How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Givebutter is the budget pick: free to use with optional donor tips, covering ticketing, auctions and donations in one place.
- Zeffy is also free for nonprofits, built for donation-first organizations that run simpler events.
- For large galas with live and silent auctions, OneCause, Greater Giving and Handbid are the established auction specialists, all quote-based.
- Auctria suits volunteer-run organizations that need auction software without enterprise complexity or pricing.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Givebutter | Nonprofits that want ticketing, auctions and donations free in one platform | Free with optional donor tips; 3% platform fee applies if tips are disabled | Yes (full platform free; Givebutter Plus adds paid features) |
 GoFundMe Pro | Mid-size to large nonprofits already fundraising on GoFundMe | See website (custom quote) | No |
 OneCause | Large nonprofits running complex galas with live auctions | See website (custom quote) | No |
 Greater Giving | Nonprofits running auction-centric galas and charity events | See website (pricing tailored to usage) | No |
 Handbid | Organizations wanting a mobile-first auction experience | See website (custom quote) | No |
 Auctria | Volunteer-run nonprofits needing capable auction software without enterprise cost | See website | No |
 Zeffy | Donation-first nonprofits that run straightforward ticketed events | See website | See website |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best nonprofit event software
Picture the night of your gala. Guests are arriving, the silent auction tables are set, and someone asks where the mobile bidding link is. The volunteer at check-in is staring at a spreadsheet. This is the moment your event software either earns its keep or ruins the evening. The seven platforms below handle the real work of nonprofit events: ticketing, auctions, donations, check-in and the reporting you need the morning after.
#1
Givebutter
Best for: Nonprofits that want ticketing, auctions and donations free in one platform
Visit givebutter.com
Starting priceFree with optional donor tips; 3% platform fee applies if tips are disabled
Free planYes (full platform free; Givebutter Plus adds paid features)
Givebutter's pitch is simple: the platform is free because donors leave optional tips, and when tips are enabled the nonprofit pays 0% platform fees under the Givebutter Guarantee. Disable tips and a flat 3% platform fee applies instead. Either way, standard processing rates apply per transaction. The concrete strength is breadth at zero software cost: event ticketing, live and silent auctions, donation forms, peer-to-peer campaigns, email and donor CRM in one system, with unlimited users and contacts.
The honest weakness is that "free" has edges. Processing fees are real money on every card transaction, and features like automated workflows, texting and priority support require Givebutter Plus, which starts at $29 per month. For a small nonprofit running its first gala, though, the free tier covers the actual event. Setup is self-serve and fast, which matters when the event is six weeks away and the committee just decided to add an auction.
What we like- Genuinely free core platform funded by optional donor tips, with 0% platform fees when tips are enabled
- Covers events, auctions, donations, peer-to-peer and donor management natively
Watch out for- Payment processing fees still apply on transactions
- Advanced automation and texting sit in the paid Plus tier
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo
GoFundMe Pro is the current name for Classy, which GoFundMe acquired and rebranded in 2025. The concrete strength is the ecosystem: nonprofits get sophisticated campaign pages, peer-to-peer fundraising, event tools and donor management tied to GoFundMe's massive donor audience and brand recognition. For organizations already receiving GoFundMe donations, consolidating on Pro removes data silos.
The trade-off is the enterprise sales motion. Pricing is entirely custom-quoted, implementation involves onboarding specialists, and the product assumes a development team running year-round campaigns, not a volunteer committee planning one dinner. Small nonprofits will find Givebutter or Zeffy simpler and cheaper. Pick GoFundMe Pro when the organization is big enough to need its depth.
What we like- Deep integration with the GoFundMe giving platform and donor network
- Enterprise-grade campaign tools with dedicated support
Watch out for- Quote-based pricing with no public numbers
- Overkill for small single-event fundraisers
#3
OneCause
Best for: Large nonprofits running complex galas with live auctions
Visit onecause.com
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo
OneCause specializes in the big-night fundraiser: galas with live auctions, paddle raises, fund-a-need moments and hundreds of guests. The concrete strength is event-day execution. Mobile bidding, text-to-give, real-time leaderboards, fast check-in and checkout, plus the option of on-site staff support, all tuned for the chaos of a live room. The platform also handles peer-to-peer and online campaigns year-round.
The honest weakness is accessibility. Everything is quote-based, the sales cycle assumes a sizable event budget, and the feature depth is wasted on a 50-person silent auction. Note that OneCause agreed to be acquired by Bonterra, so buyers should ask about product roadmap continuity during demos. For the flagship annual gala, it is a top contender; for everything smaller, look down this list.
What we like- Purpose-built for large fundraising events with live, silent and online auctions
- Strong on-site support and event-day services
Watch out for- Enterprise pricing and sales process
- More than small events need
Starting priceSee website (pricing tailored to usage)
Free planNo
Greater Giving has focused on nonprofit fundraising events for years, and the depth shows in auction workflows: building packages, managing donations of items, mobile and online bidding, paddle raises, streamlined checkout with card swiping tied to bidder numbers, and the financial reconciliation nonprofits need afterward. Pricing is tailored to usage and fundraising needs, and the company recommends securing the software 3 to 6 months before the event.
The trade-off is that this is a considered purchase, not a signup. Expect a demo, a custom proposal and an onboarding timeline. Organizations that plan one major gala a year and run it with staff will get the value; volunteer committees planning a first event may find the process heavy. The platform suits auctions first, with registration, donations and donor management around that core.
What we like- Deep auction functionality: mobile bidding, package management, checkout and reconciliation built for galas
- PCI-compliant payment processing
Watch out for- Quote-based pricing with no public numbers
- Onboarding works best with months of lead time
#5
Handbid
Best for: Organizations wanting a mobile-first auction experience
Visit handbid.com
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo
Handbid puts the phone in the guest's hand: the mobile app drives bidding, outbid alerts, item browsing and checkout, which suits venues where guests mingle rather than sit at tables with bid sheets. The concrete strength is the guest experience. Bidding feels modern, the leaderboard energy works for competitive crowds, and organizers get real-time visibility into auction performance.
The honest limit is breadth. Handbid is an auction and event tool, not a full donor CRM or year-round fundraising suite. Organizations that need peer-to-peer campaigns, email marketing and major-gift tracking will pair it with other systems. Pricing is quote-based. Pick Handbid when the auction is the event and the mobile experience is the priority.
What we like- Mobile bidding app is the centerpiece, with intuitive guest experience
- Handles silent, live and online auctions plus ticketing
Watch out for- Narrower all-in-one scope than Givebutter or GoFundMe Pro
- Pricing not published
#6
Auctria
Best for: Volunteer-run nonprofits needing capable auction software without enterprise cost
Visit auctria.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Auctria serves the long tail of charity auctions: school fundraisers, club events and small-nonprofit galas run by volunteers. The concrete strength is practicality. Online catalogs, bidding, ticketing, donations and checkout work without a sales process or an implementation project, and the pricing is built for organizations counting every dollar.
The trade-off is refinement. The interface and guest experience are functional rather than delightful, integrations are limited, and support does not match the white-glove event-day services of OneCause or Greater Giving. For a volunteer committee that needs to get an auction online this month, that is an acceptable trade. For a $500,000 gala, it is not the right room.
What we like- Auction-focused feature set at accessible pricing
- Usable by volunteer committees without dedicated staff
Watch out for- Less polish and fewer integrations than the enterprise platforms
- Support is lighter
#7
Zeffy
Best for: Donation-first nonprofits that run straightforward ticketed events
Visit zeffy.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Zeffy pitches itself to nonprofits on cost: the platform is built for registered charities with no platform fee positioning, covering donations, memberships, ticketing and simple events. The concrete strength is simplicity for the small shop. A nonprofit that mainly needs to sell tickets, take donations and send receipts can be running in an afternoon without learning auction software.
The honest weakness is ceiling. Zeffy does not match the auction depth of Handbid, Greater Giving or OneCause: no sophisticated package management, no live-auction floor tools, no paddle-raise choreography. It is the right pick for the fun run, the community dinner or the straightforward fundraiser. When the event centers on a serious auction, the specialists above earn their fees.
What we like- No platform fees positioning for registered nonprofits
- Simple event and donation tools that small teams can run
Watch out for- Less auction depth than the specialists
- Event features are simpler than full event platforms
How we chose
We focused on software where nonprofit fundraising events are the core use case, not a feature checkbox. That meant prioritizing gala, auction, ticketing and donation workflows over general CRM or email tools. We checked each vendor's own site for current names: Classy is now GoFundMe Pro, and OneCause is being acquired by Bonterra. Pricing pages, feature lists, G2 and Capterra reviews, and nonprofit practitioner discussions shaped the fit notes. We excluded pure ticketing platforms with no donation or auction angle, and donor CRMs with no event module. No vendor paid for placement.
Matching the software to your event
Nonprofit events are not one thing, and the software should match the actual night you are planning.
The auction gala
Live auction, paddle raise, seated dinner, 200-plus guests. You need mobile bidding, item and package management, fast checkout and reconciliation. OneCause, Greater Giving and Handbid are built for this. Budget for the software as a line item and start 3 to 6 months out.
The community fundraiser
Fun run, dinner, concert or festival with ticket sales and donations. Auction depth does not matter; ease and cost do. Givebutter or Zeffy cover ticketing, donations and basic promotion free or cheap, and volunteers can run them.
The volunteer-run auction
School or club auction organized by a committee with no staff. Auctria fits: capable enough for online catalogs and bidding, simple enough for volunteers, priced for small budgets.
The year-round development operation
If the event is one piece of a larger fundraising program with peer-to-peer campaigns, major gifts and email, GoFundMe Pro or Givebutter's fuller suite makes more sense than a pure auction tool. Decide whether you want one platform or best-of-breed before comparing features.
Fees: the question every board asks
Nonprofit event software pricing has two layers, and boards often see only one. The software fee is what the vendor charges: free (Givebutter, Zeffy), or a quote (everyone else). The processing fee is what the card networks take on every transaction, typically around 3% plus a per-transaction amount, and it applies no matter which platform you choose.
Givebutter's model makes this explicit: 0% platform fee with donor tips enabled, 3% without, plus processing either way. When comparing quotes, ask each vendor for the all-in cost on your expected ticket and donation volume, including processing, hardware rentals for checkout, on-site support fees and any per-ticket charges. A "cheap" platform with 5% all-in fees costs more than a quoted platform at 3% once real money moves.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest nonprofit event software?
Givebutter and Zeffy are the cheapest options, both offering free tiers for nonprofits. Givebutter funds its free platform through optional donor tips. For auction-specific needs on a budget, Auctria is priced for small organizations.
What happened to Classy?
GoFundMe acquired Classy and rebranded it as GoFundMe Pro in 2025. It is the same enterprise fundraising platform under the GoFundMe name, with campaign, peer-to-peer and event tools.
How far in advance should we choose event software?
For large galas with auctions, 3 to 6 months, per Greater Giving's own guidance. That allows time for data import, auction package building, volunteer training and test transactions. For simple ticketed events on Givebutter or Zeffy, a few weeks can suffice.
Do we still pay credit card processing fees on free platforms?
Yes. Processing fees go to the card networks and apply on every platform, free or paid. Givebutter's free tier removes the platform fee, not the processing fee, though its guarantee can cover processing on qualifying transactions when donors tip.
Can volunteers run this software, or do we need staff?
Givebutter, Zeffy and Auctria are built for volunteer committees. OneCause, Greater Giving and GoFundMe Pro assume staff involvement and offer onboarding and event-day support to match. Match the software's service model to your team's reality.
What about data and donor ownership?
Confirm before signing that your donor and transaction data exports cleanly, including contact details and giving history. You will need it for year-end appeals regardless of which event platform you use.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://givebutter.com
- http://givebutter.com/pricing
- https://pro.gofundme.com
- https://www.onecause.com/
- https://greatergiving.com/
- http://www.handbid.com
- https://www.auctria.com/
- https://www.zeffy.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.