Zeffy vs Donorbox (Oct 2026): free vs fee-based donation forms, what each gift really costs, Jay·AI, donor tips, and who checks the math

What this comparison covers

This page is for a development director, executive director, or volunteer treasurer at a small nonprofit choosing online donation forms. It is not legal, tax, or gift-acceptance advice; a named person owns every donor-facing message, gift record, ask amount, and funder submission.

Zeffy facts come from its pricing page (zeffy.com/pricing redirects there) and help article. Donorbox facts come from its pricing page and Jay·AI page. All read on 26 October 2026. We did not test either platform.

The trade is simple to state and hard to judge: Zeffy costs the nonprofit nothing but asks every donor for a contribution to Zeffy; Donorbox charges a percentage and processing, and a monthly fee on Pro, and lets donors cover fees. Your donors' reaction to the checkout matters as much as the arithmetic.

Ground rules: the finance lead checks the cost per gift on your own data; the development lead tests the donor checkout; a person checks every AI-written appeal. Keep donor data confidential. This comparison is not a ranking.

Major features (with how someone uses them)

Examples at a glance: each feature has a concrete example from a real job plus a short Try this you can run this week.

1. Work out last year's cost per gift

What it is: Zeffy's pricing page says “Our price is $0” and that it relies on optional donor contributions. Donorbox's pricing page lists Standard fees of 2.95%–3.95%, Pro at $150 a month with 1.75%–2%, and Premium at 1.6%–2%, and its FAQ says Stripe's US nonprofit rate is typically 2.2% + $0.30.

At low volume Donorbox Standard's percentage is usually cheaper than Pro's monthly fee; at high volume the lower percentage can win. Zeffy shifts the cost to donors who choose to tip.

Concrete example (volunteer treasurer at a 6-person animal rescue) Last year: 410 online gifts averaging $62, 60 of them monthly. She builds three columns — Zeffy, Donorbox Standard, Donorbox Pro — with fees and processing on each, and shows the board the yearly cost to the rescue alongside a note on what donors are asked at checkout.

Try this

Cost last year's gifts:

Take last year's online gifts: count, average gift, and how many were monthly. Have the finance lead work out what each gift cost the nonprofit and the donor on Zeffy and on each Donorbox plan before anyone moves a form.

2. Test the donor checkout yourself

What it is: Zeffy asks donors for an optional contribution at the payment confirmation step (pricing page; help article). Donorbox lists fee-cover options and QuickDonate on its pricing page.

Some donors give a tip without thinking; others feel misled when they notice it. Test it with your own supporters before switching.

Concrete example (development director at a 12-person literacy nonprofit) She sets up a $25 test form on each and asks five board members to give on their phones. Two did not notice Zeffy's contribution default until the receipt. She writes a short note on the donation page explaining that Zeffy's contribution is optional.

Try this

Give $25 on each:

Have five board members make a $25 gift on test forms on each platform and write down anything at checkout that surprised them.

3. Plan monthly giving

What it is: Donorbox Pro adds a recurring donation upsell and DAFpay donations (pricing page). Zeffy's pricing page lists donation forms with no fee to the nonprofit.

Monthly donors are your most valuable online donors. Moving them between platforms risks losing some.

Concrete example (executive director at a 9-person youth mentoring nonprofit) They have 85 monthly donors on their current form. Before choosing, she asks each platform in writing how existing recurring gifts move over and which donors would need to re-enter card details.

Try this

Ask about migration first:

Before switching, ask each platform in writing how existing monthly gifts move over and which donors must re-enter card details.

4. Check Jay·AI drafts before they go out

What it is: Donorbox lists Jay·AI on Pro (pricing page). Zeffy's pricing page does not name an AI feature.

An AI-written appeal can promise outcomes you cannot deliver or misstate how a gift is used.

Concrete example (communications coordinator at a 14-person food bank) She drafts a year-end email with Jay·AI. The development director checks every number and promise against the program report and removes one claim about meals per dollar that had no source.

Try this

Check every promise:

Have the development director check every number and promise in an AI-drafted appeal against your program data before it is sent.

5. Sell event tickets

What it is: Both platforms include event ticketing: Donorbox on Standard (pricing page), and Zeffy among its free tools (pricing page). For galas with auctions, see OneCause vs GiveSmart.

Ticket receipts need the right deductible amount; the platform does not know what dinner cost.

Concrete example (events volunteer at an 8-person historical society) For a $75 dinner where the meal costs $30, she asks the treasurer to set the receipt wording, and tests a ticket purchase on each platform to see the receipt before sales open.

Try this

Check the ticket receipt:

Before ticket sales open, buy one test ticket on each platform and have the treasurer check the receipt's deductible amount and wording.

6. Get gifts into your donor records

What it is: Donorbox Pro adds Zapier and API access (pricing page). Zeffy's pricing page lists its free tools; check how its exports fit your CRM.

Gifts that never reach your donor records never get a proper thank-you.

Concrete example (development associate at a 10-person arts nonprofit) She exports a month of test gifts from each platform and imports them into their CRM. The finance lead checks totals match the bank deposits before the team decides.

Try this

Match to the bank:

Export a month of gifts from each platform, import them into your donor records, and have the finance lead match totals to bank deposits.

Pricing context (October 2026)

Zeffy (pricing page, checked 26 October 2026): $0 to the nonprofit — “100% free, always.” Zeffy relies on optional contributions donors are asked for at the payment confirmation step.

Donorbox (pricing page, checked 26 October 2026): Standard free with fees between 2.95% and 3.95%; Pro $150 per month (discount for yearly billing) with fees between 1.75% and 2% and Jay·AI; Premium by quote with fees between 1.6% and 2%. Card processing is separate; Donorbox's FAQ gives Stripe's US nonprofit rate as typically 2.2% + $0.30 and PayPal's as 1.99% + $0.49. No setup or cancellation fees.

Uncertainty: We did not test either platform. Facts come from vendor pages as read on 26 Oct 2026 and can change. Donorbox's fee ranges may combine platform and other fees; ask which applies to each payment method. Zeffy's donor contribution rate varies by donor and is not printed.

When it’s useful (honest take)

Useful when you are moving or starting online donation forms, the finance lead can cost last year's gifts on both, and you will test the checkout with real supporters.

Less useful when you run a large gala with auctions (OneCause vs GiveSmart), you are also weighing Givebutter (Zeffy vs Givebutter, Donorbox vs Givebutter), or you need corporate matching platforms (Benevity vs YourCause).

Related options (educational)

FAQ

Is Zeffy really free?

Zeffy says it charges nonprofits $0 and relies on optional contributions donors are asked for at checkout (checked 26 October 2026). Test the checkout so you know what your donors see.

How much does Donorbox cost?

Donorbox Standard is free with fees between 2.95% and 3.95%; Pro is $150 a month with fees between 1.75% and 2%; Premium is by quote with fees between 1.6% and 2%. Card processing is separate (checked 26 October 2026).

Which costs less, Zeffy or Donorbox?

For the nonprofit, Zeffy's printed price is $0. Donorbox's cost depends on your gift volume and plan. Have your finance lead cost last year's gifts on each, and weigh how donors feel about Zeffy's optional contribution request.

Does Donorbox have AI?

Donorbox lists Jay·AI on its Pro plan. Check every AI-drafted appeal against your program data before sending.

Who should decide between Zeffy and Donorbox?

The development lead chooses and tests the donor checkout; the finance lead checks the cost per gift and matches gifts to bank deposits; the treasurer sets receipt wording.

Optional next step (if seats overlap)

If you pay for donation forms, an event tool, and AI seats that write the same appeals, map that overlap before the next renewal. Map the overlap with the $19 AI toolkit audit or the $9 AI toolkit spreadsheet. Email Audit $19 or Toolkit spreadsheet $9.

Checkout is live via Stripe. After you pay, we email delivery (spreadsheet) or intake next steps (audit).

Related: Canva for nonprofits · OneCause vs GiveSmart · Claude vs ChatGPT for grant writing · AI grant writing tools: a stack map · Benevity vs YourCause · Zeffy vs Givebutter · Donorbox vs Givebutter · Microsoft 365 Copilot for nonprofits · Little Green Light vs Bloomerang · Agentforce Nonprofit · Gemini for nonprofits · DonorSearch vs Kindsight · Claude for nonprofits · ChatGPT for nonprofits · DonorPerfect vs Bloomerang · Grantable AI · Instrumentl vs Candid · Kindsight AI · Keela AI · Submittable AI · Blackbaud AI · Bonterra Que · Bloomerang AI · Virtuous AI · Neon One AI · Dataro AI · Blackbaud vs Bonterra · DonorSearch AI · Givebutter AI · Fundraise Up AI · Claude · ChatGPT · Gemini · Microsoft 365 Copilot · Three checks before another AI seat · ops hub