ProMapRanker
Zeffy and Stripe Alternatives for Nonprofits in 2026
Simple donation forms for any size nonprofit · Pricing starts at: Free
Key takeaways
- Givebutter and BetterWorld are our picks for small nonprofits that want to keep more of each gift, thanks to donor-tip models with no platform fee when tips are on.
- Donorbox is the best straightforward donation-form choice, with clear tiered platform fees and Stripe and PayPal nonprofit processing rates.
- Fundraise Up suits nonprofits that want a high-converting checkout and are willing to pay a 4 percent platform fee for it.
- Stripe and PayPal are not fundraising platforms on their own, but they are the payment rails underneath many nonprofit tools, and their nonprofit rates matter.
- Always compare the all-in cost, platform fee plus processing fee, because a low platform fee with a high processing rate can cost more than it first appears.
Quick comparison
| Pick | Great for | Pricing starts at | Free tier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donorbox | Simple donation forms for any size nonprofit | Free | Yes | Visit |
 Givebutter | All-in-one fundraising for small nonprofits | Free | Yes | Visit |
 Fundraise Up | High-converting donation checkout | See website | No | Visit |
 GoFundMe Pro (formerly Classy) | Peer-to-peer and campaign fundraising at scale | See website | No | Visit |
 Stripe | Direct payment processing for nonprofits | Free | Yes | Visit |
 PayPal | Donations through a widely trusted checkout | Free | Yes | Visit |
 Donately | Simple forms and donor management | Free | Yes | Visit |
 BetterWorld | Free fundraising with auctions and events | Free | Yes | Visit |
The best Zeffy and Stripe alternatives for nonprofits
Zeffy is a free fundraising platform for nonprofits, funded by optional donor contributions, so a nonprofit keeps the full donation. That model sets a high bar: any alternative should be judged on what the nonprofit actually keeps after platform and processing fees. The options below include nonprofit-focused fundraising platforms, which add forms, campaigns, and donor tools, and general payment processors, which handle the payment itself. A processor alone does not give you campaign pages or donor management, so the two groups solve different parts of the job. We compared them on fees, nonprofit focus, campaign tools, and ease of setup.
Donorbox is the most straightforward nonprofit choice in this list. You can build donation forms, recurring giving pages, and crowdfunding campaigns quickly, and donors can cover fees if you enable that option. The Standard plan is free per month with a 2.95 percent platform fee, while Pro at $150 per month lowers the platform fee to 1.75 percent. Processing through Stripe nonprofit rates runs about 2.2 percent plus $0.30 per card gift, so the all-in cost on Standard is higher than the platform fee alone suggests.
That transparency is a plus. Donorbox states its fees plainly, and the paid plans add integrations, donor management, and support that small nonprofits may need as they grow. For a nonprofit that wants reliable forms without building a full fundraising suite, Donorbox is a solid, honest pick. Compare the all-in rate before you choose a tier.
- Nonprofit-focused forms and recurring giving
- Clear tiered fees
- Works with Stripe and PayPal nonprofit rates
- Platform fee sits on top of processing fees
- Advanced CRM features cost extra on higher plans
Givebutter is built for small nonprofits that want one tool for forms, campaigns, events, peer-to-peer fundraising, and donor management. Its headline model is donor tips: when tips are enabled, Givebutter charges no platform fee and guarantees the nonprofit pays no processing cost, because donors cover it through tips. When tips are disabled, a 3 percent platform fee applies, plus standard card processing of 2.9 percent plus $0.30, or 1.9 percent plus $0.30 for ACH gifts.
That tip model is close to Zeffy in spirit, since the cost falls on willing donors rather than the nonprofit. Givebutter also offers a Plus plan at $29 per month for advanced features. For a small nonprofit that wants a full fundraising toolkit without a monthly bill, Givebutter is our top nonprofit-focused pick, as long as you are comfortable asking donors for a tip.
- Nonprofit-focused all-in-one fundraising
- Donor tips can cover costs
- Campaigns, events, and donor CRM in one place
- Platform fee rises to 3 percent when donor tips are off
- Some advanced features need a paid Plus plan
Fundraise Up focuses on one job: turning more visitors into donors, and more one-time donors into recurring donors. Its checkout uses testing, suggested amounts, and recurring prompts to lift conversion, and it integrates with Stripe and PayPal for processing. That focus can pay off for a nonprofit with strong website traffic, where a small conversion gain outweighs a higher fee.
The fee is the catch. Fundraise Up charges a 4 percent platform fee per gift, plus processing fees, which makes the all-in cost one of the highest in this list. There is no free plan and no monthly subscription to offset it. For a nonprofit with high traffic and a clear conversion problem, Fundraise Up may earn its fee. For a small nonprofit, Givebutter or Donorbox will keep more of each gift.
- Checkout designed to raise conversion and recurring gifts
- AI and testing features
- Works with Stripe and PayPal
- 4 percent platform fee on top of processing
- No free plan
- Total cost is high for small nonprofits
GoFundMe Pro (formerly Classy)
Great for: Peer-to-peer and campaign fundraising at scale
GoFundMe Pro, formerly Classy, is a fundraising platform for nonprofits that run campaigns at scale, including peer-to-peer fundraising, events, and recurring giving. Its drag-and-drop page builder and campaign tools suit organizations with dedicated fundraising staff and regular campaigns. As part of GoFundMe, it also benefits from a large donor audience and brand recognition.
Pricing is custom by quote, so a small nonprofit cannot budget from a public price list. Platform fees vary by plan, and processing fees sit on top. For a mid-size or large nonprofit that runs many campaigns a year, GoFundMe Pro is a strong, proven choice. For a small nonprofit with one annual appeal, a free or low-cost form tool will be cheaper.
- Strong peer-to-peer and campaign tools
- Flexible fundraising pages
- Now part of GoFundMe
- Custom pricing by quote
- Platform fees vary by plan
- More than a small nonprofit needs
Stripe is the payment processor underneath many nonprofit tools, including Donorbox and Fundraise Up, and it can also be used directly. Eligible nonprofits pay a reduced card rate of 2.2 percent plus $0.30 per transaction, with no monthly fee for standard processing. That rate is the floor many platform fees stack on top of, which is why it matters in every comparison in this list.
Stripe alone does not give you donation forms, campaign pages, or donor management. You need a website, a form builder, or a fundraising platform on top of it. For a nonprofit with a developer or a website team that wants direct control and the lowest processing cost, Stripe is the right base. For a nonprofit that wants ready-made fundraising pages, pick a nonprofit platform that runs on Stripe instead.
- Nonprofit processing rate of 2.2 percent plus $0.30
- No monthly fee for standard processing
- Powers many fundraising platforms
- Not a fundraising platform on its own
- Needs a form, website, or platform to collect donations
PayPal is a familiar checkout for donors, and its charity rate for eligible nonprofits is 1.99 percent plus $0.49 per transaction. That rate can beat standard card rates for smaller gifts, though the fixed fee matters more on very small donations. Donation buttons, links, and QR codes make it easy to start collecting without a full platform, and many donors already have PayPal accounts.
PayPal alone does not offer campaign pages, peer-to-peer fundraising, or a donor CRM comparable to Givebutter or Donorbox. It works best as an added payment option alongside a fundraising platform, or as a simple first step for a very small nonprofit. Check charity eligibility and approval before budgeting from the charity rate.
- Charity rate of 1.99 percent plus $0.49
- Donors trust the PayPal checkout
- Donation buttons and links are easy to add
- Not a full fundraising platform
- Charity rate needs eligibility and approval
- Donor data and tools are limited
Donately offers donation forms, fundraising pages, recurring giving, and basic donor management in a simple package. The free plan lets a small nonprofit start without a monthly bill, while a paid plan at $99 per month lowers the platform fee. That structure suits a nonprofit that wants more than a payment button, but less complexity than a large campaign platform.
The free plan platform fee is 4 percent, plus standard processing, so the all-in cost is high for a free plan. That makes Donately a good trial tool and a fair paid tool, but a costly free tool at volume. Compare the paid plan all-in cost with Donorbox Pro and Givebutter before committing, especially if recurring gifts will grow.
- Simple donation forms and pages
- Donor management and recurring giving
- Free plan for basic use
- Platform fee on the free plan is 4 percent plus processing
- Paid plan needed for lower fees
BetterWorld is a free nonprofit fundraising platform that covers auctions, raffles, ticketed events, giveaways, peer-to-peer campaigns, and recurring giving. Its Free Forever plan charges no platform fee and no subscription, with standard card processing of 2.9 percent plus $0.30, which most donors opt to cover. Paid Partner and Keystone plans add lower platform fees and more support for larger organizations.
BetterWorld is newer and smaller than GoFundMe Pro, so its integration ecosystem is thinner. For a small nonprofit that runs auctions, galas, or raffles, though, its event tools are a real advantage over a simple form tool. If your fundraising centers on events, BetterWorld is the best free pick in this list.
- No platform fee on the free plan
- Auctions, raffles, events, and peer-to-peer tools
- Donor-covered processing model
- Smaller ecosystem than GoFundMe Pro
- Paid plans needed for lower processing costs at scale
How we picked these
We compared vendor pricing pages, fee schedules, and feature lists for nonprofit fundraising platforms and payment processors that exist and work today, and we kept only options that truly serve nonprofits or process nonprofit donations. We favored nonprofit-focused tools, clear fee disclosure, and options across the cost range, from free tip-funded platforms to full campaign suites and direct processors. Fees quoted here are entry or published rates found in October 2026, and they can change, so check the vendor pricing page before you commit. We did not claim hands-on testing we did not do; our comparison rests on vendor documentation, pricing, and public fee comparisons.
How to choose the right fundraising option
Start with the all-in cost per gift. Add the platform fee and the processing fee together, then check whether donors can cover fees and how often they do. A platform with no platform fee but a high processing rate can cost more than a platform with a low platform fee and a nonprofit processing rate. Run the math on a typical gift size for your donors, not just on a $100 example, because fixed per-transaction fees matter more on small gifts.
Next, match the tool to your fundraising style. A nonprofit that relies on simple appeals needs good forms and recurring giving. A nonprofit that runs galas needs auctions and ticketing. A nonprofit that runs peer-to-peer campaigns needs team pages and social sharing. Pick the tool that covers your main campaign type well, rather than the tool with the longest feature list.
Test the donor experience before you launch
Donate a small test gift through your own form, on a phone and on a desktop, and check the receipt, the thank-you message, and the recurring option. A confusing checkout will cost more donations than a slightly higher fee. Also confirm that donor data flows into your CRM or email tool, so a campaign does not create manual data entry after every gift.
Keep nonprofit status and compliance in order
Confirm that your nonprofit status is current and that any charity processing rate, such as Stripe nonprofit pricing or PayPal charity pricing, is approved for your organization before you budget from it. Keep records of donations, fees, and receipts for accounting and tax reporting, and check your state fundraising rules if you solicit across state lines. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free alternative to Zeffy for nonprofits?
Givebutter and BetterWorld are the best free Zeffy alternatives for nonprofits, because both offer free plans funded by donor tips or donor-covered processing, with no platform fee on their free tiers. Donorbox also offers a free Standard plan, but it charges a platform fee. The best choice depends on whether you run events, simple appeals, or peer-to-peer campaigns.
Is Zeffy really free for nonprofits?
Zeffy describes itself as free for nonprofits, funded by optional donor contributions, so the nonprofit receives the full donation. Alternatives in this list use different models: some charge a platform fee, some rely on donor tips, and some charge only processing fees. Always check the current fee page, since models and rates can change.
What are the best Stripe alternatives for nonprofit donations?
Donorbox, Givebutter, and Fundraise Up are the best Stripe-based alternatives when you want ready-made fundraising pages on top of Stripe processing. PayPal is a direct alternative processor with its own charity rate and a widely trusted checkout. Stripe itself remains the lowest-cost processor for a nonprofit that can build its own forms.
What is the difference between a platform fee and a processing fee?
A platform fee is what the fundraising software charges for its tools, while a processing fee is what the payment processor charges to move the money. Many tools stack both fees, so the all-in cost is the sum of the two. Donor tips can cover one or both fees, depending on the platform, so check which fee donors actually cover.
Which nonprofit platform is best for recurring donations?
Donorbox, Givebutter, GoFundMe Pro, and BetterWorld all support recurring giving, with donor management and automated receipts. Givebutter and Donorbox are the simplest choices for a small nonprofit starting a monthly program. Fundraise Up focuses on converting one-time donors to recurring donors through its checkout, at a higher fee.
Should a small nonprofit use Stripe directly or a fundraising platform?
A small nonprofit should usually start with a fundraising platform like Givebutter, Donorbox, or BetterWorld, because it provides forms, receipts, and donor tools without development work. Use Stripe directly only when you have a website team and want the lowest processing cost with full control. A platform that runs on Stripe gives you both ready-made tools and Stripe nonprofit processing rates.
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