Best alternatives to Collection Pot (2025): The top group collection platforms compared

The best group collection platforms of 2025: Which one should you use in 2026?

Organising a group gift should be joyful not stressful. Whether you’re planning a colleague’s leaving gift, a teacher thank-you, or a family celebration, it sometimes helps to use a platform that makes collecting money simple, fast and transparent.

To help you choose, here is our attempt at a fair comparison of the best group collection platforms in 2025, including GiftRound, Givetastic, Collctiv, Thankbox, and Collection Pot. Obviously no hype, no favouritism, just straightforward comparisons so you can pick the best platform for your group.

What makes a great group-collection platform?

From analysing Trustpilot reviews for GiftRound, Givetastic, Collctiv, Thankbox, and Collection Pot, these factors consistently matter most:

• No hidden fees - contributors should pay only what they intend and organisers should know exactly what they receive
  
• Ease of contribution - ideally no account creation or friction
  
• Flexible redemption options without cost to the recipient - gift cards, physical items or cash withdrawals
  
• Personalised experiences - group cards, notes, photos
  
• Compliance & transparency - especially important for workplace collections
  
• Wide retailer choice - the recipient should be excited by where they can redeem their collection.

Now let’s explore how each platform ranks.

1. GiftRound - Best overall for fee-free & stress-free group gifting

Perfect for: workplaces, schools, communities and groups wanting a simple, transparent, no-fee solution from the beginning to the end of their group collection.

GiftRound is known for being totally fee-free for organisers, contributors and recipients which is a major advantage in a market where many other platforms charge percentage fees on contributions, add 'tips' or fees to bank withdrawal costs or charge to send a group card even when claiming to be ‘free’ because of no set-up costs.
Once the collection closes, the organiser receives the full amount to spend on a GiftRound FlexCard (redeemable at 95+ UK retailers)

GiftRound’s biggest strengths

✔ 100% fee free - no deductions, no tips, no hidden charges
✔ Contributors don’t need an account
✔ Works on any device, extremely simple user experience
✔ Perfect for workplaces - transparent & auditable✔ FlexCard provides huge choice for recipients
✔ Modern, joyful, friendly user experience

Considerations
Redemption is via retail partners or gift cards, not direct cash. Many group gifts prefer this structure so they can avoid fees and intrusive ID checks but if cash payout is essential, other platforms offer it.

Verdict: Best all-round option for most users and occasions.

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2. Collection Pot - well known market leader for cash withdrawal 

Perfect for: general use, group gifts where the recipient prefers cash or organisers who want a flexible payout method.

Collection Pot is widely used across the UK and is one of the more established platforms. It lets organisers create a money pot for any occasion, and contributors can add messages along with payments. Organisers can redeem the pot in multiple ways: gift cards, e-vouchers, charity donations or cash withdrawals (fees apply)

Strengths
✔Versatile redemption options (including cash-out)
✔ Familiar and widely used
✔ Good gift card brand selection
✔ Contributors can add personal messages

Considerations‍
Contributors encounter opt out ‘tips’ or added 'admin charge' nudges to support the platform which can be embarrassing for the organiser.
Cash withdrawals incur fees

Verdict: Ideal if you expect the recipient to prefer cash and you’re happy for contributors to pay admin fees or tips as they take part.

3. Givetastic 

Givetastic combines a digital group card with a money collection. Contributors can add messages and photos, making the final gift feel personal and heartfelt.

Best features
✔ Lovely digital group cards
✔ Easy to contribute (no account required)
✔ Strong gift card catalogue
✔ Ideal for emotional celebrations

Things to note
Bank withdrawals come with fees
The UX is good, but not as streamlined as some competitors

4. Collctiv 

Collctiv focuses on low-friction contributions. It’s commonly used for clubs & teams where lots of people need to contribute quickly.

Strengths
✔ Very fast & easy to contribute
✔ Good for contributions from large groups
✔ Allows cash withdrawals (fees apply)

Considerations
Withdrawals can take time
Cash-out fees apply
Not as strong for workplace compliance or audit trails
‘App-only’ requires downloading to organise a group collection

Verdict: Good choice if cash access is a priority and you’re happy to pay fees for this service.

5. Thankbox

Perfect for: hybrid or remote teams, heartfelt messages, and creative group cards.

Thankbox’s main strength is its digital group card. Messages, images, GIFs, videos,  it supports a lot of creativity. You can add an optional cash collection, which can be redeemed via gift cards or sometimes cash (depending on recipient location).

Strengths
✔ Customisable group card experience
✔ Simple to use

Limitations
Collections are a secondary feature
Redemption options are more limited than others and pre-paid debit card option has a short expiry of 3 months
Payout methods are applied when the card is sent so not free from start to end of the process, 'free to set up' but organisers have to pay to send their card to their recipient.

Verdict: Great when the card is the star of the show, not the group collection.

Which group collection platform should you choose?

Here’s a quick, honest guide:

Choose GiftRound if you want:

• No fees, from start to finish
• The simplest user experience
• Huge retailer choice
• Workplace-friendly transparency 100% of contributions go to the recipient
• Something appropriate for schools, offices, clubs, and families
• A polished and reliable gifting flow
• Friendly, prompt, actual human customer service

Choose Collection Pot if: You want a traditional money pot with the option of cash-out and you don’t mind contributors paying fees when taking part.

Choose Givetastic if: You want an emotional and social group collection along with a bank transfer option and you don’t mind paying fees for this option.

Choose Collctiv if: Your group prefers an App where cash and tips or inactive pot fees are ok with you.

Choose Thankbox if: You want a beautiful online card and the gift is secondary, just be aware of the pay to send model and the 3 month expiry for the prepaid debit card option.

Check out the 1,2,3 star reviews of each platform on Trustpilot especially when it comes to added fees, poor customer service and short expiry dates for pre-paid debit card options.

What is the best way to collect group gifts in the UK?

While all these platforms have strengths, GiftRound stands out because it solves the biggest pain points organisers face:

• No fees at any point in the group collection, creation, contributions, spending
• No awkward contributor sign-ups
• No hidden charges
• No complicated payout structures
• Clear, transparent, modern design
  

For workplaces, schools, families, and community groups, that combination makes GiftRound the easiest and most dependable platform for group gifting in 2025.