FrontFundr Review: What It Is and Who It Fits
FrontFundr is a Canadian equity crowdfunding platform and registered exempt market dealer, created in Vancouver in 2013. Investors pay a 3.0% processing fee capped at $350, and companies pay listing and trade fees. It fits Canadian companies selling shares to retail investors. To pitch active investors directly, use Round Funded's Find Investors tool.
FrontFundr at a Glance
| FrontFundr | |
|---|---|
| What it is | An online equity crowdfunding and private markets platform at frontfundr.com, run as a registered exempt market dealer |
| Best for | Canadian startups and growth companies running a public crowdfunding campaign |
| Pricing (as of October 2026) | Investors: 3.0% per investment, $10 minimum, $350 maximum. Companies: upfront due diligence and listing fee plus a trade fee on closing, amounts not published |
| Free plan or trial | Not found in the pages we reviewed |
| Founded or launched | 2013, first investment processed in May 2015 |
| Location | Vancouver, British Columbia (LinkedIn); Trustpilot lists a Toronto address |
What FrontFundr Is and How It Works
FrontFundr says it is "Canada's first equity crowdfunding platform" and an Exempt Market Dealer under Canadian securities legislation that gives advice on the suitability of the opportunities it lists. Peter-Paul Van Hoeken, its Founder and CEO, created it in Vancouver in 2013, and the first crowdfunding investments closed in 2015.
A company applies to raise through a form, goes through due diligence and is assigned a dedicated campaign coach. Once listed, it offers securities to the platform's investors, most commonly equity, debt, convertible notes and SAFEs, per FrontFundr's raise FAQ. In November 2025 FrontFundr announced a partnership with Boundless AI so companies raising equity can also look at debt options.
FrontFundr Pricing in 2026
FrontFundr charges both sides of a deal. Per its support article on investment charges, investors pay a processing fee of 3.0% per investment, with a $10 minimum and a $350 maximum. Paying by credit card adds 2.9% of the investment plus $0.30 per transaction.
For companies, the raise FAQ lists a due diligence and listing fee paid upfront and a trade fee paid when the raise closes successfully. No amounts were found in the pages we reviewed. One 2019 reviewer on Trustpilot reported a listing fee of 6-8% of the amount raised, a single older report, not a published price.
What FrontFundr Is Built For, and Its Limits
What FrontFundr is built for
FrontFundr is built for a Canadian company that wants to sell securities to individual investors through a regulated campaign, with a coach guiding it through due diligence and listing. It handles the dealer side, including suitability advice to investors, and processes investments on its own platform.
Where it falls short
- Not all of Canada. Business in Vancouver reports that FrontFundr "operates across most of Canada."
- Upfront cost with no published amount. The due diligence and listing fee is payable before the raise, and its size was not found in the pages we reviewed.
- Passive investors. In a Reddit thread, one commenter who invested in 7 deals said the site suits smaller investors who probably are not expecting to do much after investing. Another, who raised on a similar platform rather than FrontFundr, found investor engagement minimal compared with angels or VCs.
- Long lock-ups. A one-star reviewer on Trustpilot complained of locked money and no visibility on growth. FrontFundr replied that private investments are typically held about 5 years and can run past 10.
- Communication gaps. One Trustpilot reviewer said Gmail flagged FrontFundr emails as spam, so they missed two opportunities, and that they got no receipt or tracking number after investing.
- Execution. A 2019 one-star reviewer on Trustpilot wrote "Very interesting concept however very poorly executed", pointing to differences between the prospectus and the agreement.
FrontFundr vs Round Funded
| FrontFundr | Round Funded | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Crowdfunding campaign sold to the platform's own investors | You choose and email investors from a database of 60,000+ active VCs, angels, family offices and accelerators |
| Investor activity | Not stated | Filtered to a check in the last 6 months |
| Cost to founders | Upfront listing fee plus trade fee on closing, amounts not published | Round+ $99/month, Round Pro $249/month, Lifetime $899 one-time (October 2026) |
| Outreach | Through the campaign listing | AI-drafted emails sent from your own Gmail |
| Pipeline | Not found in the pages we reviewed | Built-in pipeline, up to 2,500 investors on Round+ |
| Data room | Not found in the pages we reviewed | Free to build and share on every plan |
| Trial | Not found in the pages we reviewed | 3-day free trial on Round+ and Round Pro for first-time accounts, card required |
FrontFundr puts your company in front of its own crowd and charges fees tied to the raise, with an upfront listing fee whose amount you only learn by applying. With Round Funded you pick investors who have written a check in the last 6 months, email them from your own Gmail and track replies in a pipeline, at a flat published price. For founders who want to own their investor relationships, Round Funded is the pick.
Best FrontFundr Alternatives in 2026
Round Funded
Round Funded is an investor database of 60,000+ active VCs, angels, family offices and accelerators, filtered to a check in the last 6 months and available in 12 languages. Outreach is AI-drafted and sent from your Gmail, a pipeline tracks replies, and the Data Room is free on every plan. Our guide on how to find investors walks through the process.
Angel Investment Network
Angel Investment Network is a pitch-listing site that says it was founded in 2004: you publish a pitch, angels browse it, and either side can message the other. Joining is free, with paid packages after a listing period. See our Angel Investment Network review. To pick and email angels yourself, Round Funded is the pick.
AngelList
AngelList is venture infrastructure for fund managers: it forms and runs venture funds, rolling funds, scout funds and SPVs, and is not a marketplace where founders post pitches. Read our AngelList comparison. To find and email investors, Round Funded is the pick.
Gust
Gust is a New York startup platform, founded in 2004, that sells Delaware incorporation, a cap table, SAFEs and option plans, priced from $450 to $3,500 a year, and runs deal flow software for angel groups. More in our Gust review. To email active investors directly, Round Funded is the pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does FrontFundr cost?
Investors pay 3.0% per investment, with a $10 minimum and a $350 maximum, plus 2.9% and $0.30 if paying by credit card. Companies pay an upfront due diligence and listing fee and a trade fee on closing, with no amounts published in the pages we reviewed. Round Funded publishes its prices: Round+ is $99/month and Round Pro $249/month, as shown on the pricing page.
Does FrontFundr have a free plan or trial?
No free plan or trial was found in the pages we reviewed. FrontFundr charges per investment and charges companies listing and trade fees. Round Funded has no free tier either, but offers a 3-day free trial on Round+ and Round Pro for first-time accounts, card required, plus free tools such as Find Investors with free matches. That makes Round Funded the simpler place to start.
Is FrontFundr legit?
FrontFundr was created in Vancouver in 2013 by Peter-Paul Van Hoeken and says it is a registered Exempt Market Dealer. It reported FY2025 revenue of $1.85 million with an EBITDA loss of $45,000. Complaints on Trustpilot cover long lock-ups, missing receipts and emails landing in spam. For a raise you run yourself, Round Funded's investor directory is the pick.
Is Round Funded affiliated with FrontFundr?
No. Round Funded is not affiliated with FrontFundr. This is an independent comparison built from FrontFundr's public pages and published third-party sources, with facts as of October 2026. For founders choosing a fundraising tool, Round Funded is the pick.
Final Word
FrontFundr is a route for Canadian companies willing to pay listing and trade fees to sell securities to a crowd, with investors that Reddit commenters describe as fairly passive. If you want to choose your investors, contact them from your own Gmail and track the round in one pipeline at a flat price, Round Funded is the better fit.
