Best UK Reward-based Crowdfunding Platforms for Arts

by Rebecca Hughes | Oct 26, 2026 | Learn, Stories

Written: 26 October 2026

TL;DR: For UK arts projects, Crowdfunder is a lower-cost and more flexible option than Kickstarter.

Fees: Crowdfunder charges no platform fee for arts projects.
Funding model: Crowdfunder offers all or nothing or flexible funding. Kickstarter is all or nothing only.
Match funding: Crowdfunder has match funding, including Creative Scotland Crowdmatch (up to £10,000 per project). Kickstarter has very little.
Musicians: Offer rewards at different pledge levels, such as credits at £5 to £15, signed CDs at £20 to £40, and listening parties or studio session invites at £50 to £100.
Examples: Marisa and the Moths raised £23,412, and Faye MacCalman and Tobias ben Jacob are live now.
Choosing: Crowdfunder is best for UK audience.

The best UK reward-based crowdfunding platform for arts depends on three things: what it costs, what happens if you miss your target and whether it can unlock match funding. Crowdfunder and Kickstarter are the two main options for UK artists, and they handle all three differently.

This guide compares them on fees, funding model, rewards and match funding, with real UK figures, so you can pick the right one before you launch.

What is reward crowdfunding and how does it work for arts projects?

Reward crowdfunding means supporters pledge money to your project and get something back, such as a signed print, a ticket, an early copy of the album or a credit on the film. You set a target and a deadline, share your page and collect pledges from your audience.

It suits arts projects because most artists already have something people want to own or experience. A band can offer the record before anyone else hears it. A theatre company can offer tickets and a thank you in the programme. A visual artist can offer a limited print run.

The rewards also do a second job. They give people a reason to pledge now rather than later, and they turn a one-off donation into a relationship with someone who will come to your next show.

What should UK artists look for in a reward crowdfunding platform?

Look at five things: the total cost, the funding model, how rewards work, whether match funding is available and how much support you get. Put the fees side by side first, because they change how much of your target reaches your bank account.

Total cost. Most platforms charge a platform fee plus a payment processing fee on every pledge. Add both together and work out what you would actually receive from your target. If you are fundraising for a not-for-profit or community organisation, check whether the platform fee is waived.

Funding model. With all or nothing, you only receive the money if you reach your target by the closing date. With flexible funding, you keep what you raise even if you miss it. All or nothing tends to attract larger pledges. Flexible funding suits projects that can still go ahead with a smaller amount.

Rewards. Check that you can offer different reward levels and that you are clear about delivery dates. If you miss your target on a flexible funding project you still have to fulfil the rewards supporters pledged for.

Match funding. Match funding adds money from a funder when your supporters pledge. It also gives people a reason to act. Crowdfunder’s own data shows supporters are 84% more likely to donate when match funding is available, and average donations are 2.5 times larger.

Support and audience. A platform will not hand you an audience. Look at what help you get with planning, promotion and the practical side of running a campaign, such as webinars and a help centre.

Which are the best UK reward crowdfunding platforms for arts?

Crowdfunder is the strongest fit for most UK arts projects because it offers both funding models, UK match funding and no platform fee for arts projects. Kickstarter is a good choice if you want a large international audience and are happy with all or nothing. Fees below were checked in October 2026.

	Crowdfunder	Kickstarter
Platform fee	None for arts and creative projects (fees page)	5% of funds raised (UK fees)
Payment processing	2.9% + 30p per pledge on UK and EU cards	3% + 30p per pledge. Pledges under £10: 5% + 8p
Funding model	All or nothing or flexible funding (how they differ)	All or nothing only
If you miss your target	All or nothing: supporters are refunded. Flexible: you keep what you raised	No fees charged and supporters are not charged
Rewards	Yes, plus donations and prize draws	Yes
Match funding	Yes, through funds such as Creative Scotland Crowdmatch, or bring your own funder	No match funding scheme on the platform
Payout	Within 7 working days of the campaign ending (arts page)	Check Kickstarter’s payout schedule

There is no platform fee for arts and creative projects on Crowdfunder. Payment processing fees still apply.

Other platforms, including Indiegogo, also run reward campaigns, and membership platforms such as Patreon suit ongoing support better than a one-off project. Check current fees and UK availability before you commit to any of them.

Can arts projects get match funding in the UK?

Yes, but it depends on where you are and what is open. Match funding is where a funder adds money to what your supporters pledge, and on Crowdfunder it has been used for arts projects in Scotland and England. Kickstarter does not offer it.

Creative Scotland Crowdmatch. This fund is run by Crowdfunder and Creative Scotland for individuals, groups and creative businesses working in Scotland across arts, screen and the creative industries. It matches eligible donations pound for pound, up to £250 per donation, with up to £10,000 available per project, capped at 50% of your target. You need at least 25 unique supporters and must reach 100% of your original target. Across the scheme, 176 projects have raised £1,754,175 from 19,185 supporters. Check out the fund page to ensure it’s live before you plan around it.

Bring your own match fund. If you already have a funder, a local business or a major donor, Crowdfunder lets you add your own match fund to your project. Ask a funder to match pledges 1:1, suggest a cap and a closing date, and tell them what their name on your page will do for their reputation locally.

One rule to remember: prize draws cannot be combined with match funding on Crowdfunder, so choose one route for your campaign. Our match funding FAQs and guide to applying for match funding explain how it works.

How can musicians use reward crowdfunding for albums, EPs, tours and equipment?

Musicians often use rewards to pre-sell what they are making. You set pledge levels and give each one a reward that costs you little but means something to a fan. Crowdfunder’s complete guide to crowdfunding for musicians suggests this kind of ladder:

Albums and EPs: thank-you credits, demos and behind-the-scenes updates at £5 to £15. Early downloads, signed CDs or limited edition items at £20 to £40. Signed vinyl, studio session invites and online listening parties at £50 to £100.
Tours: tickets to launch shows, an online listening party where you play something new and a private house concert for your top tier.
Equipment: a signed instrument at the top tier, from £250 upwards.
Merch: a t-shirt, a print or a handwritten lyric sheet works at almost any level.

Low-cost, experience-based rewards often beat generic merchandise, and physical rewards carry postage and packing costs you need to budget for. Our list of 55 reward ideas has more to borrow.

There is no platform fee for arts and creative projects on Crowdfunder, which helps when you are working to a small budget. Match funding can also help your campaign go further: partner funders top up what your supporters give, as covered in the match funding section above.

Victoria Wijeratne, a multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer, is crowdfunding to finish her debut 12-track album, In The Shadow of Forests, and make a 16mm music video for its lead single “Night Howler”. The page breaks down where the money goes, including the video (£5,293), mixing and mastering (£2,100) and a London listening event (£800). Rewards run across the pledge levels: a special thanks in the credits at £10, an early album download at £15, early access to the album and music video at £30, and a one-hour creative mentoring or studio session at £100, limited to 10 places. Bigger backers can become an Associate Producer at £1,000 or an Executive Producer at £2,500. She is using keep what you raise, so she receives every pledge even if she falls short of the target.

What do successful UK creative crowdfunding projects look like?

These arts and creative projects on Crowdfunder raised between about £20,000 and £53,000, mostly from a few hundred supporters each:

Marisa and the Moths raised £23,412 from 221 supporters in 28 days to promote their second album.
Singing with Nightingales raised £22,970 from 190 supporters.
Kirsten Adamson raised £21,700 from 388 supporters for an album campaign.
The Hill, a folk album, raised £25,780 with a match from Creative Scotland.
Benedict Please raised £20,124 for a piano album.
George Connelly: Far From The Madding Crowd had raised £52,913 from 669 supporters at the time of writing, with rewards on offer.

Two independent artists are also crowdfunding right now, and both campaigns are still taking support at the time of writing, so you can see exactly what a live page looks like:

Faye MacCalman, a saxophonist, clarinettist and songwriter from Newcastle upon Tyne, has raised £2,726 from 100 supporters for her debut album. Rewards include album pre-orders, discounted recording sessions where supporters play on the album, an online making-of session and handwritten lyric sheets.
Tobias ben Jacob, a singer-songwriter from Totnes, has raised £6,729 from 124 supporters for his new album. Rewards include CD, vinyl and download pre-orders, a house concert booking and a song written for you.

Three things are worth copying. Fund something clear and specific, such as a recording or a tour. Offer rewards people actually want. And keep asking: the money comes from sharing your page again and again with people who know you, not from the platform itself.

How do you choose the right platform for your arts project?

Choose based on your project type, your target and your audience. Start with the first answer that fits.

You are in Scotland and want match funding. Check whether Creative Scotland Crowdmatch, or other match funding opportunities, are open on Crowdfunder, since it can match up to £10,000 of your target.
Your project is an arts or creative one. Crowdfunder charges no platform fee, which keeps more of your money.
You can manage with less than your full target. Pick flexible funding on Crowdfunder so you keep what you raise.
You need the full amount or the project cannot go ahead. Use all or nothing, on either platform.
You have a funder or major donor ready to back you. Use Crowdfunder and add your own match fund.
Your audience is mostly outside the UK. Kickstarter’s international reach may suit you better.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if my arts project does not hit its target? On all or nothing, supporters are refunded and the project is marked unsuccessful. On Crowdfunder’s flexible funding you keep what you raised, but you still have to fulfil the rewards supporters pledged for.

How long does it take to get the money? On Crowdfunder, funds are transferred to your linked bank account within 7 working days after your campaign ends. The help centre explains how payouts work.

Do I pay fees if my project fails? On Kickstarter, no. Fees only apply if the project is funded. On Crowdfunder, there is no platform fee for arts projects, and payment processing fees apply to the pledges you receive. See the fees page. You can also read what happens if you don’t reach your target.

What rewards work best for arts projects? Limited edition items such as prints or merchandise, discounted or early tickets, signed copies and credits. Offer a range of price points so every supporter has something to choose.

Can I run a prize draw instead of rewards? Yes, Crowdfunder offers prize draws and these often help to widen your audience.

Do I have to pay tax on the money I raise? It depends on your circumstances and whether the project is for profit. Speak to an accountant or check HMRC guidance before you launch.

Where can you learn more before you launch?

These Crowdfunder guides go deeper on the points above:

A complete guide to crowdfunding for musicians: planning, rewards, prize draws and promotion for albums and tours.
Music funding opportunities in the UK: grants, awards and matched crowdfunding alongside your campaign.
Top 10 fundraising ideas for musicians and bands: ideas beyond the campaign itself.
55 reward ideas: examples of rewards that work.
Creating your project: telling your story, offering rewards and setting your target.
Our fees and What can be offered as a reward? in the help centre.

Ready to start your arts project?

Get started on Crowdfunder today | Find match funding | Free webinars