BetterWorld vs Zeffy: side-by-side overview

BetterWorld is the better choice for most US nonprofits because it supports more campaign types (auctions, giveaways, crowdfunding, impact giving), offers stronger US-focused integrations, and keeps checkout free of donor tip prompts. Zeffy is the better fit for very small, volunteer-run organizations whose top priority is eliminating credit card processing fees entirely.

BetterWorld is an all-in-one fundraising platform built for US nonprofits, offering donation forms, peer-to-peer fundraising, online auctions, event ticketing, crowdfunding, giveaways, and impact giving with no platform fee on its standard plan. Zeffy is a Canadian-built fundraising platform (formerly Simplyk) that covers all payment processing fees for nonprofits by asking donors for an optional tip at checkout.

BetterWorld vs Zeffy at a glance

Fees are where most comparisons start and stop, but they're only one variable. The sections below cover the differences that actually shape day-to-day fundraising.

How do BetterWorld and Zeffy pricing models compare?

Both platforms charge no platform fee, but they handle payment processing differently: Zeffy covers processing fees by prompting donors to tip Zeffy at checkout, while BetterWorld uses standard processing rates with no tip prompt.

Zeffy's model

Zeffy covers 100% of credit card processing fees and funds this through an optional donor tip on every transaction. If your donors tip generously, your organization keeps every dollar raised. The tradeoff: some donors find the tip prompt confusing and assume the extra amount was a mistake — and when they do, they contact your team, not Zeffy's. Reviews on Capterra and GetApp note this creates a small but real support burden.

BetterWorld's model

BetterWorld charges no platform fee on standard fundraising, so nonprofits keep 100% of donations. Standard processing rates apply (roughly 2.2–2.9% + $0.30 per transaction), in line with industry norms. There is no tip prompt — checkout stays clean. Nonprofits that want lower processing costs can upgrade to paid plans:

• Flex Plan: ~2.2–5% platform fee, removes the optional donor prompt
• Partner Plan: $1,550/year with ~1.25% platform fee and priority support
• Keystone/Enterprise: ~$5,950/year with 1% platform fee and advanced controls

The honest take: both deliver on the zero-platform-fee promise. BetterWorld keeps the donor experience clean; Zeffy eliminates processing fees but adds a checkout prompt some donors find confusing. If donor trust and a frictionless checkout matter to your organization, that distinction matters.

Which platform supports more campaign types?

BetterWorld supports significantly more campaign types than Zeffy, including online auctions, giveaways, crowdfunding, and impact giving — none of which Zeffy offers.

Zeffy handles the fundamentals well: donation forms, peer-to-peer, event ticketing, memberships, and a basic e-commerce store. But organizations that want to run a silent auction, a raffle, or a crowdfunding campaign will need a second platform.

BetterWorld runs everything from one dashboard:

• Peer-to-peer fundraising with individual and team pages
• Online auctions (silent and live)
• Event ticketing with check-in tools
• Crowdfunding, giveaways, and raffles
• Impact giving tied to specific outcomes
• Donation forms with recurring giving

That breadth matters operationally: one login, one donor database, one reporting dashboard. Every extra platform your team manages adds credentials, data silos, and reconciliation work. When your spring walk-a-thon, fall gala auction, and year-end campaign all live in one system, your team spends less time on admin and more time fundraising.

Which platform has better integrations for US nonprofits?

BetterWorld is built exclusively for US nonprofits and integrates natively with DonorPerfect, Little Green Light, Mailchimp, HubSpot, Google Sheets, Slack, PayPal, Venmo, and Google Pay. Zeffy's US-specific integration list is more limited.

If your team tracks relationships in DonorPerfect, sends email through Mailchimp, and runs marketing in HubSpot, BetterWorld connects to all three without manual exports or workarounds. Zeffy, which serves both the US and Canada, may require more manual data management to achieve the same result — a difference that adds up fast for a small team already stretched thin.

How do the donor checkout experiences differ?

BetterWorld's checkout has no tip prompt; Zeffy's includes an optional tip request on every transaction.

Donor experience drives conversion rates, and friction at checkout costs money whether you measure it or not. Zeffy's tip prompt is clearly labeled, but for some donors — particularly older supporters or those less comfortable with digital payments — it introduces doubt at the worst possible moment: right before they confirm their gift. A checkout that creates even a few seconds of confusion can reduce completion rates. On a campaign generating 500 transactions, a 2% drop is 10 lost donations.

BetterWorld's checkout shows donors the amount they chose, the payment options they expect (credit card, PayPal, Venmo, Google Pay), and a clean confirmation. That experience is also part of your nonprofit's professional impression on every supporter who gives.

When is Zeffy the better choice?

Zeffy is the better choice for very small or volunteer-run nonprofits whose fundraising is limited to donation forms and basic events, and whose top priority is eliminating processing fees.

Zeffy has two genuine strengths. First, the fee savings are real: on $100,000 raised, standard processing fees cost roughly $2,200–$3,000 — Zeffy absorbs all of it. Second, its interface is simple, with a low learning curve for a part-time staff member or volunteer managing fundraising alone. If those two factors outweigh campaign breadth, US integrations, and checkout experience for your organization, Zeffy is a legitimate choice. For most nonprofits with growth ambitions, they don't.

Which platform should your nonprofit choose?

Choose BetterWorld if:

• You run (or plan to run) multiple campaign types: peer-to-peer, auctions, ticketing, crowdfunding
• You use DonorPerfect, Little Green Light, Mailchimp, HubSpot, or PayPal/Venmo
• Donor experience and a clean checkout are priorities
• You're a US nonprofit that wants one platform for your full fundraising calendar

Choose Zeffy if:

• Your fundraising is primarily donation forms and basic events
• Eliminating processing fees is your single most important criterion
• You're a very small or volunteer-run organization that needs the simplest possible setup

The clearest BetterWorld fit: a small to mid-sized US nonprofit running a mix of campaigns through the year — a peer-to-peer walk in spring, a gala with a silent auction in fall, a year-end giving push in December — all from one platform, one donor database, and one reporting dashboard.

Frequently asked questions

1. Is Zeffy really free for nonprofits?

Yes. Zeffy charges no platform or processing fees to nonprofits. It funds its model by asking donors for an optional tip at checkout on every transaction, which some donors find confusing.

2. Does BetterWorld charge a platform fee?

No. BetterWorld's standard plan has no platform fee, so nonprofits keep 100% of donations. Standard payment processing rates (roughly 2.2–2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) apply, and paid plans are available to reduce or remove those costs.

3. Can Zeffy run online auctions or giveaways?

No. Zeffy supports donation forms, peer-to-peer fundraising, events, memberships, and basic e-commerce, but it does not offer auctions, giveaways, raffles, crowdfunding, or impact giving. BetterWorld supports all of these from one dashboard.

4. Which platform is better for US nonprofits?

BetterWorld is built exclusively for US nonprofits and integrates with DonorPerfect, Little Green Light, Mailchimp, HubSpot, PayPal, Venmo, and Google Pay. Zeffy serves both the US and Canada and offers fewer US-specific integrations.

5. Does BetterWorld ask donors for tips at checkout?

No. BetterWorld's standard checkout has no donor tip prompt. Donors see the amount they chose, their preferred payment method, and a clean confirmation.

Ready to see BetterWorld in action?

BetterWorld is free to start, takes minutes to set up, and covers every campaign type your nonprofit is likely to need — no platform fee, no contracts, and no tip prompts in your donor checkout. 

Start your free campaign on BetterWorld and see why small and mid-sized US nonprofits choose it as their all-in-one fundraising platform.