Ticketbud Charges $2+ Per Ticket. What If You Kept It All?

Ticketbud takes 2% + $0.99 per ticket plus processing fees. Zeffy covers all fees so nonprofits keep 100%.

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Zeffy VS Ticketbud

Zeffy VS Ticketbud: What nonprofits should know before choosing.

Zeffy
Ticketbud
Pricing
Zeffy:

$

0.

Completely free. Always. But how? →

Ticketbud:

4.65% + $1.29.

plus card fees per ticket

Processing fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

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

Ticketbud:

2.9% + $0.30.

per transaction (Stripe or PayPal payment processing fee); Ticketbud Payments offers 2.8% + $0.30 per transaction

Platform fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

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

Ticketbud:

2% + $0.99.

per ticket (standard rate); 1.75% + $0.99 per ticket for nonprofits and schools

Monthly fees
Zeffy:

$

0/month.

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

Ticketbud:

$0.

No monthly, setup, or subscription fees.

Other fees
Zeffy:

$

0.

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

Ticketbud:

Varies.

Free events have no fees; fees can be passed on to attendees; Custom & White Label pricing available on request

Pricing transparency
Zeffy:

10/10.

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

Ticketbud:

3/10.

Pricing hidden across multiple pages, requires digging through help articles for fee details

Value for money
Zeffy:

5/5.

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

Ticketbud:

4.5/5.

Features
Zeffy:

5/5.

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

Ticketbud:

4.6/5.

Event ticketing only - no donation forms, donor management, or year-round fundraising tools

Donations
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
No

No donation tools - built for ticket sales only, not fundraising or donor relationships

Ticketing
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
Yes

Event ticketing with registration forms, seating options, and check-in tools for paid and free events

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
No

No peer-to-peer tools - attendees can't create fundraising pages or campaigns for your cause

Auctions
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
No

No auction support - built for ticketed events only, not silent auctions or fundraising bidding

Raffles
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
No

No raffle features - requires separate platform to sell raffle tickets or manage drawings

Online Store
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
No

No store functionality - can't sell merchandise, memberships, or products alongside tickets

Memberships
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
No

No membership tools - designed for single events, not ongoing member relationships or recurring programs

Donor management/CRM
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
No

Attendee data only - no donor profiles, giving history, or nonprofit relationship tracking

Emails & Newsletter
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
Yes

Event confirmation and reminder emails only - no donor communication or fundraising campaign tools

Payment Processing
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
Yes

Stripe integration with automated payouts and multiple payment methods including Apple Pay

Payment Methods
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
Yes

Credit cards and digital wallets only. No bank transfers or in-person payment options.

Credit Card Payments
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
Yes

All major credit and debit cards accepted through Stripe integration with standard processing fees

Apple Pay & Google Pay
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
Yes

Apple Pay and Google Pay supported at checkout for faster mobile ticket purchases

ACH / Bank Transfers
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
No

No ACH bank transfers available - card-only checkout limits large donation options for nonprofits

Tap to Pay App
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
No

No in-person payment collection - event check-in only, requires separate hardware for on-site sales

Support
Zeffy:

5/5.

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

Ticketbud:

4.7/5.

Support geared toward commercial events rather than nonprofits; support is available via email and phone during business hours but lacks nonprofit fundraising expertise and can be slow during peak seasons.

Help Center
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
Yes

Searchable help center with event-focused articles and tutorials — lacks nonprofit-specific guides.

Email Support
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
Yes

Email support available but response times can be slow during peak event seasons.

Phone Support
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
Yes

Phone support available during business hours but no dedicated nonprofit guidance.

Onboarding
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
No

Self-service onboarding only — no dedicated onboarding or nonprofit-focused training.

Community
Zeffy:
Yes

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

Ticketbud:
No

No community forum or user groups focused on nonprofits are available.

Zeffy is 100% free, always.

Why Zeffy over Ticketbud?

Keep more of every ticket you sell

💰

Keep more of every ticket you sell

Ticketbud takes 2% + $0.99 per ticket, plus 2.9% + $0.30 in processing fees. Zeffy is 100% free, so every dollar from ticket sales goes straight to your mission.

🛠️

Run events and fundraisers from one place

Ticketbud only handles ticketing. Zeffy gives you event ticketing, donation forms, peer-to-peer campaigns, raffles, and a donor CRM — no extra tools or logins needed.

🤝

Get help from people who understand nonprofits

Ticketbud's support is built for commercial events. Zeffy's team knows nonprofit fundraising, responds in 2–6 business hours, and never charges for help.

Questions nonprofits ask when choosing between Zeffy and Ticketbud

Can I accept ACH bank transfers for large ticket purchases or sponsorships?

Yes. Zeffy accepts ACH bank transfers alongside credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. This gives sponsors and major donors flexible payment options without extra fees eating into your event revenue.

Does Zeffy really charge $0 in platform fees for event ticketing?

Yes. Zeffy charges $0 in platform fees for ticketing, donations, and all fundraising tools. You keep 100% of ticket revenue. Donors have the option to leave a voluntary contribution to keep Zeffy free for nonprofits.

Can I sell raffle tickets and collect donations alongside event tickets?

Yes. Zeffy includes raffle ticketing, donation forms, peer-to-peer campaigns, and an online store in one platform. You can run your entire fundraising event without switching between tools or paying extra fees.

How does Zeffy make money if there are no fees?

Zeffy is funded by optional contributions from donors at checkout. They can choose to support Zeffy so nonprofits like yours never pay platform fees. This keeps ticketing and fundraising 100% free for your organization.

How much does Ticketbud cost per ticket compared to Zeffy?

Ticketbud charges 2.5% + $0.99 per ticket, plus credit card processing fees around 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. On a $50 ticket, that's roughly $2.24 in fees. Zeffy charges nothing — you keep the full $50.

Is Ticketbud really free for event organizers?

Ticketbud lets organizers access the platform without upfront costs, but fees are charged per ticket sold (2.5% + $0.99 plus payment processing). Zeffy is the only ticketing platform where nonprofits pay zero platform or processing fees.

Does Zeffy support QR codes and ticket tiers for nonprofit events?

Yes. Zeffy includes QR code scanning, multiple ticket tiers, custom event pages, and seating options — all included free. No feature paywalls or add-on charges.

Can I use Zeffy for school fundraising events and PTA ticketing?

Absolutely. Zeffy is built for nonprofits including PTAs, schools, and youth organizations. You get ticketing, donations, raffles, and donor management in one place with zero fees — so every dollar goes back to your school.

What payment methods does Zeffy accept for event tickets?

Zeffy accepts credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and ACH bank transfers. All payment processing is covered — no fees passed to your nonprofit or your attendees.

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.

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