Looking for a Zeffy alternative for your fundraising?
GalaBid brings donations, event ticketing and check-in, auctions, raffles and paddle raises together in one fundraising platform. You choose the tools and the pricing model that suit your campaign.
When you compare GalaBid with Zeffy, look at two things: the fundraising features you need, and the checkout your supporters will see.
"Free" fundraising software still needs a business model. Zeffy's model is optional contributions from supporters. Zeffy's help center says these contributions are its only source of revenue. Your organization pays no platform or processing fees, but in the checkouts we reviewed, a contribution to Zeffy was already selected. Supporters had to change or remove it, rather than choose to add it.
GalaBid gives you a choice: optional tipping, or a paid plan with no platform tip prompt at all. Here is what to consider.
An Optional Contribution That Is Already Selected
In a Zeffy raffle checkout we reviewed in September 2026, a $100 purchase came with a 15% platform contribution already selected. Leaving it unchanged meant paying an extra $15 to Zeffy on top of the raffle purchase. Zeffy says its suggested percentages vary with transaction size, so treat this as one example.
Your supporter has already decided to help your cause. A sizeable preselected contribution to the software provider adds another decision at the point of payment.
Optional does not mean opt-in. Supporters who did not want to pay it had to remove it themselves.
Lower Tips Should Be Easy to Choose
In the Zeffy checkouts we reviewed, the preselected amount was the lowest preset. Every other preset was higher. To pay less, supporters had to choose "Other" and type in their own amount, which could be zero.
So 15% is not a compulsory minimum. The issue is how the choices are presented: a sizeable amount already selected, higher amounts one tap away, and lower amounts needing a custom entry.
GalaBid also suggests a tip on its Free plan. The difference is that GalaBid's checkout uses a slider, so supporters can lower the tip on the same screen without typing anything.
Before you choose a platform, look past whether tipping is technically optional. Go through the checkout yourself and try to reduce the contribution. How obvious is it, and how many steps does it take?
One tipping model or a choice of pricing models?
Zeffy says voluntary contributions are its only revenue source and organisations cannot customise the contribution wording or suggested amounts. It does not offer a fixed-fee alternative that lets your organisation pay for the service and remove the platform tip request.
Choosing Zeffy therefore means accepting its contribution-led checkout model. In the examples reviewed, supporters had to change or remove a preselected contribution. Your organisation cannot select a fixed-fee plan to remove that platform contribution request altogether.
GalaBid offers three approaches:
Stripe processing fees apply separately on GalaBid, at Stripe's standard rates with no markup. Plans and pricing vary by region, so see pricing for your region. Stripe fees can be passed on or absorbed.
That choice matters if your committee, sponsors or supporters would rather the event budget covers the software. Choose a paid plan and the platform tip prompt disappears.
Share Tip Revenue With Your Cause
On GalaBid's Free plan, 10% of platform tips is shared back with your organization. For example, $1,000 in supporter tips returns $100 to your cause. This is a share of tips, not of ticket or donation revenue.
Zeffy covers processing fees, while GalaBid's Stripe fees are separate. Compare the full cost, including fees and any optional tip, rather than assuming a lower tip always means a lower total. Our guide to cost and transparency questions to ask can help.
One Platform for Different Ways to Fundraise
Your fundraising might start with a donation page, an event ticket or a raffle. With GalaBid, you build the campaign around what your organization needs and combine activities when it makes sense.
Donations and Appeals
Collect online donations as your main activity or alongside tickets, auctions and raffles. At an event, run a paddle raise or fund-a-need appeal with suggested giving levels and a live tally.
Supporters who don't want to bid or buy raffle tickets can still give directly to your cause.
Event Ticketing and Check-In
Sell individual tickets and tables, collect details such as dietary requirements, and let table buyers invite and manage their own attendees. QR check-in helps your team handle arrivals.
Ticket buyers can join the campaign's other activities without registering again, so booking and the event itself stay connected.
Raffles From Ticket Sale to Winner Announcement
GalaBid's raffle software delivers digital tickets, runs an integrated draw and notifies winners automatically. The raffle display puts the draw on screen at your event.
This is a clear difference from Zeffy. Zeffy's help center says its draw happens outside the platform: organizers export participants and ticket numbers and complete the draw separately. Zeffy's help center also notes that raffles are not available to Australian organizations.
Your raffle must still follow the rules where you are. Software does not by itself give you permission to run a raffle or use an electronic draw. Check the raffle rules for your country.
Auctions and Buy Now Sales
Run silent auctions, accept sealed bids, take pre-bids on auctioneer-led lots and add Buy Now items. Show bidding on venue screens, help supporters bid through volunteer accounts, and manage payments and item collection.
Zeffy also offers auctions, including auto-bidding, outbid alerts and anti-sniping. Compare the full workflow you need, including how the auction connects with your ticketing, raffle and appeal.
A Connected Experience for Your Supporters
One GalaBid campaign gives supporters one place to go. Someone who books a ticket can come back to bid, buy raffle tickets or donate without registering again.
Run a focused campaign with one activity, or bring several together for a larger event. A school fundraiser, community appeal and charity gala don't need the same setup.
When you compare platforms, ask each provider to demo your actual campaign. Follow the supporter journey from first payment to later participation, and check the admin your team will handle. You can see GalaBid running live first.
Independently Built, With Founders Still Involved
GalaBid has grown without external investor funding, and our founders are still involved in the business. Funds go straight to your organization's own Stripe account; GalaBid never holds your funds.
We believe organizers should choose how their fundraising software is paid for. Use optional supporter tips with an easy way to choose less, or pick a paid plan and remove platform tip requests entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zeffy really free?
Zeffy charges organizations no platform or processing fees. It is funded by optional contributions from supporters at checkout, which Zeffy says are its only source of revenue.
Can supporters remove the Zeffy contribution?
Yes. In the checkouts we reviewed, supporters could choose "Other" and enter a lower amount or zero. The contribution was preselected, so they had to change it themselves.
Does GalaBid charge fees?
GalaBid has a Free plan funded by optional supporter tips, plus percentage-fee and fixed-fee plans with no tip prompt. Stripe processing fees apply separately. See pricing for your region.
Can GalaBid draw raffle winners?
Yes. GalaBid includes an integrated raffle draw with automatic winner notifications and an on-screen draw display. You still need to follow the raffle rules where you are.
Is GalaBid the Right Zeffy Alternative for You?
If you need donations, ticketing, auctions, raffles or a mix of them, GalaBid deserves a place on your shortlist.
Pricing choice is the key difference. Zeffy's zero-fee model relies on preselected supporter contributions. GalaBid offers optional tipping that is easy to lower, plus percentage-fee and fixed-fee plans with no tip prompt.
Compare the tools you need, the total cost and the checkout your supporters will see. For a wider view, read our GalaBid vs Zeffy vs Givebutter comparison.
Create your GalaBid campaign or compare pricing options.
