# BackerKit

> A full-featured crowdfunding platform with dedicated publishing tools, Collab-Funding for joint author campaigns, and a built-in pledge management system.

Source: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/crowdfunding/backerkit
Website: https://www.backerkit.com
Category: Crowdfunding (https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/crowdfunding)
Pricing: freemium — $0/per-campaign
AI-powered: no
Editor's pick: yes
Tags: crowdfunding, all-or-nothing, collab-funding, books, publishing, pledge-manager, comics
Last verified: 2026-06-18
Best For: Authors who want a Kickstarter alternative with joint Collab-Funding campaigns and a dedicated book community
Funding Model: crowdfunding-platform
Platform Fee: 5% + 2.9% + $0.30 per pledge
Platform Fee Pct: 5

BackerKit evolved from a Kickstarter pledge management tool into a major crowdfunding platform in its own right, with a strong books and publishing category. Its "Collab-Funding" feature is uniquely valuable for authors — multiple writers can team up on shared campaigns, such as genre-specific story collections, splitting costs and audience reach across all participants.

- **Best for:** Authors launching a book campaign who want Kickstarter-level features with dedicated publishing community and collaborative funding options
- **Key features:** Collab-Funding for joint campaigns, Book Bazaar collaborative events, Pledge Manager for post-campaign fulfillment, audience intelligence tools, email marketing included
- **Pricing:** 5% platform fee plus 2.9% + $0.30 per pledge; fees only apply if the campaign is funded
- **Book-specific:** Dedicated publishing/books category page and recurring "Book Bazaar" events (Summer Edition + a fall flagship) where indie authors pool their audiences into themed, synchronized crowdfunding runs spanning novels, audiobooks, anthologies, poetry, picture books, and comics
- **Human-only policy:** BackerKit bans projects that use AI in whole or in part; all Book Bazaar projects are verified as human-created — a meaningful differentiator for authors and readers who want an AI-free platform
- **Why authors choose it:** The strongest alternative to Kickstarter for book projects; used by high-profile fantasy authors including Brandon Sanderson's team