We use cookies to improve your experience on our platform. By clicking “Accept all cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies required for basic website functionality.
Cookies used to deliver content most relevant to you and your needs.
Cookies used to deliver content most relevant to you and your needs.
Cookies that help understand the performance of the website, how users interact with it and to identify bugs.
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 8 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.
RegFox: an affordable, streamlined event management solution with a user interface built for small to medium-sized events.
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 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.
<H2>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.
<H3>Key features
Beautiful, modern templates
Great for virtual and hybrid event branding
Design-forward email marketing and tracking tools
<H3>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
<H3>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
<H2>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.
<H3>Key features
Donor/member management system with event tools
Real-time event data tied to the member database
Transparent pricing model
<H3>Pricing
Tiered pricing based on member count, with up to a 15% discount when you pay for 2 years right from the start
Eventbrite: Frequently asked questions
Eventbrite is an online marketplace for event organizers and attendees. Event organizers can create events, promote them broadly, and sell e-tickets. Eventbrite profits by taking a cut of any paid events hosted through the platform. It also offers free events.
Eventbrite and Ticketmaster are similar event management tools, with key differences from cost to functionality.
Ticketmaster is a platform that allows you to buy verified tickets for everything from concerts and sporting events to theater and other live events. Ticketmaster tends to favor larger-scale events, whereas Eventbrite can accommodate large and small events.
Key features that bring people to Ticketmaster:
100% real tickets and transparent ticketing details on each event page
Smart Queue for new ticket drops that can eliminate the risk of bots purchasing tickets over humans
Reliable refunds for cancellations
Fan support to boost the attendee experience
Reusable event templates
Custom pre-sale and offer configurations
Event virtual assistants
In-app collaboration and real-time interactions with promoters, agents, and other stakeholders for the event
Inventory and revenue management
Both Ticketmaster and Eventbrite charge fees for using their services. Eventbrite’s fees may be slightly lower with free events and nonprofit discounts. Ticketmaster does have proven reach and value for those using its platform for more extravagant events.
It’s also important to note that both platforms have seen controversy in the past few years that may impact attendee trust. Ticketmaster has been circling in headlines over a massive Taylor Swift concert ticket issue, while Eventbrite is being called out for canceling specific events based on topic.
You can create an Eventbrite event for free if you do not charge participants, supporters, or guests to attend. When ticket sales are a part of the event, there are fees associated with each purchase (3.7% + $1.79 service fee per ticket, 2.9% payment processing fee per order). For nonprofits, it's important to know that ticket buyers pay fees unless you choose to cover them, so there may be considerations regarding donor experience and planning for fees in a fundraising budget. 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 not many are specialized for nonprofit organizations.
YWCA Lethbridge succeeded when it traded in Eventbrite’s high fees and confusing reporting by using PayPal as a payment processor for an alternative solution in Zeffy. 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.
"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
"With all the work you put into these events, you never know if it is going to be successful. The unknown is hard to deal with. Zeffy was helpful because it always worked."-Catherine Champagne, External Relations Director at YWCA Lethbridge
Eventbrite works for many event planners, while others encounter challenges that prompt them to find a cheaper option. Comparing other sites like Eventbrite can help you make the best choice.
Here’s a glimpse at what Eventbrite users have to say about the platform:
Eventbrite has a 1.2/5 rating on Trustpilot, with some concerns from event planners and attendees who use the platform to register for experiences that interest them.
On G2, Eventbrite has a 4.3/ 5 rating, and accolades for ease of use and event management, some notes of poor sales team and customer service experiences, and limited customization.
Capterra grants Eventbrite a 4.6 /5 rating, highlighting event planning functionality and an easy application with some mixed reviews about customer service experiences.
We suggest using the information you learn in this article and deep dives into both organization and attendee reviews to determine if Eventbrite is worth it for your unique needs. With attendee experience top of mind for nonprofit donor retention especially, knowing how people view the event tool you use will support you in maintaining a strong reputation and relationships.
Eventbrite is a huge event management company with relatively high platform and transaction fees. That means finding alternatives that will save your nonprofit money is easy.
Questions to help determine your event management requirements:
Does the tool support my custom event needs?
Will I be able to scale larger events?
Are fees charged if I want to branch out from free events?
Is there a process for smooth attendee check-in for live events and on-site event management?
Is there an upcharge for event marketing?
What event-related tasks do I want to automate?
Is there event promotion functionality to expand my reach past local events?
Do I need to consider sub-event management or secondary events?
Can I see enough actionable data from the available reporting tools to inform future events?
Can I appeal to ticket buyers with flexible payment processing?
Are there time-saving features for attendee engagement, from online event registration to relationship building at a physical event?
Event pages on Eventbrite can be customized to include aspects like:
Multiple time slots
A simple registration process
Ticket pricing or awareness of free tickets
Event venue details
Branding
Photos and visuals
Customer support
When you think about your event page on Eventbrite or any other event management platform, imagine any questions your supporters may have and answer them clearly through your content.
The best Eventbrite alternative for nonprofits will depend on your event management requirements. Zeffy’s event management software is unlike other event management platforms because it offers specialized functionality for nonprofits, including:
Scannable e-tickets that automatically generate
Customized questions for simpler event registration
Customizable event pages
Group and individual event tickets
An option to add a donation on event registration forms
Mobile-friendly event forms
Payment processing that includes all major payment methods
Attendee management
Consistent branding and easy setup for recurring events
Automatic tax receipts
Automated event promotion reminder emails for attendees
%201.avif)
