Nonprofits · head to head
GiveSmart vs Zeffy
GiveSmart
Nonprofits
Mobile bidding and event fundraising for charity auctions and galas
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Zeffy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: GiveSmart licensing is annual while many buyers run a single event a year, so the effective cost per event is far higher than the annual figure makes it look.; Zeffy revenue model relies entirely on donor voluntary tips with no guaranteed income
- They diverge on capability: GiveSmart covers Mobile bidding, Zeffy covers Donation forms.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GiveSmart and Zeffy actually diverge.
Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Nonprofits).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in GiveSmart
- Mobile bidding
- Auction management
- Ticketing and check in
- Text to give
- Paddle raise and appeals
- Payment settlement
Only in Zeffy
- Donation forms
- Event ticketing
- Membership management
- Peer-to-peer fundraising
- Recurring donations
- Mailchimp
- Zapier
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
GiveSmart
- A hospital or school foundation running an annual gala with a live and silent auctionnot Zeffy
- An organisation losing revenue to uncollected pledges after event nightnot Zeffy
- A charity running several auction events a year that can amortise an annual licencenot Zeffy
- A team wanting bidding, check in and payment settlement handled by one system on the nightnot Zeffy
Zeffy
- Donation collection for nonprofitsnot GiveSmart
- Event ticketing with check-innot GiveSmart
- Membership sales with tiersnot GiveSmart
- Peer-to-peer fundraising campaignsnot GiveSmart
- In-person payment with Tap to Paynot GiveSmart
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
GiveSmart
- Licensing is annual while many buyers run a single event a year, so the effective cost per event is far higher than the annual figure makes it look.
- Pricing is not published, and quotes commonly separate the licence, payment processing, hardware and event night staffing, so the first number a buyer sees is rarely the total.
- On site technical support and equipment are usually extra, and organisations that decline them discover that event night is the worst possible time to be self supporting.
- It is event software rather than a donor CRM, so guest and bidder data has to be pushed into the CRM afterwards or the relationship built at the gala is not retained.
- Consolidation under Community Brands means several nominally competing products share an owner, which reduces the negotiating leverage a buyer thinks a shortlist gives them.
Zeffy
- Revenue model relies entirely on donor voluntary tips with no guaranteed income
- All features included equally with no upgrade path for additional capabilities
Pricing, plan by plan
GiveSmart
On request- GiveSmart$undefined/year
- Quoted as an annual licence rather than per event
- Payment processing charged separately on funds raised
- On site staffing, hardware and additional event support quoted as add ons
Zeffy
Free- Free ForeverFree
- Unlimited donations
- Ticketing
- Memberships
Which should you pick?
Choose GiveSmart if
- You need mobile bidding.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want auction management.
Choose Zeffy if
- You need donation forms.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want event ticketing.
Questions people ask
- Is GiveSmart or Zeffy better?
- Neither clearly leads. GiveSmart starts at On request and Zeffy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, GiveSmart or Zeffy?
- Zeffy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for GiveSmart and Free for Zeffy.
- Does GiveSmart or Zeffy run on more platforms?
- GiveSmart runs on Web, iOS, Android. Zeffy runs on Web, IOS, Android.
- Can I use Zeffy for free?
- Yes. Zeffy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. GiveSmart starts at On request.
- What is GiveSmart best used for?
- GiveSmart is most often used for a hospital or school foundation running an annual gala with a live and silent auction, an organisation losing revenue to uncollected pledges after event night, a charity running several auction events a year that can amortise an annual licence, a team wanting bidding, check in and payment settlement handled by one system on the night. Of those, a hospital or school foundation running an annual gala with a live and silent auction and an organisation losing revenue to uncollected pledges after event night are not what Zeffy is typically brought in for.
- What can GiveSmart do that Zeffy cannot?
- GiveSmart covers Mobile bidding, Auction management, Ticketing and check in, Text to give. Zeffy covers Donation forms, Event ticketing, Membership management, Peer-to-peer fundraising.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
GiveSmart: Is GiveSmart priced per event?
It is normally an annual licence, so organisations running one event a year carry the full cost against one night.
Zeffy: How much does Zeffy cost for nonprofits?
Zeffy is completely free for nonprofits. There are no platform fees, transaction fees, credit card processing fees, monthly subscriptions, or setup costs. Nonprofits retain 100% of funds raised.
SourceGiveSmart: Who owns GiveSmart?
Community Brands, the private equity backed nonprofit and association software group that also owns MemberClicks.
Zeffy: How does Zeffy make money if it's free?
Zeffy relies on voluntary donor tips at checkout. On average, 2 out of 3 donors leave a tip. Tips are optional and donors can opt out, but Zeffy operates on this voluntary contribution model.
SourceGiveSmart: Does it replace our donor database?
No. It captures bidders and guests at an event and needs to feed a CRM afterwards.
Zeffy: What nonprofit organizations can use Zeffy?
Schools, churches, sports teams, animal rescues, food banks, volunteer fire departments, arts organizations, and PTAs can all use Zeffy. Over 100,000 nonprofits globally use the platform.
SourceGiveSmart: What is the actual benefit over paper bid sheets?
Bidding continues across the room and payment settles before guests leave, which is where paper auctions lose money.
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