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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.
If you’re a grassroots nonprofit using Eventbrite to sell tickets, you’re probably losing 5–10% of your donations to fees. And if you're thinking, "We can’t afford to lose money just to host a fundraiser,” you’re not alone.
Small but powerful teams that are mostly volunteer-run and often under-resourced. It’s only natural to feel frustrated that platforms like Eventbrite weren’t built with them in mind. They’re paying high transaction fees, juggling clunky dashboards, and wondering if this is really the only option.
Luckily, it’s not because Zeffy was built for grassroots nonprofits as a 100% free, donor-friendly platform designed to help you keep every dollar you raise from fundraising events to your main donation page.
In this guide, we’ll explore Zeffy in depth alongside the most popular Eventbrite alternatives and break down where they shine (and fall short) so you don’t waste time getting to the best event fundraising software for your nonprofit. If you’re ready to stop losing money on fees, let’s dig in.
The 7 best Eventbrite alternatives for small nonprofits
Zeffy: the only 100% free alternative to Eventbrite for nonprofit event organizers.
Ticketspice: a ticketing platform known for transparent pricing, which can be helpful for nonprofits.
Whova: a technology-forward online event registration and event management software designed for larger organizations.
Splash: Ideal for event planning processes, featuring simple, design-forward templates and customizable reporting to manage events effectively today and in the future.
Wild Apricot: a solid option for nonprofit event planners who need to manage memberships alongside event registration and event ticketing.
GoTo Webinar: a simple solution for organizations that exclusively host webinars without worrying about event ticketing.
Jotform: a simple event ticketing solution with a suite of forms to help you automate the event management process.
What is Eventbrite and how does it work for nonprofits?
Eventbrite is a self-service ticket sales platform for events and other experiences. The integrated virtual event platform enables users to create and share events that others can discover and choose to attend.
Nonprofits often turn to Eventbrite to host fundraising events, from auctions and raffles to endurance events and Galas. However, the cost of these activities and the management of attendees differ from those of other fundraising activities.
That can leave small and scrappy organizations seeking affordable alternatives to Eventbrite and competitors with more functionality, catered to their needs, and potential savings on fees as they strive to raise money for their mission.
Key features of Eventbrite’s event registration software for nonprofits
Eventbrite offers functionality for event organizers like:
Creation of engaging events and event registration forms
Event marketing tools and promotional tools to boost reach
Auto-generated event listings
An event hub to reach more attendees
Social media marketing tools
Custom ticket sales
Free events available
Payment processing capabilities
Event management in a recognizable user interface
Hybrid events, group events, and Zoom events
While these features are helpful, they may add complexity for teams that are short on time, money, and team members.
How much does it cost to use Eventbrite?
Publishing free events on Eventbrite (no cost of admission) comes at no cost, and there are no upfront fees.
How do Eventbrite fees compare to other ticketing platforms?
For other fundraising events that do charge a ticket or entry fee, Eventbrite’s pricing structure is broken out as follows:
3.7% + $1.79 service fee per ticket
2.9% payment processing fee per order
Attendees pay fees unless your organization chooses to cover them.
Additionally, Eventbrite offers discounted ticket fees on donation tickets for nonprofits. Qualifying nonprofit organizations can access Eventbrite Pro plans for 50% off, which will enable them to send more event marketing emails and engage with guests more effectively.
Can grassroots nonprofits avoid ticketing and payment processing fees?
While Eventbrite offers free or discounted options, zero-fee fundraising events exist. Small or solo teams working to make the most of what they’ve got can use other event management alternatives, including those listed in this article and Zeffy, the only entirely free event management software specifically designed for small nonprofits.
With Zeffy, you can save on all fees and ensure that your supporters aren’t on the hook for them either, while getting simpler ways to host events quickly and efficiently.
Honestly, you might not need an alternative to Eventbrite. Some nonprofits find more flexibility, and ability to host a webinar, explore various forms, or expand brand presence at a lower cost as they scale with one of the Eventbrite competitors.
What are the disadvantages of using Eventbrite?
Honestly, maybe not if you’re a large organization with a fee budget and a dedicated tech team. Otherwise, there are some considerations to be sure you know before you make your choice.
But if you’re a grassroots nonprofit trying to stretch every dollar? You’ve probably already felt the friction:
Limited flexibility to grow or engage your community
That’s why scrappy, volunteer-run nonprofits are looking elsewhere. They’re choosing platforms like Zeffy that help them:
Keep 100% of their ticket sales and donations
Simplify event setup without extra admin tools or tech workarounds
Design forms and pages that look like them
Create a seamless experience across online, in-person, and hybrid events
Incorporate donor engagement — not just RSVPs
Track what’s working with nonprofit-specific reporting tools
This isn’t about switching platforms for the sake of it. It’s about finding a better fit that helps your team raise more, connect deeper, and scale impact without losing money along the way.
The best Eventbrite alternative depends on your organization's needs. Before choosing Eventbrite as your default ticket sales platform, consider your budget, the size of your event, and the type of event you are hosting.
Less expensive, easier to use, and more brand-friendly Eventbrite alternatives exist, and we’re here to share them with you in detail.
Zeffy: The best Eventbrite alternative (100% free)
Zeffy is the best event fundraising platform for grassroots nonprofits. It’s zero-fee model means you don’t pay a cent to transaction, platform, or upgrade fees as you use simple tools that are built for grassroots nonprofits to thrive.
We know what you’re thinking: A truly free Eventbrite alternative? Even if we charge for tickets? With no monthly fees, no credit card fees, and no weird fine print?
Most platforms say they’re built for nonprofits, but take a cut anyway. After fees, your “free” event suddenly costs you up to 7% of your hard-earned donations. That’s $700 paid to platforms and payment processors for every $10,000 your event raises.
Zeffy is different because we get those small, scrappy teams who can’t afford to waste a single dollar and shouldn’t have to.
Key features
100% free—no platform fees, no credit card fees
Unlimited events, campaigns, and transactions
Customizable ticketing pages and forms
In-person payment collection via Tap-to-Pay app
Easy attendee check-in with e-ticket scanning
Post-event analytics and automated marketing emails
Truly free: Zeffy operates on optional donor contributions
No hidden or monthly fees
Top benefits for grassroots nonprofits
Saves budget with zero fees
Excellent customer support with onboarding help
Designed specifically for nonprofit needs
“Zeffy provides an ideal platform form for event registrations for my non-profit organizations. Setting up events and managing registrations is quick and easy. Registration forms can include custom questions which is essential for our events. The ability to accept optional donations has proven helpful. The fee structure which ensures our non-profit receives 100% of the proceeds from registrations and donations is terrific.” - Cynthia L.
- A flat 99¢ fee per ticket (For tickets less than $5, the fee drops to 49¢ per ticket)
- Credit card processing rates of 2.9% + 30¢
- Additional monthly rates for additional features
Whova
You’re looking to offer participants a way to interact and connect during larger events.
- App to encourages attendee participation
- In-person and virtual event options
- Requires a personalized quote
Splash
You’re an event planner (or host a lot of events) needing user-friendly templates and event planning process are design-forward and built to show off your brand.
- Intuitive design and forms
- Resources to help you learn
- Virtual & hybrid events
- Free option: $0—but limited in terms of key features and number of attendees.
- Pro & Enterprise plan pricing available upon request.
- All plans come with Stripe processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30
Wild Apricot
Your nonprofit needs to manage memberships and event registration.
- Drag and drop event website builder
- Events calendar to publish on website
- Monthly fees range from $60 per month for 100 members to $900 per month for 50,000 members
- 2.9% + $.30 per credit-card transaction
GoTo
You host, manage event registration, and promote webinars, live streams, and other virtual events.
- Designed with the realities of hosting online webinars and events in mind
- Integration to CRM
- Lite: $59 for 250 participants.
- Standard: $129 for 500 participants.
- Pro: $249 for 1,000 participants.
- Enterprise: $499 for up to 3,000 participants.
Jotform
You’re looking for a ticket sales and event management platform that keeps things simple.
- Mobile-friendly forms
- Submission tracking
- Kiosk mode to collect information during events
- Starter: $0 with limited key features and participants.
- Upgraded plans range from $39/month to custom quotes
- The processing fee is dependent on the chosen payment gateway, typically around 2.9% + $0.30
*Nonprofit organizations receive a 50% discount on all plans.
Ticketspice: A transparent event management alternative to Eventbrite
When it comes to Eventbrite alternatives for nonprofits, few can claim to be built on transparency. Ticketspice is different.
Key features
Simple, user-friendly event page setup
Transparent per-ticket pricing
Modular add-ons for extra features
Pricing
Not free: TicketSpice has a flat fee of 99¢ per ticket + processing fee of 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction (For tickets less than $5, the per ticket fee drops to 49¢ per ticket)
Extra monthly fees for:
Automated email marketing ($9/month)
Text messaging ($19/month)
White label domain ($150/year)
Cashless payments on site ($0.25 per transaction)
Key benefits for nonprofits
Great for organizations that need straightforward pricing and quick setup
“We needed a ticketing system for a large event that we took over last year. It needed to be something easy for me to set up and easy for our registrants to use. TicketSpice did not disappoint. It was easy to set up, and even when I encounter something I can't figure out, their customer service responds within minutes.” - Sue
Whova: An Eventbrite alternative that specializes in attendee participation.
Whova has an impressive roster of organizations that trust it to help them deliver an unforgettable on various event pages.
Key features
Robust all-in-one event management software
Tools for attendee participation and networking
Trusted by large-scale conferences
Pricing
Custom quote only (must request a demo)
Top benefits for grassroots nonprofits
Perfect for nonprofits hosting high-engagement or professional events
“The "Attendees" portion of the app, specifically the "Browse Attendees by: RECOMMENDED" feature as it identifies and groups attendees along tags such as "town of origin", "professional associations", and especially "INTERESTS", which was a wonderfully pleasant surprise as I have pretty specific interests and hobbies that I learned were shared by other attendees. This made it VERY easy to connect as a common interest and icebreaker was already established between us. Great feature!” - Enrico G.
Splash: An Eventbrite competitor that makes you look good.
Splash is an event registration and marketing platform that can help manage your event pages—offline or online.
Key features
Beautiful, modern templates
Great for virtual and hybrid event branding
Design-forward email marketing and tracking tools
Pricing
Free tier option (limited features) has no platform fee, but requires a Stripe processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Other plans with full access to features require custom pricing and a demo
Top benefits for grassroots nonprofits
Strong branding for events
Useful for visibility and marketing
“Splash makes event landing page building easy, efficient and innovative. It saves our team time since we don't need to go through developers to build a site, you can do it yourself. The platform also offers our business with the tools to create and promote edgy and innovative sites for our events.” - Verified Reviewer
Wild Apricot: An event platform like Eventbrite that focuses on membership.
Wild Apricot is, first and foremost, donor membership software. Although it offers event management features, it isn’t as comprehensive or user-friendly as some of the other Eventbrite alternatives we’ve mentioned.
Key features
Donor/member management system with event tools
Real-time event data tied to the member database
Transparent pricing model
Pricing
Tiered pricing based on member count, with up to a 15% discount when you pay for 2 years right from the start
Responsive Table
Contacts
Price per month
100
$63
250
$78
500
$147
2,000
$252
5,000
$462
15,000
$556
50,000
$945
Additional charge of 2.9% + $.30 per credit-card transaction
Top benefits for grassroots nonprofits
Great for membership-based nonprofits
Combines event management + CRM
“Wild Apricot makes it easy to process registrations for events, dues payments, and store purchases in addition to being a website. It is very easy to use. There are user groups that you can join to get help from other users. Also, it is very easy to create a manual invoice for things that I might need a product for or a registration. There is also an app for administrators which is super convenient when to try to look up open invoices, etc. when away from the office.” - Melissa M.
GoTo Webinar: An Eventbrite competitor that specializes in virtual events.
GoTo Webinar is a huge online event and communication company specializing in webinar planning and hosting software.
Key features
Customizable webinar modes
Secure, enterprise-grade technology
Tools for audience interaction
Pricing
Based on attendee volume (custom quote required)
Top benefits for grassroots nonprofits
Ideal for webinars and virtual educational events
Highly reliable platform
“With GoTo Webinar, we can schedule live events for our prospective customers and conduct events with easy-to-use software which also allows us to take up questions from viewers. We can also keep track of how many internal and external viewers are attending the live event and monitor engagement.” - Verified User
Jotform: The ticket sales Eventbrite alternative that uses their profits for good.
Jotform is a great “out-of-the-box solution” and prides itself on having an incredibly easy user interface that integrates into your existing business platforms and apps.
Key features
Over 10,000 event form templates
Transparent pricing
Easy integrations with apps and CRMs
Pricing
Starter: $0 with limited key features and participants.
Bronze: $39/month for 25 forms and 1,000 participants.
Silver: $49/month for 50 forms and 2,500 participants.
Gold: $129/month for 100 forms and 10,000 participants.
Enterprise: Upon request
*Nonprofit organizations receive a 50% discount on all plans.
A processing fee applies depending on your chosen payment gateway, typically around 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
Top benefits for grassroots nonprofits
Streamlined setup for small events
Ethical brand mission and social impact
“The platform boasts a user-friendly drag-and-drop builder, extensive integrations with over 100 apps, and customizable templates. Advanced features like conditional logic, calculations, and payment integrations make it a powerful tool for various applications.” - Juarez M.
What should small & scrappy nonprofits look for in event management software?
Attendee engagement
A fundraising event isn’t just a night of entertainment; it’s a chance to deepen donor relationships. You’re not selling tickets; you’re building a community.
Look for zero-fee event tools that make it easy to:
Add interactive elements like polls, auctions, and raffles
Prompt social sharing and participation
Follow up after the event to keep the momentum going
Engagement shouldn’t require a full-time marketer. The right platform should bake it in so your team can create a connection without burnout.
Flexibility to host an in-person, hybrid, and virtual event
You might host a local trivia night in the church basement this month and a virtual speaker panel next. Your event software should keep up and make it easy to pivot between formats without starting from scratch.
Look for:
Simple tools for streaming or sharing links
Easy ticketing and check-in for both in-person and virtual guests
A smooth experience, no matter how supporters show up
When your reach expands, your impact does too, without requiring a travel budget.
Simplicity & affordability for large-scale events
Your team doesn’t have time to learn a 50-tab platform. You need something intuitive today that works when your event grows fivefold next year.
The right tool will:
Make setup quick for first-time users
Support large-scale events without jacking up fees
Keep things running with or without a dedicated event coordinator
You shouldn’t need to be a tech expert to host a 500-person gala. (And you definitely shouldn’t have to give up 5% of your donations to fees.)
Reliable customer support
When you’re under pressure, the last thing you want is to be stuck waiting on an email reply from a chatbot.
Choose a platform with:
Real humans who understand nonprofit timelines
Onboarding that actually helps (not just another PDF)
Quick turnaround when things go sideways
Because when something breaks the day before your event, you need answers, not auto-responses.
A full picture of event performance
What worked? What flopped? What could you do better next time? You need more than vanity metrics. It’s important to have insights that help you grow.
That includes:
Attendee and donor behavior
Fundraising performance across campaigns
Engagement by ticket type, location, or activity
Clear reporting gives your team confidence, shows your board real results, and helps you plan smarter, not harder.
A good ticketing platform for charity events should offer more than ticket sales. It should also provide flexible pricing options (including the ability to absorb or pass on fees), easy customization to reflect your nonprofit's branding, integrated tools for donations, recurring events, and supporter engagement.
Look for features that support in-person and virtual formats, allow seamless communication with attendees, and integrate with your existing CRM or email marketing tools.
You can create a free Eventbrite event if you do not charge participants, supporters, or guests to attend. When ticket sales are part of the event, fees are associated with each purchase (3.7% + $1.79 service fee per ticket, plus a 2.9% payment processing fee per order).
For nonprofits, it's essential to understand that ticket buyers typically pay fees unless you choose to cover them. This may require consideration of donor experience and cost planning in a fundraising budget, and is a big reason why nonprofits choose Zeffy to cut out fees entirely.
Sign up to start using Zeffy now.
Many event planners will need additional features to enhance attendees' experiences, which will require upgrading to a paid plan. Eventbrite offers a nonprofit discount on the Pro plan.
Many ticketing platforms are available, but few are specifically designed for nonprofit organizations like Zeffy. YWCA Lethbridge saw this when they went from Eventbrite’s high fees and confusing reporting to Zeffy’s 100% free solution.
The nonprofit has saved over $1,000 in platform and transaction fees, and it will have even more success as it makes the most of the 100% free, intuitive event platform, sharing:
"The fees associated with other platforms like Eventbrite and PayPal are a big hit for us (almost 10%). The fact that it’s free is crazy to me, but excellent." -Catherine Champagne, External Relations Director at YWCA Lethbridge Start saving with Zeffy
The best Eventbrite alternative for nonprofits is Zeffy, which offers nonprofit-focused features to manage several events and relationships with supporters at absolutely no cost to nonprofits.
Zeffy stands out as the best-supported platform for nonprofits because it's 100% free, meaning no ticketing or payment processing fees, and is designed specifically for fundraising needs. Wild Apricot also offers nonprofit-specific features, especially if you manage memberships alongside events.
Zeffy can help you collect donations and sell tickets without paying fees. It’s currently the only ticketing platform covering all transaction fees, allowing your nonprofit to keep 100% of ticket sales and donations. This is especially valuable for small—to mid-sized organizations looking to maximize every dollar raised.
A strong option for recurring nonprofit events will help you manage memberships and centralize communication with supporters. Zeffy is an excellent choice, and it’s 100% free.
Zeffy supports recurring events, recurring donations, and events such as auctions and raffles, making it ideal for organizations that host regular fundraisers or community activities without wanting to lose money to fees.
Learn about nonprofit membership management with Zeffy.
Yes! Zeffy is the only genuinely free alternative that covers all fees, making it the best option for small organizations. Jotform is another free option if you need a basic, form-based solution to collect RSVPs or donations for simpler events.
The best platforms for virtual fundraising events combine event management tools with features that boost engagement and donations. Zeffy is the only 100% free option for nonprofits, specializing in features that support fundraising from auctions to raffles.
Yes!
At Zeffy, we’re all about helping nonprofits place as much money as possible back into their mission. Events can be costly, but we don’t think the software you use to sell tickets, manage attendees, communicate with guests, and track performance should be.
Enjoy our free platform that will never surprise you with a fee, regardless of the size of your event or the features you want to access. We provide every nonprofit-specific feature for events and fundraising at no cost because we understand the importance of making a strong impression.
More importantly, we understand the importance of having a platform you can trust for all your events and campaigns. We’re here to help every step of the way with user-friendly tech and robust customer support.
It’s straightforward and quick to switch to Zeffy and start hosting events alongside other fundraising campaigns for free.
That’s because Zeffy has:
No contracts to sign or credit card information to add
Easy export of attendee and donor data through CSV files, you can download from Eventbrite
Intuitive setup to create events and add in your branding
Automated emails to share events with your community
Organizing a Charity Event: 8 Steps for Nonprofits
Not sure how to plan a fundraiser? Host your most successful event yet using our 8-step guide — and bring in more funds to your mission than ever before.
Nonprofit Ticketing Software: Best 10 Platforms (2025)
Looking for a ticketing software for your next big event? Compare Zeffy with Eventbrite, Donorbox, Classy, and more — and find the right solution for your organization.
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