Card terminal for organisations the free alternative
Don't buy a payment terminal: collect donations, membership fees and sales by card, Apple Pay and Google Pay with a simple QR code or payment link. 100% free, 0 commission, no hardware.
A card terminal is expensive.
Your fundraising can do without it
Three cumulative costs
A standard card terminal combines the purchase or rental of the equipment, fees per transaction and often a subscription. For an organisation that only collects occasionally, this is disproportionate.
A single collection point
A terminal takes payments only where it sits, handled by a volunteer. A QR code multiplies: posters, stands, flyers, screens. Each medium becomes an autonomous collection point.
No tax receipts
A terminal just takes payments, full stop. With Donoor, each donation can automatically generate a tax receipt compliant with article 200 of the CGI for eligible organisations, a strong argument for your donors.
Standard card terminal vs Donoor
| Standard card terminal | Donoor (no terminal) | |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment cost | Purchase or rental of the terminal | €0: your QR poster or a link is enough |
| Subscription | Often monthly, with commitment | None, no commitment |
| Fees per payment | Generally 1.5% to 2.75% | 0% Donoor commission: only bank fees (~1.5% + €0.25), which the donor can cover |
| Tax receipt | To be managed manually | Automatic and compliant (article 200 CGI) for eligible organisations |
| Getting started | Order, delivery, setup | 10 minutes, online |
| Where to collect | Only where the terminal is located | Everywhere: posters, stands, SMS, WhatsApp, social media |
Bank fees charged by Stripe or PayPal at the time of payment; the donor may choose to cover them, in which case the organisation receives 100% of the donation.
3 ways to collect payments without a terminal
Donation QR code
Print your QR code on posters, flyers or stands. The donor scans it with their camera and pays in seconds, with no app to install.
Discover QR codesPayment link
Share a link by SMS, email, WhatsApp or on your social networks. Ideal for membership fees, fundraisers and campaign reminders.
Discover payment linksTap to Pay on iPhone
Turn an iPhone into a contactless terminal for your events: the donor holds their card or phone up and the payment is collected.
Discover Tap to PayYour iPhone becomes the terminal
With Tap to Pay on iPhone and the Donoor app, the phone you already have in your pocket replaces the card terminal.
Card, phone or watch.
The donor pays just as they would in a shop: with a contactless card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or even their smartwatch.
No hardware to buy.
No reader, no rental, no maintenance: an iPhone and the Donoor app are all you need to collect payments at events.
Secure from end to end.
Every transaction is encrypted and processed by Stripe or PayPal: neither you nor Donoor can see the donor's bank details. Learn more about Tap to Pay.
Frequently asked questions
Does an organisation really need a card terminal?
In most cases, no. A card terminal is worthwhile for very frequent in-store payments. For donations, membership fees or occasional sales at events, a donation QR code or a payment link does the same job without buying equipment, without a subscription and without any commitment: the donor scans, pays by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and the organisation receives the funds directly.
How much does a standard card terminal cost for an organisation?
A standard card terminal involves three costs: the equipment (from a few dozen to several hundred euros to buy, or a monthly rental), a fee per transaction (often between 1.5% and 2.75%), and sometimes a subscription or service fees. With Donoor, there is no equipment, no subscription and no commission: only bank fees apply (around 1.5% + €0.25 via Stripe or PayPal), and the donor can choose to cover them at the time of payment.
Can an organisation collect card donations without a card terminal?
Yes. Three solutions require no terminal: the donation QR code (printed on a poster or stand, the donor scans it with their phone), the payment link (shared by SMS, email, WhatsApp or social media) and your organisation's donation page. In all three cases, payment by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay is secured by Stripe or PayPal.
Are payments without a card terminal secure?
Yes. Payments are processed by Stripe or PayPal, two global leaders in online payments (PCI-DSS level 1 certified, the highest level of banking security). Donoor never holds the funds: they go directly to your organisation's Stripe or PayPal account.
Does the donor receive a tax receipt?
Yes, if your organisation is eligible (general interest, corporate sponsorship, religious organisation under the Law of 1905) and has activated the service: each donation automatically generates a tax receipt compliant with article 200 of the CGI, sent to the donor by email.
How much does Donoor cost for an organisation?
Donoor is 100% free: no subscription, no commission, unlimited QR codes and payment links. Only the payment provider's bank fees (Stripe or PayPal) apply to payments, and the donor can cover them thanks to a dedicated button. Around 4 in 5 donors do so.
We take care ofsetting it all up for you.
Create your organization space in a few minutes, or let us set everything up for you. Free, fast, hassle-free.
100% free · No subscription, no commitment
Also discover
More Donoor solutions for your organisation
Donation QR codes
Unlimited QR codes to collect donations in person.
Payment links
Custom links for campaigns and sharing.
Tap to Pay
Accept payments on iPhone, with no extra hardware.
Online fundraiser
Goals, deadlines and real-time tracking.
Tax receipts
Automatic generation compliant with Article 200 CGI.
Comparisons
Donoor vs other platforms for organisations.