Completely free. Always. But how? →
Zelle Has No Donation Forms, Receipts, or Donor Tracking. Zeffy Does.
Zelle only works if donors have the right bank app. Zeffy accepts cards, ACH, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits
Sign up to Zeffy for free - 100% free forever.
Zeffy VS Zelle
Pricing
Zeffy:
$
0.
Zelle:
$0.
fees from Zelle, check your bank
Processing fees
Zelle:
$0.
No transaction or processing fees directly from Zelle; some banks (e.g., Truist) may charge their own fees for business accounts.
Platform fees
Zeffy:
$
0.
Zeffy never takes a cut. Unlike platforms that skim 3–5%, you keep 100% of every donation.
Zelle:
$0.
No platform fees; Zelle is free to use through participating banks and credit unions.
Monthly fees
Zeffy:
$
0/month.
No subscriptions, no paywalls. Every org, big or small, gets full access for free.
Zelle:
$0.
No setup fees, no monthly fees, and no maintenance fees from Zelle.
Other fees
Zeffy:
$
0.
We've never charged a single cent to nonprofits and we never will.
Zelle:
$0.
Zelle does not charge any fees to send or receive money.
Pricing transparency
Zeffy:
10/10.
No platform fees, no credit card fees, no hidden fees, no fees period!
Zelle: 
3/10.
No pricing page exists. Users must dig through bank sites or help articles to understand fees.
Value for money
Zeffy:
5/5.
450+ reviews on Capterra. All-in-one fundraising, zero fees, unbeatable value.
Zelle:
4.7/5.
Features
Zeffy:
5/5.
No training needed. Built for busy nonprofit teams, not tech pros. Launch a campaign in under 30 minutes.
Zelle:
4.9/5.
Personal payment app with no nonprofit tools - missing donation forms, tax receipts, and donor tracking
Donations
Zeffy: 
Donations without the cut. Custom forms, tax receipts, donor tracking — all fee-free.
Zelle:
Peer-to-peer payment app with no donation forms, receipts, or nonprofit tools - just basic money transfers
Ticketing
Zeffy:
Sell tickets, check in guests, track sales — and keep 100%. No fees. No fine print.
Zelle:
No ticketing features - Zelle only sends money between individuals, not event registration or ticket sales
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Zeffy:
Teams or individuals launch fundraising pages in minutes. Track progress, keep 100%. No fees.
Zelle:
No peer-to-peer fundraising - only direct person-to-person payments with no campaign pages or tracking
Auctions
Zeffy:
Run auctions without giving up a percentage. List items, track bids, collect payments — all fee-free.
Zelle:
No auction tools - peer-to-peer payment service only, no bidding or event management features
Raffles
Zeffy:
Host online raffles and 50/50s. Track sales, set ticket limits, stay compliant — all without paying a cent.
Zelle:
No raffle tools - can't sell tickets, track entries, or manage drawings through the platform
Online Store
Zeffy:
Skip the tool sprawl. Sell merch and manage your store in one place — no fees, no add-ons.
Zelle:
No store functionality - Zelle doesn't support product listings, inventory, or order management
Memberships
Zeffy:
Automate memberships with no per-member fees. Dues go straight to your org — perfect for clubs, alumni, and supporters.
Zelle:
No membership features - instant person-to-person transfers only, no recurring billing or management
Donor management/CRM
Zeffy:
Ditch the expensive CRM. Track donations, send thank-yous, and build donor loyalty — all fee-free.
Zelle:
No donor management - payment transfer service only, no contact database or giving history
Emails & Newsletter
Zeffy:
Manage contacts and send newsletters from the same place you fundraise. Unlimited sends, no fees.
Zelle:
No email tools - payment notifications only through your bank app, no donor communication
Payment Processing
Zeffy:
Accept donations, ticket sales, and payments — all 100% fee-free. No cuts, no hidden fees, ever.
Zelle:
Bank-to-bank transfers through participating financial institutions - no donation buttons or forms
Payment Methods
Zeffy:
All-in-one fundraising: donations, events, memberships, email, and donor CRM — 100% free.
Zelle:
Bank transfers only. No credit cards, digital wallets, or in-person payment options.
Credit Card Payments
Zeffy:
Accept all major credit cards with zero processing fees. Zeffy covers the cost — you keep 100% of every donation.
Zelle:
No credit card processing - Zelle only handles bank-to-bank transfers between enrolled accounts
Apple Pay & Google Pay
Zeffy:
One-tap donations and tickets with Apple Pay & Google Pay. No fees, just smooth mobile checkouts.
Zelle:
No digital wallet support - only works through participating bank apps, not standalone payment options
ACH / Bank Transfers
Zeffy:
Accept bank transfers with zero fees. Full donation amounts go straight to your mission.
Zelle:
Bank transfers only between Zelle-enrolled accounts - donors must have compatible bank apps to send money
Tap to Pay App
Zeffy:
Anyone on your team can take payments from their phone. No card reader, no fees, no friction.
Zelle:
No in-person payment capability - requires donors to use mobile banking apps for transfers
Support
Zeffy:
5/5.
Real humans, real fast. Free email and phone support — no bots, no paywalls, no runaround.
Zelle:
4.7/5.
Support handled by individual banks - no unified nonprofit expertise or direct Zelle support team for fundraising questions.
Help Center
Zeffy:
Searchable help docs, video tutorials, and step-by-step guides — all free, all the time.
Zelle:
No centralized nonprofit help center — resources are provided by individual banks and general consumer FAQs, not nonprofit-specific guides.
Email Support
Zeffy:
Email us anytime. Most questions answered within hours — not days.
Zelle:
Email support through bank partners only - no direct Zelle support team for nonprofits.
Phone Support
Zeffy:
Need to talk? Call us. Real support from real people who understand nonprofits.
Zelle:
No direct phone support - must contact your bank for Zelle issues during their hours.
Onboarding
Zeffy:
Get set up in under 30 minutes. No training required — but we're here if you need us.
Zelle:
No dedicated onboarding for nonprofits — setup is self-service or handled by your bank.
Community
Zeffy:
Join thousands of nonprofits sharing tips, templates, and best practices.
Zelle:
No community forum or user groups; support and advice come through individual banks.
Zeffy is 100% free, always.
Zelle moves money fast, but it can't run your fundraising
📈
Zelle moves money fast, but it can't build a donor base
Zelle transfers cash between accounts — Zeffy gives you donation forms, receipts, donor tracking, and email tools so you can grow support, not just collect it.
💳
Your donors shouldn't need the right bank to support you
Zelle only works if your donor has a compatible bank app. Zeffy accepts credit cards, ACH, Apple Pay, and Google Pay — so no one gets left out.
🚀
You shouldn't need to explain how to give
Zelle requires donors to know your email or phone number and navigate their bank app. Zeffy gives you a donation page you can share anywhere — no instructions needed.
Can I track donor information and send receipts with Zelle?
No. Zelle only transfers money between bank accounts. Zeffy gives you donor profiles, giving history, automated tax receipts, and email tools so you can thank supporters and build lasting relationships. They can't give through Zelle. Zeffy works for everyone — donors can give by credit card, ACH, Apple Pay, or Google Pay without needing a specific bank account or app.
Does Zeffy really charge zero fees for nonprofits?
Yes. Zeffy charges nonprofits zero platform fees, transaction fees, or monthly costs. You keep 100% of every donation. Donors have the option to leave a voluntary contribution to support Zeffy's operations.
Can donors use Zeffy without a specific bank account?
Yes. Zeffy accepts credit cards, ACH, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Unlike Zelle, donors don't need a specific bank app or account to give. Anyone can support your mission using their preferred payment method.
How does Zeffy make money if there are no fees?
Donors have the option to leave a voluntary contribution when they give. This model lets us offer nonprofits a completely free platform while keeping fundraising accessible to everyone.
Can nonprofits use Zelle to accept donations?
Technically yes, but Zelle wasn't built for nonprofits. It only transfers money between bank accounts and doesn't provide donation forms, tax receipts, or donor tracking. Zeffy is purpose-built for nonprofit fundraising with all those features included for free.
Does Zelle take a percentage of donations?
Zelle doesn't charge fees for personal transfers, but it may charge for business transactions and lacks nonprofit tools entirely. Zeffy charges zero platform, transaction, or credit card fees — you keep 100% of every donation.
Is there a donation limit with Zelle for nonprofits?
Zelle has transfer limits that vary by bank, often capping at $500-$1,000 per week for new accounts. Zeffy has no donation limits and accepts larger gifts through credit cards, ACH, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
What's the easiest way to collect donations without Zelle?
Zeffy lets you create a shareable donation page in minutes. Donors give using any payment method without needing a specific bank app, and you get automatic tax receipts and donor tracking built in.
Can I run events and sell tickets with Zelle?
No. Zelle only handles money transfers between bank accounts. Zeffy includes free event ticketing, registration, raffles, memberships, and an online store — all with zero fees.
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.
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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.
Read the full story
“We were incurring a ton of fees for our past fundraising platform and Zeffy has helped us receive so much more of our donations.”
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Amy R
Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago
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!
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Debra B
Glory to Glory Women's Mentoring Ministry
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!!
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Carmen M
DIVINA World Foundation
Zeffy is very easy to use and ensures that every dollar quickly gets into our account.. A huge help to our work!
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Nathan C
Jiwa International
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.
Ryan S
Jesters Theatre: Youth Unlimited
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.
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Jennifer H
GSCB Troop 144
We were ready to sell tickets in less than 30 minutes. The reporting capabilities were better than some other paid-for sites.
Mark B
Theta Mu Lambda Charitable Foundation
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!
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Stevie C
We Are HER
SUCCESS STORIES
Zero-fee fundraising in action — nonprofit stories worth sharing.
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