Is Chuffed Legit? Real Fees, Reviews & a Zero-Fee Alternative

Chuffed charges 4.9% + card fees and only supports one-time campaigns. See how Zeffy compares for year-round fundraising.

Decorative

Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits

Sign up to Zeffy for free - 100% free forever.
Chuffed
logo-white-Zeffy
Decorative

Zeffy VS Chuffed

Zeffy VS Chuffed: What nonprofits should know before choosing.

Zeffy
Chuffed
Pricing
Zeffy:

$

0.

Completely free. Always. But how? →

Chuffed:

4.9%.

platform cut plus card fees

Processing fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

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

Chuffed:

2%.

to 3% card fees depending on payment method: Domestic/EU Visa/Mastercard 1.2% + £0.20, Amex/Non-EU 2.9% + £0.20, PayPal 3.4% + £0.20

Platform fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

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

Chuffed:

$0.

0% with “Keep 100%” model using optional donor tips; 4.9% + GST/VAT with “Flat Fee” model.

Monthly fees
Zeffy:

$

0/month.

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

Chuffed:

$0.

$0 — No monthly fees or signup fees.

Other fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

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

Chuffed:

Varies.

GST/VAT may apply to platform fees depending on location.

Pricing transparency
Zeffy:

10/10.

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

Chuffed:

4/10.

Pricing exists but split across help docs and requires digging. No clear pricing page found.

Value for money
Zeffy:

5/5.

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

Chuffed:

4.8/5.

Features
Zeffy:

5/5.

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

Chuffed:

4.7/5.

Campaign-focused platform with limited nonprofit tools - no memberships, auctions, or standalone donation forms

Donations
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
Yes

Crowdfunding campaigns with social sharing tools - but no standalone donation forms for ongoing giving

Ticketing
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
No

No ticketing tools - requires separate platform for events and ticket sales

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
Yes

Peer-to-peer campaigns with individual fundraiser pages and team leaderboards

Auctions
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
No

No auction support - crowdfunding platform only, requires separate auction software

Raffles
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
No

No raffle functionality - campaign-based fundraising only without lottery or prize draw features

Online Store
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
No

No online store - focused on campaigns, not product sales or merchandise fundraising

Memberships
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
No

No membership tools - designed for one-time campaigns, not ongoing member relationships

Donor management/CRM
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
No

Basic supporter data only - no donor profiles, giving history, or nonprofit CRM features

Emails & Newsletter
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
Yes

Campaign update emails only - no donor communication tools or fundraising newsletters

Payment Processing
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
Yes

Stripe integration with automatic payouts to your bank account

Payment Methods
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
Yes

Credit cards and digital wallets only. No ACH, bank transfers, or in-person payment 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.

Chuffed:
Yes

All major credit and debit cards accepted through Stripe integration for campaign donations

Apple Pay & Google Pay
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
Yes

Apple Pay and Google Pay supported through Stripe checkout on campaign pages

ACH / Bank Transfers
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
No

No ACH bank transfers - card-only donations limit large gift options for supporters

Tap to Pay App
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
No

No in-person payment tools - crowdfunding platform only, requires separate hardware for events

Support
Zeffy:

5/5.

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

Chuffed:

4.8/5.

Email-only support via contact form with no guaranteed response time and no nonprofit-specific guidance.

Help Center
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
Yes

Limited help center with basic articles and FAQs but no webinars or in-depth training.

Email Support
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
Yes

Email support through contact form with unclear response times - no guaranteed turnaround.

Phone Support
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
No

No phone support or scheduled calls available - contact form and email communication only.

Onboarding
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
No

Self-service onboarding only; no dedicated onboarding or setup assistance.

Community
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Chuffed:
No

No community forum, user groups, or active user community available.

Zeffy is 100% free, always.

Why Zeffy over Chuffed?

Run your whole fundraiser without losing a dollar to fees

🛡️

Run your whole fundraiser without losing a dollar to fees

Chuffed works for campaigns, but you still pay platform fees or rely on donor tips. Zeffy gives you donations, events, raffles, and a donor CRM with zero fees.

♾️

Your campaign ends, but your fundraising doesn't

Chuffed is built for one-time campaigns. Zeffy gives you donation forms, memberships, events, and a donor CRM — so you can fundraise year-round without switching tools.

💰

Keep more of every dollar without the fee math

With Chuffed's flat fee model, you lose 4.9% plus processing fees on every donation. Zeffy is 100% free — no platform fees, no monthly costs, just more funding for your mission.

🤝

Get help from people who know nonprofit fundraising

Chuffed offers basic FAQs and contact forms. Zeffy gives you free, unlimited support from nonprofit fundraising experts — with 2–6 hour email response times and bookable office hours.

Questions nonprofits ask when choosing between Zeffy and Chuffed

Is Zeffy really 100% free for nonprofits?

Yes. Zeffy charges zero platform fees, zero monthly fees, and zero transaction fees. Donors have the option to leave a voluntary contribution to support Zeffy, but your nonprofit keeps 100% of every donation.

Can I use Zeffy for more than just one-time campaigns?

Absolutely. Unlike Chuffed's campaign-focused approach, Zeffy gives you donation forms, event ticketing, memberships, raffles, and a donor CRM so you can fundraise year-round without switching platforms.

How does Zeffy compare to Chuffed's pricing models?

Chuffed charges 4.9% plus processing fees with their flat fee model, or relies on donor tips with their keep 100% option. Zeffy is always free with no platform fees, so more money goes directly to your mission.

Does Zeffy work for ongoing fundraising or just campaigns?

Zeffy is built for year-round fundraising. You get donation forms, memberships, event ticketing, raffles, and a donor CRM — all in one platform so you can build lasting relationships with supporters.

Does Zeffy work for ongoing fundraising or just campaigns?

Zeffy offers free, unlimited support from nonprofit fundraising experts. You get 2–6 hour email response times, bookable office hours, and a help center built specifically for nonprofits.

Is Chuffed a legitimate crowdfunding platform?

Yes, Chuffed is a legitimate crowdfunding platform that has helped raise over $27 million since 2013. However, Chuffed charges 4.9% plus processing fees on donations, while Zeffy lets nonprofits keep 100% with zero platform fees.

Can I use PayPal with Chuffed or Zeffy?

Chuffed processes payments through PayPal and Stripe. Zeffy accepts credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and bank transfers directly — all with zero transaction fees for your nonprofit.

Does Chuffed require campaign approval before going live?

Yes, Chuffed reviews all campaigns before they go live, which usually takes up to 24 hours. Zeffy lets registered nonprofits launch donation forms and campaigns immediately without a waiting period.

What's the difference between Chuffed's 'keep 100%' option and Zeffy?

Chuffed's 'keep 100%' model relies on donors adding tips to cover costs. Zeffy also uses optional donor tips, but never charges platform fees regardless — so your nonprofit always keeps every dollar raised.

Is Zeffy or Chuffed better for small nonprofits just getting started?

Zeffy is built for nonprofits that need more than one-off campaigns. You get donation forms, event ticketing, memberships, and a donor CRM all in one place — with zero fees and free support from fundraising experts.

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.

Read the full story
Decorative