Swell Fundraising Is Built for Events. What About the Rest of the Year?
Compare Swell's $40/mo + 5% platform fees to Zeffy's zero-fee donations, memberships, and peer-to-peer tools.
Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits
Zeffy VS Swell Fundraising
Zeffy is 100% free, always.
Run your gala and your year-round fundraising in one place
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Run your gala and your year-round fundraising in one place
Swell is built for events. Zeffy gives you ticketing, auctions, donation forms, memberships, and donor tools with zero platform fees.
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Your fundraising doesn't stop after the event
Swell is built for one-time galas and auctions. Zeffy supports year-round giving, memberships, peer-to-peer campaigns, and donation forms — so you can fundraise beyond event night.
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Fees add up fast when you're running multiple campaigns
Between monthly fees, platform fees, processing fees, and setup costs, Swell can take hundreds of dollars before you raise a single dollar. Zeffy is 100% free — no monthly charges, no platform fees, no surprises.
Frequently asked questions
Can I accept donations outside of events with Zeffy?
Yes. Zeffy includes donation forms, recurring giving, and peer-to-peer campaigns alongside event tools. You can fundraise year-round without paying for multiple platforms or switching between systems.
Does Zeffy work for both events and year-round fundraising?
Yes. Zeffy supports ticketing, auctions, raffles, donation forms, memberships, and peer-to-peer campaigns in one platform. You can run your gala and manage ongoing giving without switching tools or paying extra fees.
How much does Zeffy cost compared to Swell Fundraising?
Zeffy is 100% free with zero platform fees, monthly charges, or setup costs. Swell charges monthly fees starting at $30, plus setup fees up to $149, plus platform fees up to 5%, plus processing fees of 3.99% per transaction.
Can I use Zeffy for auctions and donation forms at the same time?
Yes. Zeffy lets you run silent auctions, sell event tickets, accept donations, and manage memberships all in one place. You don't need separate tools or pay multiple subscription fees to fundraise in different ways.
Does Swell Fundraising charge setup fees?
Yes. Swell charges setup fees up to $149, plus monthly fees starting at $30 and processing fees of 3.99% per transaction. Zeffy has no setup fees, monthly charges, or platform fees.
What payment methods does Zeffy support that Swell doesn't?
Zeffy supports ACH bank transfers, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and in-person tap-to-pay via smartphones. Swell reportedly lacks these payment options.
How is Zeffy actually free with no catch?
Zeffy is funded by optional tips from donors at checkout. The tip is never required, and nonprofits always keep 100% of what they raise with zero platform, transaction, or credit card fees.
What kind of support does Zeffy offer compared to Swell?
Zeffy provides unlimited support including phone, live chat, training webinars, and dedicated office hours. Swell offers limited email support, with phone support potentially restricted to premium users.
Is Zeffy hard to set up if I'm not tech-savvy?
No. Zeffy is designed for quick campaign setup with simple, intuitive tools. You can launch donation forms, ticketing, or auctions in minutes without technical training.
Keep comparing — and see why nonprofits choose Zeffy
Related content
Zeffy was built for nonprofits like yours
focus on what matters
Built for small teams with big missions.
Zeffy is the fundraising platform that cuts out the fees, clears up your tech mess, and puts your cause first — so your team, even if you're a small team wearing many hats or a one-person show, can focus on what really matters.
ZERO-FEE
Keep 100% of every dollar.
No platform fees. No processing fees. No catch. We know it sounds too good to be true, but it's not. Every penny goes straight to your mission, while competitors take 2-3% off every donation.
ALL-IN-ONE PLatform
Ditch the tech mess.
Stop bouncing between MailChimp, Eventbrite, and all those spreadsheets. Now you can handle donations, ticket sales, memberships, raffles, and all your donor info in one spot.
plug-and-play
Get going, fast.
Built for teams like yours — whether you're volunteer-led or have limited staff. Set up donation forms, sell tickets, and launch campaigns without needing a tech wizard. It's super easy, and you'll be up and running in minutes.
mobile-first
Fundraise from every device, anywhere.
From QR codes on flyers to Tap-to-Pay on a phone, Zeffy makes it easy to accept donations on the go. Mobile-optimized and offline-ready, so no donor slips through the cracks.
No turnover
Never lose a donor to volunteer transition.
Centralize supporter relationships, automate thank-you messages, and preserve institutional knowledge when board members rotate out.
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.
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SUCCESS STORIES
Zero-fee fundraising in action — nonprofit stories worth sharing.
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