HubSpot Is Built for Sales Teams. Here's What Nonprofits Actually Need.

HubSpot is a business CRM that nonprofits can configure for fundraising. Zeffy is built for it, and free.

Decorative

Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits

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

Zeffy VS HubSpot

Zeffy VS HubSpot: What nonprofits should know before choosing.

Zeffy
HubSpot
Pricing
Zeffy:

$

0.

Completely free. Always. But how? →

HubSpot:

Varies.

From $20 a seat, plus 2.9% per card gift

Processing fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

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

HubSpot:

2.9%.

per card gift through HubSpot Payments in the US; ACH 0.8%, capped at $10

Platform fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

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

HubSpot:

0.5%.

HubSpot Payments platform fee after year one (0% in year one); 0.75% if you connect your own Stripe

Monthly fees
Zeffy:

$

0/month.

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

HubSpot:

$20/mo.

Starter per seat. Eligible nonprofits get 40% off Professional and Enterprise.

Other fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

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

HubSpot:

Varies.

1% on currency conversion and 5.99% on Affirm or Klarna, per HubSpot's payments FAQ.

Pricing transparency
Zeffy:

10/10.

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

HubSpot:

7/10.

A public pricing page and a published payments fee table. The nonprofit discount is confirmed by sales.

Value for money
Zeffy:

5/5.

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

HubSpot:

4.3/5.

Features
Zeffy:

5/5.

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

HubSpot:

4.4/5.

Capterra rating. A marketing, sales and service CRM that HubSpot says can run donations once configured.

Donations
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
No

Donations can be tracked as their own object. HubSpot suggests Fundraise Up or Donorbox for giving forms.

Ticketing
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
No

Events are built as marketing events or synced from Eventbrite or Humanitix, per HubSpot.

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
No

No peer-to-peer tool on HubSpot's nonprofit page.

Auctions
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
No

No auction tool on HubSpot's nonprofit page.

Raffles
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
No

No raffle tool on HubSpot's nonprofit page.

Online Store
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
Yes

Commerce Hub handles checkout and recurring billing through Stripe.

Memberships
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
Yes

Commerce Hub supports recurring billing for membership renewals, per HubSpot.

Donor management/CRM
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
Yes

Contacts, donations as their own object, pledges and grants, with objects you can rename.

Emails & Newsletter
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
Yes

Email, SMS, landing pages and automation in Marketing Hub.

Payment Processing
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
Yes

HubSpot Payments: 2.9% per card and 0.8% per ACH gift, capped at $10, plus a platform fee.

Payment Methods
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
Yes

Cards, ACH, Apple Pay and Google Pay through HubSpot Payments, on Starter and above. No in-person payment tool listed.

Credit Card Payments
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
Yes

Card gifts at 2.9% through HubSpot Payments in the US.

Apple Pay & Google Pay
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
Yes

Apple Pay and Google Pay turn on automatically with card payments.

ACH / Bank Transfers
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
Yes

ACH at 0.8%, capped at $10, through HubSpot Payments.

Tap to Pay App
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
No

No tap-to-pay app listed for HubSpot.

Support
Zeffy:

5/5.

Chat with a real person available when needed, email answered in 1 to 6 business hours, and calls on request. Free on every account.

HubSpot:

4.4/5.

Capterra rating. Capterra lists email, phone, chat and 24/7 live support for HubSpot.

Help Center
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
Yes

HubSpot's Knowledge Base covers every hub. HubSpot Academy courses are free.

Email Support
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
Yes

Email and help-desk support, per Capterra. HubSpot's nonprofit page publishes no response time.

Phone Support
Zeffy:
Yes

We offer calls. Reach out by email or chat first so we can understand what you need.

HubSpot:
Yes

Capterra lists phone support for HubSpot.

Onboarding
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
No

HubSpot Academy courses are free. Onboarding prices are not on HubSpot's nonprofit page.

Community
Zeffy:
Yes

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

HubSpot:
Yes

A Nonprofit HubSpot User Group for peer learning.

Zeffy is 100% free, always.

Why Zeffy over HubSpot?

Built for fundraising, not sales funnels

❤️

Built for fundraising, not sales funnels

HubSpot is a business CRM. Zeffy gives you donation forms, event ticketing, auctions, peer-to-peer campaigns, and donor management built for nonprofits.

🆓

No monthly fees eating into your budget

HubSpot is priced per seat, and card gifts through HubSpot Payments cost 2.9%. Zeffy is 100% free, with every fundraising feature included from day one.

⏱️

Get started in minutes, not months

HubSpot says donations need custom objects, pipelines and integrations. Zeffy is built for small teams: launch your first campaign today.

Questions nonprofits ask when choosing between Zeffy and HubSpot

Is Zeffy really free for nonprofits?

Yes. Zeffy is 100% free for nonprofits with no monthly fees, platform fees, or hidden costs. Donors have the option to leave a voluntary contribution to keep the platform running.

Can I track donor relationships and giving history in Zeffy?

Absolutely. Zeffy includes donor management built for nonprofits, tracking giving history, contact details, and engagement across all your campaigns in one place.

How long does it take to set up Zeffy compared to HubSpot?

Most nonprofits launch their first campaign in minutes. HubSpot suggests configuring custom objects, pipelines and integrations to run donations. Zeffy is ready to use right away with no configuration needed.

Does Zeffy work for small nonprofits without a dedicated tech team?

Yes. Zeffy is designed for small teams who wear many hats. You don't need technical skills or IT support to launch campaigns, accept payments, and track donors.

Can Zeffy replace HubSpot plus a fundraising tool?

Yes. Zeffy combines donation forms, payment processing, and donor management in one platform so you can accept gifts and track relationships without juggling multiple tools.

How much does HubSpot charge in transaction fees for donations?

Through HubSpot Payments in the US, card gifts cost 2.9% and ACH gifts 0.8%, capped at $10, plus a 0.5% platform fee after the first year. On $10,000 in card gifts that is $290 before the platform fee. Zeffy has zero transaction fees, so your nonprofit keeps every dollar.

Does HubSpot have onboarding fees?

HubSpot's nonprofit discount runs on an annual contract for Professional or Enterprise, and its nonprofit page lists no onboarding price, so ask sales. Zeffy has no onboarding fees and no contracts.

Can Zeffy handle event ticketing and auctions like HubSpot?

Zeffy includes event ticketing, auctions, and peer-to-peer campaigns built in at no cost. HubSpot connects to Eventbrite or Humanitix for events and lists no auction tool.

What are the main downsides of using HubSpot for nonprofits?

HubSpot is built for sales teams, not nonprofits. Donations need configuring, HubSpot itself suggests connecting a fundraising platform for payments, and the bill grows per seat as your team grows.

Is there a free HubSpot alternative for nonprofit fundraising?

Zeffy is a 100% free alternative built specifically for nonprofits. It includes donation forms, donor management, event ticketing, and payment processing with no monthly fees or transaction costs.

Is there a HubSpot nonprofit discount?

Yes. HubSpot gives eligible nonprofits 40% off Professional and Enterprise, on an annual contract, and you apply through sales. For how nonprofits set HubSpot up as a CRM, read our HubSpot for nonprofits guide.

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