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How is Zeffy free?
How is Zeffy free?
Zeffy relies entirely on optional contributions from donors. At the payment confirmation step - we ask donors to leave an optional contribution to Zeffy.
Spotfund is an emerging platform for fundraising campaigns, largely used by individuals and available for nonprofit organizations to lean on, too. With its easy setup and sharing capabilities, Spotfund is gaining attention as a simple alternative to larger-scale crowdfunding tools like GoFundMe.
But is it the right choice for your nonprofit? Let’s dive into Spotfund reviews, complaints, features, customer service, pricing, etc. We’ll even break down some Spotfund alternatives to see side-by-side comparisons.
Spotfund is a micro-donation platform that encourages small contributions from many individuals to raise funds for causes, personal needs, projects, and organizations. By enabling donations as low as $1, the tool makes fundraising accessible for a wide array of donors.
How Spotfund works:
Share your story through content and pictures or videos, then set your fundraising goal
Accept donations and manage engagement on your campaign page
Share through email, text, and social media to attract more donors
Spotfund is ideal for causes that rely on broad community support through numerous small contributions rather than a few large donors. That’s why many individuals enjoy the simple crowdfunding option, and nonprofits use it to fund specific projects.
Spotfund reviews
When considering if Spotfund is right for your nonprofit, it’s always helpful to hear from real customers about what they like or dislike.
Spotfund pros
Quick funding
“We often pickup dogs in need and need immediate funds for medical, boarding and other expenses. Spot Fund has helped greatly with that. I'm very thankful. I do wish I could include pictures on my updates but short of that have no complaints.” - Toni T.
Simple user experience
“It’s super easy to set up a campaign and very simple to navigate. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to raise funds... Thank you spotfund!” - Marj
Secure donations
“I am pleased with how the staff was responsive to my issues and was very helpful in communicating with me. I understand that people might have the wrong intentions and certain steps are made for security of the donors. It was very important to ask certain questions and I didn't have any problems.” - Tania H.
Spotfund cons
Customer Service
“I started a campaign on Spotfund to raise funds for an animal rescue nonprofit. I have sent two emails over the past week asking for details on how the organization will receive the payout, but I have not received any response. This lack of communication and support is disappointing and reflects poor customer service.” - Ellen A.
Costly fees
“I read it was 0 fees. Only to find out when people donated they had to pay a fee plus the 2.9% fee for deposits plus 0.30 cent transactions. That part would have been nice to know upfront.” - Customer review
Limited donor engagement
“One aspect I don't like is that I don't have the ability to respond to comments left by people making donations. It would be nice to thank them for their kind words and contributions.” - Customer review
Limited exposure to donors
“You can easily make a crowdfunding campaign. Yet there is no way to help push the campaign other than your own social media platforms. Had campaign up for a month and besides myself sharing on my own platforms was there any interaction. 4 views on spotfund in a months time.” - Wake Up Nation
Pricing
Spotfund does not charge a platform fee and advertises as a free tool. However, many reviews showcase a feeling of disappointment as users realize that there are hefty transaction and credit card fees that limit how much goes to the cause. This isn’t always transparent in the marketing around Spotfund.
Transaction fees are currently 2.9% + $0.30 and 3.9% + $0.30 for international payments. Zeffy ensures you use a truly free tool without hidden fees (that means no transaction fees!).
Micro-donations: Small contributions starting at $1 are supported.
Social integration: Campaigns are built to share on Facebook, X, TikTok, and Instagram.
Cause discovery: Trending and featured campaigns are highlighted for donors to explore new causes.
Mobile design: Pages are optimized for mobile use to donate and share on the go.
Transparent fundraising: The impact of donations is tracked to show how funds contribute to your goals.
Quick campaign setup: It’s simple to create campaigns with images, videos, and storytelling.
Flexible payouts: Funds can be withdrawn at any time, even if the goal isn’t met.
Customer support
Spotfund has a 4.7 /5 rating on Trustpilot. Reviews about customer service experiences are mixed, but the platform ensures support is available through:
Email and SMS support: The primary method for contacting Spotfund is through email for campaign setup, troubleshooting, or account-related issues.
Website FAQs: Spotfund provides an FAQ section to answer common questions.
There is no clear indication of how to reach customer service through a live chat or phone representative, so timing and availability may depend on the severity of an issue.
The 5 best Spotfund alternatives
If Spotfund doesn’t fully meet your needs, here are other alternatives to consider:
1. Zeffy
Zeffy is a 100% free fundraising platform designed specifically for nonprofits, offering full campaign management with no fees.
Highlight features:
100% free platform (no fees at all)
Online and mobile-optimized donations
Campaign versatility (everything from events and crowdfunding to e-commerce and memberships in one place)
GoFundMe is a great crowdfunding tool known for personal causes and emergencies, with a large user base and social sharing tools to amplify a campaign.
Givebutter is a versatile platform for nonprofits, offering donation forms, peer-to-peer fundraising, and ticketed event management with zero platform fees (transaction fees do apply).
Highlight features:
Offers fundraising, ticketing, and peer-to-peer campaigns
Free to use with optional donor tips or low transaction fees
Classy is a premium solution for large-scale nonprofit campaigns, providing advanced analytics, branding, and donor engagement tools with a custom pricing structure.
Highlight features:
Robust tools for campaigns, event ticketing, and recurring donations
Advanced reporting and analytics
Integrates well with CRM tools like Salesforce
Professional, sleek design for nonprofit campaigns
While Spotfund doesn’t charge a platform fee, a 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee applies. Nonprofit organizations will see this deducted from their total funding.
The choice between Spotfund and GoFundMe depends on your specific needs:
Spotfund highlights: Focuses on micro-donations starting at $1, with standard transaction fees, and is optimized for social sharing
GoFundMe highlights: Caters to a wide range of fundraising needs, including personal causes and emergencies, with a large user base and standard transaction fees
Consider your campaign goals, target audience, and desired features when choosing between the platforms. We’ve also rounded up a full list of the best crowdfunding platforms to review and make a strong decision.
The only 100% free fundraising platform for nonprofits
