Rafflr vs RallyUp: Which Raffle Software Is Right for Your Event?

RallyUp is one of the most popular online fundraising platforms on the market, offering everything from crowdfunding and auctions to online raffle ticket sales. rafflr takes a completely different approach: it does one thing -- reverse raffles -- and does it better than any general platform can. This guide breaks down exactly where each platform shines so you can pick the right tool for your fundraiser.

The Fundamental Difference

The most important thing to understand about this comparison is that RallyUp and rafflr are built for fundamentally different use cases. RallyUp is a general-purpose online fundraising platform. It supports raffles, auctions, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer campaigns, and more. It excels at selling tickets and collecting donations online.

rafflr is a specialist. It is purpose-built for one specific event format: the in-person reverse raffle. It does not try to be a general fundraising platform. Instead, it focuses entirely on the live event experience -- the full-screen presenter board, the animated number drawing, the crowd engagement, the sponsor branding, and the buy-back revenue mechanics that make reverse raffles so effective for fundraising.

This is not a case where one platform is "better" than the other. It is a case where each platform serves a different need. The question is which need you have.

Feature Comparison

Where RallyUp Excels

RallyUp is a strong platform and there are legitimate reasons organizations choose it. To give you an honest comparison, here is where RallyUp does things rafflr does not:

Online Ticket Sales and Payment Processing

RallyUp's biggest strength is its ability to sell raffle tickets online and process payments directly through the platform. Supporters can buy tickets from their phones or computers without attending an event. For organizations running online-only raffles, this is essential functionality that rafflr does not provide.

Multi-Campaign Fundraising

RallyUp supports raffles, silent auctions, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer campaigns, and more from a single dashboard. If your organization runs multiple fundraising campaigns throughout the year across different formats, RallyUp's all-in-one approach has real appeal.

Schools and Education Hub

RallyUp has built specific features and pricing for schools and educational institutions, including a dedicated schools hub with templates and integrations.

Free Tier

RallyUp offers a free plan for basic use, making it accessible for organizations that want to try online fundraising without upfront costs. (Note: the free tier has limited features and transaction fees apply.)

Where rafflr Excels

rafflr's advantages are concentrated in one area: delivering an incredible in-person reverse raffle experience. Here is what that looks like in practice:

Purpose-Built Reverse Raffle Engine

rafflr is designed from the ground up for reverse raffles. Every feature, every screen, every interaction is optimized for this specific event format. RallyUp supports "raffles" in the general sense (pick a random winner), but it has no concept of the reverse raffle format where numbers are eliminated one by one with the last remaining ticket winning the grand prize.

Full-Screen Presenter Mode with Animations

This is the feature that makes the biggest difference at live events. rafflr's presenter mode displays a full-screen ticket grid on your projector or TV, with animated number eliminations that keep the crowd engaged. The audience can see their numbers on the board, watch tickets get crossed off in real time, and feel the excitement build as the field narrows. RallyUp has nothing comparable for live event presentation.

60-Second Setup

With rafflr, you enter your ticket count and start drawing. That is it. No campaign creation wizards, no form builders, no payment gateway configuration. For volunteer-run organizations where the person running the raffle may be different each year, this simplicity is not just convenient -- it is essential. Compare this with other raffle software platforms that require extensive setup.

Sponsor Branding on the Raffle Board

rafflr lets you display sponsor logos and messages directly on the presenter screen during the event. This is a powerful tool for attracting sponsors. Local businesses want their brand in front of a captive audience of hundreds of community members, and rafflr makes that easy.

Buy-Back Revenue

The buy-back feature lets eliminated ticket holders pay a fee to re-enter the drawing. This mechanic is unique to reverse raffles and can generate thousands of dollars in additional revenue. rafflr tracks buy-backs automatically. RallyUp does not support this concept at all.

Pay-As-You-Go Pricing

rafflr's $77 per-event option means organizations that run just one annual gala or fundraiser can use professional software without an annual commitment. RallyUp's paid plans are subscription-based with no per-event option.

Pricing Comparison

What rafflr Does Not Do (And Why That Is Okay)

Being honest about limitations is important. Here is what rafflr does not offer:

• No online ticket sales. rafflr does not sell tickets to your attendees. You handle ticket sales your way -- at the door, in advance, through your existing systems. rafflr manages the drawing experience.
• No built-in payment processing. There is no Stripe or PayPal integration for collecting money from ticket buyers. Your existing methods (cash, Venmo, Square, whatever works) still apply.
• No donor CRM. rafflr does not track donor history or manage relationships. If you need that, pair it with your existing CRM or use a platform like Zeffy for that function.
• No multi-campaign support. rafflr does reverse raffles. It does not do auctions, crowdfunding, or peer-to-peer campaigns.

These are intentional trade-offs of being a specialist tool. By not trying to do everything, rafflr is able to deliver a reverse raffle experience that no general platform can match.

Who Should Choose RallyUp

RallyUp is likely the better choice if:

• You run online-only raffles where supporters buy tickets remotely
• You need multiple fundraising campaign types (auctions, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer) from one platform
• Online ticket sales and payment processing are your primary requirements
• You are a school or educational institution that benefits from RallyUp's schools hub
• You need donor management and CRM capabilities built into your raffle platform

Who Should Choose rafflr

rafflr is the better choice if:

• You are running an in-person reverse raffle event (dinner, gala, fundraiser night)
• You need a full-screen presenter display for a projector or TV at your venue
• You want sponsor branding on the raffle board to attract and retain sponsors
• You need buy-back mechanics to maximize event revenue
• Simplicity matters -- your volunteers need to set up and run the raffle without training
• You want pay-per-event pricing with no annual commitment
• You already have your own way of selling tickets and just need great raffle software for the drawing

The Verdict

RallyUp and rafflr are not really competing products. They serve different needs. RallyUp is an excellent online fundraising platform for organizations that need to sell tickets digitally and run multiple campaign types. rafflr is the best reverse raffle software for organizations that run live in-person events and want a professional, engaging presenter experience.

Many organizations actually use both: RallyUp (or a similar platform) for their online fundraising campaigns, and rafflr for their annual reverse raffle dinner. There is no conflict between the two because they handle completely different parts of the fundraising process.

If your primary goal is running an incredible in-person reverse raffle event, rafflr is purpose-built for exactly that.

Frequently Asked Questions