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Nonprofits · head to head

Wild Apricot vs Zeffy

Wild Apricot logo

Wild Apricot

Nonprofits

Membership management for small associations and clubs

From
$60/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zeffy logo

Zeffy

Nonprofits

100% free fundraising platform for nonprofits

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zeffy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Wild Apricot the website builder is dated and constrained, and organisations that care about their public site usually end up running a separate site alongside it; Zeffy revenue model relies entirely on donor voluntary tips with no guaranteed income
  • They diverge on capability: Wild Apricot covers Member database, Zeffy covers Donation forms.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Wild Apricot and Zeffy actually diverge.

Attributes where Wild Apricot and Zeffy differ
AttributeWild ApricotZeffy
Starting price$60/monthFree
Pricing modelPer month by contact countfree
Free tierNoYes
FoundedUnknown2019

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 Wild Apricot

  • Member database
  • Automated renewals
  • Event registration
  • Website builder
  • Online payments
  • Email and newsletters

Only in Zeffy

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

What people use each for

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

Wild Apricot

  • Small associations and clubs replacing a spreadsheet and a separate websitenot Zeffy
  • Volunteer-run organisations needing unlimited administrators without per-seat costnot Zeffy
  • Professional bodies handling dues renewals and a member directorynot Zeffy
  • Groups running paid events for members alongside membership subscriptionsnot Zeffy

Zeffy

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

Where each one falls short

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

Wild Apricot

  • The website builder is dated and constrained, and organisations that care about their public site usually end up running a separate site alongside it
  • Pricing by contact count means lapsed members and non-member contacts push you into a higher tier unless the database is actively pruned
  • Every module is adequate rather than good, so any organisation with a serious need in one area will outgrow that part first
  • Reporting is basic, and detailed membership analysis generally means exporting to a spreadsheet
  • Migration away is painful once the website, database and event history all live inside it

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

Wild Apricot

$60/month
  • Group$60/month
    • Up to 100 contacts
    • Member database
    • Website
  • Community$150/month
    • Up to 500 contacts
    • All Group features
    • More storage
  • Association$290/month
    • Up to 2,000 contacts
    • All Community features
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • 5,000 contacts and above
    • Dedicated support
    • Custom arrangements

Zeffy

Free
  • Free ForeverFree
    • Unlimited donations
    • Ticketing
    • Memberships

Which should you pick?

Choose Wild Apricot if

  • You need member database.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want automated renewals.
Wild Apricot 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 Wild Apricot or Zeffy better?
Neither clearly leads. Wild Apricot starts at $60/month and Zeffy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Wild Apricot or Zeffy?
Zeffy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $60/month for Wild Apricot and Free for Zeffy.
Does Wild Apricot or Zeffy run on more platforms?
Wild Apricot 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. Wild Apricot starts at $60/month.
What is Wild Apricot best used for?
Wild Apricot is most often used for small associations and clubs replacing a spreadsheet and a separate website, volunteer-run organisations needing unlimited administrators without per-seat cost, professional bodies handling dues renewals and a member directory, groups running paid events for members alongside membership subscriptions. Of those, small associations and clubs replacing a spreadsheet and a separate website and volunteer-run organisations needing unlimited administrators without per-seat cost are not what Zeffy is typically brought in for.
What can Wild Apricot do that Zeffy cannot?
Wild Apricot covers Member database, Automated renewals, Event registration, Website builder. Zeffy covers Donation forms, Event ticketing, Membership management, Peer-to-peer fundraising.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Wild Apricot: How is Wild Apricot priced?

By contact count, not by staff seat, starting at 60 USD a month for up to 100 contacts. Unlimited administrators is the practical benefit for volunteer-run organisations.

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
Wild Apricot: Do lapsed members count toward the limit?

Contacts count, which includes records beyond current paying members. Pruning the database matters, because tier boundaries are the main cause of unexpected cost increases.

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
Wild Apricot: Is the website builder any good?

It is functional and dated. Organisations that care about their public web presence commonly run a separate site and use Wild Apricot for the member-only area.

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
Wild Apricot: Can it handle fundraising?

Basic donation collection, yes. Organisations whose main activity is fundraising rather than membership are better served by a donor management platform.

Wild Apricot: When do organisations outgrow it?

Usually at a few thousand members, or earlier if one area — events, fundraising or the website — becomes central to the organisation rather than incidental.

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