Givebutter vs Zeffy vs Better Giving in 2026, fees, gifts and eligibility compared

Suppose your board asks a simple question at its next meeting. Which donation platform should we use, and what will it cost us?

Three names come up often in 2026. Givebutter, Zeffy and Better Giving all offer free fundraising tools to nonprofits. They fund those tools in different ways, they accept different gifts and they serve different organisations.

We checked each platform's own pricing and help pages on 22 October 2026. Here is what we found. We run Better Giving, so weigh our section with that in mind and follow the links to check the facts yourself.

The short version

• Givebutter suits US nonprofits that run events, auctions and peer-to-peer campaigns and want a built-in CRM.
• Zeffy suits small nonprofits in the six countries it serves that need free donation forms and simple ticketing.
• Better Giving suits nonprofits that want card, bank, stock, crypto and DAF gifts in one form, and groups outside the US that need a fiscal sponsor.

How each platform pays for itself

Givebutter says on its pricing page that its tools are free "thanks to optional tips from donors". If you switch those off, Givebutter charges a flat 3% platform fee plus processing of 2.9% and 30 cents for cards, or 1.9% and 30 cents for ACH. Givebutter Plus, an optional paid tier, starts at $29 a month.

Zeffy says on its pricing page that it "makes money exclusively from optional tips from your donors". Nonprofits pay no platform or transaction fee.

Better Giving charges nonprofits no platform fee, no processing fee, no subscription and no annual fee. Donors can choose to make an optional donation to Better Giving. That donation is tax-deductible, because Better Giving is a 501(c)(3). It is opt-in and never pre-selected.

All three platforms rely on donors to cover the cost of the service. The difference lies in how the ask looks to your donor, and whether your donor can count it as a charitable gift.

Which gifts each platform accepts

Givebutter's payment methods page lists cards, PayPal, Venmo, Cash App Pay, ACH, digital wallets and DAF gifts. Its DAF option works only for verified nonprofit accounts, and its DAFpay page says fiscally sponsored organisations cannot use it. Stock appears only as an offline payment that an admin records. The page does not list crypto.

Zeffy's payment page lists cards, ACH in the US or PAD in Canada, Apple Pay, Google Pay, cheques and, on some US forms, DAF gifts over $1,000. It does not list stock or crypto.

Better Giving accepts card, digital wallets, Paypal, Venmo, ACH bank, stock, crypto, IRA/QCD ] and DAF gifts in the same donation form. For donors donating from outside the USA, any relevant payment optipon is automaticlly added, meaning people can donate using the method they want, from their country. The Better Giving match my gift feature lets donors check for an employer match inside the donation flow.

Who can sign up

Givebutter's countries page says it works primarily with US-based entities or entities with a US presence. A campaign needs a US bank account, a US EIN or Social Security Number and a US phone number.

Zeffy's eligibility page lists six countries, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and Germany. It does not serve organisations in Africa, Asia, Central and South America or most of Europe.

Better Giving serves US nonprofits directly. Groups outside the US and unincorporated groups can join through our fiscal sponsorship programme, which lets them issue US tax receipts to American donors.

What fiscal sponsorship costs on Better Giving

Fiscal sponsorship carries a flat 2.9% fee, with no set-up or annual fee. It is the only Better Giving service with a fee. A US nonprofit with its own 501(c)(3) status pays nothing.

How fast the money arrives

Givebutter lists bank and debit card deposits at 2 to 3 business days on its pricing page.

Better Giving pays out within 5 working days. You can also choose to hold funds with us for longer.

Ethics and donor consent

The National Council of Nonprofits has set out Principles for Ethical Online Fundraising Platforms, built on consent, transparency, partnership and accountability.

Better Giving is one of the 15 platforms that endorse them. Before you choose any platform, check whether it appears on that list.

Three hypothetical nonprofits and the best fit for each

• Picture a youth sports league in Ohio that runs an annual gala with a silent auction. Givebutter's event and auction tools fit that job well.
• Say a parent-teacher group in Ontario needs a free ticket form for a bake sale. Zeffy covers that at no cost.
• Imagine a clean-water charity in Uganda whose American supporters want to give stock or crypto. Better Giving's fiscal sponsorship lets it accept those gifts and issue US tax receipts.

Side-by-side summary

• Platform fee for nonprofits. Givebutter charges $0 with its "optional tips" ask switched on and 3% with it off. Zeffy charges $0. Better Giving charges $0 and only 1.5% if you want ‘optional donations’ switched off
• What donors see. Givebutter and Zeffy ask donors for "optional tips” to the platform. Better Giving asks for an optional donation to Better Giving, which is tax-deductible as it is a 501 (c)(3).
• Stock and crypto. Givebutter records stock offline only and does not list crypto. Zeffy lists neither. Better Giving accepts both online.
• Nonprofits outside the US. Givebutter needs a US bank account and US tax ID. Zeffy serves six countries. Better Giving offers fiscal sponsorship at 2.9% across the world.
• Payouts. Givebutter lists 2 to 3 business days. Better Giving pays within 5 working days.
• Employer donation matching. After every donation, Better Giving provides every donor with the information they need to get their employer to match their donation. Sometimes doubling the donation, but at no cost to the nonprofit

Frequently asked questions

Is Better Giving free for nonprofits?

Yes. Nonprofits pay no platform fee, no processing fee, no subscription and no annual fee. Donors can add an optional, tax-deductible donation to Better Giving.

Can a nonprofit outside the US use Givebutter or Zeffy?

Givebutter requires a US bank account, a US EIN or Social Security Number and a US phone number. Zeffy serves nonprofits in six countries. Better Giving accepts groups from other countries through fiscal sponsorship.

Which of the three accepts crypto donations?

On 22 October 2026, Better Giving was the only one of the three to list crypto as a payment option in its donation form.

How long do payouts take on Better Giving?

Payouts reach nonprofits within 5 working days.

What does fiscal sponsorship cost?

A flat 2.9%, with no set-up or annual fee.

Sources

• Givebutter, pricing, payment methods, supported countries and DAFpay, all checked 22 October 2026.
• Zeffy, pricing, countries and payment methods, all checked 22 October 2026.
• Better Giving, pricing and fiscal sponsorship.

Where to start

If stock, crypto and DAF gifts matter to your donors, or your group sits outside the US, we built Better Giving for you. Join free forever, and read our guide to donor-advised funds next.