PledgeAthon vs 99Pledges
Both are zero-fee a-thon platforms. But PledgeAthon has lower processing fees, free SMS, QR codes, and a modern experience 99Pledges doesn't offer.
Looking for a 99Pledges Alternative?
If you've used 99Pledges for your school's walk-a-thon or read-a-thon, you know the basics work. Kids get pledge pages, donors give money, and the platform takes zero platform fees. That part is solid.
But if you've noticed that donation emails go unread, that the participant pages look dated on phones, or that your school is paying more in processing fees than it should, you're not alone. These are the exact reasons PTA presidents and booster club treasurers are switching to PledgeAthon.
PledgeAthon does everything 99Pledges does. Same zero-fee model, same pledge types, same leaderboards. But we added the features that 99Pledges is missing: free SMS reminders that parents actually open, lower processing fees through Stripe instead of Braintree, automatic QR codes for every flyer and handout, and a modern mobile-first design that makes donating feel easy, not clunky.
The result? Schools that switch from 99Pledges to PledgeAthon typically raise 30-50% more on the same type of event. The SMS reminders alone are responsible for most of that lift. When parents get a text with a direct link instead of an email that sits in their spam folder, they pledge.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Everything 99Pledges does, plus free SMS, lower fees, and modern technology.
| Feature | PledgeAthon | 99Pledges |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 0% | 0% |
| Processing fee | 2.9% + $0.30 | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| Cost on $10,000 raised | $320 | $398 |
| Cost on $25,000 raised | $800 | $995 |
| Free SMS reminders | ||
| Automatic QR codes | ||
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | ||
| 1-day payouts | ||
| Modern mobile-first design | ||
| Custom branding | ||
| Auto participant pages | ||
| Flat + per-activity pledges | ||
| Live leaderboards | ||
| Cash/check tracking | ||
| CSV participant upload | ||
| Payment processor | Stripe | Braintree |
Free fundraising in 60 seconds. No fees, no contracts, no credit card.
Start Free CampaignThe Real Cost Comparison
Both platforms charge 0% platform fee. The difference is in processing. Every dollar saved goes back to your school.
$5,000 raised
PledgeAthon
$4,840
$160 in fees
99Pledges
$4,801
$199 in fees
You save $39
$15,000 raised
PledgeAthon
$14,520
$480 in fees
99Pledges
$14,403
$597 in fees
You save $117
$35,000 raised
PledgeAthon
$33,880
$1,120 in fees
99Pledges
$33,607
$1,393 in fees
You save $273
Based on average donation of $25. PledgeAthon: 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe). 99Pledges: 3.49% + $0.49 (Braintree).
The SMS Advantage 99Pledges Doesn't Have
Here's the biggest difference between PledgeAthon and 99Pledges, and it's not in the feature comparison table. It's in how many parents actually see and respond to pledge requests.
99Pledges relies entirely on email to remind donors. The problem? Most parents have overflowing inboxes. School emails compete with work, promotions, and spam. Open rates for fundraising emails hover around 20-25%. That means 75% of your pledge requests are never even seen.
PledgeAthon includes free SMS reminders. Text messages have a 98% open rate, and most are read within 3 minutes of delivery. When a parent gets a text that says "Emma's walk-a-thon ends Friday! Pledge here: [link]", they tap it immediately. No digging through inboxes. No spam folders.
This is why schools that use SMS reminders raise 30-50% more than email-only campaigns. It's the single biggest lever you can pull to increase donations, and PledgeAthon gives it to you for free.
Why Schools Switch
Free SMS Reminders
99Pledges relies on email only. PledgeAthon sends SMS reminders that parents actually open. 98% open rate vs 20% for email. More eyeballs on pledge links means more donations.
Lower Processing Fees
Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30. Braintree (99Pledges) charges 3.49% + $0.49. On a $25,000 fundraiser, that's $195 more in your school's pocket with PledgeAthon.
Automatic QR Codes
Every campaign and participant page gets a printable QR code. Put them on flyers at school pickup, game-day programs, and church bulletins. Parents scan and pledge in 30 seconds.
Modern, Mobile-First Design
99Pledges was built years ago and it shows. PledgeAthon has a clean, modern interface with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and pledge pages that load fast and look great on any phone.
1-Day Stripe Payouts
No waiting weeks for your money. PledgeAthon uses Stripe Connect with 1-business-day payouts directly to your organization's bank account.
Works for Every A-Thon
Walk-a-thons, read-a-thons, hit-a-thons, dance-a-thons, swim-a-thons, fun runs, color runs, and any creative pledge-per-activity event you can think of.
Free fundraising in 60 seconds. No fees, no contracts, no credit card.
Start Free CampaignSwitching from 99Pledges Takes 5 Minutes
You don't need to cancel anything or migrate data. Here's how schools make the switch:
- Create your free PledgeAthon account — takes 60 seconds. No credit card needed.
- Set up your campaign — name it, set a goal, pick your event type (walk-a-thon, read-a-thon, etc.).
- Upload your participant list— export from 99Pledges or your school's roster as a CSV. Upload it and every kid gets a unique pledge page instantly.
- Connect Stripe — 5-minute onboarding. This is where donations go directly to your organization.
- Share and collect — send participant links via SMS, print QR codes for flyers, and watch the leaderboard fill up.
Most schools set up their next campaign on PledgeAthon and keep their 99Pledges account for historical data. No need to delete anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PledgeAthon really free?
Yes. PledgeAthon charges 0% platform fee, just like 99Pledges. The only cost is standard Stripe card processing at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, which is lower than the 3.49% + $0.49 that 99Pledges charges through Braintree.
Can I switch from 99Pledges to PledgeAthon mid-fundraiser?
You can set up a new campaign on PledgeAthon in under 60 seconds. Upload your participant list via CSV, and every kid gets a new shareable pledge page instantly. We recommend starting your next campaign on PledgeAthon rather than switching mid-event.
Does PledgeAthon work for the same types of events as 99Pledges?
Yes. PledgeAthon supports walk-a-thons, read-a-thons, fun runs, hit-a-thons, dance-a-thons, swim-a-thons, and any other pledge-per-activity fundraiser. If 99Pledges supports it, PledgeAthon does too, plus free SMS reminders and automatic QR codes.
How does PledgeAthon's SMS feature work?
PledgeAthon sends free text message reminders to donors with a direct link to the participant's pledge page. SMS open rates are 3-5x higher than email, which means more parents see the link and more pledges come in. 99Pledges does not offer SMS reminders.
Why are PledgeAthon's processing fees lower?
PledgeAthon uses Stripe, which charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. 99Pledges uses Braintree at 3.49% + $0.49. On a $25 donation, that's $1.03 with PledgeAthon vs $1.36 with 99Pledges. Over hundreds of donations, the savings add up fast.
Learn more about how PledgeAthon works for different events:
Ready to Switch?
Free fundraising in 60 seconds. No fees, no contracts, no credit card.