SchoolAuction.net Charges $79/Event + 3% — Here's a Free Alternative for PTAs

Compare 0% fees vs 3% + $0.30 per transaction, plus get auctions, ticketing, and donor CRM in one place.

Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits

SchoolAuction.net

Zeffy VS SchoolAuction.net

Zeffy VS SchoolAuction.net: What nonprofits should know before choosing.

Pricing

Completely free. Always. But how? →

Varies.

$79/event + 3% + card fees

Processing fees

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

3% + $0.30.

per transaction

Platform fees

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

3%.

platform fee on Acorn plan; $0 on Essentials plan; varies by plan

Monthly fees

0/month.

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

Varies.

$79 starting fee (not monthly); flat-fee annual subscriptions available ($1,000 for Essentials, $2,000 for Professional per year)

Other fees

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

3%.

performance fee of 3% on purchases and donations on Acorn plan; $0 ticket fees and $0 support fees on Essentials plan

Pricing transparency

10/10.

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

4/10.

Pricing exists but requires digging through search results and comparison sites to piece together fee structure

Value for money

5/5.

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

4.6/5.

Features

5/5.

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

4.5/5.

Auction-focused platform with limited year-round tools - no donor CRM, memberships, or ongoing fundraising

Donations

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

Donation forms available but limited customization - built for auctions, not ongoing fundraising

Ticketing

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

Event ticketing for auction galas with table management - no standalone ticketing for other events

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

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

No peer-to-peer fundraising tools - focused on school auction events only

Auctions

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

Full auction management with mobile bidding, item catalog, checkout, and live event support for school fundraisers

Raffles

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

Raffle ticket sales with mobile bidding integration - requires paid plan for full auction features

Online Store

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

Item catalog for silent and live auctions with buy-it-now options - not designed for general merchandise

Memberships

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

No membership tools - designed for one-time auction events, not ongoing member relationships

Donor management/CRM

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

Basic bidder database with contact info and bid history - no donor profiles or fundraising CRM

Emails & Newsletter

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

Event invitations and bidder notifications only - no donor communication or fundraising campaigns

Payment Processing

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

Integrated payment processing with credit card acceptance and automated checkout at event close

Payment Methods

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

Credit cards only. No digital wallets, ACH bank transfers, or in-person payment tools.

Credit Card Payments

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

All major credit and debit cards accepted through secure payment processing for auction bidding

Apple Pay & Google Pay

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

No digital wallet support - bidders must enter card details manually during auction checkout

ACH / Bank Transfers

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

No ACH bank transfers - card-only payments limit large gift options for major auction items

Tap to Pay App

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

Mobile bidding app for live events but no integrated card readers for on-site payment collection

Support

5/5.

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

4.8/5.

Email-only support with unclear response times. No phone help, live training, or nonprofit-specific guidance for auction planning.

Help Center

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

No searchable help center or knowledge base visible — limited self-service resources.

Email Support

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

Email support available but response times unclear - no dedicated nonprofit team mentioned

Phone Support

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

No phone support or scheduled calls — assistance available by email only.

Onboarding

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

No dedicated onboarding or training — setup guidance available only via email.

Community

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

No community forum, user groups, or peer support channels found.

Zeffy is 100% free, always.

Calculate savings

How is Zeffy free?

Why Zeffy over SchoolAuction.net?

Run your auction and keep raising funds year-round

📈

Run your auction and keep raising funds year-round

SchoolAuction.net is built for one event. Zeffy gives you auctions, donations, ticketing, and a donor CRM — so you don't start from scratch every year.

💰

Pay upfront or pay per bid — either way, you're paying

Zeffy doesn't charge platform fees or annual subscriptions. You keep 100% of what you raise, whether you run one auction or twelve campaigns a year.

🔗

Built for one gala, not your year-round fundraising

Zeffy gives you auctions, donations, ticketing, and donor tools in one place — so you can run events and build relationships without switching platforms.

⚡

Get started in minutes, not months

Zeffy's built for small teams who need to launch fast. No training required, no complicated setup — just create your auction and start fundraising.

Questions nonprofits ask when choosing between Zeffy and SchoolAuction.net

Does Zeffy charge platform fees or annual subscriptions for auctions?

No. Zeffy doesn't charge platform fees, annual subscriptions, or per-event costs. You keep 100% of every bid and donation. Donors have the option to leave a voluntary contribution to support our platform.

Can I use Zeffy for more than just my annual auction event?

Yes. Zeffy gives you auctions, donation forms, event ticketing, and donor management in one place. Run your gala and keep fundraising year-round without paying for multiple tools or starting over each event.

How long does it take to set up an auction on Zeffy?

Minutes. Create your auction, add items, and start accepting bids right away. No training sessions or complicated setup required. Our support team is here if you need help getting started.

What payment options can bidders use at my auction?

All major credit and debit cards, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay. Bidders can also pay by ACH bank transfer for larger purchases. More payment options mean fewer barriers to bidding.

How much does SchoolAuction.net cost compared to free alternatives?

SchoolAuction.net charges $79 per event, 3% + $0.30 processing fees per transaction, and some plans add a 3% platform fee. Annual subscriptions start at $1,000/year. Zeffy charges nothing — no event fees, no processing fees, no subscriptions.

Is Zeffy a good SchoolAuction.net alternative for a small PTA or PTO?

Yes. Zeffy gives PTAs and PTOs the same auction tools without the fees. On a $10,000 auction, you'd pay over $500 with SchoolAuction.net. With Zeffy, you keep every dollar for your school.

Does SchoolAuction.net include donor management or just auctions?

SchoolAuction.net focuses primarily on auctions and doesn't include a donor CRM. Zeffy includes built-in donor management alongside auctions, donations, ticketing, and peer-to-peer campaigns — all free.

What kind of support does Zeffy offer compared to SchoolAuction.net?

Zeffy provides unlimited email and phone support. SchoolAuction.net offers email-only support with unclear response times and no phone option.

Can parents pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay at a school auction?

On Zeffy, yes. Bidders can pay with credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or ACH bank transfer. SchoolAuction.net only accepts credit cards.

Still undecided?

Keep comparing — and see why nonprofits choose Zeffy

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CauseVox

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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“We were incurring a ton of fees for our past fundraising platform and Zeffy has helped us receive so much more of our donations.”

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!

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!!

Zeffy is very easy to use and ensures that every dollar quickly gets into our account.. A huge help to our work!

Zeffy is very simple, allows for a lot of customization and seamlessly integrates into our website. The fact that all of this is free is still wild to me.

We couldn't believe there was a free payment platform for our Girl Scout group. Zeffy took ZERO fees from us, which is huge when you run on very small amounts of money.

We were ready to sell tickets in less than 30 minutes. The reporting capabilities were better than some other paid-for sites.

Since using Zeffy, our conversion rate of donations has skyrocketed. It's an easy platform to use. Plus customer support has always been responsive and helpful!