Smile Amazon No More? Try These 7 Better Giving Apps

Picture this: you’re adding items to your Amazon cart—maybe a new book, some household essentials, or that gadget you’ve been eyeing. You complete your purchase, and something magical happens. A small portion of the price you paid is automatically donated to a charity you care about, without costing you an extra penny.

It felt good, didn’t it? For nearly a decade, that was the reality for millions of Amazon shoppers through a program called AmazonSmile. You’d simply visit smile.amazon.com instead of the regular site, and 0.5% of your eligible purchase price would go to a charitable organization of your choice.

But then, in early 2023, Amazon announced the program was shutting down . The news left many shoppers and nonprofits wondering: why would Amazon end such a beloved program? And more importantly, what can we do now?

This article explores the rise and fall of AmazonSmile, its impact, the reasons behind its closure, and—most crucially—how you can continue making a difference while shopping online in 2026.

Background and Context: What Was AmazonSmile?

Launched in 2013, Smile Amazon was the e-commerce giant’s way of weaving charitable giving into everyday shopping. The concept was beautifully simple. When you shopped through the smile.amazon.com portal, the AmazonSmile Foundation would donate 0.5% of the net purchase price (excluding shipping, fees, and taxes) to the charity you had selected.

It was one of the most effortless ways to support a cause. You didn’t need to open your wallet any wider; Amazon made the donation on your behalf. It was a “passive fundraiser” that required almost zero effort from both the shopper and the nonprofit once the initial setup was complete.

How It Worked

For shoppers, the process was straightforward:

1. Visit smile.amazon.com and log in with your regular Amazon account.

2. Choose a charity from over one million eligible organizations worldwide.

3. Shop as usual. Eligible products were marked on their detail pages, and with every purchase, the donation was automatically calculated.

For nonprofits, registering was free and offered a potential new revenue stream. Many small organizations, from local schools to animal shelters, promoted the program to their supporters, encouraging them to designate their Amazon purchases to their cause.

The Scale of Its Impact

Over its decade-long run, the program delivered tangible results. Globally, Amazon disbursed more than **$449 million** to various charities. The Overseas China Education Foundation (OCEF), for instance, received over $27,000 from the program, enough to fund over 200 students’ education or purchase new books for 20 school libraries.

However, to put this in perspective, $449 million over ten years represents less than 0.04% of Amazon’s revenue during that period. While the total sum is impressive, the distribution was incredibly thin.

The Main Breakdown: Why Did Amazon End the Program?

On January 19, 2023, Amazon announced it would be shutting down Smile Amazon on February 20 of that same year . The decision stunned many nonprofits that relied on the funding, but the company’s reasoning provided a clear—if controversial—explanation.

1. “Spread Too Thin”

Amazon’s official statement said that with over one million eligible organizations globally, “our ability to have an impact was often spread too thin”. Because the donations were scattered across so many recipients, most organizations received only a trickle of funds. For many smaller groups, this meant receiving less than $100 per year from the program.

2. A Strategic Shift to Larger Initiatives

The company noted that the closure was part of a strategic pivot. It aimed to concentrate its corporate giving on “programs with greater impact,” such as its $2 billion commitment to build affordable housing, its support for disaster relief, and its efforts to help communities affected by climate change.

3. Was It More Than Just Charity?

There’s a layer of cynicism that has followed the program’s shutdown. Some observers argue that Smile Amazon, for all its good intentions, functioned more as a marketing tool. A former employee noted that the program was originally created to encourage customers to buy directly from Amazon rather than clicking through from a Google search, which cost the company a referral fee.

By allowing nonprofits to essentially “lend their name” to the platform, Amazon fostered loyalty and repeat business. Some critics described the program as “not so much a charitable-giving program as it was an advertising scheme in sheep’s clothing”.

What Happened After the Shutdown?

The transition was jarring for many nonprofits. Organizations like the Ezekiel Taylor Foundation in Chicago, which relied on the passive income for scholarships, expressed frustration and disappointment.

As a consolation, Amazon provided a final donation to each participating charity, equivalent to 25% of what they received in 2022. However, the message was clear: organizations could no longer rely on this passive income stream.

Pros, Cons, and a Balanced Analysis

It’s helpful to look back at the program critically to understand what was lost and what was gained.

The Pros of Smile Amazon

• Simplicity: It required almost zero effort. For both the shopper and the charity, it was a “set it and forget it” process.

• Passive Revenue: Nonprofits received unrestricted funds without having to host galas, send appeal letters, or chase down pledges.

• No Cost to the Shopper: It allowed consumers to be philanthropic without any additional financial outlay. Supporters felt they were doing good just by buying everyday essentials.

• Global Reach: It allowed donors to support international causes easily, such as OCEF.

The Cons and Criticisms

• Extremely Low Return: 0.5% is a very small cut. For a $100 purchase, the charity received just $0.50. For a non-profit, the administrative cost of promoting the program often outweighed the donations received.

• Data Black Hole: Nonprofits could not see who had selected them, preventing them from engaging with or thanking their supporters.

• The “Smile” Prefix: Shoppers had to specifically use smile.amazon.com. If they used the main site or the app (until later), the donation didn’t count. This made it easy to forget.

• Marketing Ploy: It effectively gave Amazon free advertising from non-profits, who encouraged their followers to use the site, while Amazon paid out pennies on the dollar.

The Post-Smile Landscape: Alternatives and How to Give in 2026

The end of Smile Amazon doesn’t mean the end of guilt-free shopping. The market has responded to the void, offering alternatives that are often more generous and transparent.

Alternative Passive Giving Programs

1. Give Freely
Often cited as a direct replacement, Give Freely is a not-for-profit browser extension. When you shop at any of its 10,000+ partner stores, the store pays a commission to Give Freely, and they donate 100% of that commission to your chosen charity. It also finds coupons, making it a one-two punch of saving and giving.

• The Edge: Works on more than just Amazon.

2. ShopRaise
This platform works with over 2,500 retailers, including Amazon, Target, and Home Depot. The commission rate is significantly higher than Smile Amazon, often up to 10% per purchase. It also provides real-time dashboards for nonprofits to track their donors.

3. iGive
One of the oldest players in the space (founded in 1997), iGive is a shopping portal that works across 700+ retailers. Commission rates range from 0.8% to 26% for the charity—often better than Amazon’s 0.5%—and they have raised over $3.5 million for charities.

4. Walmart Spark Good & Target Circle
Major retailers like Walmart and Target have community giving programs. Walmart’s Spark Good allows shoppers to round up their purchase totals or purchase items directly from a non-profit’s registry. Target’s Circle program lets users vote to direct donations to local non-profits.

5. Kroger Community Rewards
If you’re buying groceries, Kroger has a strong rewards program. Link your shopper’s card to a participating non-profit, and the store makes a donation based on your purchases.

6. eBay for Charity
This is a massive engine for giving. In 2024 alone, eBay raised over $192.5 million for non-profits. Sellers can donate a percentage of their sale, and buyers can add a donation at checkout.

7. Support&Shop
This service gives non-profits a dedicated page that combines donation links, wish lists, and shopping modules. Supporters visit the page, shop with partners (including Amazon), and earn commissions for the charity.

Practical Tips: How to Choose the Right Platform

Since the Smile Amazon program is no longer active, you need to be proactive. Here is a framework for determining where to direct your giving in 2026.

1. Identify Your Preferred Cause: Is it a local school, a national health foundation, or a specific animal shelter? Your choice will depend on which platform they are enrolled in.

2. Contact the Non-Profit: Ask them directly, “Which of these programs are you enrolled in? How can I help you the most?” They may have a preference based on commission rates.

3. Install Browser Extensions: Tools like Give Freely or ShopRaise automate the process. You don’t have to remember to visit a specific URL; it just works when you check out.

4. Check the Fine Print: Some alternatives have higher thresholds for payout to charities, or they may include different rules about which purchases qualify.

Common Mistakes and Challenges (and How to Avoid Them)

Even with alternatives, there are pitfalls in the current “shop to give” landscape.

• Mistake 1: Forgetting to Activate the Program: Just like with Smile Amazon, you have to remember to use the specific portal or install the browser extension. The best way to avoid this is to install a browser extension (like Give Freely) so you don’t have to remember.

• Mistake 2: Assuming It Works for All Purchases: Check which retailers are included and which items are eligible. For example, in Smile Amazon, not every product was eligible for a donation.

• Mistake 3: Feeling Guilty or Fatalistic: It can be easy to think, “Well, it’s over,” and give up. However, the alternatives above are often more generous than Smile Amazonever was.

• Challenge 4: Non-Profit Burnout: For non-profits, it’s easy to promote every single “round-up” program. This can create donor fatigue. Solution: Focus on 1-2 highly effective platforms that yield the highest returns.

Key Takeaways

• AmazonSmile is permanently closed. It officially shut down on February 20, 2023, after donating over $449 million globally.

• The program was inefficient. While over 1 million charities were registered, the donations were “spread too thin,” with many receiving less than $100 annually.

• Better alternatives exist. Newer platforms like Give Freely and ShopRaise offer higher commission rates (up to 10% or 100% of the affiliate commission) and work across multiple stores—often paying charities more than Amazon’s 0.5% ever did.

• Non-profits lost a passive income stream but gained better data. The old Smile Amazon gave charities no donor data. Alternatives often provide dashboards and analytics to help non-profits engage with their supporters.

• You have to change your habit. You must actively choose an alternative browser extension or portal, just as you once had to type smile.amazon.com.

Detailed FAQs

1. What exactly was Smile Amazon?
Smile Amazon was a program that allowed Amazon customers to support their favorite charity while shopping. Amazon donated 0.5% of eligible purchases to the charity selected by the customer at no extra cost.

2. Why did Amazon end the Smile Amazon program?
Amazon stated that the program “has not grown to create the impact that we had originally hoped” and that its ability to make an impact was “spread too thin” across more than 1 million charities. It shifted its focus to larger-scale philanthropic initiatives.

3. Is Smile Amazon coming back in 2026?
As of 2026, there is no official indication that Amazon plans to bring the program back. The company has moved on to other corporate giving strategies.

4. What is the best alternative to Smile Amazon?
Give Freely is a strong replacement, offering 100% of the affiliate commission to charities across 10,000+ stores. ShopRaise is also excellent, offering up to 10% cashback on purchases from 2,500 retailers.

5. Did the mobile app work with Smile Amazon?
Yes, Amazon eventually enabled the mobile app to work with Smile Amazon. You had to activate it in the settings menu. However, this feature was also discontinued when the program ended.

6. Did Smile Amazon give charities access to donor data?
No. Non-profits could not see the names or contact information of shoppers who designated them as their charity on Smile Amazon. This was a frequent criticism.

7. Are there non-Amazon programs that help charities through shopping?
Yes, many. Aside from the ones mentioned, Walmart Spark Good, Target Circle, Kroger Community Rewards, and eBay for Charity are all viable options.

Sources

1. Overseas China Education Foundation. (n.d.). Smile: 微笑购物，点滴助学. Retrieved from OCEF.org. 

2. Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Rochester. (2025). Holiday Shopping & Giving Back. 

3. California State Parks Foundation. (2026). AmazonSmile. 

4. GrantStation. (2023). Turn That Frown Upside Down: Filling the Void of AmazonSmile. 

5. Give Freely. (n.d.). Better than Amazon Smile. Retrieved from GiveFreely.com. 

6. The Borgen Project. (n.d.). Increase Health and Decrease Poverty. 

7. Darik News. (2023). There’s some frowning among Catholic nonprofits as AmazonSmile closes. 

8. Alignable. (2026). It’s been a while since Amazon Smile ended… 

9. ZipRecruiter. (n.d.). Q: What is Amazon Smile?. 

10. Double the Donation. (2023). Nonprofit Basics: Amazon Smile. 

11. RNIB. (n.d.). Shop with AmazonSmile and support RNIB. 

12. The Columbian / AP. (2023). AmazonSmile’s end is alarming, say nonprofits that benefited. 

13. I Want To Mow Your Lawn Inc. (2026). Amazon Smile Is Gone: Other Passive Giving Programs That Still Work. 

14. Forté Foundation. (2016). Donate to Forté – Start Shopping on AmazonSmile!.