Aplos Pricing Starts at $79/Month. Zeffy's Full Fundraising Toolkit? $0.

Aplos handles accounting but lacks ticketing, auctions, and peer-to-peer. Zeffy includes all of it, free.

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Zeffy VS Aplos

Zeffy VS Aplos: What nonprofits should know before choosing.

Zeffy
Aplos
Pricing
Zeffy:

$

0.

Completely free. Always. But how? →

Aplos:

Varies.

Monthly plans from $79/month plus 2.9% card fees per gift

Processing fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

$0 in credit card and transaction fees. Zeffy covers these. How? →

Aplos:

2.9% + $0.30.

per credit card transaction

Platform fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

Zeffy never takes a cut. Unlike platforms that skim 3–5%, you keep 100% of every donation.

Aplos:

N/A.

No platform fees mentioned

Monthly fees
Zeffy:

$

0/month.

No subscriptions, no paywalls. Every org, big or small, gets full access for free.

Aplos:

$39.50/month.

Lite: $39.50/month; Core: $64.50/month (promotional). Standard plans start at $79/month; Advanced from $229/month including 3 users.

Other fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

We've never charged a single cent to nonprofits and we never will.

Aplos:

1% + $0.30.

ACH payments per transaction; American Express transactions typically 1.1% higher

Pricing transparency
Zeffy:

10/10.

No platform fees, no credit card fees, no hidden fees, no fees period!

Aplos:

3/10.

Pricing requires digging through help articles and terms. No clear pricing page found.

Value for money
Zeffy:

5/5.

450+ reviews on Capterra. All-in-one fundraising, zero fees, unbeatable value.

Aplos:

9.2/10.

Features
Zeffy:

5/5.

No training needed. Built for busy nonprofit teams, not tech pros. Launch a campaign in under 30 minutes.

Aplos:

4.7/5.

Accounting-first platform with limited fundraising tools - requires paid plans for donations and lacks events

Donations
Zeffy:
Yes

Donations without the cut. Custom forms, tax receipts, donor tracking — all fee-free.

Aplos:
Yes

Donation forms available but requires paid plan - accounting-focused platform, not built primarily for online fundraising

Ticketing
Zeffy:
Yes

Sell tickets, check in guests, track sales — and keep 100%. No fees. No fine print.

Aplos:
No

No event ticketing tools - requires third-party integration or separate platform for selling event tickets

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Zeffy:
Yes

Teams or individuals launch fundraising pages in minutes. Track progress, keep 100%. No fees.

Aplos:
No

No peer-to-peer fundraising - individual donation pages only, no team campaigns or fundraiser tools

Auctions
Zeffy:
Yes

Run auctions without giving up a percentage. List items, track bids, collect payments — all fee-free.

Aplos:
No

No auction tools - Aplos is accounting and donor management software, requires separate auction platform

Raffles
Zeffy:
Yes

Host online raffles and 50/50s. Track sales, set ticket limits, stay compliant — all without paying a cent.

Aplos:
No

No raffle or lottery tools - not designed for fundraising campaigns beyond basic donations

Online Store
Zeffy:
Yes

Skip the tool sprawl. Sell merch and manage your store in one place — no fees, no add-ons.

Aplos:
No

No online store functionality - focused on accounting and donor management, not product sales

Memberships
Zeffy:
Yes

Automate memberships with no per-member fees. Dues go straight to your org — perfect for clubs, alumni, and supporters.

Aplos:
No

No membership management - tracks contacts and donations only, no member portals or self-service tools

Donor management/CRM
Zeffy:
Yes

Ditch the expensive CRM. Track donations, send thank-yous, and build donor loyalty — all fee-free.

Aplos:
Yes

Donor database with giving history, contact management, and custom fields integrated with accounting

Emails & Newsletter
Zeffy:
Yes

Manage contacts and send newsletters from the same place you fundraise. Unlimited sends, no fees.

Aplos:
Yes

Basic email receipts and thank-you messages - no campaign builder or donor newsletter tools

Payment Processing
Zeffy:
Yes

Accept donations, ticket sales, and payments — all 100% fee-free. No cuts, no hidden fees, ever.

Aplos:
Yes

Aplos Giving payment processing with donor-covered fees option and automated receipts

Payment Methods
Zeffy:
Yes

All-in-one fundraising: donations, events, memberships, email, and donor CRM — 100% free.

Aplos:
Yes

Credit cards and ACH only through Aplos Payments. No digital wallets or in-person options.

Credit Card Payments
Zeffy:
Yes

Accept all major credit cards with zero processing fees. Zeffy covers the cost — you keep 100% of every donation.

Aplos:
Yes

Card payments through Aplos Payments - must use their processor with transaction fees.

Apple Pay & Google Pay
Zeffy:
Yes

One-tap donations and tickets with Apple Pay & Google Pay. No fees, just smooth mobile checkouts.

Aplos:
No

No digital wallet support - donors limited to traditional card and bank transfer options.

ACH / Bank Transfers
Zeffy:
Yes

Accept bank transfers with zero fees. Full donation amounts go straight to your mission.

Aplos:
Yes

ACH bank transfers available through Aplos Payments only - adds processing costs to donations.

Tap to Pay App
Zeffy:
Yes

Anyone on your team can take payments from their phone. No card reader, no fees, no friction.

Aplos:
No

No in-person payment tools - CRM focused, requires separate hardware for events or cash handling.

Support
Zeffy:

5/5.

Real humans, real fast. Free email and phone support — no bots, no paywalls, no runaround.

Aplos:

4.8/5.

Support access depends on plan tier — priority help starts at $59/mo with no free support for small nonprofits.

Help Center
Zeffy:
Yes

Searchable help docs, video tutorials, and step-by-step guides — all free, all the time.

Aplos:
Yes

Comprehensive help center with step-by-step guides built for nonprofits

Email Support
Zeffy:
Yes

Email us anytime. Most questions answered within hours — not days.

Aplos:
Yes

Email support available but response times can be slow during busy periods; no dedicated nonprofit team

Phone Support
Zeffy:
Yes

Need to talk? Call us. Real support from real people who understand nonprofits.

Aplos:
Yes

Phone support available during business hours on paid plans — no weekend or after-hours help

Onboarding
Zeffy:
Yes

Get set up in under 30 minutes. No training required — but we're here if you need us.

Aplos:
No

Self-service onboarding via the help center; dedicated onboarding is not provided on standard plans

Community
Zeffy:
Yes

Join thousands of nonprofits sharing tips, templates, and best practices.

Aplos:
No

No community forum or user groups available

Zeffy is 100% free, always.

Why Zeffy over Aplos?

You need fundraising tools, not just accounting software

🛠️

You need fundraising tools, not just accounting software

Aplos tracks donations well, but you still need other platforms for events, campaigns, and donor engagement — and those fees add up fast

🚀

Your accounting tool shouldn't limit your fundraising

Aplos is built for bookkeeping, not campaigns. Zeffy gives you donation forms, ticketing, peer-to-peer, auctions, and memberships in one place — no add-ons required.

🤝

You need support when your donors do, not just 9 to 5

Aplos offers phone support during business hours on paid plans. Zeffy includes unlimited support for free — nights, weekends, and whenever your fundraiser goes live.

⏱️

Get started in minutes, not months

Aplos requires setup calls, accounting knowledge, and a learning curve. Zeffy is built for small teams — create your first donation form, event, or campaign in under 10 minutes.

Questions nonprofits ask when choosing between Zeffy and Aplos

Is Zeffy really free, or are there hidden costs?

Zeffy is 100% free for nonprofits. There are no monthly fees, platform fees, or transaction fees. Donors have the option to leave a voluntary contribution to keep Zeffy free, but it's never required.

Can I use Zeffy if I already use accounting software?

Yes. Zeffy handles fundraising while your accounting software manages the books. Export donation data easily to QuickBooks, Xero, or any system you use — no double entry needed.

Do I need accounting experience to use Zeffy?

Not at all. Zeffy is built for small nonprofit teams, not accountants. Create donation forms, sell tickets, and manage donors without training calls or complex setup.

How does Zeffy handle donor data and reporting?

Zeffy tracks every donation, ticket sale, and supporter interaction in one dashboard. Export reports anytime or sync data with your accounting software — no extra cost for CRM features.

How much does Aplos cost compared to Zeffy?

Aplos charges monthly fees starting around $59–$79/month, plus transaction fees of 2.9% + $0.30 per credit card payment. Zeffy has no monthly fees and no transaction fees, so you keep 100% of every donation.

Does Zeffy offer event ticketing like Aplos?

Yes. Zeffy includes event ticketing, registration, and check-in tools at no extra cost. Aplos focuses primarily on accounting and often requires separate tools for fundraising events.

What's a good Aplos alternative for nonprofits that need fundraising tools?

Zeffy is an all-in-one alternative that combines donation forms, event ticketing, peer-to-peer campaigns, auctions, and donor management in one free platform. You won't need to piece together multiple tools.

Does Aplos include a CRM for donor management?

Aplos offers donor management features, but it's primarily an accounting platform. Zeffy includes a full CRM that tracks every donation, event, and interaction in one dashboard with no extra fees.

Which donor management system is better for small nonprofits?

For small teams that need fundraising and donor tracking without monthly costs, Zeffy offers a simpler, zero-fee option. Aplos may suit organizations that need advanced fund accounting but comes with subscription and transaction fees.

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.

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.

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