Wefunder Alternatives for Founders and Crowdfunding Investors

Wefunder is a US equity crowdfunding portal and is still one of the largest. Companies use it to raise up to $5 million in 12 months under Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) from anyone, not only accredited investors. Its founder fee article says Wefunder takes 7.9% of the total raise if the round succeeds, withheld at close, plus a yearly admin fee of the lesser of $1,000 or 0.5% of the amount raised. Wefunder's FAQ lists investor fees of 2% by bank (minimum $8, maximum $100) or 5.5% by card, and most rounds start at $100.

Founders compare portals on fees and audience; investors compare deal flow and the chance to sell later. FINRA's crowdfunding guide warns that investors can lose some or all of their money, and that resale is restricted for the first year. This page describes platforms. It does not recommend any investment.

Prices below are as of November 8, 2026. Our method is on How we review tools.

Quick comparison

StartEngine

StartEngine is Wefunder's nearest rival in the US, and it absorbed a third one: it bought SeedInvest's assets from Circle, a deal regulators approved in May 2023. It runs Reg CF raises, larger Reg A+ offerings through a broker-dealer, and accredited-only Reg D deals.

A July 2026 comparison by the US site Angel Investors Network (angelinvestorsnetwork.com) puts StartEngine's founder fee at 7% of cash raised plus a 2% equity stake, against Wefunder's cash-only fee, and ranks it second by 2025 Reg CF dollars with $89 million. StartEngine Secondary lets holders list shares after the lock-up.

Best for: Founders who expect to raise again under Reg A+, and investors who want a resale venue.

Pricing:

• Founders: about 7% cash plus 2% equity on Reg CF, per a 2026 third-party comparison; StartEngine does not publish a current schedule
• Investors: no fee on most offerings; where one applies, generally 3.5%, capped at $700
• Typical minimum: $500 for startup deals, per StartEngine's help center

Watch out for:

• The reported 2% equity fee is a cost Wefunder does not charge, and it dilutes founders on top of the cash fee.
• Angel Investors Network describes secondary trading as thin on most names, with no guarantee of a buyer.

Official site: StartEngine.

Republic

Republic still hosts Reg CF campaigns, and it also runs accredited deal rooms, SPVs and tokenized securities; in April 2025 it bought INX for $60 million. Angel Investors Network counted $20 million of Reg CF raises on Republic in 2025, fourth in the US, against Wefunder's $109 million.

Founders pay a 7% cash and 2% securities commission on Reg CF raises, according to the same review. Investors pay an administrative fee of typically 2.5%, with a $5 minimum and $250 maximum, per Republic's fee help page, which adds that the fee may vary by offering.

Best for: Startups with a crypto or fintech angle that want retail and accredited money in one place.

Pricing:

• Investors: typically 2.5% admin fee (min $5, max $250), may vary by offering
• Founders: 7% cash plus 2% securities on Reg CF (third-party figure)

Watch out for:

• By Angel Investors Network's 2025 count, its Reg CF volume is a fraction of Wefunder's, so a community round may reach fewer investors.

Official site: Republic.

Netcapital

Netcapital is a smaller Reg CF portal with a simpler price. Its fee FAQ says companies pay a portal fee that is typically around 4.9%, and that investors are not charged it.

Offerings run through Netcapital Funding Portal, Inc., an SEC-registered funding portal and FINRA member, on software licensed from Netcapital Systems LLC. The site says anyone can invest at least $2,500 a year in its offerings, with higher limits based on income and net worth.

Best for: Founders who will bring their own investors and want to keep the platform fee low.

Pricing:

• Companies: portal fee typically around 4.9%
• Investors: no portal fee

Watch out for:

• The site says hundreds of investors have chosen the platform, a far smaller crowd than Wefunder's, so founders must drive most of the traffic.

Official site: Netcapital.

Honeycomb Credit

Breweries, cafes and shops that use Wefunder to sell shares to regulars can borrow from them on Honeycomb Credit instead. Its FAQ describes loans of up to $250,000, typically fully amortizing over 2 to 5 years, repaid to investors as principal plus interest.

Honeycomb says a network of 20,000+ investors funds its loans and that it has funded 500+ business owners. Applying costs nothing; businesses pay a posting fee and a percentage of the total raised on success.

Best for: Local businesses with steady revenue that would rather repay a loan than give up equity.

Pricing:

• Application: free
• Business fees: posting fee plus a success fee as a share of the raise; amounts not published
• Investors: a transaction fee that varies by funding source, lower from the Honeycomb Wallet

Watch out for:

• Neither the success fee rate nor the interest rate range is published, so you only see real costs after applying.

Official site: Honeycomb Credit.

Crowdcube

Crowdcube is the UK counterpart for founders who are not raising from Americans. The Crowdcube site names Crowdcube Ventures Limited as authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and pitches marked EIS let UK investors claim tax relief.

The site lists equity rounds next to mini-bonds that pay fixed interest. It warns that startup investing carries illiquidity and a lack of dividends, should sit in a diversified portfolio, and is aimed at sufficiently sophisticated investors.

Best for: UK companies that want EIS-eligible equity raises or a mini-bond.

Pricing:

• No public price list for investor or founder fees; founders get a quote from the team
• Minimum investment: set by each pitch

Watch out for:

• Fees are not public, so founders cannot compare Crowdcube's cost with Wefunder's 7.9% before talking to its team.

Official site: Crowdcube.

Seedrs (Republic Europe)

Republic bought Seedrs in a $100 million deal announced in December 2021, and in 2024 the business was renamed Republic Europe. The seedrs.com site still runs under Seedrs Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Seedrs lets investors choose how much to put into each business, in exchange for full voting shares. Voting shares give small investors a say in shareholder decisions, which matters to backers who want more than a passive stake.

Best for: European startups and investors who want shares with votes attached.

Pricing:

• No public price list; costs are set in each campaign's terms
• Investment size: no cap stated, investors choose the amount

Watch out for:

• Campaign costs sit in each deal's terms rather than in a public price list, so founders need a quote before comparing it with Wefunder.

Official site: Seedrs (Republic Europe).

How to choose

When to stay with Wefunder

Wefunder raised more Reg CF money than any other US portal in 2025, $109 million across 367 deals according to the US site Angel Investors Network. Founders with a loyal customer base reach the widest retail audience there, pay nothing upfront and give up no equity to the platform. Existing investors receive company updates and tax documents through their Wefunder accounts.

Frequently asked questions