Completely free. Always. But how? →
Is Clover Built for Nonprofits? Compare It to a Zero-Fee Alternative
Clover charges 2.3%+ fees and requires $49–$1,649 in hardware. Zeffy needs no equipment and costs nothing.
Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits
Sign up to Zeffy for free - 100% free forever.
Zeffy VS Clover
Pricing
Zeffy:
$
0.
Clover: 
2.3%.
card fees + monthly plans
Processing fees
Clover:
2.3% + $0.10.
to 2.6% + $0.10 for in-person transactions; 3.5% + $0.10 for keyed-in transactions
Platform fees
Zeffy:
$
0.
Zeffy never takes a cut. Unlike platforms that skim 3–5%, you keep 100% of every donation.
Clover:
$49.
Included in hardware costs — Clover Go: $49, Clover Flex: $499, Clover Mini: $749, Clover Station Solo: $1,349, Clover Station Duo: $1,649
Monthly fees
Zeffy:
$
0/month.
No subscriptions, no paywalls. Every org, big or small, gets full access for free.
Clover:
$0.
$0–$310/month depending on plan (Starter: $0, Standard: $49.95, Advanced: $69.90 per month for software)
Other fees
Zeffy:
$
0.
We've never charged a single cent to nonprofits and we never will.
Clover:
Varies.
Additional app marketplace fees, PCI compliance fees may apply, early termination fees through some resellers
Pricing transparency
Zeffy:
10/10.
No platform fees, no credit card fees, no hidden fees, no fees period!
Clover:
3/10.
No clear pricing page. Fees buried in search snippets. Must contact sales or dig through terms.
Value for money
Zeffy:
5/5.
450+ reviews on Capterra. All-in-one fundraising, zero fees, unbeatable value.
Clover:
3.4/5.
Features
Zeffy:
5/5.
No training needed. Built for busy nonprofit teams, not tech pros. Launch a campaign in under 30 minutes.
Clover:
4.0/5.
Built for retail, not nonprofits - requires paid add-ons for basic fundraising and no donor management tools
Donations
Zeffy: 
Donations without the cut. Custom forms, tax receipts, donor tracking — all fee-free.
Clover:
Accepts in-person donations via card reader and POS system - no online donation forms or fundraising pages
Ticketing
Zeffy:
Sell tickets, check in guests, track sales — and keep 100%. No fees. No fine print.
Clover:
Basic event ticketing through third-party apps - requires paid add-ons and not built for nonprofit events
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Zeffy:
Teams or individuals launch fundraising pages in minutes. Track progress, keep 100%. No fees.
Clover:
No peer-to-peer fundraising - focuses on point-of-sale transactions, not campaign-based fundraising
Auctions
Zeffy:
Run auctions without giving up a percentage. List items, track bids, collect payments — all fee-free.
Clover:
No auction tools - Clover is a point-of-sale system for in-person transactions only
Raffles
Zeffy:
Host online raffles and 50/50s. Track sales, set ticket limits, stay compliant — all without paying a cent.
Clover:
No raffle tools - designed for retail transactions, not fundraising campaigns or compliance tracking
Online Store
Zeffy:
Skip the tool sprawl. Sell merch and manage your store in one place — no fees, no add-ons.
Clover:
Full e-commerce with inventory management and online ordering - built for retail, not nonprofit merchandise
Memberships
Zeffy:
Automate memberships with no per-member fees. Dues go straight to your org — perfect for clubs, alumni, and supporters.
Clover:
No membership management - processes payments only, no member portals or recurring billing tools
Donor management/CRM
Zeffy:
Ditch the expensive CRM. Track donations, send thank-yous, and build donor loyalty — all fee-free.
Clover:
Basic customer data only - no donor profiles, giving history, or nonprofit-specific CRM features
Emails & Newsletter
Zeffy:
Manage contacts and send newsletters from the same place you fundraise. Unlimited sends, no fees.
Clover:
No email marketing tools - receipt delivery only, requires separate platform for donor communication
Payment Processing
Zeffy:
Accept donations, ticket sales, and payments — all 100% fee-free. No cuts, no hidden fees, ever.
Clover:
First-party payment processing with card readers, tap-to-pay, and mobile POS hardware
Payment Methods
Zeffy:
All-in-one fundraising: donations, events, memberships, email, and donor CRM — 100% free.
Clover:
Credit cards and digital wallets with hardware. No ACH or bank transfers for large donations.
Credit Card Payments
Zeffy:
Accept all major credit cards with zero processing fees. Zeffy covers the cost — you keep 100% of every donation.
Clover:
All major credit and debit cards through Clover payment processing - requires monthly fees and per-transaction costs
Apple Pay & Google Pay
Zeffy:
One-tap donations and tickets with Apple Pay & Google Pay. No fees, just smooth mobile checkouts.
Clover:
Apple Pay and Google Pay supported on Clover devices - contactless payments available with hardware
ACH / Bank Transfers
Zeffy:
Accept bank transfers with zero fees. Full donation amounts go straight to your mission.
Clover:
No ACH bank transfers - card-only processing limits large gift options for donors
Tap to Pay App
Zeffy:
Anyone on your team can take payments from their phone. No card reader, no fees, no friction.
Clover:
Full point-of-sale hardware and card readers available - requires equipment purchase and monthly service fees
Support
Zeffy:
5/5.
Real humans, real fast. Free email and phone support — no bots, no paywalls, no runaround.
Clover:
3.3/5.
Support built for retail merchants, not nonprofits. Generic help resources with no donation or fundraising expertise.
Help Center
Zeffy:
Searchable help docs, video tutorials, and step-by-step guides — all free, all the time.
Clover:
Comprehensive knowledge base with articles, FAQs, and tutorials — focused on retail operations and lacking nonprofit-specific guides.
Email Support
Zeffy:
Email us anytime. Most questions answered within hours — not days.
Clover:
Email support with standard business response times; no dedicated nonprofit or charity team.
Phone Support
Zeffy:
Need to talk? Call us. Real support from real people who understand nonprofits.
Clover:
Phone support available during business hours, focused on merchant services rather than nonprofit fundraising.
Onboarding
Zeffy:
Get set up in under 30 minutes. No training required — but we're here if you need us.
Clover:
Self-service onboarding via documentation and tutorials only; no dedicated onboarding or nonprofit setup assistance.
Community
Zeffy:
Join thousands of nonprofits sharing tips, templates, and best practices.
Clover:
No public community forum or user groups focused on nonprofits.
Zeffy is 100% free, always.
Run your fundraising online, not just at the register
🌐
Run your fundraising online, not just at the register
Clover works for in-person sales, but your donors give online. Zeffy gives you donation pages, ticketing, peer-to-peer, and a donor CRM built for how people actually support you.
📱
Your donors give online, not just at checkout
Clover's card readers work great for in-person sales, but most donors give from their phones. Zeffy gives you donation forms, peer-to-peer campaigns, and event ticketing in one place.
📊
Built for fundraising, not retail transactions
Clover tracks customers and inventory. Zeffy tracks donors, campaigns, and giving history so you can build real relationships and see what's working without duct-taping tools together.
Does Zeffy charge fees for in-person donations like Clover does?
No. Zeffy charges zero fees on all donations, including in-person payments. Clover charges 2.3% to 2.6% plus 10¢ per transaction, plus monthly software fees. With Zeffy, 100% of every donation goes to your mission.
Can I accept online donations with Zeffy or just in-person payments?
Yes. Zeffy gives you donation forms, event ticketing, peer-to-peer campaigns, and memberships that work online and in person. Clover only processes in-person card payments and requires separate tools for online fundraising.
Do I need to buy hardware to start accepting donations with Zeffy?
No. Zeffy works in your browser with zero equipment costs. Create donation forms and campaigns today without buying card readers or POS hardware. Clover requires purchasing devices starting at $49 and going up to $1,649.
How does Zeffy help me track donors compared to Clover?
Zeffy tracks donor profiles, giving history, and campaign performance so you can see who's supporting you and why. Clover only stores basic customer data for retail transactions, not donor relationships or fundraising insights.
Does Zeffy include peer-to-peer fundraising tools?
Yes. Zeffy includes peer-to-peer fundraising tools so supporters can create personal campaigns and raise money on your behalf. Clover only processes in-person card payments and doesn't offer campaign or fundraising features.
How much can my nonprofit save by switching from Clover to Zeffy?
Nonprofits can save significantly by avoiding Clover's 2.3% to 2.6% plus 10¢ per transaction fees, monthly software costs, and hardware expenses ranging from $49 to $1,649. One organization, Noelle's Gift to Children, has saved over $13,000 since switching to Zeffy.
Does Clover have hidden fees or contract requirements for nonprofits?
Yes. Users report hidden fees, unexpected monthly charges, and potential 3-year contract commitments with Clover. Zeffy has no contracts, no monthly fees, and no hidden costs.
Is Zeffy or Clover better for nonprofit payment processing?
Zeffy is purpose-built for nonprofit fundraising with zero fees, donor management, and online campaigns included. Clover is designed for retail businesses and charges transaction fees plus monthly software costs, making Zeffy the more cost-effective choice for nonprofits.
Can I use Zeffy as a point of sale system for my nonprofit?
Zeffy works in your browser to accept donations online and in person without any hardware purchases. Unlike Clover, you don't need to buy card readers or POS equipment to start collecting donations.
What's the catch with Zeffy being free?
There's no catch. Zeffy covers all platform and transaction fees. Donors can leave an optional tip to support the platform, but it's never required. Your nonprofit keeps 100% of every donation.
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
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SUCCESS STORIES
Zero-fee fundraising in action — nonprofit stories worth sharing.
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