Shout for Good Alternative: The Best Charity Donation Platform for Australian Nonprofits

If you’re searching for a Shout for Good alternative, you’re not alone. Many Australian charities that have used Shout for Good for in-person fundraising are currently reviewing options and exploring replacement platforms, especially with events already locked into the calendar.

The timing matters. Cash now accounts for a small share of Australian point-of-sale transactions, down sharply over the last decade, according to the Worldpay 2025 Global Payments Report. Meanwhile, research from F&P found the proportion of Australians who do not donate at all rose from 35% in 2021 to 42% in 2024. With fewer donors and less cash in wallets, charities cannot afford to miss “in-the-moment” giving because the payment method is awkward or slow.

The good news is that modern charity donation apps have moved well beyond legacy setups. The best solutions now let volunteers accept charity tap to pay donations directly on their smartphone, with no dedicated hardware and no complex setup. This guide covers what to look for in a charity donation platform, what former Shout for Good users should keep in mind when considering a transition, and why Pebl has become a leading charity payment app for in-person fundraising in Australia.

What to look for in a charity donation platform

Not all payment providers are built for how fundraising works in the real world: volunteers across multiple sites, donors expecting “tap and go”, and finance teams needing clean reporting.

1) Mobile-first donation collection (iPhone and Android)

Your platform should let volunteers accept donations on their own phones on both iPhone and Android. This removes the cost and logistics of shipping terminals and means volunteers can start collecting volunteer donations the moment they arrive.

2) Multiple payment methods (card, wallets, PayID, QR, links)

A strong charity donation platform supports contactless cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayID, QR codes for donations, and payment links. This helps donors contribute in-person or remotely, without friction.

3) Unlimited volunteers and event-ready reporting

Fundraising teams expand and shrink constantly. Look for a charity donation app that supports large volunteer teams and gives finance teams clear event-by-event reconciliation, including separate reporting for each event.

4) Simple onboarding and fast setup

If you have an event coming up, speed matters. Choose a platform where you can start accepting donations in under five minutes and invite volunteers immediately.

Why Pebl is a leading Shout for Good alternative

Pebl is an Australian-owned charity donation app purpose-built for in-person fundraising. It is designed to help charities scale volunteer donations across multiple locations with clean reporting.

Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android

Pebl supports Tap to Pay on both iPhone and Android. For charities, this means volunteers can accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, and contactless cards using only their own phone. There is nothing to request, ship, manage, or return.

QR codes and payment links

With Pebl, you can generate donation QR codes for signage, table cards, posters, and stalls. Donors scan with their camera and complete the donation in seconds.

You can also send Payment links via SMS, email, or social media before, during, and after an event, making it easy to capture donations from supporters who are not physically present.

PayID for lower fees

Pebl supports PayID, which can be a cost-effective option for larger donations. It is also aligned with the broader shift toward account-to-account payments in Australia, including developments in the payments ecosystem and real-time transfers (see the Reserve Bank’s reporting here: https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/annual-reports/rba/2024/payments.html and additional industry context here: https://zepto.com.au/insights/account-to-account-payments/).

Unlimited team members and events

For multi-site appeals and busy event calendars, Pebl helps teams scale. You can invite volunteers and admins, assign permissions, and produce clean event reconciliation with separate reporting for each event.

What former Shout for Good users should know when reviewing options

If your charity has relied on Shout for Good, a few practical considerations usually come up when planning a transition.

Fees, surcharging, and “net outcome”

Some charities prefer to pass processing fees to donors (where appropriate) to protect fundraising totals. Pebl includes automatic surcharging options, and you can review full details on the Pebl pricing page.

You may not need dedicated hardware anymore

A major shift in charity fundraising tech is that volunteers can now accept donations directly on their own phones using Tap to Pay. For a practical walkthrough of how this works at events, see Tap to Pay on volunteers’ own phones.

Recurring donations may need to be re-established

If your charity has recurring donors set up in a different platform, those schedules typically do not carry across automatically to a new provider. The best approach is to plan communications early and make it as easy as possible for donors to re-establish their regular gift.

Keep copies of historical reporting you rely on

If your current reporting lives in a third-party platform, it is worth exporting what you need for audit trails and internal records before making changes. Pebl does not require data migration for you to start using it for new fundraising activity.

How Pebl’s fees compare

Cost is understandably front of mind when assessing any charity payment app. Pebl’s pricing is transparent and designed for fast rollout.

• Pebl pricing: See the pricing page for current rates and surcharging options.
• Tap to Pay works across both iPhone and Android.
• Teams can organise fundraising operations and volunteers using unlimited team members.

Trusted by leading Australian charities

Pebl has helped facilitate 250+ charity events and raise more than $10 million in donations, with over 2,000 volunteers mobilised across Australia. Pebl is also a supplier member of the FIA.

For practical examples and a step-by-step walkthrough, see How to Accept Charity Donations at Events Without an EFTPOS Machine.

How to switch to Pebl

Switching to Pebl is quick. There is no migration process required to start collecting new donations.

1. Download the Pebl app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Create your account via Download Pebl.
3. Invite your fundraising team and volunteers using unlimited team members.
4. Set up donation products and generate QR codes for event signage.
5. Start taking donations using Tap to Pay and links, and use How to Accept Charity Donations at Events Without an EFTPOS Machine as your internal rollout guide.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to switch to Pebl?

Most charities are operational quickly once the account is set up. For the complete signup steps, see the account setup guide.

What if my volunteers use Android phones?

Pebl supports Tap to Pay on both Tap to Pay on both iPhone and Android, so mixed-device volunteer teams are covered.

Can Pebl be zero-cost for my charity?

Many charities choose to pass processing fees to donors via surcharging (where appropriate). See the pricing page for details.

Can I run multiple events from one account?

Yes. Pebl supports multi-event fundraising with clean individual reporting for each.

What if a volunteer does not want the app on their personal phone?

That is fine. You can rely on event signage with printed QR codes so donors can scan and pay through their own browser.

Is Pebl secure?

Yes. Pebl is built with strong security controls and card data is not stored on volunteers’ devices. For more detail, see contactless payment safety.

Ready to make the switch?

If you’re evaluating alternatives, Pebl offers a modern charity donation platform designed for in-person fundraising: charity tap to pay on iPhone and Android, QR code donations, payment links, PayID support, and volunteer team scaling.

Get started now via Download Pebl.
Questions about fit for your next event? Visit the Pebl Charity page or contact the Pebl team directly.

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