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How is Zeffy free?
How is Zeffy free?
Zeffy relies entirely on optional contributions from donors. At the payment confirmation step - we ask donors to leave an optional contribution to Zeffy.
When every dollar counts, high platform fees can seriously cut into your fundraising total. Most sites take 3–8% in fees, money that could be going directly to your cause.
Whether you're raising funds for a medical emergency, school project, or community need, you need a fast, simple platform that lets you keep as much as possible.
We’ve reviewed the top fundraising websites to help you find the best option, ranked by how quickly you can launch, how easy they are to use, and how little they charge. If you want to maximize donations and minimize fees, start here.
Responsive Table
Fundraising website
Fees
Best for
Zeffy
100% free
Grassroots nonprofits & campaigns
GoFundMe
0% + 2.9% + 30¢
Emergency personal fundraising
Fundly
0% + 2.9% + 30¢
Crowdfunding campaigns
Bonfire
Up to 8%
Selling custom merch
Donorbox
1.5% + up to 2.2% + 49¢, and up to $139 in monthly fees
Recurring donations for nonprofits
Kickstarter
3% - 5% of total funds raised
Creative projects
FundRazr
0% + 2.9% + 30¢
Personal, nonprofit, and business fundraising
What to look for in a fundraising site
Before you launch your next campaign, ask yourself:
How much of every dollar will I actually keep?
Most platforms take a cut, sometimes up to 8%, from what you raise through platform and transaction fees that won’t go to your cause. Zeffy is currently the only 100% free platform, but we’ll cover other low-fee options below so you can compare how much you keep from each donation.
Is it easy and fast to set up?
You shouldn’t need a tech degree or a whole afternoon to start fundraising. Look for platforms with simple onboarding, plug-and-play templates, and mobile-friendly donation forms so you can launch fast and make giving easy for supporters.
How fast can you get your funds?
Whether you need funds for urgent medical bills or an upcoming school event, timing matters. The best platforms offer fast transfers so you can access your funds quickly without unnecessary delays or complicated processes.
What donors really think (from Zeffy research)
According to the 2025 Donor Behavior & Giving Trends Report by Zeffy, 40% of donors walked away because they didn’t know how their donation was used or were turned off by high fees. Another 42% worry about nonprofit executive pay, and 31% question excessive fundraising costs. To build trust:
Choose platforms that are transparent about fees.
Offer receipts with clear breakdowns of how donations are used.
Use platforms with secure, mobile-optimized forms, because a smooth donation experience increases conversions.
8 best fundraising sites for nonprofits and individuals
1. Zeffy: Best 100% free, zero-fee fundraising site for nonprofits
Zeffy is a free fundraising site that helps nonprofits raise money with an easy setup, fast payouts, versatile campaigns for individuals and nonprofits, and donor security reassurance, all without incurring any fees.
Zeffy also offers donor management and engagement tools to create even more impact and build relationships. That means nonprofits can create an online fundraiser, manage event registration, host raffles and lotteries, and collect donations all from one platform, without incurring any costs that take away from their fundraising totals.
While every other donation platform deducts fees from your mission, Zeffy delivers 100% of the funds to your nonprofit. That means you can raise money and run successful campaigns all for free.
Here's how it works: When someone donates to your fundraising form, they have the option (but are never obliged) to give to Zeffy. Not everyone provides every time, and that's okay. Enough donors leave a contribution that covers overhead and fees, so nonprofits never incur any expenses.
In short, Nonprofits never have to worry about paying for a feature or transaction with Zeffy, ever. A free account with Zeffy is a free account for life.
User review:
”The forms are very easy to use and worked perfectly for our fundraising event. We are using a combination of ticketed event forms and donation forms. I love that they have options for automatic tax receipts, thank you emails, reminder emails, the ability to add and even require short answer questions with specific purchases, and options to add notes to any order. I also love the data we can export to excel - specifically the weekly payout details and all the information for each purchase.” - Jennifer T.
GoFundMe is a popular and widely recognized crowdfunding site. GoFundMe is designed to help individuals raise funds for both personal and charitable needs. With its extensive reach and social sharing tools, it has become a go-to platform for people seeking financial support during times of crisis or hardship.
Why choose GoFundMe for fundraising:
Simple campaign setup process
Mobile app for easy campaign management on the go
Option to withdraw funds quickly via bank transfer or debit card
“GoFundMe is a well-known company that aids people with raising funds for important matters. It allows people from all over the world to donate at the click of a button—no lengthy or complicated process required.” - Zoe D.
Fundly is a versatile fundraising platform that caters to both individuals and nonprofits, offering a wide range of features to support various fundraising initiatives. From customizable campaign pages to built-in social sharing tools, Fundly empowers users to create engaging and impactful fundraising campaigns with ease.
Why choose Fundly or fundraising:
Customizable campaign pages
Peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities
Integration with popular social media platforms
Dedicated support and resources for nonprofits
Pricing:
0% platform fee, 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee
User review:
“It is very easy to set up a fundraiser and share it with a lot of people. A lot of useful tools are available on the website and the customer support is really good.” - Veronica F.
Donorbox is a user-friendly donation platform that caters specifically to nonprofits, offering a suite of tools to streamline the donation process and maximize fundraising efforts. From customizable donation forms to robust donor management features, Donorbox provides nonprofits with everything they need to raise funds online
Integration with popular CRMs and email marketing platforms
Pricing & fees:
$0–$139+/month, 1.5% platform fee, and up to 2.2% + 49¢ in processing fees
User review:
“Once we were set up, it was easy to use. We like the option to send out yearly receipts in a couple of steps. We also like to option to add offline donations.” - Jeffrey H.
Classy is a comprehensive fundraising platform that caters exclusively to nonprofits, providing them with the tools and resources needed to drive sustainable growth and impact. From peer-to-peer fundraising to event management, Classy offers a range of features to help nonprofits raise more effectively online.
Why choose Classy for fundraising:
Peer-to-peer fundraising
Built-in event management tools
Donor management and engagement tools
Crowdfunding websites
Customized donation pages
Pricing:
Custom quote required, and up to 2.5% + $0.30 in processing fees.
User review:
“Classy helps us run campaigns that raise funds for our organization! We setup various campaigns such as peer to peer fundraising or recurring giving and attract, manage and cultivate donors with the help of Classy's tools. It is SO easy to create and report on donor activity!” - Lauren A.
Kickstarter is a leading equity crowdfunding platform known for its focus on creative projects and innovative ideas. Whether you're an artist, inventor, or entrepreneur, Kickstarter provides a platform to showcase your vision and raise funds from a global community of backers who are passionate about supporting creativity and innovation.
Why choose Kickstarter for fundraising:
Easy to launch
Access to a large community of backers and supporters
Project verification process to ensure quality and authenticity
Pricing & fees:
Up to 5% of total funds raised, plus processing fees between 3% and 5%
User review:
“I think that when people think of crowdfunding, they often think of Kickstarter. I like using Kickstarter, since it was one of the first major crowd funding websites that became known to the main stream.” - Emery D.
FundRazr is a versatile crowdfunding platform that caters to individuals, nonprofits, and community organizations seeking to raise funds for a variety of causes. With its easy-to-use interface and robust fundraising tools, FundRazr empowers users to create impactful campaigns and mobilize support from their networks.
Why choose FundRazr for fundraising:
Social sharing tools for maximizing campaign visibility
Integration with popular payment gateways
Dedicated support and resources for campaign organizers
Pricing & fees:
0% platform fees plus up to 2.9% + $0.30 in processing fees
User review:
“I liked that the campaign does not have to be all or nothing. I also like that funds raised outside the platform can be counted in the total. These are features that were not available with my previous campaigns on Kickstarter. I was very happy to have the flexibility to reach my goal through in person avenues as well as through the online campaign.” - Andrew C.
8. Bonfire: Best for apparel fundraising
Bonfire is a unique fundraising platform that enables individuals to raise funds by selling custom apparel and merchandise. Whether you're raising funds for a personal cause or supporting a charitable organization, Bonfire provides a hassle-free way to design and sell custom t-shirts, hoodies, and other merchandise to your supporters.
Why choose Bonfire for fundraising:
Easy-to-use design tool for creating custom apparel
No upfront costs or inventory management required
Dedicated support for campaign organizers
Integration with popular social media platforms
Pricing & fees:
Up to 8% to 3.5% in processing fees
User review:
“Bonfire makes it super easy to create merch and sell for my nonprofit. I get the donations and they deal with the sales tax.” - Meg
How to find the right fundraising platform to simplify donations
Before jumping into feature comparisons, you'll first need to consider your goals and target audience when determining the right fundraising site at the right cost for you.
Identify your fundraising goals
Determine whether you're raising funds for personal needs, charitable causes, creative projects, or nonprofit initiatives.
Consider your target audience
Some platforms may have a niche audience or specialize in particular types of fundraising campaigns. Choose a platform that aligns with the interests and preferences of your potential donors or backers.
Look for the top features for fundraising success
When choosing the best fundraising software you'll want to assess features, ease of use, support, and costs.
Features and functionality
Customization: Look for platforms that offer customizable campaign pages, allowing you to tell your story and engage supporters effectively.
Donor management: Consider platforms that provide robust donor management features, including donor data tracking, communication tools, and reporting analytics, to help you cultivate relationships with your supporters.
Payment processing: Check the platform's payment processing options, fees, and security measures to ensure seamless and secure online fundraising.
Reporting and analytics: Look for platforms that offer robust reporting and analytics features to track fundraising performance, donor demographics, donation trends, and campaign outcomes. Access to actionable insights empowers you to optimize your fundraising strategies and measure success effectively.
Event fundraising: Evaluate whether the platform provides tools for organizing and managing fundraising events, including ticket sales, RSVP tracking, event promotion, and attendee management. (Check out our step-by-step guide to organizing a charity event here)
Donor engagement: Look for platforms that offer built-in communication tools, such as email templates, newsletters, and personalized messaging capabilities. Practical communication tools enable you to engage donors, share updates about your organization's impact, and express gratitude for their support.
User Interface: Evaluate the platform's user interface and ease of navigation, ensuring it is intuitive and user-friendly for both campaign organizers and donors. You should be able to build your fundraising site or donation page in just a few clicks.
Campaign setup process: Look for platforms with straightforward campaign setup processes that allow you to create and launch your fundraising campaign quickly and efficiently.
Integrations: Select platforms that offer seamless integration with popular social media networks. This will allow you to leverage your social media presence effectively and amplify your campaign's reach.
Support and resources
Customer support: Evaluate the platform's customer support options, including email, phone, and live chat support, as well as online resources such as FAQs, tutorials, and guides.
Educational resources: Look for platforms that provide educational resources, fundraising tips, best practices, and success stories to help you optimize your fundraising efforts.
Cost and fees
Platform/monthly fees: Compare the platform's fees, including platform fees and any additional charges, to ensurethey align with your budget and fundraising goals.
Payment processing fees: To understand the total cost of fundraising on the platform, consider the platform's credit card payment processing fees, including transaction fees and processing rates.
Learn how this nonprofit saved $1,715 in fees by switching from GoFundMe to Zeffy
Loose Ends began as a side project founded by Jen and Masey, utilizing GoFundMe to raise funds and support from each donor who could make it happen. As their success led them to scale at a faster rate and become an established 501(c) (3), they knew it was time to look for a fundraising site that could keep pace.
The costs of staff, technology, and marketing were not feasible, as GoFundMe’s donation fees reduced the overall amount of contributions the organization received at the end of the day. That’s when they turned to Zeffy’s 100% free fundraising platform for a way to save big while gaining features built for nonprofits to succeed.
“Saving on fees removes barriers to donations. The fees charged by other platforms dissuade folks from donating or encourage them to donate less, in order to accommodate those fees... Removing the barriers to donations has been a game changer, and will be even more so as we embark on the upcoming fundraising season!” - Masey Kaplan, Executive Director and Co-Founder
Which are the best donation platforms for simple, fast, and zero-fee fundraising?
If you wear a dozen hats and need to make the most of your resources, time, and money, you need a donation platform that’s simple to set up, fast to launch, and doesn’t drain your already-tight budget.
Many fundraising tools promise to help, but then take a cut of every donation through platform or transaction fees. That’s money you need for your programs, not processing costs.
Zeffy is the only 100% free donation platform without hidden fees, monthly costs, or a percentage taken from your hard-earned contributions.
Set up in minutes, no tech skills required
Launch donation forms, crowdfunding pages, peer-to-peer campaigns, and even an online store
Get everything in one place, with real-time reporting
FAQs: Best fundraising sites to save money and simplify your day
For nonprofits: Zeffy is the best choice because it's 100% free, packed with features like ticketing, donor management, and customizable forms — all with no fees.
Yes, Zeffy is a better alternative to GoFundMe for nonprofits. While GoFundMe is great for visibility, Zeffy offers a comprehensive suite of fundraising tools with no platform or processing fees, meaning more money goes directly to your cause. It’s especially beneficial for organizations that run ongoing campaigns or events.
Zeffy is currently the only fundraising platform that is 100% free — no platform fees, no processing fees. Other platforms may advertise “no platform fee” but still charge transaction or credit card fees. Zeffy covers its costs through optional donor contributions, so nonprofits never incur out-of-pocket expenses.
It depends on what you're crowdfunding for:
For nonprofits and community causes: Zeffy is the standout choice. It’s the only platform that’s 100% free with no hidden fees, and it includes robust tools like donor management, event ticketing, and customizable donation forms.
For personal or emergency campaigns: GoFundMe is well-known and trusted, making it a solid option for needy individuals.
For creative projects or startups: Kickstarter leads the way, offering access to a huge global backer community, especially for product launches and artistic ventures.
So, the best platform depends on your goals, but Zeffy wins for nonprofits looking to maximize their impact.
Build trust and relationships first. People give to people, not just causes. The most effective fundraising campaigns are grounded in authentic connection, clear communication, and transparency.
When donors feel emotionally connected and see the tangible impact of their gift, they are far more likely to contribute and continue contributing over time.
