RaceNation

RaceNation is worth considering for a sports event that wants registration and participant fundraising connected to an event-day app. Its percentage pricing is public, but registration and fundraising are different money flows. Test sign-in, check-in and spectator tracking with real phones before deciding how much the event will rely on the app.

Registration & Ticketing Fundraising & Auction Mobile Event Apps Event Planning & Management Freemium

Free events; 5% of paid-registration transaction value; 3.5% fundraising

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Tool Nutrition Label

Founded Not publicly confirmed in the sources checked

Headquarters Not publicly confirmed in the sources checked

Company Size Not publicly confirmed in the sources checked

Funding Not publicly confirmed in the sources checked

Pricing Model Separate percentage-based registration and fundraising charges

Free Trial Free-event offer and demonstration available

Contract Transaction-based offer; confirm contract, refunds, settlement and regional terms

Attendee Capacity Organisers configure event limits; no universal maximum established in the checked sources

Mobile App RaceNation Mobile for event organisers, entrants and spectators; iOS distribution verified

Offline Capability Not verified

Data & Compliance Not publicly confirmed in the sources checked

Expertise Level Intermediate

Event Types

Running racesCharity walksCycling eventsChallenge eventsCommunity sports

Key Integrations

Klarna (Native)

Support Channels

PhoneEmailLive chatDedicated account management

Best For

+ Charity sports events combining entries and participant fundraising
+ Organisers using maps, messages and app-based check-in
+ Community races that want branded registration and participant changes

Not For

− Paid events requiring zero transaction charges
− Teams relying on verified offline app operation without a demonstration
− Hosts expecting the fundraising percentage to include all registration processing too

Key Capabilities

✓ Build branded registration pages with custom fields and ticket options

✓ Manage entrant accounts, transfer requests, waiting lists and deferrals

✓ Sell event merchandise through a storefront

✓ Create ballots for entry allocation

✓ Generate participant fundraising pages and collect donations

✓ Send email, SMS and app push notifications

✓ Use the event app for checkpoint scanning, maps and permitted location sharing

Honest Limitations

Registration and fundraising use different rates

The public rates are 5% of total registration transaction value and 3.5% of fundraising transaction value. These are separate flows; neither a combined 8.5% fee nor universal 3.5% ticketing is established.

App usability needs a current trial

Custard365 in May 2024 valued self-registration and maps. ian russell in September 2022 described confusing password setup and navigation. These dated participant accounts warrant a rehearsal, not a universal current failure claim.

Live tracking depends on the participant setup

Location sharing and spectator access involve the app and accepted friend requests. Confirm devices, permissions, connectivity and battery needs; the checked sources do not verify disconnected operation.

The published percentage is not a full contract

Clarify refund, chargeback, payout, tax and messaging treatment for your account. Optional covered fundraising fees do not mean every donor or transaction will cover the charge.

Pricing Breakdown

Plan	Price	Details
Free events	Free	Published free-event offer includes platform features and the event app; confirm any ancillary paid activity.
Paid event registration	5% of total transaction value	Published all-in registration percentage. Model the actual checkout total and confirm how any participant surcharge is calculated.
Fundraising	3.5% of total transaction value	Separate donation/fundraising rate. Donors can opt into covered fees; do not assume they will.

Cost at Common Event Sizes

100

attendees

£250 in registration fees

Illustrative 100 completed £50 transactions × 5%, with the fee absorbed within that total. No donation transactions, refunds or surcharge-on-fee assumptions.

500

attendees

£1,250 in registration fees

500 completed £50 transactions × 5%; separate fundraising transactions are excluded.

1000

attendees

£2,500 in registration fees

1,000 completed £50 transactions × 5% under the same assumptions. This is a per-event processing illustration.

Hidden Costs to Watch

! Clarify tax, refund, chargeback, payout and any messaging costs in the agreement.
! Staff devices, mobile connectivity and event delivery remain separate expenses.
! Optional donor-covered fees change who pays; they are not guaranteed additional income.

Set up a small test event and walk through it as organiser, entrant and spectator. Keep the registration and donation fee examples separate, and confirm the final checkout total if entrants will cover the fee.

The fit assessment follows documented scope. User reviews are dated individual accounts, and no hands-on product test or vendor interview is claimed.

Sources

Official platform pricing — Official source; checked 2026-09-20.
Event-day app features — Official source; checked 2026-09-20.
Current iOS app and developer description — Official source; checked 2026-09-20.
Custard365 original app review — Custard365, UK listing, 2024-05-22, Skipped the queue: used app self-registration and event/course maps. Distinct original app user; incentive and identity verification not disclosed.
ian russell distinct app review — ian russell, UK listing, 2022-09-30, Needs some love: password-format feedback and navigation were confusing, though event data became accessible. Historical specific experience, not a present universal restriction.
Directory relationship boundary — Official source; checked 2026-09-20.

Comparing this with other event tools?

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Pairs Well With

Canva

The fastest way for most event teams to produce polished promo assets and decks, though it is still a design platform rather than a true event-ops tool.

Event Marketing Freemium

Prepare race graphics, sponsor artwork and volunteer instructions separately.

Google Maps

Mapping, venue discovery, directions, traffic, offline driving maps, and embeddable location links that help attendees find event venues and planners coordinate logistics.

Venue & Catering Free

Share arrival, parking and spectator meeting points as a separate planning aid.

Alternatives

RunSignup

Race registration and participant management with included websites, email and RaceDay CheckIn; paid registration fees are calculated per cart.

Registration & Ticketing Event Planning & Management Fundraising & Auction Event Marketing Freemium

Compare race registration, participant changes and RaceDay CheckIn.

Race Roster

Endurance-event registration, participant management, fundraising and timing workflows, with pricing and feature availability that depend on the region and agreement.

Registration & Ticketing Event Planning & Management Fundraising & Auction Paid

Compare race registration, fundraising and participant administration.

ACTIVE

ACTIVE Network registration and payment platform for endurance races, community activities, camps, classes, and sports programs.

Registration & Ticketing Paid

Compare registration and participant management for sports events.

Questions to Ask the Vendor

1
What does the 5% all-in rate include in our region and contract?
2
How are checkout surcharges, mixed donations and refunds calculated?
3
What settlement, chargeback and tax terms apply to the account?
4
Can entrants practise app login, check-in and location sharing before race day?
5
Which functions work without connectivity and how do records synchronise?
6
Are SMS, event-day assistance and data exports included?

How we research tools

We research each tool by reviewing official documentation, pricing pages, and user feedback from Trustpilot, G2, and Capterra. If something's out of date or inaccurate, use the link below to flag it.

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