Alternatives to MoneyPool in Switzerland

PayPal MoneyPool is no longer available. If you want to collect money in Switzerland for a group gift, a trip, or shared expenses, you need another way. Here are six options, including Happy Pot for private collections and platforms for other purposes.

1. Happy Pot

Happy Pot is a Swiss online platform for group fundraising. It is suitable for birthday and farewell gifts, weddings, events, as well as personal or charitable projects. The organizing person creates a pot in just a few steps and then shares a link.

An everyday advantage: contributions and messages can be collected in one place. Those collecting for a group gift do not have to keep parallel lists and track individual transfers. Contributors can remain anonymous. A digital card provides space for personal messages.

According to Happy Pot, the collection can be set with an end date. This date can be adjusted if needed, for example, if a group needs more time for contributions. Further instructions on the processes can be found in the guide to creating your first Happy Pot.

When cashing out, a standard commission of 4.5 percent on the collected amount applies, according to product information. Happy Pot is therefore not fee-free. For a collection where contributions and greetings should go together, the digital pot is a good fit.

2. TWINT: practical for direct payments among friends

TWINT is primarily suitable for direct payments between individuals. This is useful when someone covers the bill at dinner and others pay back their share. A quick repayment among friends can also be organized this way.

For such cases, a single payment is often enough. The group can agree on one person to collect the money. For a wedding gift for a colleague, the participants can send her the amount directly or pay it back to the organizing person.

The difference from a collection platform lies in the process: TWINT is suitable for individual payments or a shared bill. Happy Pot is more appropriate when the group wants a common link, a collection, and messages about the gift in one place. Those wanting to know more about the local use of digital fundraising can find examples in the guide to digital collection pots in Switzerland.

Choose TWINT when it comes to quick repayments. If several people are contributing to a common occasion and the status of the collection should be visible to the group, a dedicated collection area is the more suitable form.

3. Leetchi: Online collection with a European focus

Leetchi is an online platform for group collections and fundraising campaigns. It can be interesting for groups wanting to raise money for a gift or a common occasion. Setting it up takes just a few minutes.

When it comes to currency, there is an important point for collections in Switzerland: Leetchi operates in euros. A collection with a target amount set in Swiss francs may incur additional conversion efforts. Check before starting whether the chosen currency fits the occasion and the contributors.

As a guideline, a service fee of about 6 percent is mentioned for Leetchi. Fees may vary depending on the product and payment process. Therefore, the organizing person should check the terms for the specific type of collection planned before sharing the link.

Leetchi can be considered if a group is looking for an online collection with a European focus and euros work for them. For a Swiss collection, the currency should be considered from the outset. A broader overview of different approaches is provided in the comparison of collection platforms in Switzerland.

4. Wemakeit: for public projects and creative initiatives

Wemakeit is a Swiss crowdfunding platform focused on cultural and creative projects. It is more suitable for a public campaign than for a private collection for a birthday gift or a bill among friends.

A project that aims to reach many people requires a different framework than a small group collecting money for a common gift. In a public campaign, the project is at the center. In a private collection, it is usually about enabling a known group to contribute quickly.

For Wemakeit, total fees of approximately 10 percent are indicated, divided into a 6 percent success fee and a 4 percent transaction fee. This magnitude is important when planning the campaign with a target amount. Calculate the fees instead of just setting the desired net amount as the target.

For a public creative project, Wemakeit can therefore be a suitable form of crowdfunding. For an informal group gift, a collection designed for that purpose is usually closer to the actual need.

5. Collection Pot: Collecting money for a group gift

Collection Pot is designed for online collections for group gifts. The description mentions farewells, birthdays, and honeymoons as possible occasions. The collected money can be sent directly to the recipient for redemption.

This makes the option particularly relevant when a group wants to finance a gift together. In a farewell at work, colleagues can contribute their share to a common pot. Afterwards, the money is made available for the recipient.

Collection Pot is thus clearly focused on gift collections. Check before using whether the process fits your group's needs.

If a card with personal messages is to be part of the gift, also check how the respective platform represents this part. Happy Pot offers a digital card for this purpose, while the description of Collection Pot emphasizes the money collection and the gift.

6. Splitwise: for shared expenses instead of gift collections

Splitwise is a free tool for friends and roommates to keep track of bills and other shared expenses. It is designed for splitting costs so that it remains clear who owes whom money.

This fits, for example, in a shared apartment where several people share ongoing expenses. On a shared trip, a group can enter costs and keep track of later repayments. Splitwise is thus more of a tool for expense tracking than a collection for a gift.

The choice therefore depends on whether money is to be collected for a common purpose or whether a bill that has already been paid is to be split. For the latter, Splitwise is suitable. For a farewell gift or a wedding collection, a common pot like Happy Pot is closer to the occasion.

According to the description, Splitwise is available on the web as well as for iPhone and Android. Those primarily wanting to organize shared apartment expenses should not equate it with a fundraising platform: the tasks are different.

The alternatives in comparison

The suitable alternative mainly depends on what should happen with the money. A direct repayment, a private gift, and a public project campaign are different processes. This overview organizes the six options according to their mentioned area of use.

A more detailed overview of platform types helps to separate crowdfunding for a public project from a private collection. The differences are particularly useful when a group is wavering between a gift campaign and a project campaign.

For a collection among friends or colleagues, the effort for contributors is often decisive. In contrast, a public campaign places more emphasis on the goals and reach of the project. A further classification is provided in the comparison of crowdfunding platforms in Switzerland.

FAQ about MoneyPool alternatives

What is a suitable alternative to MoneyPool in Switzerland?

For a group gift or a common collection, Happy Pot is a suitable Swiss option. The organizing person creates a pot and shares the link; contributions can be made anonymously, and a digital card collects messages. For individual repayments, TWINT is more suitable. For shared apartment expenses, Splitwise is a better fit.

How can I collect money online for a group gift?

Choose a platform that fits the occasion and set up a collection there. With Happy Pot, a pot is created and the link is shared with the group. This way, contributions are collected in one place. If an end date is helpful, it can be set for the collection and changed if necessary.

Do all contributors need to create an account?

According to product information, contributors can contribute to Happy Pot without their own account. For other options mentioned here, the process depends on the respective service and the chosen payment method. Check this before sharing the link, especially if many people are only contributing a small amount.

What does an online fundraising cost?

The costs depend on the platform and the purpose. For Happy Pot, a standard commission of 4.5 percent of the collected amount applies for a cash payout. Leetchi mentions about 6 percent, and Wemakeit approximately 10 percent total fees. Check the current terms before setting a target amount.

Can I change a collection after starting it?

With Happy Pot, the end date of the collection can be adjusted, even to extend it. This is helpful if individuals want to contribute later. Other changes depend on the respective platform. Check the settings before sharing and explain to the group until when contributions are welcome.

Conclusion: choosing the right alternative for the occasion

For group gifts and common collections in Switzerland, Happy Pot is a natural choice when contributions, anonymous participation, and personal messages should go together. For a bill among friends, TWINT often suffices; for shared expenses, Splitwise is a better fit. If you are organizing a gift, you can now create a Happy Pot and share the link with the group.