Softwr

Accounting · head to head

Melio vs Zeffy

Melio logo

Melio

Accounting

Simple business payments

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zeffy logo

Zeffy

Nonprofits

100% free fundraising platform for nonprofits

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Melio card payments incur flat 2.9% fee on all plans; Zeffy revenue model relies entirely on donor voluntary tips with no guaranteed income
  • They diverge on capability: Melio covers Vendor payments, Zeffy covers Donation forms.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Melio and Zeffy actually diverge.

Attributes where Melio and Zeffy differ
AttributeMelioZeffy
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsWeb, Mobile appWeb, IOS, Android
CategoryAccountingNonprofits
Founded20182019

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Melio

  • Vendor payments
  • Card to check
  • Payment scheduling
  • Approval workflows
  • QuickBooks sync
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero
  • FreshBooks

Only in Zeffy

  • Donation forms
  • Event ticketing
  • Membership management
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising
  • Recurring donations
  • Mailchimp
  • Zapier
  • Facebook

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Melio

  • Accounts payable automationnot Zeffy
  • Bill management and payment schedulingnot Zeffy
  • Multi-vendor payment processingnot Zeffy
  • Invoice receivables and payment collectionnot Zeffy

Zeffy

  • Donation collection for nonprofitsnot Melio
  • Event ticketing with check-innot Melio
  • Membership sales with tiersnot Melio
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising campaignsnot Melio
  • In-person payment with Tap to Paynot Melio

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Melio

  • Card payments incur flat 2.9% fee on all plans
  • International payments charged $20 flat fee or 2.9% conversion rate plus international fees
  • Paper checks cost $1.50 per check
  • Wire transfers cost $10 standard or up to 1% plus $10 for same-day processing
  • Core and Boost plans charged $10/month per additional user beyond base

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

Melio

Free
  • GoFree
    • 5 free ACH payments per month
    • Pay by card, wire, or check
    • Basic invoicing
  • Core$25/month
    • 20 free ACH payments per month
    • $20/month with annual billing
    • QuickBooks Online and Xero sync
  • Boost$55/month
    • 50 free ACH payments per month
    • $44/month with annual billing
    • QuickBooks Desktop sync
  • Unlimited$80/month
    • Unlimited free ACH payments
    • $64/month with annual billing
    • NetSuite sync

Zeffy

Free
  • Free ForeverFree
    • Unlimited donations
    • Ticketing
    • Memberships

Which should you pick?

Choose Melio if

  • You need vendor payments.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app.
  • You also want card to check.
Melio review

Choose Zeffy if

  • You need donation forms.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want event ticketing.
Zeffy review

Questions people ask

Is Melio or Zeffy better?
Neither clearly leads. Melio starts at Free and Zeffy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Melio or Zeffy?
Melio starts at Free and Zeffy at Free.
Does Melio or Zeffy run on more platforms?
Melio runs on Web, Mobile app. Zeffy runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Melio for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Melio best used for?
Melio is most often used for accounts payable automation, bill management and payment scheduling, multi-vendor payment processing, invoice receivables and payment collection. Of those, accounts payable automation and bill management and payment scheduling are not what Zeffy is typically brought in for.
What can Melio do that Zeffy cannot?
Melio covers Vendor payments, Card to check, Payment scheduling, Approval workflows. Zeffy covers Donation forms, Event ticketing, Membership management, Peer-to-peer fundraising. Both handle Web support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Melio: What does Melio charge for ACH payments?

Melio's free Go tier includes 5 free ACH payments per month. Core tier provides 20 free ACH payments per month at $25/month. Boost offers 50 free ACH payments at $55/month. Unlimited tier at $80/month includes unlimited free ACH payments.

Source
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.

Source
Melio: Does Melio charge fees for card payments?

Yes, Melio charges a flat 2.9% fee on all card payments. International card payments also include currency conversion charges and international fees beyond the base 2.9%.

Source
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.

Source
Melio: Can I use Melio for free?

Yes, Melio's free Go tier allows 5 free ACH payments per month with no subscription cost. Users can pay by card, wire, or check and access basic invoicing and payment link features.

Source
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.

Source
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