BiddingOwl Charges 5% on Auction Bids. Here's a Zero-Fee Alternative.
Zeffy includes auctions, donations, ticketing, and donor CRM in one platform. No add-ons required.
Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits
Zeffy VS BiddingOwl
Zeffy is 100% free, always.
Run your auction and everything else in one place
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Run your auction and everything else in one place
BiddingOwl works for auctions, but you still need separate tools for donations, ticketing, and donor management. Zeffy does it all, with zero fees.
📅
Run your auction and your year-round fundraising in one place
BiddingOwl works for auctions, but you need separate tools for donations, ticketing, and donor follow-up. Zeffy handles it all without the add-on costs.
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Keep every dollar you raise, not just the ones outside auction season
BiddingOwl charges 5% on online auction bids plus processing fees. Zeffy is 100% free for auctions, donations, ticketing, and everything else you run.
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Get help from people who understand nonprofit fundraising
BiddingOwl's support focuses on auction mechanics. Zeffy's team knows nonprofit fundraising and responds in 2–6 business hours with jargon-free help.
Frequently asked questions
Does Zeffy charge fees on auction bids like BiddingOwl does?
No. Zeffy charges zero fees on auction bids, donations, ticket sales, and everything else. BiddingOwl takes 5% of every online auction bid plus processing fees, which adds up fast.
Can I run auctions and accept regular donations in the same platform?
Yes. Zeffy handles auctions, donation forms, event ticketing, memberships, and peer-to-peer campaigns in one platform. BiddingOwl requires separate add-ons for donations and ticketing.
What payment options can bidders use on Zeffy compared to BiddingOwl?
Zeffy accepts credit cards, ACH bank transfers, Apple Pay, and Google Pay so bidders can give however they prefer. BiddingOwl only accepts credit cards through Stripe or PayPal.
How does Zeffy help me stay connected with bidders after my auction ends?
Zeffy includes donor management tools that track giving history and let you send personalized thank-you emails. BiddingOwl only stores bidder contact lists without relationship-building features.
How much does BiddingOwl charge in payment processing fees?
BiddingOwl charges 5% on online auction bids plus additional processing fees on top. Zeffy covers all transaction and credit card fees, so you keep 100% of what you raise.
Is Zeffy really free or are there hidden costs?
Zeffy is 100% free for nonprofits with no platform fees, no processing fees, and no percentage taken from bids or donations. The platform is funded by optional donor tips that are never required.
Can I switch from BiddingOwl to Zeffy without losing my donor data?
Yes. Zeffy includes built-in donor management tools where you can import contacts and track all giving history across auctions, donations, and events in one place.
Does Zeffy work for charity auctions and school fundraisers?
Yes. Zeffy is trusted by over 100,000 nonprofits including PTAs, schools, and community organizations running silent auctions, galas, and fundraising events of all sizes.
What's the best free auction site for nonprofits?
Zeffy is the only auction platform that charges zero fees on bids, donations, and ticket sales. Most alternatives like BiddingOwl take 5% or more from your auction proceeds.
Keep comparing — and see why nonprofits choose Zeffy
Related content
Zeffy was built for nonprofits like yours
focus on what matters
Built for small teams with big missions.
Zeffy is the fundraising platform that cuts out the fees, clears up your tech mess, and puts your cause first — so your team, even if you're a small team wearing many hats or a one-person show, can focus on what really matters.
ZERO-FEE
Keep 100% of every dollar.
No platform fees. No processing fees. No catch. We know it sounds too good to be true, but it's not. Every penny goes straight to your mission, while competitors take 2-3% off every donation.
ALL-IN-ONE PLatform
Ditch the tech mess.
Stop bouncing between MailChimp, Eventbrite, and all those spreadsheets. Now you can handle donations, ticket sales, memberships, raffles, and all your donor info in one spot.
plug-and-play
Get going, fast.
Built for teams like yours — whether you're volunteer-led or have limited staff. Set up donation forms, sell tickets, and launch campaigns without needing a tech wizard. It's super easy, and you'll be up and running in minutes.
mobile-first
Fundraise from every device, anywhere.
From QR codes on flyers to Tap-to-Pay on a phone, Zeffy makes it easy to accept donations on the go. Mobile-optimized and offline-ready, so no donor slips through the cracks.
No turnover
Never lose a donor to volunteer transition.
Centralize supporter relationships, automate thank-you messages, and preserve institutional knowledge when board members rotate out.
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.
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SUCCESS STORIES
Zero-fee fundraising in action — nonprofit stories worth sharing.
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