Picking the right fundraising tool can feel overwhelming. There are so many options out there, and most of them seem to come with fine print, hidden fees, or confusing setups. If you’ve been using GoFundMe or thinking about it, you might have wondered: is there something better out there?
That’s where Zeffy comes in. It’s been getting a lot of attention for being 100% free, no fees taken out of donations at all. But is it really better than GoFundMe? And more importantly, will it actually help you raise more money for your cause?
In this guide, we’ll share what we’ve learned by working with hundreds of fundraising teams and nonprofits. We'll walk through the real differences between Zeffy and GoFundMe, what they cost, how they work, and how each one supports your donors and your mission.
How fundraising platforms make (or take) money
When you're choosing a fundraising platform, one of the first things to look at is how they make money. Because here’s the truth, most platforms take a cut, and that cut adds up fast.
What are platform fees and processing fees?
Let’s break it down. A platform fee is a percentage that the fundraising company takes right off the top of each donation. A processing fee is what the credit card companies charge to move the money. Some platforms charge both, and others, like Zeffy, don’t take anything at all.
Zeffy doesn’t charge any platform or processing fees. Instead, they ask donors if they’d like to leave a tip to help cover costs. GoFundMe, on the other hand, charges standard credit card processing fees, even if they’ve removed their platform fee. That means for every $100 someone gives, you might only get $96 or less.
This difference is huge, especially if you’re a small nonprofit or trying to make every dollar count. We’ve seen partners lose thousands each year just to fees. That’s money that could be going straight to your programs or community.
Credit card and payment processing fees comparison
Let’s talk about where the money goes after someone hits “donate.” Every time someone gives using a credit card, there’s a payment processing fee, usually around 2.2% to 2.9%, plus a small fixed fee like $0.30. These are standard charges from credit card companies like Visa or Mastercard.
GoFundMe passes those fees onto you. So, if someone donates $50, you might see $48 and some change after the fees come out. It may not seem like much at first, but over hundreds of donations, it really adds up.
Zeffy does it differently. They cover the payment processing fees by asking donors to chip in with an optional tip. If a donor doesn’t tip? That’s okay, you still get the full donation amount. No deductions. No surprises.
We've heard from nonprofits that this small switch makes a big difference. It keeps their budgets cleaner and their fundraising more predictable. If you’re tired of seeing donations shrink before they even reach your bank, this part alone could be a game-changer.
Zeffy vs GoFundMe: head-to-head feature comparison
Features can make or break your fundraising experience. Some tools promise everything but feel clunky or hard to use. Others are simple but don’t offer enough. We’ve worked with teams who tried both GoFundMe and Zeffy, and here’s how the features really compare.
Free fundraising vs. platform fees
Zeffy’s biggest selling point is clear: it’s free. Every dollar raised goes directly to you. That’s because they skip the platform and processing fees altogether, something almost no other platform does. Instead, they ask donors if they want to leave a tip to keep Zeffy running. It’s a smart way to stay transparent without cutting into your donations.
GoFundMe doesn’t charge a platform fee in most cases, but you’ll still pay payment processing fees. So even if it says “free,” you’re not getting the full donation. Plus, GoFundMe is more focused on personal fundraising. It works fine for one-time needs, like a medical bill or travel fund, but for nonprofits? It’s easy to outgrow.
With Zeffy, we’ve seen teams fundraise for everything from events to recurring campaigns. And they’re not worried about losing money along the way. If you’re looking to stretch every dollar, starting with a truly fee-free tool is a huge win.
Fundraising tools and donor engagement features
When it comes to keeping donors excited and coming back, the tools you use really matter. This is where Zeffy pulls ahead for a lot of nonprofits.
Zeffy offers more than just a basic donation form. You can set up events, sell tickets, launch peer-to-peer fundraising, and even send automated tax receipts, all from one place. Everything’s designed to help you raise money without needing a tech expert. Donors get a smooth experience, and you get tools that actually save time.
GoFundMe is simple to set up, but it's also limited. It's great for quick, one-time campaigns, especially for individuals, but there’s no built-in way to run events, track donors long-term, or manage different kinds of giving. It’s more of a “set it and forget it” platform.
We’ve worked with nonprofits who switched to Zeffy and suddenly felt like they had room to grow. They could test new fundraising ideas, reach new donors, and keep people engaged, all without paying for extra tools or services.
Fundraising platform ease of use
Nobody wants to spend hours figuring out how to launch a fundraiser. The easier the platform, the faster you can get back to doing the real work.
GoFundMe is known for being easy to set up. You fill out a few fields, write your story, and you’re live. But that simplicity can also be a limitation. You don’t get much control over the layout or features, and there’s not a lot of room to grow beyond that first campaign.
We’ve heard from lots of partners who say they felt stuck or unsupported using GoFundMe. Switching to Zeffy gave them more confidence to experiment, try new ideas, and actually enjoy the fundraising process.
Donor management and communication
Good fundraising isn’t just about collecting donations, it’s about building relationships. And that starts with how you manage your donors and stay in touch with them.
Zeffy helps you do more than just track donations. It keeps donor info organized, lets people manage their own profiles, and makes it easy to send updates or thank-yous. You can even set up automatic emails that go out after someone gives. That personal touch can turn a one-time gift into long-term support.
GoFundMe doesn’t offer much in this area. Once the donation is made, communication is mostly manual. There’s no built-in donor database or automated messaging. It works fine if you’re just running a one-time fundraiser, but it falls short if you're trying to build a community of supporters.
We’ve seen teams grow faster and retain more donors just by having better tools to stay connected. Zeffy makes it easy to keep donors engaged without needing another platform or a bunch of extra steps.
User support and fundraising success stories
When you're running a campaign, especially for the first time, having help can make all the difference. Whether it's a tech issue, a question about features, or just needing a second opinion, support matters.
This is where Zeffy really shines. Their support team is fast, helpful, and genuinely invested in helping you succeed. We’ve heard from partners who reached out and got thoughtful, personal responses, sometimes even same-day help. It feels like talking to someone who’s on your side, not just reading off a script.
GoFundMe has support too, but it can be slower and less personal. Many users mention feeling left on their own once the campaign goes live. And if you’re dealing with donations, timing matters, waiting days for a response can be stressful.
There are also real stories that back this up. One nonprofit switched from GoFundMe to Zeffy and saved over $1,700 in fees. But the best part? They said the switch felt like gaining a partner, not just picking a new tool. That kind of support doesn’t just solve problems, it builds confidence.
How nonprofits can save thousands in fees
Let’s be honest, every dollar counts. And when a platform takes a cut of your donations, it adds up fast.
We’ve seen it firsthand. One nonprofit we worked with was using GoFundMe for a series of campaigns. Over a year, they paid more than $1,700 just in processing fees. That’s money that could’ve gone toward supplies, programs, or staff support. When they switched to Zeffy, the difference was immediate. They kept 100% of what donors gave, and started raising even more because donors appreciated knowing every cent was going to the cause.
It’s not just about one campaign. If you’re fundraising regularly, even small fees can turn into thousands lost each year. Zeffy’s zero-fee model helps your budget stretch further and gives your team more breathing room. Plus, you don’t have to make awkward asks or raise your fundraising goals just to cover fees.
The switch doesn’t just save money, it changes how you plan, grow, and give back.
Going beyond: what GoFundMe doesn’t offer
GoFundMe is great for simple, short-term campaigns. But if you’re trying to grow a long-term fundraising strategy, there are some big things it just doesn’t provide. Here’s where Zeffy fills in the gaps and gives you room to grow.
Donor engagement through automation
Keeping donors involved after they give is one of the hardest, and most important, parts of fundraising. With GoFundMe, that job mostly falls on you. You’ll need to track who gave, send updates manually, and find your own way to say thank you.
Zeffy makes that part way easier. You can set up automatic thank-you emails, donation receipts, and updates. You don’t need extra software or a big team to do it. It all runs in the background while you focus on your mission.
And donors notice. When they get a warm, personal follow-up, without you lifting a finger, it builds trust and keeps them coming back. Automation doesn’t just save time. It makes every donor feel seen, even if your team is small.
Social media integration and campaign reach
A big part of fundraising today happens online, and that means your campaign needs to work well with social media. Getting the word out fast, sharing updates, and making it easy for others to spread the word is key.
GoFundMe makes sharing easy with a built-in button, but that’s about it. You don’t get tools to track how your campaign is performing on social or encourage people to come back and donate again.
Zeffy takes it a step further. You can link your campaigns to social channels, track performance, and keep your branding consistent across platforms. Plus, with features like peer-to-peer fundraising, your supporters can create their own mini-campaigns and invite their networks to join in.
This kind of reach helps your campaign grow beyond your immediate circle, and it works while you’re focused on everything else. For teams with limited time and budget, it’s a simple way to get more eyes on your cause.
Conclusion
Both Zeffy and GoFundMe have their strengths, but the right choice really depends on your goals.
We've seen teams save thousands, run smoother campaigns, and keep donors coming back, just by switching to a platform that works with them, not against them.
Want a fundraising partner, not just a platform? Harness gives you expert strategy, personalized tech, and tools designed to grow your donor base and impact. Explore smarter fundraising at goharness.com.
