Zeffy vs Donately:
Which is better for small nonprofits
Looking for a Zeffy alternative? Donately offers flexible pricing and full customization without relying on tipping models. It’s a fit for nonprofits that want to scale campaigns with features, integrations, and real human support. *
When Donately wins and when Zeffy might
Every platform has its sweet spot. Here’s when Donately makes the most sense and when Zeffy might be the better fit based on your fundraising needs and team setup.
When "free" still has a cost
“Free” sounds great—until donors are prompted to tip and you’re stuck without the flexibility to grow. Donately offers clear pricing, powerful tools, and no compromises.
“100% free.”
But the reality? Donors are asked to tip—defaulting up to 20% unless they opt out. That adds friction to the giving experience.
Donately says: Transparent platform fees you can plan for—no hidden defaults or donor confusion.
“Easy to use.”
But the reality? With limited integrations, scaling or customizing your tools often means switching platforms.
Donately says: Built to connect—use Zapier, HubSpot, Salesforce, and more to plug into your full stack.
“No platform fees.”
But the reality? You sacrifice flexibility and long-term support to avoid fees—while asking your donors to pay them instead.
Donately says: Predictable pricing that respects your donors and your growth goals.
Donately vs Zeffy:
feature comparison
Fundraising platforms can look similar—until you dig in. From native integrations to transparent pricing and real support, Donately gives small teams everything upfront. Here’s how we compare:
Donately
Zeffy
For $10,000 monthly donation volume
Zeffy removes platform fees—but relies on tipping, limited features, and fewer integrations. Donately offers small teams a full suite of tools, transparent pricing, and no compromises on customization or growth.
Zeffy
(0%- 4%)
Stripe (2.2–2.9% + $0.30)
(due to passing all fees to donors)
Ask yourself before choosing Zeffy
If not, Donately offers a scalable, transparent platform that respects both your budget and your donors’ trust.
Are you comfortable asking donors to tip 15–20% to cover your platform costs?
Will your team need more customization or integrations as you grow?
Do you plan to scale campaigns fundraisers beyond a basic template?
Why nonprofits choose Donately instead
Donately offers branded peer-to-peer, recurring, and text-to-donate campaigns with extensive integrations (HubSpot, Webflow, Zapier, etc.), human support during business hours, and transparent pricing without feature paywalls or hidden costs.
No tipping prompts
Avoid donor fatigue with transparent platform fees and optional coverage.
All tools, all plans
Peer-to-peer, recurring, texting, forms, and more—never gated.
Human support
Get help when you need it, not after a delay.
Growth ready
Donately grows with your needs, no template lock-in or vendor switching.
Zeffy alternative — frequently asked questions
Is Zeffy really free to use?
Yes, Zeffy is 100% free for nonprofits. However, donor tips are strongly encouraged by default (often set at 15–20%) to fund the platform. If donors opt out, the nonprofit still pays no fees—but donor experience may be affected.
Does Donately require tips from donors?
No. Donately uses a transparent platform fee based on the plan you choose. You can enable optional donor coverage for transaction fees, but it’s fully customizable—and never defaulted.
Can I access all features from both platforms?
Donately includes all donation features on every plan—regardless of tier. Zeffy’s feature set is solid for core campaigns, but may lack integrations or customization options required for more complex fundraising strategies.
Which platform offers better integrations?
Donately offers native integrations with tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, Zapier, Google Analytics, and more. Zeffy offers limited integration options and may require workarounds for deeper tech stacks.
How do the two compare for growing organizations?
Zeffy is a great fit for small or grassroots teams that want a free and easy-to-use platform. Donately is better suited for teams that want more control, customization, and scalability without add-ons or switching platforms later.
Do both platforms support recurring donations and peer-to-peer fundraising?
Yes, both support recurring giving and P2P fundraising. Donately includes these in all plans with customizable forms and campaign pages. Zeffy offers these tools too, but with less flexibility in form design and donor experience.
What kind of support is available with each platform?
Donately provides real-time, human support during business hours, with email and AI assistance 24/7. Zeffy offers customer support via email, but access to live help may be limited.
Is switching from Zeffy to Donately difficult?
Not at all. Donately is built to help teams switch quickly, with embeddable forms, fast setup, and human-led support. You can import donor data, launch campaigns, and integrate with your stack—often without needing a developer.
BEST IN CLASS SOFTWARE FOR BEST IN CLASS ORGANIZATIONS
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Trusted by thousands of schools, churches and organizations
Secure, high-converting donation forms
Platform fees as low as 0%
Built-in campaign templates and marketplace
Sign up and launch in 5 minutes
Fully customizable to your brand
No feature limits—everything included
No setup fees. No surprise costs.
Integrates with your favorite tools