CiviCRM Needs Developers and Hosting. Zeffy Works in Minutes, Free.
CiviCRM is free to download, but you host it yourself or pay for hosting, and your payment processor charges per gift. Zeffy gives you donations, events and a CRM for free, with no setup.
Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits
Run your nonprofit without a developer on call
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Run your nonprofit without a developer on call
Zeffy gives you donation forms, ticketing, CRM, and email in one place, with no hosting, no setup fees, and no technical overhead to manage.
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Built for nonprofits, not developers
CiviCRM asks you to choose hosting, a payment processor and often a partner. Zeffy works out of the box with fundraising tools that start working today.
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Get help when you need it, not when you can afford it
CiviCRM's direct help comes from paid partners. Zeffy's support is free on every account: chat, email answered in 1 to 6 business hours, and calls on request.
Frequently asked questions
Does Zeffy really charge zero fees for nonprofits?
Yes. Zeffy charges zero fees on donations, events, memberships, and all fundraising. Donors have the option to leave a voluntary contribution to keep the platform running, so your nonprofit keeps 100% of every donation.
How long does it take to start fundraising with Zeffy?
You can launch your first donation form or event in minutes. Unlike CiviCRM, which requires hosting setup and technical configuration, Zeffy works immediately so you can start raising funds today.
What kind of support does Zeffy offer compared to CiviCRM?
Every nonprofit gets free support: a real person on chat, email answered in 1 to 6 business hours, and calls on request. CiviCRM's free help is Community Chat and documentation; direct support comes from paid partners, each with its own prices.
Can I manage donors and send emails without technical expertise?
Yes. Zeffy includes donor management and email tools that work right away. CiviCRM requires technical configuration, CMS integration, and developer knowledge to set up donor tracking and email campaigns.
How much does CiviCRM actually cost compared to Zeffy?
CiviCRM's software is free to download. You either host it yourself or pay for hosting: CiviCRM Spark costs $15, $30 or $50 a month, and partners quote their own. Your payment processor then charges its rate on every gift. Zeffy has no monthly fees, no transaction fees, and no hidden costs.
Do I need a developer to use CiviCRM or Zeffy?
CiviCRM requires technical expertise to install, host, and integrate with WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla. Zeffy works immediately with no coding, hosting decisions, or developer support needed.
Is Zeffy a CRM for nonprofits?
Yes. Zeffy includes built-in donor management that tracks giving history, contact details, and interactions across all your campaigns and events. It's designed for nonprofits who need CRM basics without the complexity of standalone systems.
What are the hidden costs of using CiviCRM?
Beyond hosting fees, CiviCRM users often pay for developer time, CMS integration, payment processor fees, and support contracts. Zeffy eliminates these costs with an all-in-one platform that includes donations, events, CRM, and email tools at no charge.
Can I try Zeffy before switching from CiviCRM?
Yes. You can create a free Zeffy account and launch your first donation form or event in minutes. There's no contract, no credit card required, and no commitment to switch fully until you're ready.
Is CiviCRM free?
The software is free and open source, with no licensing fees. Running it is not: you need hosting, which you can do yourself or buy from CiviCRM Spark from $15 a month, and your payment processor charges per gift. Zeffy has no hosting, no subscription and no fees.
Keep comparing — and see why nonprofits choose Zeffy
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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