GalaBid vs Zeffy: Which Fundraising Platform Is Right for You? (2026)

Choosing a fundraising platform isn't just "free vs paid." It affects how you collect funds, who holds your money, how you report to your board, and what you can actually run: a simple donation page, or a full auction night.

GalaBid and Zeffy both offer no-upfront-cost models, but they're built for different jobs. Here's a clear, accurate breakdown to help you decide, and where GalaBid stands as a Zeffy alternative.

Short version: if you're running an auction or gala, or you fundraise in New Zealand, the EU, Singapore or Hong Kong, GalaBid is built for you. If you run simple donation or peer-to-peer campaigns in the US, Canada, UK or Australia and want zero cost and tipping enabled, Zeffy is a strong fit.

1. Pricing and fees

GalaBid gives you three options:

• Free plan funded by tips, with 10% of each tip shared back to your cause
• A 4.9% percentage fee if you turn tips off
• An upfront flat fee, a fixed cost per campaign

The paid options suit larger campaigns that want predictable costs and a clean donor checkout with no tip prompts.

Zeffy has one option: 100% free, funded by optional donor tips. Zeffy covers platform and payment processing fees, so your organisation keeps the full donation amount.

What it means: small campaigns benefit from no upfront cost on either platform. Larger fundraisers often prefer GalaBid's cost certainty and the ability to remove tip prompts.

2. Where your money goes

GalaBid connects to your own Stripe account. Funds land directly in your account. GalaBid never holds your money.

Zeffy processes payments through its own infrastructure, then pays out to you.

Why it matters: using your own payment account gives you direct control, immediate visibility, and no dependence on a third party's payout schedule. A platform-managed flow can be simpler to set up but puts your funds in someone else's system first.
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3. How tips work

Both platforms use tips in their free models, but the mechanics are very different.

GalaBid: tips are optional and can be switched off entirely. When they're on, 10% of each tip is returned to your cause, paid into your Stripe account.

Zeffy: tips fund the whole platform. The suggested tip defaults to around 15 to 17% of the donation, and roughly 80% of donors leave one. Donors can lower or remove it, but the default is a meaningful add-on to their gift. Zeffy keeps 100% of the tip.

Takeaway: if you want tips as an upside for your cause, or the option to remove them for a clean checkout, GalaBid gives you both. Zeffy's model only works with the tip prompt in place.

4. Auctions, raffles and event tools

This is the clearest difference between the two.

GalaBid is purpose-built for fundraising events:

• Silent auctions, live auctions, paddle raises and buy-it-now
• Raffles with a certified random draw and live big-screen display
• Event ticketing and check-in
• Live leaderboards and personal shopper tools
• A cash sales mode so volunteers can take offline payments
• Event fundraising experts to guide you

Zeffy does include auction and raffle tools, alongside donations, ticketing, an online shop, peer-to-peer and memberships. They cover the basics well, but they aren't built for the depth of a gala night: there's no certified draw with live display, no paddle raise, no personal shopper, and no on-site event support.

Verdict: running an auction or gala, GalaBid is designed for it. Collecting straightforward donations or running peer-to-peer, Zeffy handles that cleanly.

5. Countries supported

GalaBid works in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the EU.

Zeffy operates in the US, Canada, UK and Australia. It isn't available in New Zealand, the EU (outside the UK), Singapore, Hong Kong, or the rest of Asia.

Why it matters: if you fundraise in New Zealand, the EU, Singapore or Hong Kong, Zeffy isn't an option. GalaBid supports local currencies across all eight markets.

6. Reporting and transparency

GalaBid provides detailed reporting, including tips earned on each campaign, so you can show your board exactly what came in and where it went.

Zeffy does not break out tips generated per campaign.

Why it matters: nonprofits need board reporting, donor transparency and audit-ready records. Clear per-campaign figures make that straightforward.

7. Support

GalaBid offers human support: a live chat team 7 days a week, unlimited Zoom calls with fundraising experts, and on-site support for events.

Zeffy provides help centre resources and support channels, including automated assistance.

When to choose GalaBid

GalaBid is a strong fit if you:

• Run auctions, raffles or gala events
• Need event-specific tools: auctions, live auctions, paddle raises, raffles, leaderboards
• Want to turn tips off and choose predictable paid pricing
• Prefer funds landing in your own Stripe account
• Track multiple revenue streams: tickets, auctions, donations
• Want tip share revenue coming back to your cause
• Fundraise in New Zealand, the EU, Singapore or Hong Kong

When to choose Zeffy

Zeffy is a good fit if you:

• Are a registered nonprofit in the US or Canada
• Run simple donation or peer-to-peer campaigns
• Want no upfront cost
• Prefer an all-in-one managed payment flow
• Don't need auction or gala depth

Real-world scenarios

Small school fundraiser ($10k to $20k). Both work. GalaBid gives you far more flexibility if an auction or raffle is involved. Zeffy keeps setup simple for straight donations or peer-to-peer.

Mid-sized gala event ($100k+). GalaBid's event tools and flat-fee pricing suit this well, especially for auctions, ticketing and paddle raises.

Peer-to-peer donation campaign ($20k to $30k) in the US. Zeffy handles this cleanly at no cost.

Any campaign in New Zealand, the EU, Singapore or Hong Kong. GalaBid, since Zeffy doesn't operate in these regions.

Final verdict

Both platforms serve the fundraising space well, but they're built for different jobs.

• Choose GalaBid for events, auctions, raffles and galas, for control over your funds, and for fundraising anywhere across eight regions.
• Choose Zeffy for simple, donation-first fundraising in the US, Canada, UK or Australia with no cost to your organisation.

The real question isn't which platform is "better." It's which one fits the kind of fundraising you're actually running.

FAQs

Is Zeffy really free?

Yes, for registered nonprofits in the US and Canada. Zeffy covers platform and processing fees and funds itself through optional donor tips, which default to around 15 to 17% of the donation.

Is Zeffy available in the UK or Australia?

Yes. Zeffy operates in the US, Canada, UK and Australia. It isn't available in New Zealand, the EU (outside the UK), Singapore or Hong Kong. GalaBid supports all of those regions.

Does Zeffy do auctions?

Zeffy has a basic auction tool. GalaBid is purpose-built for auctions and galas, with silent and live auctions, paddle raises, and a certified raffle draw with live big-screen display.

Do both platforms charge upfront fees?

No. Both offer free options funded by optional tips. GalaBid also offers a percentage fee or an upfront flat fee if you'd rather turn tips off.

Can I avoid tip prompts?

On GalaBid, yes: you can switch tips off and choose paid pricing. Zeffy's model relies on the tip prompt being shown.

Do I need to be a registered nonprofit?

Zeffy is designed for registered nonprofits. GalaBid supports a broader range of fundraisers, including individuals, community groups and nonprofits.

Which platform is better for auctions and raffles?

GalaBid, which is built specifically for auction and raffle-based fundraising.

Related reading

• The top raffle platforms for fundraising in 2026
• Free silent auction software: a comparison of popular options

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