--- title: "Best Free Software for Nonprofits 2026 | Capterra" description: "My picks for the 5 best free software for nonprofits, based on 482 verified Capterra reviews, free-plan pricing, and specific limitations to know before you buy." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/resources/best-free-software-for-nonprofits/" page_type: "article" language: "en" --- # The 5 Best Free Software for Nonprofits in 2026, Based on 482 Capterra Reviews Written by: Emilie Audubert Emilie AudubertAuthor Content Analyst Experience Since joining Capterra in 2021, I've dedicated myself to becoming a trusted thought leader in the B2B software market, specializin... [See bio & all articles](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/emilie-audubert/) Published September 7, 2026 13 min read Table of Contents - [The 5 best free software for nonprofits at a glance](#the-5-best-free-software-for-nonprofits-at-a-glance) - [How I chose this list](#how-i-chose-this-list) - [Cheddar Up: Best for collecting payments](#1-cheddar-up-best-for-collecting-payments-without-full-fundraising-features) - [Givebutter: Best for all-in-one fundraising](#2-givebutter-best-for-all-in-one-fundraising-with-a-donor-tip-funding-model) - [Raklet: Best for membership management](#3-raklet-best-for-membership-management-alongside-donations) - [SignUpGenius: Best for volunteer and event sign-ups](#4-signupgenius-best-for-volunteer-and-event-sign-ups) - [Zeffy: Best for zero-fee fundraising funded by donor tips](#5-zeffy-best-for-zero-fee-fundraising-funded-by-donor-tips) - [What to look for in free software for nonprofits](#what-to-look-for-in-free-software-for-nonprofits) - [Frequently asked questions](#frequently-asked-questions-about-free-software-for-nonprofits) **TL;DR:** _In this article, I share my picks for the_ [_five best free software for nonprofits_](https://www.capterra.com/nonprofit-software/)_, evaluated on ease of use, genuine free-plan availability, and specific limitations to know before you commit, based on 482 verified Capterra reviews from September 2024 to September 2026._ Two of the five tools on this list are free for the same reason: both fund the platform through an optional tip donors can leave at checkout, rather than charging the organization directly. It's worth understanding how that model works before you launch a campaign, since some donors expect the tip prompt to be part of their exact gift amount rather than a separate addition. I went through the reviews for the highest-rated nonprofit software on Capterra to see which free plans actually hold up in practice, not just on a pricing page. This considers software on Capterra's [Nonprofit Shortlist](https://www.capterra.com/nonprofit-software/shortlist/) and verified user reviews, cross-checked against each vendor's own pricing page, since a few products marketed with a free plan turned out to always charge a mandatory fee once I checked directly. The 5 tools that made this list all have a free plan with no mandatory cost to your organization, and each comes with a specific, well-documented limitation worth knowing before you commit. The list below is arranged alphabetically. _Products are listed alphabetically below. Inclusion is based on the methodology at the top of this article._ Quick take Givebutter and Zeffy are both fully free thanks to a donor-tip model, worth understanding before you launch a campaign, since some donors find the tip prompt confusing. Cheddar Up is the simplest starting point if collecting payments, not full fundraising, is the actual job. And Raklet is worth a look if membership management, not just donations, is part of what you need. ## The 5 best free software for nonprofits at a glance | Product | Rating | Reviews Analyzed | Best for | Starting Price | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Cheddar Up](https://www.capterra.com/p/276323/Cheddar-Up/) | 4.9/5 | 36 | Collecting payments without full fundraising features | Free to start; transaction fees apply; from $20/mo (billed monthly) | | [Givebutter](https://www.capterra.com/p/172048/Givebutter/) | 4.7/5 | 258 | All-in-one fundraising with a donor-tip funding model | $0 with tips on; 3% platform fee if disabled;  from $33.80/month (billed monthly) | | [Raklet](https://www.capterra.com/p/148555/Raklet/) | 4.8/5 | 24 | Membership management alongside donations | Free up to 100 contacts; from $59/mo (billed monthly) | | [SignUpGenius](https://www.capterra.com/p/135392/SignUpGenius/) | 4.5/5 | 30 | Volunteer and event sign-ups | Free, ad-supported; paid tiers remove ads; from $11.99/mo (billed monthly) | | [Zeffy](https://www.capterra.com/p/220131/Zeffy/) | 4.8/5 | 134 | Zero-fee fundraising funded by donor tips | $0, no mandatory fee to the organization | _Ratings and review counts reflect verified reviews in this dataset from September 2024 to September 2026. Pricing noted per product reflects monthly plans and is indicative; confirm current pricing on each vendor's site._ ## How I chose this list To build this list, I selected products based on the following criteria: - **Shortlist inclusion:** They appear on [Capterra's Nonprofit Shortlist](https://www.capterra.com/nonprofit-software/shortlist/). - **Review volume:** Have at least 20 verified reviews in the past 24 months. - **Rating floor:** Possess an overall Capterra rating of 4.0 or higher across overall rating, ease of use, customer support, and value for money, based on data from that same window. - **Genuine free plan:** Offer a plan with no mandatory cost to the organization, verified directly against the vendor's own pricing page. Several products marketed as having a "free" tier were excluded once I confirmed they always charge a mandatory platform fee, even without a monthly subscription. I then verified each product's category fit, screening out general business tools that happened to have nonprofit reviewers but weren't built specifically for this use case, and confirmed free-plan claims with independent checks beyond a single review platform's tag. Products are listed alphabetically, not ranked by score, since the right free plan depends more on which specific limit or funding model fits your organization than on a small difference in overall rating. The full details are explained in the methodology section. ## 1\. [Cheddar Up](https://www.capterra.com/p/276323/Cheddar-Up/): Best for collecting payments without full fundraising features _Cheddar Up collection dashboard showing available pages for event registrations and dues (Source: Capterra)_ Cheddar Up is built around a narrower job than most tools on this list: collecting payments and information from a group, whether that's PTA dues, event registrations, or merchandise sales, without the broader fundraising campaign features other platforms bundle in. Reviewers consistently point to how quickly they can set up a collection page and start taking payments. **Why users like it:** - Ease of use came up as the most repeated theme, with reviewers describing setup that took minutes rather than hours. - Clean, professional-looking collection pages came up repeatedly as a reason treasurers and PTA leaders picked it over spreadsheet-and-check workflows. **What's included on the free plan:** - Unlimited collection creation for payments, sign-ups, and forms, with no cost to start. - Standard transaction fees only (2.9-3.95% + $0.30-0.95 depending on payment method), no monthly subscription required. - Core features like customizable forms, in-person card reader support, and basic reporting. #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Device Compatibilty **Key features:** - **Customizable collection pages:** Build payment pages for dues, events, or sales with your own branding and form fields. - **In-person payment collection:** Accept credit cards on-site with an integrated card reader alongside online payments. - **Multiple payment methods:** Take credit cards, eChecks, and cash, all tracked in one place. - **Third-party integrations:** Connects with tools like MoneyMinder, Stripe, and Google Sheets for accounting and reporting. **Limitations to know:** - **Entry-tier feature limits:** The free tier caps things like the number of active collections visible at once, additional admin seats, and specific features like waitlisting, each requiring a paid upgrade to unlock. - **Extra click-throughs on multi-item forms:** A few reviewers note that donation and merchandise options sometimes sit on separate pages within the same collection, adding steps for the person paying. **What a verified Capterra reviewer says:** "The platform allows our PTA to be more efficient with all sign ups and donations in one place instead of using another website for sign ups." Elizabeth K., Treasurer, Non-Profit Organization Management, September 2025 _**Bottom line:**_ _Cheddar Up fits a group whose main need is collecting money and information cleanly, not running a full fundraising campaign with peer-to-peer pages or event ticketing. The free plan covers a lot of ground on its own, though plan on budgeting for standard transaction fees and an eventual upgrade once you outgrow the entry tier's limits._ ## 2\. [Givebutter](https://www.capterra.com/p/172048/Givebutter/): Best for all-in-one fundraising with a donor-tip funding model _Givebutter dashboard showing donor management and CRM (Source: Capterra)_ Givebutter combines donation forms, event ticketing, auctions, and donor tracking into one platform, and reviewers consistently point to that breadth as the reason they consolidated several separate tools into it. Instead of charging a subscription fee, it relies on an optional tip donors can leave at checkout, which keeps the platform genuinely free for the organization running it. **Why users like it:** - Ease of use was the most repeated theme, with reviewers describing a clean interface and setup that took less than an hour for their first campaign. - Consolidating fundraising, ticketing, and donor management into one system came up repeatedly as the reason teams switched from juggling multiple tools. **What's included on the free plan:** - $0 platform fee across donation forms, events, auctions, and peer-to-peer campaigns, provided donor tips are enabled at checkout. - Unlimited contacts, campaigns, and team members, with no seat-based pricing. - Standard payment processing fees still apply (2.9% + $0.30 for cards, 1.9% + $0.30 for ACH), covered by the donor tip when it's left. #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Device Compatibilty **Key features:** - **Customizable donation forms and campaign pages:** Branded fundraising pages with a live progress feed and team leaderboards. - **Event ticketing and auctions:** Sell tickets and run live or silent auctions from the same platform as your donation campaigns. - **Built-in donor CRM:** Track donor history and giving patterns without a separate system. - **Peer-to-peer fundraising:** Let supporters create their own fundraising pages tied to your campaign. **Limitations to know:** - **Donor confusion around the tip prompt:** A recurring theme across reviews, some donors don't realize the tip is optional or don't understand why a checkout adds an extra line item, which organizations say they sometimes have to explain directly. - **Limited event ticketing depth:** A few reviewers note gaps like the lack of seating charts or more advanced ticket tier management compared to dedicated event platforms. **What a verified Capterra reviewer says:** “We love the ease of use and most especially the ability for donors to pay the fees. It's been an amazing all in one giving tool!" Susan R., Director of Communications and Stewardship, Non-Profit Organization Management, September 2024 _**Bottom line:**_ _Givebutter earns its spot by replacing several separate tools with one, and reviewers consistently credit it with saving real setup and admin time. The donor-tip model is genuinely free for your organization, but plan to communicate it clearly to your donors upfront so it doesn't create confusion or friction at checkout._ ## 3\. [Raklet](https://www.capterra.com/p/148555/Raklet/): Best for membership management alongside donations _Raklet dashboard showing a member database with filtering options (Source: Capterra)_ Raklet is built around ongoing member relationships rather than one-off donations, tracking membership renewals, dues, and engagement alongside payment collection. Reviewers consistently describe it as an affordable way to manage a member-based community without the enterprise pricing of larger association management platforms. **Why users like it:** - Ease of use came up as the most repeated theme, with reviewers describing simple setup for managing contacts, events, and dues. - Affordability relative to other membership platforms came up repeatedly, particularly from small organizations and clubs on tight budgets. **What's included on the free plan:** - Full access to core membership, CRM, and event management features for up to 100 contacts, at no cost. - Member communication tools, including email and a private community space. - Payment collection for membership fees, donations, and event tickets, with transaction fees applying on top. #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Device Compatibilty **Key features:** - **Member CRM and database:** Track contact details, membership status, and engagement history in one place. - **Automated renewals and billing:** Send renewal reminders and collect recurring dues without manual follow-up. - **Event management:** Create and manage events with registration and payment collection built in. - **Private community space:** Give members a space to connect through discussion boards and direct messages. **Limitations to know:** - **Missing or feature-gated functionality:** Several reviewers note specific gaps, such as not being able to issue receipts directly from the platform after a payment, or a form builder that didn't work as expected despite being listed as available. - **Limited native payment integrations:** A few reviewers mention wanting support for additional payment methods, such as Square, without needing a paid add-on. **What a verified Capterra reviewer says:** "Being able to communicate directly with discount card holders, and offer additional perks as a way to keep people engaged has been fantastic." Will W., Bar Operations Manager, Food & Beverages, December 2025 _**Bottom line:**_ _Raklet fits an organization whose relationship with supporters is ongoing membership, not a single donation, and its free tier genuinely covers the basics for a small community up to 100 contacts. Confirm early whether the specific features you need, like receipts or a particular payment method, are actually available before counting on them._ ## 4\. [SignUpGenius](https://www.capterra.com/p/135392/SignUpGenius/): Best for volunteer and event sign-ups _SignUpGenius dashboard showing open volunteer shifts in calendar view (Source: Capterra)_ SignUpGenius lets an organization post open shifts, tasks, or event slots and let volunteers claim them directly, without a coordinator manually assigning people. Reviewers consistently describe it as the tool that replaced spreadsheets and email chains for coordinating volunteers, PTA sign-ups, and one-off events. **Why users like it:** - Ease of use was the most repeated theme, with reviewers describing a setup that participants, including those less comfortable with technology, could navigate without help. - Automated reminder emails came up repeatedly as a reason organizers rely on it, since volunteers are less likely to forget a shift they signed up for. **What's included on the free plan:** - Unlimited sign-up pages with core scheduling, reminders, and volunteer self-signup features, at no cost. - Ability to send up to 1,000 emails to volunteers per month without charge. - Display ads on sign-up pages, which paid tiers remove. #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Device Compatibilty **Key features:** - **Self-service shift claiming:** Volunteers pick their own slots from a link, no manual assignment needed. - **Automated reminder emails:** Reduces no-shows by reminding volunteers of upcoming commitments. - **Customizable sign-up pages:** Add custom questions, item requests, or time slots specific to your event. - **Calendar integration:** Participants can add their sign-up directly to their personal calendar. **Limitations to know:** - **Ads on the free version:** The most cited complaint by a wide margin, reviewers describe the ads as distracting and, for some, making sign-up pages look less professional when shared externally. - **Dated interface:** Several reviewers describe the design as outdated or clunky compared to newer competitors, though most say it doesn't get in the way once you're used to it. **What a verified Capterra reviewer says:** "Sign-up Genius is an easy, user-friendly way to get and organize a sign-up sheet." Mike T., Family Pastor, Religious Institutions, July 2026 **_Bottom line:_** _SignUpGenius fits an organization that needs reliable volunteer or event sign-ups without paying for it, and reviewers consistently confirm the free tier is fully usable, not a stripped-down teaser. The ads are the real trade-off, worth weighing if you're sending sign-up links to donors or families where a more polished look matters._ ## 5\. [Zeffy](https://www.capterra.com/p/220131/Zeffy/): Best for zero-fee fundraising funded by donor tips _Zeffy dashboard showing donation forms and event ticketing at checkout (Source: Capterra)_ Zeffy covers donations, ticketing, memberships, and peer-to-peer fundraising, and unlike most fundraising platforms, it charges the organization nothing at all, not even standard card processing fees. The entire platform is funded through an optional tip donors are asked to leave at checkout. **Why users like it:** - Zero fees came up as the most repeated theme by a wide margin, with reviewers specifically noting that Zeffy covers card processing costs other platforms pass on to the organization. - Ease of use came up almost as often, with reviewers describing a clean setup process they could complete in under an hour. **What's included on the free plan:** - $0 platform fee and $0 processing fees across donations, event ticketing, memberships, auctions, and raffles. - Unlimited campaigns, contacts, and team members, with no seat-based pricing. - Funded entirely through a default donor tip (17% for donations up to $99.49, 15% above that), which donors can adjust or decline at checkout. #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Device Compatibilty **Key features:** - **Donation forms and campaigns:** Branded, no-code donation pages with recurring giving support. - **Event ticketing:** Sell tickets and manage registration for fundraising events. - **Membership management:** Collect and track recurring membership dues alongside donations. - **Auctions and raffles:** Run silent auctions and raffles from the same platform. **Limitations to know:** - **Donor confusion around the tip prompt:** The most cited complaint, some donors don't realize the tip is optional, and a few reviewers note there's no simple "no" option, requiring donors to select "other" and enter $0 instead. - **Limited advanced features:** A handful of reviewers mention wanting deeper integrations with existing CRMs or more frequent payout options than the current schedule. **What a verified Capterra reviewer says:** "Zeffy is free - no fundraising charges at all! And, it is sooo easy to use for all your donor management work, especially getting out newsletters!" Amanda L., Administrative Assistant, Religious Institutions, July 2026 _**Bottom line:**_ _Zeffy is the pick if avoiding processing fees entirely matters more than anything else, since it's the only tool on this list that covers those costs too, not just its own platform fee. The tip prompt is the one thing worth testing with your own donors first, since a confused or frustrated donor at checkout can outweigh the savings._ ## What to look for in free software for nonprofits A "free" tag on a pricing page doesn't tell you much on its own. Here's what actually determines whether a free plan works for your organization. ### Confirm what's actually free, not just what's marketed as free Several products in this category advertise a free tier while still charging a mandatory percentage on every transaction, which is a real cost, just not a subscription. Check the vendor's own pricing page directly for the word "mandatory" or "platform fee," rather than trusting a review site's free-plan tag at face value. ### Understand how the platform actually makes money If a tool is free to your organization, the cost is coming from somewhere, usually transaction fees passed to the payer or an optional donor tip. Neither is inherently a problem, but you should know which model you're asking your donors or members to participate in before you launch. ### Check what's capped on the free tier Free plans in this category commonly cap things like the number of contacts, active collections visible at once, or specific features like receipts and waitlisting. If [membership management](https://www.capterra.com/membership-management-software/) is part of what you need alongside donations, confirm the contact cap specifically, since that's where free tiers in this category most often draw the aline. ### Test the free tier with your actual audience An interface that feels simple to you as the organizer may look different to the person paying or signing up. If your donors or members skew less comfortable with technology, run a real test transaction or sign-up before rolling a new tool out broadly. ## Frequently asked questions about free software for nonprofits What is free software for nonprofits? Free software for nonprofits is a tool built for fundraising, membership, or volunteer management that a nonprofit organization can use without paying a subscription fee, though the platform still needs to generate revenue somehow, usually through transaction fees or an optional donor tip. Is free nonprofit software actually free? It depends on the product. Some platforms truly charge the organization nothing, funding themselves entirely through transaction fees passed to the payer or an optional donor tip. Others market a "free" tier that still charges a mandatory platform fee on every transaction, which is a real cost even without a monthly subscription. All 5 tools on this list were verified directly against the vendor's own pricing page to confirm no mandatory charge to the organization. What are the key features to look for in free software for nonprofits? The features that matter most are what's actually included at no cost, not just advertised, how the platform funds itself, what's capped on the free tier (contacts, collections, or specific features), and whether the interface holds up for the people actually donating or signing up, not just the organizer. How much does software for nonprofits cost beyond the free tier? Costs vary by funding model. Transaction-fee-funded platforms like Cheddar Up charge per payment rather than a subscription. Donor-tip-funded platforms like Givebutter and Zeffy can stay free indefinitely if tips remain enabled. Raklet's paid tiers start once you exceed 100 contacts, and SignUpGenius charges to remove ads rather than to unlock core functionality. What is the best free software for nonprofits? It depends on the job. Zeffy is the strongest pick if avoiding processing fees entirely matters most. Givebutter is the better fit if you want event ticketing and auctions alongside donations. Cheddar Up works well if payment collection, not full fundraising, is the actual need. Raklet is the pick for ongoing membership management, and SignUpGenius is built specifically for volunteer and event sign-ups. ## Capterra's 2026 Software Buying Trends Report ### Download our 2026 Software Buying Trends Report to see how successful software adopters avoid disappointment and how your business can, too. * * * Looking for Nonprofit software? Check out Capterra's list of the [best Nonprofit software](https://www.capterra.com/nonprofit-software/) solutions. ### Was this article helpful? * * * ## About the Author [### Emilie Audubert](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/emilie-audubert/) Emilie is an expert in the human resources field, with a particular interest in digital tools to help human resources professionals streamline their day-to-day processes. 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All ratings and review counts reflect data as of the time of publication. Pricing was verified against official vendor pricing pages in September 2026. To be included in this list, each product had to: 1. Appear on [Capterra's Nonprofit Shortlist](https://www.capterra.com/nonprofit-software/shortlist/). 2. Have a minimum of 20 verified reviews in the past 24 months. 3. Have an overall rating of 4.0 or higher across overall rating, ease of use, customer support, and value for money, based on data from that same window. 4. Offer a genuine free plan with no mandatory cost to the organization, verified directly against the vendor's own pricing page rather than a review platform's tag alone. Several products were evaluated and excluded: - **When I Work, QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Jotform, Bitrix24, Sling, Coupler.io, and authorize.net** were excluded despite appearing in the review pull, because they are general business tools used by nonprofit staff rather than software built specifically for nonprofit use cases. - **DonorPerfect, DonorSnap, Daxko Operations, CharityTracker, Keela, MoneyMinder, and MonkeyPod** all cleared the review and rating thresholds but do not offer a free plan, paid subscriptions only, with a trial at best. - **OneCause, HelloFund, and Funraise** charge either a subscription fee or a mandatory 3-5% platform fee, with no genuine $0 tier. - **Donorbox** is marketed with a "free" tier but always charges a mandatory 1.5-2.95% platform fee, even without a monthly subscription. Not having a subscription fee is not the same as being free, so it was excluded on that basis. To build the shortlist: - I analyzed products from a broader nonprofit software review dataset covering 192 products before category-fit and free-plan exclusions. - Reviews were assessed on themes reported by at least five separate reviewers before treating them as representative, covering both what users credit the product for and where it falls short. - Free-plan claims were verified against each vendor's own pricing page, not a single review platform's tag, since several products marketed as free were found to always charge a mandatory fee once checked directly. - Quotes were pulled directly from each product's Capterra reviews page, checked against the source text, and confirmed non-incentivized where that information was available. **Editorial independence:** Products are selected and ranked based on an objective methodology. While some vendors may pay Capterra when they receive web traffic or leads, this does not influence our selection or analysis.