GivingFuel Fees Explained: $9/Mo + 2% Per Donation vs Zeffy's $0

GivingFuel locks ticketing and phone support behind $59+/mo plans. Zeffy includes everything free.

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Zeffy VS GivingFuel

Zeffy VS GivingFuel: What nonprofits should know before choosing.

Zeffy
GivingFuel
Pricing
Zeffy:

$

0.

Completely free. Always. But how? →

GivingFuel:

Varies.

$9/month plans plus 2% platform fees and card processing fees

Processing fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

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

GivingFuel:

2.9% + $0.30.

per credit card transaction; 1% flat for ACH donations

Platform fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

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

GivingFuel:

2%.

per donation on Starter; 1% per donation on Pro and Enterprise tiers

Monthly fees
Zeffy:

$

0/month.

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

GivingFuel:

$9/month.

Starter $9/month (also reported as free); Pro $59/month; Enterprise $299/month; Enterprise Plus — pricing upon request

Other fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

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

GivingFuel:

N/A.

No other fees explicitly mentioned

Pricing transparency
Zeffy:

10/10.

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

GivingFuel:

7/10.

Clear pricing page with fees listed, but platform fees vary by tier and require some navigation

Value for money
Zeffy:

5/5.

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

GivingFuel:

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.

GivingFuel:

4.7/5.

Premium plans required for full features - basic tools without paid upgrades or advanced donor management

Donations
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
Yes

GivingFuel offers donation forms with recurring giving and custom branding - requires paid plan for advanced features

Ticketing
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
Yes

Event ticketing available with registration management and check-in tools - part of higher-tier plans only

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
Yes

Peer-to-peer campaigns with team pages and fundraiser dashboards - available on premium plans

Auctions
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
No

No auction features - focused on online giving campaigns and peer-to-peer fundraising only

Raffles
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
No

No raffle tools - nonprofits need separate platforms to run compliant raffles and drawings

Online Store
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
No

No online store functionality - can't sell merchandise or products alongside fundraising campaigns

Memberships
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
Yes

Recurring donation programs with automated billing - no member portal or self-service management

Donor management/CRM
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
Yes

Donor database with giving history, contact management, and basic segmentation tools

Emails & Newsletter
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
Yes

Built-in email campaigns with templates and automated donor communications

Payment Processing
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
Yes

Stripe integration with multiple payment methods including ACH and credit cards

Payment Methods
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
Yes

Credit cards and digital wallets supported; ACH available for recurring donations. No native in-person payment app — in-person requires separate hardware.

Credit Card Payments
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
Yes

All major credit and debit cards accepted through integrated payment processing with standard transaction fees

Apple Pay & Google Pay
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
Yes

Digital wallet payments supported through checkout - Apple Pay and Google Pay available for donor convenience

ACH / Bank Transfers
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
Yes

ACH bank transfers available for recurring donations - helps reduce processing costs on larger gifts

Tap to Pay App
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
No

No native in-person payment tools - requires separate hardware setup for events and offline fundraising

Support
Zeffy:

5/5.

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

GivingFuel:

4.7/5.

Support access depends on plan - priority help and phone support for higher-tier subscribers only.

Help Center
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
Yes

Yes - Comprehensive resource library and guides accessible 24/7, helping you succeed without paying platform fees

Email Support
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
Yes

Email support with standard business hours response times - no dedicated nonprofit specialist team

Phone Support
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
Yes

Phone support available on premium plans only - basic users limited to email and chat options

Onboarding
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
No

Self-service onboarding only — dedicated onboarding and implementation support reserved for enterprise plans.

Community
Zeffy:
Yes

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

GivingFuel:
No

No community forum or user groups available

Zeffy is 100% free, always.

Keep more of every dollar without paying for features you don't need

💰

Keep more of every dollar without paying for features you don't need

Zeffy gives you donations, events, memberships, and donor tools with zero platform fees or monthly charges, so your budget goes to your mission, not software.

⚖️

You shouldn't have to choose between tools and budget

GivingFuel charges monthly fees plus platform fees on every donation. Zeffy is 100% free, so you keep more and stress less about which plan to pick.

🔍

Your donors don't see tiers — they see your mission

GivingFuel gates features by pricing tier — ticketing, peer-to-peer, and phone support cost extra. Zeffy gives you everything, right away, so you can focus on your work.

🚀

Get started in minutes, not months

GivingFuel requires setup calls and plan decisions before you can launch. Zeffy lets you create your first form, send it out, and start raising funds today.

How much does Zeffy actually cost compared to GivingFuel?

Zeffy is 100% free with no monthly fees or platform charges. GivingFuel charges $9 to $299 per month plus 1-2% platform fees on every donation, which adds up quickly and takes money away from your mission.

Can I access all features without upgrading to a paid plan?

Yes. Zeffy gives you donations, events, memberships, peer-to-peer, ticketing, and donor management right away. GivingFuel locks features like ticketing and phone support behind higher-tier plans that cost hundreds per month.

Do I need a setup call or onboarding process to start fundraising?

No. You can create your first donation form or event page in minutes and start accepting donations immediately. GivingFuel often requires setup calls and plan selection before you can launch your campaigns.

Does Zeffy support recurring donations and automated donor communications?

Yes. Zeffy includes recurring donations, automated thank-you emails, and donor management tools at no cost. GivingFuel offers similar features but charges monthly fees and platform fees on top of processing costs.

Does Zeffy support event ticketing, registration pages, and check-in tools?

Yes. Zeffy gives you event ticketing, registration pages, and check-in tools for free. GivingFuel restricts ticketing to higher-tier plans that start at $59 per month, plus platform fees on every ticket sold.

How much would my church save using Zeffy instead of GivingFuel?

On $10,000 in donations, GivingFuel's fees would cost around $320 (monthly fees plus 1-2% platform fees plus 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). With Zeffy, you'd keep the full $10,000 because there are no platform, transaction, or processing fees.

Does GivingFuel charge transaction fees on top of monthly plans?

Yes. GivingFuel charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction plus 1-2% platform fees, even on paid plans. Zeffy covers all transaction and credit card fees, so you never pay processing costs.

Is Zeffy really free, or are there hidden costs?

Zeffy is 100% free for nonprofits with no hidden costs. The platform is funded by optional donor tips that are never required. You keep every dollar you raise.

How does GivingFuel's customer support compare to Zeffy's?

GivingFuel limits phone support to higher-tier plans starting at $59 per month. Zeffy offers unlimited free support from fundraising experts on every account, regardless of how much you raise.

Can I use Zeffy for church giving instead of GivingFuel?

Yes. Zeffy supports online donations, recurring giving, text-to-give, and donor management for churches at no cost. GivingFuel charges monthly fees plus platform and transaction fees that reduce what goes to your ministry.

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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