplace without giving up 5% of every dollar forever.
30-day money-back guarantee • Zero platform fees • 10+ payment gateways