Fundraising software — packed with tools for event and donor management, accepting gifts, and more — is essential to making the most impact possible. But, with so many options to choose from, it can be hard to know which is right for your organization. Plus, lots of platforms claim to be free — but aren’t really.
In this guide, we’ll cover the top free fundraising platforms, including features, pros and cons, and what “free” really means.
10 free fundraising sites at a glance
Which fees should be considered when choosing a fundraising platform?
Lots of fundraising platforms often have hidden costs. They typically include:
- Platform fees: These fees are often a percentage, applied to the total funds raised, that go towards maintaining the platform.
- Setup fees: Setup fees are usually one-time costs to initiate your fundraising campaign on the platform. These fees may cover the administrative work required to get your account up and running.
- Fees per user: Some platforms charge fees per user. Meaning, each individual who has access to your fundraising account comes at an additional cost.
- Fees per feature: If you want extra, advanced features on the platform, there could be additional costs.
- Support fees: Support fees may apply if you need dedicated assistance from the platform's support team.
- Monthly fees: These are regular charges that happen every month for using the platform. It's like a subscription fee to access and benefit from the platform continuously.
- Payout fees: Some platforms charge payout fees when funds are transferred from the fundraising platform to your nonprofit's bank account.
- Transactions/processing fees: Some processing fees come from the payment processor (e.g., Stripe) and/or the fundraising platform itself.
- Fees for donors: Some platforms may pass on certain fees to the donors instead of the nonprofit. Or, some platforms ask donors to provide an additional contribution in order to cover fees associated with the platform.
Zeffy: Best 100% free platform for small and mid-sized nonprofits
Trusted by 10,000+ nonprofits throughout North America and rated 4.8/5 stars on Capterra, Zeffy is the best free fundraising platform for nonprofits. With all the tools necessary for creating the most impact possible — from donor management to custom donation pages — Zeffy does it all, and doesn’t charge your nonprofit a cent.
Simple, powerful, and completely free, Zeffy helps changemakers everywhere make more impact for less.
Is it really free?
Zeffy is 100% free—there are no platform or transaction fees. While every other platform takes fees away from your mission, Zeffy delivers 100% of it to your nonprofit.
Unlike other platforms that claim to be free — but actually have hidden costs like processing fees and platform fees — Zeffy doesn't ever charge fees.
Nonprofits paid $3 billion in transaction fees last year. Zeffy is ending this with zero fees.
Here’s how it works: When someone makes a donation on your fundraising form, they have the option (but are never obliged) to give to Zeffy. Not everyone gives every time and that's okay. Enough donors leave a contribution to cover overhead AND fees.
Key features:
- Raffle management
- Completely free platform (plus no payment processing fee)
- Customizable donation pages
- Peer-to-peer campaign management
- Donor data and management
- Tap to pay
- E-commerce tools/online store for nonprofits
- Membership management
- 100% free
- Unlimited customer service
- Top-rated security
- Accept multiple payment methods (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.)
- Accept various donation amounts in just a few clicks
- Event registration features
Pros:
- 100% free
Cons:
- Only available for registered nonprofits in the US and Canada
Best for: All types of nonprofits looking for a 100% free fundraising software without compromising on features.
Zeffy’s testimonial:
“Zeffy made ticketing for our events extremely easy. Not only were we not charged ridiculous ticket fees, we actually collected more money because you can ask for donations on top of the ticket price. The year before, I used another ticketing site and it was a giant mess. Zeffy took the guesswork out and was FREE!”
— Besty, Executive Director (USA)
Facebook: Best free fundraising site for social media fundraising
Lots of nonprofits use Facebook to reach new donors, spread awareness, and even collect donations. Often, nonprofits use Facebook to launch peer-to-peer fundraisers like birthday fundraisers, which allow supporters to create personal fundraising pages for the cause, and collect donations in lieu of traditional birthday gifts.
Is it really free?
Setting up a Facebook account and starting a fundraiser is free. However, donations include a payment processing fee of 1.99% + $0.49 USD.
Pros:
- Extends reach
- Easy to use
- Free to set up
Cons :
- Facebook doesn't always have public trust
- Doesn’t offer robust, nonprofit-specific tools
- Does not collect donor info
Best for: Nonprofits that are looking for a quick and easy way to start fundraising on social media.
Facebook's testimonial:
“Facebook drives so much of our community of users its impossible to overlook its utility. It is a point of interaction that we use the most consistently - plugging in all of our other platforms to Facebook means that we are able to direct traffic flow to our content and let people know what we are up to as an organization, programs that are coming up, fundraising and other options!”
— Christine P.
Givebutter: Best free fundraising platform for social fundraising
Givebutter is a modern, easy-to-use fundraising tool that offers nonprofits tons of features. From event management to donor management and beyond, this simple and sleek platform makes giving easy and fun for everyone. Highly customizable, and great for fundraising initiatives like P2P campaigns, Givebutter is one of the best options available to nonprofits.
Is it really free?
While Givebutter doesn't charge platform fees, or any monthly or subscription fees, they do charge up to 2.9% + $0.30 in processing fees.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Great customer service
- Peer-to-peer gamification tools
- Donor management
- Live, hybrid, and in-person fundraising event
- Auctions
- Custom donation page creation
- Simplified donation process
- Donors can cover fees
Cons:
- Processing fees
- Learning curve for more advanced features
Best for: Nonprofits looking to do more social fundraising through P2P campaigns and events.
Givebutter's testimonial:
“We needed a low-cost, user-friendly fundraising platform to help us reach some financial goals. The structure of Givebutter's processing fee + tips makes it so donors can choose how they want to handle their transactions, and minimizes the overhead we have to pay to raise funds.”
— Jillian H.
Donorperfect: Best free fundraising platform for donor management
DonorPerfect is packed with lots of necessary fundraising features for nonprofits, like custom donation forms and online fundraising events. Plus, DonorPerfect also offers some high-tech tools for capturing donor data. So, nonprofits can collect more donations, and connect with donors seamlessly — all in one place.
Is it really free?
Unfortunately, DonorPerfect isn’t free. To use the platform, nonprofits must request a custom quote, which starts at $99/month. Plus, the platform charges up to 3% in processing fees.
Pros:
- Advanced data import
- Highly rated security
- Reporting and analytics
- Donor filtering and segmentation
- Donation forms
- Online fundraising events
Cons:
- Not user-friendly
- Pricing
Best for: Nonprofits looking for donor management tools to better handle donor relationships.
Donorperfect's testimonial:
“Being able to see at a glance the giving history of our donors, as well as the soft credits and associated foundations each donor has brought to our development. DonorPerfect has explicitly made grant reporting and our annual audit much more of a light lift, with documents and acknowledgments readily available when viewing gifts. It's greatly streamlined our efforts to engage with donors and track year-over-year participation in giving campaigns.”
— Monica S.
Donorbox: Best free fundraising site for recurring donations
Donorbox is a great tool for nonprofits looking to amplify their impact through flexible giving methods and custom forms. Built best for nonprofits looking to bring in recurring donations, this platform is sleek and modern — and fit for any growing organization.
Is it really free?
Donorbox does offer a free plan. But, it comes with limited features. For more features, nonprofits should expect to pay up to $139+/month, plus a 1.5% platform fee, and up to 2.2% + 0.49 in processing fees, as well as additional per-user fees.
Pros:
- Self-managed recurring donations
- Custom donation forms
- Third-party integrations
- Donor data/activity notifications
- Flexible payment methods
Cons:
- Poor customer support
- Additional monthly fees for add-ons
- Difficult set up
- Pricing
- Interface
Best for: Nonprofits looking to manage recurring donations.
Donorbox's testimonial:
“For many small organizations who don't have hundreds or thousands of dollars to spend, per month, on some of the CRM and donation tools out there, Donorbox having a free version is such a benefit to them.”
— Adam M.
GoFundMe: Best free fundraising site for crowdfunding
GoFundMe is one of the leading online crowdfunding platforms designed to transform the way individuals and groups raise funds for a wide array of causes. Established in 2010, GoFundMe has become a popular platform for connecting people with the resources they need to overcome financial challenges, pursue dreams, or support important causes.
Is it really free?
While launching a fundraiser is free, donations are subject to transaction fees of up to 2.9% + $0.30.
Pros:
- Global audience
- Social media integration
- User-friendly interface
Cons:
- Payment processing time
- Customization
- Limited customer support
- Transaction fees
Best for: Nonprofits looking for a quick and easy way to launch a crowdfunding campaign.
Gofundme's testimonial:
“GoFundMe has helped solve the budgeting crisis in public schools. Students take the initiative to price out and illustrate a detailed plan of what they would like to fundraise for and how it contributes to their learning when there is no money left in the school budget.”
— Lindsey L.
Compare Zeffy (100% free) to GoFundMe →
Give Lively: Best free fundraising site for digital fundraising
GiveLively is a dynamic software that has revolutionized the landscape of online fundraising platforms. Established with a mission to provide accessible and cutting-edge fundraising solutions, GiveLively empowers nonprofits to raise funds efficiently and engage with their communities.
Is it really free?
GiveLively does charge fees. However, users should expect transaction fees of up to 3.5% + $5 from third-party payment processors.
Pros:
- Unlimited campaign pages
- Donation widgets
- Custom thank your receipts
- Accepts multiple payment methods
- Text to donate
Cons:
- Nonprofits must apply for membership
Best for: Nonprofits looking to take advantage of modern digital fundraising tools.
Give Lively's Testimonial:
“Our previous fundraising platform couldn't process large donations, looked terrible and was not easy to set up or use. These platforms charge roughly $150-400 a month for every additional feature we add. Give Lively was a game changer - giving us a modern interface with a great improvement on user experience, and they process each of our transactions quickly.”
— Nicole B.
PayPal: Best free fundraising site for mobile-friendly donations
PayPal, primarily known as an online payment platform, also serves as a valuable tool for fundraising. While not a dedicated fundraising site like some platforms, PayPal's versatility makes it a popular choice for individuals and organizations seeking a secure and efficient way to collect donations.
Is it really free?
Paypal is free to use, however, the platform charges 2.2% + $0.30 per transaction for eligible charities only. (Learn more about Paypal's fees for nonprofits here)
Pros:
- Easy navigation
- EmbeddedEmbeddele PayPal button
- Integrations with lots of third-party software
- Nonprofit-friendly tools
- Mobile friendly
- Recurring donations
Cons:
- Can handle fewer currencies than Stripe
- No customization
- No fundraising features or donor management
Compare Zeffy (100% free) to PayPal for nonprofits →
Best for: Nonprofits looking for an easy, mobile-friendly solution to collecting donations.
PayPal's testimonial:
“Without a doubt, it is an excellent payment platform, it allows me to request payments by email, I can also configure donation buttons and it allows me to integrate its services to my web pages, something I like about PayPal is that it allows my clients to pay directly with your credit cards or associated bank account.”
— Antonio A G.
RallyUp: Best free fundraising site for events
RallyUp is a comprehensive online fundraising platform designed to empower individuals, nonprofits, and organizations to create impactful and successful fundraising campaigns. With a focus on user-friendly features and community engagement, RallyUp provides a versatile space for a wide range of fundraising initiatives.
Is it really free?
RallyUp has lots of free features available to nonprofits, but premium features come with a price — starting at $99/month. Plus, RallyUp charges a 7.5% platform fee, which can be covered by donors.
Pros:
- Events and ticketing
- Auction management
- Live streaming tools
- Raffles
- Sweepstakes
- Donors can cover fees
Cons:
- Limited free plan
- Premium features cost extra
Best for: Nonprofits looking to run an array of events.
RallyUp's testimonial:
“RallyUp helps us easily manage silent auctions and raffle items in a way that makes it possible for our small staff to do these things.”
— Sarah K.
Raisely: Best free fundraising site for peer-to-peer fundraising
Raisely is a modern and user-centric online fundraising platform designed to empower individuals, nonprofits, and causes to create compelling and impactful campaigns. With a focus on simplicity and innovation, Raisely provides a platform where fundraisers can easily connect with their audience and drive positive change.
Is it really free?
Rasiley offers a free plan for organizations that bring in less than $120k/year. For organizations that bring in more revenue, pricing starts at $99/month. Raisley also charges a 3.5% platform fee, which donors can cover, as well as standard processing fees.
Pros:
- Social sharing tools
- QR code generator
- Custom campaign pages
- Segmented messaging
- Gamification tools
Cons:
- Limited free pan
Best for: Nonprofits looking to run peer-to-peer campaigns.
Raisely's testimonial:
“The customer service is first-rate. The software is highly customizable for all different scenarios and the user experience for peer-to-peer fundraisers and donation appeals are seamless.”
— Becky S.
How Outreach 360 avoided $6,000 in fees by switching to Zeffy
After a global crisis forced them to move all operations online, Outreach360 — an organization dedicated to bringing language skills and financial independence to hundreds of students across Latin America — found Zeffy.
“We were trying to see what kind of alternatives there are to cut costs in a time where we want to survive and thrive as opposed to going under…we needed a way to cut costs but maintain quality.”
While previously Outreach360 had used Classy for their donations and fundraising, they now needed a different solution.
“The need to cut down on expenses meant replacing Classy. We found Zeffy online and thought, ‘this is too good to be true,’...I reached out and Francois [Zeffy’s founder] got back to me. He was really open and helpful getting us onboard.”
To date, Outreach360 has been able to save $6,000 dollars by switching to Zeffy.
Best free fundraising platforms: FAQ
What fundraising platform is free?
Zeffy is the only zero-fee fundraising platform for nonprofits.
Just last year, nonprofits paid $3 billion in transaction fees. Zeffy is ending the year by charging nonprofits zero fees.
To put $3 billion into perspective - this is enough to feed 1.4 million children for a year or plant 60 million trees or build 20,000 homes.
Is Zeffy really free?
Zeffy’s only source of income is from optional contributions from donors.
Here’s how it works: When someone makes a donation on your fundraising form, they have the option (but are never obliged) to give to Zeffy. Not everyone gives every time and that's okay. Enough donors leave a contribution to cover overhead AND the fees of the thousands of nonprofits that fundraise on Zeffy.
