iDonate Charges $99/Month + Fees. Here's What You Get for $0 with Zeffy.

Zeffy includes auctions, raffles, and an online store free. iDonate requires separate tools.

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Zeffy VS iDonate

Zeffy VS iDonate: What nonprofits should know before choosing.

Zeffy
iDonate
Pricing
Zeffy:

$

0.

Completely free. Always. But how? →

iDonate:

Varies.

$99/month plans plus 4% card fees per gift

Processing fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

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

iDonate:

2.9% + $0.30.

per transaction (some sources cite 4% + $0.30 on average). Payment processor not specified.

Platform fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

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

iDonate:

N/A.

Platform fee not clearly disclosed. Processing fee appears to include platform costs.

Monthly fees
Zeffy:

$

0/month.

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

iDonate:

$99/month.

Build plan starting at $99/month; $199/month also referenced. Pricing tiers not fully disclosed.

Other fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

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

iDonate:

Varies.

No setup fees and no hidden charges per iDonate website. Add-on fees exist but are not disclosed.

Pricing transparency
Zeffy:

10/10.

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

iDonate:

4/10.

Pricing exists but scattered across sources with conflicting info. No clear fee breakdown on one page.

Value for money
Zeffy:

5/5.

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

iDonate:

3.9/5.

Features
Zeffy:

5/5.

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

iDonate:

4.2/5.

Requires paid plans for full features - limited donation tools and basic integrations without upgrades

Donations
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
Yes

Donation forms with customization options and recurring giving - requires paid plan for advanced features

Ticketing
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
Yes

Event registration available but limited compared to dedicated event tools - basic ticketing only

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
Yes

Peer-to-peer campaigns available with fundraiser pages and team features on higher-tier plans

Auctions
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
No

No auction support - requires connecting external auction platforms for silent or live auctions

Raffles
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
No

No raffle tools - nonprofits need separate platform 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.

iDonate:
No

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

Memberships
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
Yes

Recurring donation programs only - no membership portal, tiers, or member self-service tools

Donor management/CRM
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
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.

iDonate:
Yes

Automated receipts and thank-you emails - limited campaign tools for donor communication

Payment Processing
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
Yes

First-party payment processing with multiple payment methods and automated receipts

Payment Methods
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
Yes

Credit cards, digital wallets, and ACH for recurring gifts. No in-person payment tools.

Credit Card Payments
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
Yes

All major credit and debit cards accepted through their payment processing system

Apple Pay & Google Pay
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
Yes

Digital wallet support available through their checkout process for faster donor payments

ACH / Bank Transfers
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
Yes

ACH bank transfers available for recurring donations - helps reduce processing fees 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.

iDonate:
No

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

Support
Zeffy:

5/5.

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

iDonate:

4.4/5.

Support limited to business hours with slow email response times - no dedicated nonprofit team or priority help.

Help Center
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
Yes

Yes - Complete help center with step-by-step guides, video tutorials, and nonprofit-specific resources

Email Support
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
Yes

Email support available but response times can be slow - no dedicated nonprofit support team

Phone Support
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
Yes

Phone support limited to business hours only - no evening or weekend availability for events

Onboarding
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
Yes

Onboarding assistance available on higher-tier plans; self-service setup for standard users.

Community
Zeffy:
Yes

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

iDonate:
No

No community forum or user groups available — only limited webinars and general resources.

Zeffy is 100% free, always.

Keep more of every dollar your donors give

💰

Keep more of every dollar your donors give

With Zeffy, there's no monthly fee eating into your budget and no per-transaction costs shrinking donations before they reach your mission.

📈

Monthly fees add up fast when you're just getting started

iDonate charges $99/month plus processing fees before you raise a dollar. Zeffy is 100% free, so every donation goes straight to your mission from day one.

🛠️

You shouldn't need five tools to run one campaign

iDonate covers donations but requires separate tools for raffles, auctions, and merchandise sales. Zeffy includes everything in one place, so you can focus on your work instead of juggling platforms.

⚡

Get started in minutes, not months

iDonate requires setup calls and onboarding before you can launch. Zeffy lets you create your first form, send it out, and start raising funds the same day you sign up.

How much does Zeffy actually cost compared to iDonate?

Zeffy is 100% free with no monthly fees or platform charges. iDonate starts at $99/month plus 2.9% processing fees per transaction. With Zeffy, donors can leave a voluntary contribution to cover costs, so your organization keeps every dollar raised.

Can I run raffles and sell merchandise on Zeffy like I can accept donations?

Yes. Zeffy includes donation forms, raffles, event ticketing, auctions, and an online store in one platform at no cost. iDonate focuses on donations only, so you'll need separate tools and subscriptions to run other fundraising activities.

Do I need a long setup process to start fundraising with Zeffy?

No. You can create your first donation form and start accepting gifts within minutes of signing up. There's no onboarding call required, no waiting period, and no technical setup. Just build your form, share the link, and start raising funds right away.

Does Zeffy offer donor management tools like iDonate?

Yes. Zeffy includes a built-in donor database that tracks giving history, contact details, and engagement at no extra cost. You can segment supporters, send personalized thank-you emails, and build stronger relationships without paying for a separate CRM or add-on features.

What payment methods do you support?

Donors can give using all major credit and debit cards, ACH bank transfers, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. All payment methods are included at no cost to your organization, and donors receive instant automated receipts after every transaction.

Does Zeffy take a percentage of donations?

No. Zeffy doesn't take any percentage from your donations. There are no platform fees, processing fees, or transaction fees. Your nonprofit keeps 100% of what donors give.

How much does iDonate cost per month?

iDonate starts at $99/month plus 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in processing fees. Some plans also include a 4% platform fee. Zeffy has no monthly fees and no transaction costs.

Is there a free fundraising platform that doesn't charge fees?

Yes. Zeffy is 100% free for nonprofits with zero platform, processing, or credit card fees. Donors can leave an optional tip to support the platform, but it's never required.

How much would I save switching from iDonate to Zeffy?

A nonprofit raising $10,000/month could save over $6,000 annually by switching to Zeffy. iDonate's fees (2.9% + $0.30 per donation plus monthly costs) add up quickly.

Does Zeffy offer a discount code or free trial?

Zeffy doesn't need discount codes or trials because it's already 100% free. You get full access to every feature from day one with no hidden costs or time limits.

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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