Zeffy Calls Itself Free.
Your Raffle Results Tell….
a Different Story

Q: Is Zeffy actually free?

Free to the organization, yes — there's no platform fee invoice coming to you. But Zeffy generates revenue through a tip prompt at checkout, starting at 17% and pre-checked, which supporters have to actively remove. For donation campaigns this model works reasonably well. For raffle transactions — where buyers have already decided exactly what they want to spend — that prompt creates real friction. Based on observed raffle campaign data, Zeffy's tip model drives roughly 30% checkout abandonment for school and family-oriented events, and around 40% for general church and community fundraisers. 'Free software' and 'free outcome' are not the same thing.

Q: Does Zeffy's tip model create compliance risk for raffle events?

It can, depending on your state. Most U.S. states that regulate charitable gaming require the price per raffle entry to be fixed and disclosed upfront. Zeffy's variable tip prompt — starting at 17%, ranging to 29%, and requiring active removal — may not meet that standard in regulated states. Chance2Win's Zero Fee model applies a fixed 12% service charge that's shown clearly before purchase. This is informational, not legal advice — please consult an attorney before launching any raffle campaign.

Q: Can Zeffy run basket raffles?

Not in the way serious basket raffles need. Basket raffles require separate ticket pools per basket, individual drawings for each prize, and the ability for supporters to spread ticket value across multiple baskets. That's specialized raffle infrastructure that Zeffy — as a donation-first platform — doesn't provide. Chance2Win has been running basket raffles for twenty years, because it's what we were built for. See how basket raffles work →

Q: Can Zeffy run duck races or ball drops?

No. These events depend on pre-numbered physical items where the number on the winning duck or ball must trace cleanly to a sold ticket. Any gap, duplicate, or unreturned number after a refund creates results you can't confidently defend. Chance2Win manages the full pre-numbered pool — assigns numbers, prevents gaps, returns numbers after refunds and cancellations, and maintains clean winner traceability. Zeffy doesn't have this infrastructure.

Q: What's the difference between Chance2Win's two pricing plans?

Zero Fee is $0 to your organization. A fixed 12% donor service charge is applied — displayed clearly before purchase, not revealed at checkout. It's transparent, compliant in most regulated states, and avoids all tip-prompt friction. Premium starts at $329 and delivers the cleanest possible checkout — supporters see only your ticket price, with an org-controlled service charge — if enabled, flows directly to your organization, not to Chance2Win. Most orgs set 8% to net back their software and processing costs. Zero Fee is the right fit when zero out-of-pocket cost is the priority. See full pricing details →

Q: Why does having multiple payment processors matter?

Zeffy processes through Stripe only. Stripe's restricted business policies can create issues for certain raffle prize categories — firearms and alcohol are common examples. Chance2Win Premium supports Stripe, Square, Authorize.net, and others, giving you options when your event format or prize type doesn't fit a single-processor environment. Always confirm processor compliance before launch.

Q: What is a hybrid raffle and does Chance2Win support it?

Chance2Win's manual order entry lets you import all previously sold tickets — name, contact, ticket count, prize selections — directly into a Chance2Win drawing pool. Every prior buyer keeps their entry with equal standing to digitally purchased tickets. This has resolved real emergency situations: organizations whose accounts were locked or restricted mid-campaign have moved to Chance2Win and run a complete drawing with every ticket intact. Contact our support team to walk through your specific situation: Contact Support →

Q: Can I actually reach someone by phone if something goes wrong during my event?

Yes. We have real people who understand raffle operations and answer the phone. When your event is live on a Saturday night and something unexpected comes up — a refund question, a ticket pool issue, a drawing that needs to be verified — you want a person on the line, not a support ticket queue. Zeffy doesn't offer phone support.

Here’s what actually happens when nonprofits use Zeffy for a raffle: a tip prompt appears between your supporter and the Buy button — pre-checked at 17%, hard to remove — and 30–40% of your raffle sales quietly disappear. They still call that free.

Start Your Raffle See Demos

20 Years of Raffle Expertise — Since 2005

30,000+ Campaigns Launched

Real Humans Answer the Phone

Proudly Made in America

Is Zeffy Ever the Right Choice? Yes, Sometimes.

We’re going to be straight with you: if you’re running a small, simple donation campaign under a thousand dollars and you don’t need any raffle functionality, Zeffy is a reasonable tool for that job. We’re not here to talk it down across the board.

But the moment a real raffle is involved — with ticket pools, prize management, hybrid entries, or any of the formats we’ve covered here — the comparison changes entirely. Zeffy was built for donations. Chance2Win was built for raffles. That architectural difference shows up in your results.

The test we recommend: Before your next event, ask your platform vendor one question — “Can you run a basket raffle where each basket has its own ticket pool and its own independent drawing?” If the answer isn’t a clear yes with documentation showing how, you’re using a donation tool for a raffle job. See how basket raffles work on Chance2Win →

~30%

Checkout abandonment
on school & family events

~40%

Checkout abandonment
on church & community events

17–29%

Zeffy’s tip prompt range —
pre-checked at checkout

Modeled from normalized checkout completion data across tens of thousands of raffle transactions. Individual results vary by cause type and donor demographics.

What “Free” Actually Costs Your Raffle

We know “free” sounds great. But here’s the number nobody shows you before you sign up. Run your own numbers in the table below — then show it to whoever approves your platform choice.

Raffle Goal	Zeffy (After Tip Abandonment)	Chance2Win Zero Fee (Org Keeps Value)
School or Family Event — ~30% cart abandonment on Zeffy's 17–29% tip prompt
$20,000 Your goal	$14,000 ~$6,000 abandoned at checkout	$19,800 ~1% normal friction · org keeps full ticket value
$50,000 Your goal	$35,000 ~$15,000 abandoned at checkout	$49,500 ~1% normal friction · org keeps full ticket value
$100,000 Your goal	$70,000 ~$30,000 abandoned at checkout	$99,000 ~1% normal friction · org keeps full ticket value
Church or Community Event — ~40% cart abandonment on Zeffy's 17–29% tip prompt
$20,000 Your goal	$12,000 ~$8,000 abandoned at checkout	$19,800 ~1% normal friction · org keeps full ticket value
$50,000 Your goal	$30,000 ~$20,000 abandoned at checkout	$49,500 ~1% normal friction · org keeps full ticket value
$100,000 Your goal	$60,000 ~$40,000 abandoned at checkout	$99,000 ~1% normal friction · org keeps full ticket value

Ready to raise MORE more with less hassle?

Get Started with Chance2Win

Why 12% Barely Moves the Needle — and 17% Destroys Conversions

~0%

Under 10%

1 in 300 abandon. Indistinguishable from normal tax behavior. No measurable impact.

~1–2%

10–14% Chance2Win Zero Fee

Slightly above normal but well within acceptable range. Org keeps 100% of ticket value.

~25%

15%

Abandonment skyrockets. Donors feel the charge as a penalty, not a fee. Checkout trust collapses.

30–40%

17–29% Zeffy tip range

Donors actively angry. Pre-checked, hard to remove, unknown platform. They close the window.

Checkout abandonment thresholds based on e-commerce and nonprofit fundraising research across tens of thousands of raffle transactions. The 15% inflection point is consistent across cause types — above it, buyers interpret the charge as a penalty and disengage. Below 10%, behavior mirrors sales-tax acceptance. Chance2Win’s 12% sits in the acceptable zone; Zeffy’s 17–29% tip sits well above the cliff.

Chance2Win’s 12% donor service charge is added to the supporter’s total at checkout — your organization keeps 100% of ticket proceeds. The ~1% abandonment shown reflects normal buyer friction at the 12% level, consistent with how buyers respond to familiar charges like taxes and booking fees. Zeffy’s variable tip (17–29%, pre-checked) sits above the known abandonment cliff at 15%, driving 30–40% checkout abandonment on raffle transactions. Individual results vary.

Our Pricing — Straightforward by Design

We have two options and neither of them involves surprising your supporters with an unexpected charge at checkout. That’s a deliberate choice — and it’s reflected in conversion rates.

Zero Fee

$0, Zero, Zilch, Nada

A fixed 12% donor service charge is shown clearly before purchase — not revealed at checkout. Transparent, compliant in regulated states, and zero donor surprise.

All raffle types supported
Fixed 12% fee — shown upfront
No tip prompt. No checkout friction.
Basket raffles & tricky trays
Queen of Hearts progressive jackpot
Hybrid cash + check + online
Phone support for live events
Compliant with most state fixed-price requirements

Payments Processed through

Choose Zero Fee

Premium Plan (Most Popular)

Starting at $329.00

A flat software fee — not a percentage of what you raise. You pay one invoice. Your org keeps everything else. Cleanest possible checkout: supporters see only the ticket price.

Everything in Zero Fee, plus:
Cleanest checkout — ticket price only, no service charge shown
<$5k raised: $329 flat (6.6% effective)
<$10k raised: $459 flat (4.6% effective)
+$329 per additional $10k raised
$20k event: $788 flat — 3.9% effective
$100k event: $3,420 flat — 3.4% effective
Stripe, Square, Authorize.net & more
You decide what supporters pay — enable a charge and it flows entirely to your org

Easily connects to

Choose Premium

Why the Tip Prompt Costs More Than It Looks Like

When someone decides to buy raffle tickets, they’ve already made their decision. They know what they want to spend. They pull out their phone, find the link, pick their ticket bundle, and head to checkout.

The last thing they need is a prompt asking them to also tip a software platform they’ve never heard of. But that’s exactly what Zeffy puts between them and the Buy button — starting at 17%, pre-filled, requiring deliberate action to remove.

⚠

On a donation campaign, that friction is inconvenient. On a raffle transaction — where buyers have already decided exactly what they planned to spend — it’s particularly expensive. Raffle buyers aren’t in a “tip mindset.” They’re in a “I want my tickets” mindset. The mismatch kills conversions.

🛡

The Legal Issue Worth Knowing About: Most U.S. states that regulate charitable gaming require the price per raffle entry to be fixed and fully disclosed before the buyer commits. Zeffy’s variable tip prompt — defaulting to 17–29%, requiring active removal — may not meet that standard in regulated states. This isn’t legal advice, but it is a real question worth asking your attorney before your event.

✦

Chance2Win’s approach: Our Zero Fee model applies a fixed 12% donor service charge — shown clearly on the ticket selection page, before checkout begins. Supporters know exactly what they’re paying. No surprise. No friction. And in most regulated states, a fixed disclosed fee meets the price-transparency requirement that a variable tip does not.

The Call We Get Every Spring Gala Season

We’ve been answering the phone for nonprofit raffle events for twenty years. Some calls we hear every season.

“We had our basket raffle set up on a ‘free’ platform and everything looked fine until we went live Saturday night. Supporters were clicking through, picking baskets — and then just… not finishing. We thought it was a tech problem. One of our volunteers actually completed the checkout herself and called us: ‘There’s a thing asking me to tip them. I didn’t know what it was. I just closed the window.’ We lost count of how many people did the same thing. We raised about half of what we projected.”

— PTO Fundraising Chair, Annual Spring Gala · Composite account based on calls received by Chance2Win support team

📞

A recent real example of why this matters: A Civil War reenactment organization sold raffle tickets on a Stripe-based platform for three and a half weeks on a museum-quality antique rifle. No warning — their account was suspended mid-campaign. Chance2Win’s manual order entry imported every previous ticket purchase. The drawing ran with a complete pool. No supporter lost their entry.

The switch to Chance2Win rarely happens because someone read a feature comparison. It happens because one event makes the gap impossible to ignore. If you’re reading this before that event, you’re already ahead. See how our online raffle platform works →

What Chance2Win Does That Zeffy Simply Doesn’t

To be fair, Zeffy is a solid tool for straightforward donation campaigns. But the moment a real raffle is involved, here’s where the comparison gets uncomfortable for them.

Feature / Capability	+ Chance2Win	Zeffy
Online raffle ticket sales	Full support	Supported
Checkout friction / tip prompt	Fixed fee, shown upfront 12% service fee displayed before checkout	Variable tip prompt 17-29%, pre-checked, active removal required
Basket raffles / tricky trays	Full support Separate pools, per-basket drawings, ticket splitting	Not supported Donation-first architecture lacks per-basket pool logic
Queen of Hearts (progressive jackpot)	Full workflow Jackpot logic, card management, weekly draws	Not supported
Duck races & ball drops	Pre-numbered pool management Assigns, tracks, and reclaims numbers after refunds	Not supported
50/50 raffles	Full support	Partial Basic ticket sale; limited raffle-specific logic
Hybrid events (cash + check + online)	Unified drawing pool Cash & check entries merged with online — no spreadsheets	No native support
Multiple payment processors	Stripe, Square, Authorize.net & more	Stripe only Stripe restricts firearms, alcohol, certain prize types
State charitable gaming compliance	Fixed disclosed fee meets most state requirements Always verify with local counsel before launch	Variable tip may create compliance risk Review your state's fixed-price disclosure requirements
Phone support during live events	Real humans who understand raffles	No phone support
Cash & check ticket sales — drawing pool	Manual entry — any payment type Cash at the door, checks mailed in — all enter the same pool as digital purchases. One drawing, one audit trail.	No path for cash or check entries Card-present Stripe Terminal ≠ cash. Cash buyers cannot enter Zeffy's drawing pool.
Platform rescue / ticket import	Manual order entry — any source Tickets sold elsewhere can be imported. Drawing pool stays complete through any migration.	No import mechanism Locked or restricted account means prior ticket sales are inaccessible.
Printable physical tickets	Blank and prefilled from admin	Not available
Audit-ready reporting & winner log	Full export, donor data, drawing records	Limited
Zero cost to organization	Zero Fee plan available	No invoice to org Revenue from supporter tip prompt instead

Selling tickets online and at-the-door simultaneously — with cash and check accepted — all flowing into one drawing pool. No separate spreadsheets. No manual reconciliation the night of the event. This is hybrid fundraising done right. Zeffy handles online and card-present; it doesn’t manage cash and check ticket pool integration.

✦ Chance2Win advantage

Built for Real Raffles. Not Generic Donation Tools.

We didn’t build a donation platform and add raffle functionality as a feature. We built the raffle software first — from scratch — before most of the tools you’re comparing us against even existed. Twenty years of real nonprofit events, real fundraising teams, and real raffle problems is a different kind of foundation.

Start a Raffle Our Story

Premium Rate Breakdown vs What Zeffy Actually Costs

Event Size (Funds Raised)	C2W Premium Flat Fee	Effective Rate	Zeffy Tip Model (Cost of 30% abandonment)	You Keep More With C2W
Up to $5,000	$329	6.6%	~$1,500 lost 30% abandonment on $5k	C2W costs less + no abandonment
Up to $10,000	$459	4.6%	~$3,000 lost 30% abandonment on $10k	$459 vs $3,000+ lost
Up to $20,000	$788	3.9%	~$6,000 lost 30% abandonment on $20k	$788 vs $6,000+ lost
Up to $50,000	$1,775	3.6%	~$15,000 lost 30% abandonment on $50k	$1,775 vs $15,000+ lost
Up to $100,000	$3,420	3.4%	~$30,000 lost 30% abandonment on $100k	$3,420 vs $30,000+ lost

C2W Premium: flat fee paid by your organization. Zeffy: no platform fee invoice — the cost is abandonment, estimated at 30% of potential raffle ticket sales based on observed behavior when tip prompts start at 17%. Abandonment estimates are conservative; actual loss varies. Payment processing (2.9% + $0.30/transaction) applies on both platforms. C2W Zero Fee cost to org: $0 — donor service charge is added to supporter total, not deducted from yours.

Stop losing money to fees

SETUP A FREE Raffle

The Real Cost of Running a $20,000 Premium Raffle

Two costs apply on every Premium event: the platform fee and credit card processing. Here’s the honest math on a $20,000 event with 400 tickets at $50 each.

PLATFORM SOFTWARE FEE

$788

$459 ($10k) + $329 (next $10k). Flat fee, regardless of ticket count or transaction volume.

CC PROCESSING (2.9% + $0.30/TXN)

~$700

$580 (2.9% of $20k) + $120 (400 txns × $0.30). Paid to your payment processor, not to Chance2Win.

$788 + $700 = $1,488 7.44% of $20,000 raised

$1,488

7.44%

The Org-Controlled Service Charge — Your Decision. Your Revenue.

You Decide What Supporters Pay.
Enable a Charge and It Goes Directly to You — Not to Chance2Win.

On a $20,000 Premium event, the total real cost — software plus credit card processing — is approximately $1,488, or 7.44%. You decide whether to build cost recovery into the ticket price by enabling a service charge. When you do: every dollar of it flows directly to your organization. Not to Chance2Win. It appears clearly before purchase — supporters see exactly what they’re paying before they commit.

Most organizations set the charge at 8%. On a $20,000 event that collects approximately $1,600 — slightly more than the $1,488 in combined costs, so the event nets slightly above goal. At 8%, the charge sits below the 10% abandonment threshold where research shows essentially zero impact on buyer behavior. The goal nets. The costs are covered. Nothing comes off your raised total.

Smaller or newer organizations

Often enable the service charge. The 8% is fully disclosed before purchase, sits below the abandonment cliff, and means the event pays for itself. The organization nets its full goal.

Larger or experienced organizations

Typically don't enable a charge. Payment processing and software are understood as the cost of running a fundraiser — same as printing, venue, and staffing. They absorb it directly and don't add anything to the supporter's price.

The service charge is entirely the organization’s decision — it does not appear by default. When enabled, it is disclosed to supporters before purchase, and every dollar flows to the organization. It is not Chance2Win’s fee. Chance2Win’s fee is the flat software invoice above — fixed, charged once per event, completely separate.

⚖

Compliance note: Raffle laws vary significantly by state, and some states require fixed, upfront price disclosure for regulated raffle entries. Chance2Win’s fixed service fee model is designed with this in mind. Zeffy’s variable tip model may present compliance questions in some jurisdictions. This is informational — not legal advice. Always consult a qualified attorney and your state’s charitable gaming authority before launching any raffle.

The Original Online Raffle Platform

We didn’t build a donation platform and add raffle functionality as a feature. We built the raffle software first — from scratch — before most of the tools you’re comparing us against even existed.

That means the entire architecture of what we built is designed around how raffles actually work: numbered ticket pools, per-prize drawing logic, hybrid entry reconciliation, progressive jackpots, and cash-and-check support built in from day one.

Twenty years of real nonprofit events, real fundraising teams, and real raffle problems is a different kind of foundation than a feature added to a donation tool two years ago. And when something unexpected happens during your live event on a Saturday night, you want a real person on the phone — not a support ticket queue.

By the Numbers

20 Years

Online raffle platform experience

30,000+

Raffle campaigns launched

6 Formats

Basket, Queen of Hearts, 50/50, Ball Drop, Duck Race, Traditional

Real Phone

Humans who understand raffle ops answer live event calls

Related Guides & Resources

Everything you need to run a confident, compliant raffle — from platform choice through live event night.

Hybrid Raffle Guide

Online + cash + check in one unified draw

Transparent Pricing

Zero Fee vs Premium — full breakdown

Raffle Platform Comparisons

RallyUp, BetterWorld, Givebutter & more

How to Run a Raffle Online

Step-by-step guide for nonprofits

Yes. We have real people who understand raffle operations and answer the phone. When your event is live on a Saturday night and something unexpected comes up — a refund question, a ticket pool issue, a drawing that needs to be verified — you want a person on the line, not a support ticket queue. Zeffy doesn't offer phone support.

Start With the Platform That Was Built for It

Basket raffles, Queen of Hearts, duck races, ball drops, hybrid in-person and online sales, transparent pricing, multiple payment gateways, and real humans on the phone when you need them. It’s all here. It’s been here for 20 years.

Start Your Raffle See Demos Talk to an Expert

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Zeffy Calls Itself Free. Your Raffle Results Tell…. a Different Story

Is Zeffy Ever the Right Choice? Yes, Sometimes.

What “Free” Actually Costs Your Raffle

Ready to raise MORE more with less hassle?

Our Pricing — Straightforward by Design

Why the Tip Prompt Costs More Than It Looks Like

The Call We Get Every Spring Gala Season

What Chance2Win Does That Zeffy Simply Doesn’t

What Purpose-Built Raffle Infrastructure Actually Means

Basket Raffles & Tricky Trays

Queen of Hearts

Duck Races & Ball Drops

Traditional & Online Raffles

50/50 Raffles

Online + In-Person Combined

Built for Real Raffles. Not Generic Donation Tools.

Premium Rate Breakdown vs What Zeffy Actually Costs

Stop losing money to fees

You Decide What Supporters Pay.Enable a Charge and It Goes Directly to You — Not to Chance2Win.

The Original Online Raffle Platform

20 Years

30,000+

6 Formats

Real Phone

Related Guides & Resources

Online Raffle Platform

Basket Raffle Software

Queen of Hearts Platform

Raffle Laws by State

Hybrid Raffle Guide

Transparent Pricing

Raffle Platform Comparisons

How to Run a Raffle Online

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zeffy actually free?

Does Zeffy's tip model create compliance risk for raffle events?

Can Zeffy run basket raffles?

Can Zeffy run duck races or ball drops?

What's the difference between Chance2Win's two pricing plans?

Why does having multiple payment processors matter?

What is a hybrid raffle and does Chance2Win support it?

Can I actually reach someone by phone if something goes wrong during my event?

Start With the Platform That Was Built for It

Zeffy Calls Itself Free.
Your Raffle Results Tell….
a Different Story

You Decide What Supporters Pay.
Enable a Charge and It Goes Directly to You — Not to Chance2Win.