Givebutter vs Zeffy: Which Free Fundraising Platform Is Right for You?

Both Givebutter and Zeffy have disrupted nonprofit fundraising by proving that full-featured donation platforms can operate without charging organizations a penny. Using donor tipping models where contributors voluntarily cover platform costs, these platforms let churches keep 100% of every donation.

But which one is right for your church? This comparison examines both platforms across features, user experience, and practical considerations.

How the Free Model Works

Both platforms operate on the same fundamental principle: instead of charging nonprofits, they invite donors to add an optional tip when giving. This tip covers platform operations while organizations receive the full donation amount minus only payment processing fees.

Givebutter's Approach

When donors give through Givebutter, they see their donation amount plus a suggested tip to "support Givebutter." The tip is pre-selected (typically 15%) but donors can adjust it to any amount, including zero.

About 80% of donors leave some tip, which funds Givebutter's operations. Your church receives 100% of the donation amount. Payment processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 for cards, 1% + $0.30 for ACH) come out of the donor's tip or, if they tip zero, from the donation itself.

Zeffy's Approach

Zeffy works similarly - donors see an optional contribution to Zeffy when completing their gift. The default suggestion is 15% but can be adjusted or removed entirely.

Zeffy reports that about 75-80% of donors contribute something, funding the platform. Organizations receive 100% of donations. Payment processing is included - Zeffy absorbs the processing costs from the tips they receive.

The Key Difference

Givebutter passes payment processing fees through (they come from somewhere - either the tip or the donation). Zeffy absorbs processing fees entirely, meaning organizations truly receive 100% with no deductions.

In practice, both models result in organizations receiving very close to 100% of donation amounts when donors tip. When donors don't tip, Givebutter deducts processing fees while Zeffy doesn't.

Feature Comparison

Donation Forms

Givebutter offers highly customizable donation pages with your branding, custom fields, and designated fund options. The form builder supports various donation types and suggested amounts. Forms embed on websites or exist as standalone pages.

Zeffy provides clean, straightforward donation forms with customization for branding and funds. The interface prioritizes simplicity over extensive options. Forms work well embedded or standalone.

Winner: Givebutter for customization options; Zeffy for simplicity.

Recurring Giving

Givebutter handles recurring donations with multiple frequency options (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually). Donors manage their recurring gifts through their account. Failed payment retry logic reduces involuntary churn.

Zeffy supports recurring giving with standard frequency options. Donor management works through their portal. The implementation is solid if less feature-rich than Givebutter.

Winner: Tie - both handle recurring giving adequately.

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Givebutter excels at peer-to-peer campaigns. Supporters create personal fundraising pages connected to your campaign. Gamification features include leaderboards and team competitions. The interface makes sharing natural.

Zeffy offers peer-to-peer fundraising with personal pages and campaign connections. The feature works but feels less polished than Givebutter's implementation.

Winner: Givebutter for more developed peer-to-peer features.

Event Ticketing

Givebutter integrates event ticketing with donations. Sell tickets at various price points, manage capacity, and collect donations in the same transaction. Works well for galas and fundraising events.

Zeffy provides solid event ticketing with similar capabilities. Create ticket types, manage registration, and handle payments. The auction feature adds value for charity events.

Winner: Tie - both handle events capably.

Membership Management

Givebutter focuses primarily on donations and events. Membership features exist but aren't the platform's strength.

Zeffy includes dedicated membership management for organizations with dues-paying members. Track member status, automate renewals, and manage membership levels.

Winner: Zeffy for organizations needing membership management.

Donor CRM

Givebutter includes a capable donor CRM with giving history, contact management, and segmentation. Track donor engagement, create targeted lists, and analyze giving patterns. Email marketing tools handle communications.

Zeffy provides basic donor management with giving history and contact information. The CRM is functional but less sophisticated than Givebutter's offering.

Winner: Givebutter for more developed CRM capabilities.

Reporting and Analytics

Givebutter offers dashboards showing campaign performance, donor analytics, and fundraising trends. Export data for external analysis. The interface makes understanding performance intuitive.

Zeffy provides standard reporting with donation tracking and basic analytics. Reports cover essential information without extensive customization.

Winner: Givebutter for more detailed analytics.

User Experience

For Organizations

Givebutter presents a modern, polished interface with clear navigation. The dashboard provides immediate visibility into fundraising activity. Setup flows guide new users through configuration.

Zeffy offers a clean, simple interface that prioritizes ease of use over feature density. The learning curve is minimal. Setup requires less time than more complex platforms.

For Donors

Givebutter provides a smooth checkout experience with clear tip presentation. Mobile experience works well. Multiple payment options available.

Zeffy offers equally smooth checkout with perhaps slightly simpler presentation. The tip interface is clear and easily adjusted. Mobile works well.

Both platforms create positive donor experiences. Neither makes the tipping feel pressuring or confusing.

Practical Considerations

For Small Churches

Zeffy often makes more sense for small churches just starting with online giving. The simpler interface means faster setup. Membership management helps if applicable. The truly-zero-fee model (when donors tip) means small donations aren't eroded by processing fees.

For Active Fundraising

Givebutter shines when you're running active campaigns, peer-to-peer fundraising, or events. The CRM and automation features support sophisticated fundraising strategies. If you'll fully utilize the platform's capabilities, Givebutter delivers more tools.

For Basic Giving Needs

Either platform works for basic ongoing giving. If you just need a donation page for your website and don't plan extensive campaigns, choose whichever interface you prefer.

Integration Capabilities

Givebutter Integrations

• Salesforce CRM
• Mailchimp email marketing
• Zapier (connects to 5000+ apps)
• Facebook Fundraisers
• Double the Donation matching

Zeffy Integrations

• Limited native integrations
• Data export for manual connections
• Growing integration ecosystem

Winner: Givebutter for more extensive integration options.

Geographic Considerations

Givebutter operates primarily in the United States with strong US payment processing and compliance.

Zeffy started in Canada and serves both Canadian and US organizations well. Canadian charities may find Zeffy's CRA compliance particularly relevant.

Making Your Choice

Choose Givebutter When:

• You run active fundraising campaigns throughout the year
• Peer-to-peer fundraising is important to your strategy
• You need sophisticated donor CRM capabilities
• Integration with other systems matters
• You want detailed analytics and reporting

Choose Zeffy When:

• You want the simplest possible setup
• Membership management is needed
• You're a Canadian charity (or serve Canadian donors)
• You prefer a truly-zero-fee model when donors tip
• Basic giving functionality meets your needs

Or Consider Both

Some organizations use both platforms for different purposes. Zeffy handles ongoing giving while Givebutter powers specific campaigns. The platforms don't conflict, and both are free to maintain.

The Donor Perspective

A word about how donors perceive the tip model: concerns about donor reaction are common but rarely materialize. Most donors understand that platforms have operating costs. The transparency of the tip model - where donors see exactly what goes where - often builds more trust than hidden fees.

That said, you know your congregation. If you sense the tip interface would create discomfort, test it with a small group first or prepare communication explaining how the model works.

Conclusion

Both Givebutter and Zeffy deliver on their promise of free fundraising for nonprofits. Neither is objectively "better" - they serve different needs and preferences.

Givebutter offers more power for organizations actively fundraising. The CRM, peer-to-peer features, and analytics support sophisticated strategies. If you'll use these capabilities, Givebutter's depth adds value.

Zeffy offers elegant simplicity for organizations wanting basic giving without complexity. The membership features and truly-zero-fee model when donors tip make it particularly attractive for straightforward needs.

Consider trying both with test campaigns before committing. Both platforms let you create accounts and explore at no cost. Your team's experience using each interface often clarifies which fits best.

The good news: either choice lets your church receive 100% of donations without platform fees. That's a dramatic improvement over traditional fundraising platforms, regardless of which one you choose.