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Square vs Zeffy: Fees, Features & What Nonprofits Actually Get
Square charges fees on every donation, but Zeffy covers all costs so you keep 100% of what donors give. Build donor relationships with personalized follow-ups and branded donation pages designed specifically for nonprofits.
Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits
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Zeffy VS Square
Pricing
Zeffy:
$
0.
Square: 
2.6%.
plus card fees per gift
Processing fees
Square:
2.6% + $0.15.
for in-person (tap, dip, swipe); 3.3% + $0.30 for online; 3.5% + $0.15 for manually keyed/card-on-file; 1% ACH (minimum $1, $10 fee cap). No discounted nonprofit rates.
Platform fees
Zeffy:
$
0.
Zeffy never takes a cut. Unlike platforms that skim 3–5%, you keep 100% of every donation.
Square:
$0.
No platform fees for nonprofits.
Monthly fees
Zeffy:
$
0/month.
No subscriptions, no paywalls. Every org, big or small, gets full access for free.
Square:
$0.
Square Free at $0/month; Plus at $49/month per location; Premium at $149/month per location. Nonprofits can use the free tier with no monthly subscription.
Other fees
Zeffy:
$
0.
We've never charged a single cent to nonprofits and we never will.
Square:
Varies.
No chargeback/dispute, setup, or cancellation fees. Invoice payments: 3.3% + $0.30. Afterpay transactions: 6% + $0.30.
Pricing transparency
Zeffy:
10/10.
No platform fees, no credit card fees, no hidden fees, no fees period!
Square:
7/10.
Clear pricing page with fees listed, but requires clicking through multiple plan tiers.
Value for money
Zeffy:
5/5.
450+ reviews on Capterra. All-in-one fundraising, zero fees, unbeatable value.
Square:
N/A.
Features
Zeffy:
5/5.
No training needed. Built for busy nonprofit teams, not tech pros. Launch a campaign in under 30 minutes.
Square:
4.8/5.
Built for retail payments, not nonprofits - missing donor tools, fundraising pages, and event management
Donations
Zeffy: 
Donations without the cut. Custom forms, tax receipts, donor tracking — all fee-free.
Square:
No donation forms or fundraising pages - just payment buttons that don't track donor intent
Ticketing
Zeffy:
Sell tickets, check in guests, track sales — and keep 100%. No fees. No fine print.
Square:
No event ticketing tools - requires third-party apps or manual ticket management outside Square
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Zeffy:
Teams or individuals launch fundraising pages in minutes. Track progress, keep 100%. No fees.
Square:
No peer-to-peer fundraising - no campaign pages, team tools, or supporter fundraising features
Auctions
Zeffy:
Run auctions without giving up a percentage. List items, track bids, collect payments — all fee-free.
Square:
No auction tools - payment processing only, no bidding or auction management features
Raffles
Zeffy:
Host online raffles and 50/50s. Track sales, set ticket limits, stay compliant — all without paying a cent.
Square:
No raffle features - built for retail transactions, not fundraising campaigns with compliance needs
Online Store
Zeffy:
Skip the tool sprawl. Sell merch and manage your store in one place — no fees, no add-ons.
Square:
E-commerce store with inventory management - designed for retail, not nonprofit merchandise or fundraising
Memberships
Zeffy:
Automate memberships with no per-member fees. Dues go straight to your org — perfect for clubs, alumni, and supporters.
Square:
Recurring subscriptions only - no member management, portals, or membership tiers
Donor management/CRM
Zeffy:
Ditch the expensive CRM. Track donations, send thank-yous, and build donor loyalty — all fee-free.
Square:
Basic customer directory only - no donor profiles, giving history, or nonprofit CRM features
Emails & Newsletter
Zeffy:
Manage contacts and send newsletters from the same place you fundraise. Unlimited sends, no fees.
Square:
Automated receipts and invoices only - no campaign tools or donor communication features
Payment Processing
Zeffy:
Accept donations, ticket sales, and payments — all 100% fee-free. No cuts, no hidden fees, ever.
Square:
First-party processing with multiple payment methods including tap-to-pay and invoicing
Payment Methods
Zeffy:
All-in-one fundraising: donations, events, memberships, email, and donor CRM — 100% free.
Square:
Default checkout supports credit cards and digital wallets; ACH transfers and in-person POS are available but require paid options and additional fees.
Credit Card Payments
Zeffy:
Accept all major credit cards with zero processing fees. Zeffy covers the cost — you keep 100% of every donation.
Square:
All major credit and debit cards accepted - but 2.9% + 30¢ fee on every transaction cuts into donations
Apple Pay & Google Pay
Zeffy:
One-tap donations and tickets with Apple Pay & Google Pay. No fees, just smooth mobile checkouts.
Square:
Apple Pay and Google Pay supported at checkout - same 2.9% + 30¢ fees apply to all digital wallet payments
ACH / Bank Transfers
Zeffy:
Accept bank transfers with zero fees. Full donation amounts go straight to your mission.
Square:
ACH bank transfers available through Square - 1% fee (minimum $1) still reduces funds for your mission
Tap to Pay App
Zeffy:
Anyone on your team can take payments from their phone. No card reader, no fees, no friction.
Square:
Full in-person payment hardware and POS system - requires device purchase and monthly fees
Support
Zeffy:
5/5.
Real humans, real fast. Free email and phone support — no bots, no paywalls, no runaround.
Square:
4.4/5.
Support built for retail businesses, not nonprofits. No specialized fundraising guidance or mission-focused expertise.
Help Center
Zeffy:
Searchable help docs, video tutorials, and step-by-step guides — all free, all the time.
Square:
Generic help center with articles and FAQs focused on retail and restaurant use cases — few nonprofit-specific guides.
Email Support
Zeffy:
Email us anytime. Most questions answered within hours — not days.
Square:
Email support available but designed for retail businesses - no nonprofit-specific guidance or expertise
Phone Support
Zeffy:
Need to talk? Call us. Real support from real people who understand nonprofits.
Square:
Phone support available but long wait times and scripts designed for business transactions
Onboarding
Zeffy:
Get set up in under 30 minutes. No training required — but we're here if you need us.
Square:
Self-service onboarding only; no dedicated onboarding or nonprofit-specific setup assistance.
Community
Zeffy:
Join thousands of nonprofits sharing tips, templates, and best practices.
Square:
No community forum or user groups available, and no nonprofit peer network.
Zeffy is 100% free, always.
Keep 100% of donations instead of losing them to fees
💰
Keep every dollar donors give you
Square takes 2.9% + 30¢ from every donation. That's $290 lost on a $1,000 gift that could fund your mission instead.
🏛
Built for nonprofits, not retail stores
Square's retail-focused tools lack donor management, tax receipts, and fundraising features nonprofits need to build lasting relationships.
🤝
Get help from people who understand nonprofits
Square's support team knows retail, not fundraising. Zeffy's nonprofit experts respond in 2-6 hours with jargon-free help that actually fits your mission.
Can Zeffy handle the same payment types as Square for our nonprofit events?
Yes, Zeffy processes all major credit cards, ACH bank transfers, Apple Pay, and Google Pay just like Square. The key difference is you keep 100% of every payment with Zeffy, while Square takes 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction. For event fundraising, this means significantly more money stays with your cause.
How does Zeffy's donor management compare to Square's basic payment tracking?
Square only tracks basic payment information, while Zeffy includes complete donor management built for nonprofits. You get automated tax receipts, donor communication tools, giving history tracking, and relationship management features that help you build lasting supporter connections beyond just processing payments.
Why should nonprofits choose Zeffy over Square for donations?
Square charges 2.9% + 30¢ on every donation, while Zeffy processes all donations completely free. On a $1,000 donation, you keep $971 with Square but $1,000 with Zeffy. Plus, Zeffy offers nonprofit-specific features like automated tax receipts and donor management tools that Square lacks.
Does Zeffy really have no fees, or are there hidden costs?
Zeffy has zero platform fees, processing fees, or monthly charges. We cover all costs so nonprofits keep 100% of donations. Donors have the option to leave a voluntary contribution to support our platform, but this never reduces what your organization receives.
How does Zeffy's nonprofit support compare to Square's customer service?
Zeffy provides unlimited support specifically for nonprofits, including regular training webinars, and dedicated phone support. Square offers general business support that isn't tailored to nonprofit needs and may have limited availability based on your plan.
Can I use Zeffy for in-person fundraising events like Square?
Yes, Zeffy offers a Tap to Pay app that turns your smartphone into a point-of-sale system for in-person donations and sales, just like Square. The difference is Zeffy charges zero fees on every transaction, while Square takes 2.9% + 30¢ per card payment.
Does Square offer any free plans for nonprofits?
Square for Nonprofits has no platform or monthly fees, but you still pay 2.9% + 30¢ per card transaction and 1% for ACH transfers (capped at $10). Zeffy eliminates all fees—platform, processing, and monthly—so you keep 100% of donations.
Is Zeffy trustworthy and legitimate for nonprofits?
Yes, Zeffy is a legitimate platform with a 4.9/5 rating on G2 and SOC 2 certification for security. Thousands of nonprofits use Zeffy to process donations fee-free, and it includes IRS and CRA-compliant tax receipts.
Can Zeffy handle peer-to-peer fundraising and auctions like Square?
Zeffy includes built-in peer-to-peer fundraising, auctions, and raffles at no cost. Square does not offer these nonprofit-specific tools, making Zeffy a more complete solution for fundraising campaigns and events.
How much will my nonprofit save switching from Square to Zeffy?
On every $1,000 raised, you save $29 by switching from Square (which charges 2.9% + 30¢) to Zeffy's 100% free platform. For organizations processing $10,000 annually, that's $290 back to your mission.
Still undecided?
Keep comparing — and see why nonprofits choose Zeffy
100,000+ nonprofits trust Zeffy — and keep their fees at $0.
For 7+ years, Zeffy has supported nonprofits with free, user-friendly fundraising tools.
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As a startup nonprofit with only two members, and no funding (yet) we’d need something with low (or no) fees. Zeffy was a dream come true.
Masey, Loose Ends.
Read the full story
“We were incurring a ton of fees for our past fundraising platform and Zeffy has helped us receive so much more of our donations.”
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Amy R
Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago
Zeffy has been invaluable in helping me track our donors, sales, events, and revenue in one spot. The coolest thing about Zeffy is it really is free!
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Debra B
Glory to Glory Women's Mentoring Ministry
Everything about Zeffy suits us starting with (of course, NO fees) but also the ease of use and customer experience as well as their client support!!
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Carmen M
DIVINA World Foundation
Zeffy is very easy to use and ensures that every dollar quickly gets into our account.. A huge help to our work!
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Nathan C
Jiwa International
Zeffy is very simple, allows for a lot of customization and seamlessly integrates into our website. The fact that all of this is free is still wild to me.
Ryan S
Jesters Theatre: Youth Unlimited
We couldn't believe there was a free payment platform for our Girl Scout group. Zeffy took ZERO fees from us, which is huge when you run on very small amounts of money.
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Jennifer H
GSCB Troop 144
We were ready to sell tickets in less than 30 minutes. The reporting capabilities were better than some other paid-for sites.
Mark B
Theta Mu Lambda Charitable Foundation
Since using Zeffy, our conversion rate of donations has skyrocketed. It's an easy platform to use. Plus customer support has always been responsive and helpful!
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Stevie C
We Are HER
SUCCESS STORIES
Zero-fee fundraising in action — nonprofit stories worth sharing.
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