Event Ticketing Platforms for Fundraisers: Free & Paid Compared (2026)

Selling tickets to a fundraising event is not the same as selling tickets to a concert. Your ticket buyers are also your bidders, raffle entrants and donors. Your "venue" might be a school hall run by volunteers. And every dollar lost to fees is a dollar that doesn't reach your cause.

This guide compares the five ticketing platforms nonprofits and fundraisers actually shortlist in 2026.
This comparison is published by GalaBid, one of the platforms featured. We compare ticketing options for US fundraising events, focusing on costs, table bookings, guest management, check-in and connected fundraising tools.

This guide uses US pricing. In the UK or Australia? See our UK charity event ticketing comparison or Australian charity event ticketing comparison.

Event ticketing platforms compared

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Short version: GalaBid leads on review score and is built so a ticket buyer is instantly registered for your auction, raffle and donations too. Zeffy is the pick for simple, zero-cost ticketing if you're a registered nonprofit in its supported countries. Eventbrite offers the biggest public marketplace but wasn't built for fundraising. Givebutter and Donorbox suit organisations already using them for other campaigns.

What nonprofits need from event ticketing that general platforms don't provide

Before the reviews, the checklist that separates fundraising ticketing from general ticketing:

• One registration for everything. If your event has an auction or raffle, guests should be able to bid the moment they buy a ticket, not sign up again on the night.
• Table tickets. Galas sell tables. The purchaser needs to assign seats, invite their guests and manage their own list without emailing you spreadsheets (how GalaBid handles tables).
• Check-in built for volunteers. Search a name, tap, done.
• Custom questions for dietary requirements and seating preferences at the point of purchase.
• Fee flexibility. Absorb fees or pass them to buyers, your choice.
• Direct payouts. Money in your account, not held by the platform until after the event.

Now the platforms, in ranked order.

1. GalaBid: best for fundraising events

Trustpilot: 4.9

GalaBid's ticketing was built by its in-house team specifically for fundraisers, and it shows in one structural difference: when someone buys a ticket, they're instantly registered for everything else in your campaign. On event night they can bid in the silent auction, buy raffle tickets and make donations without a second signup.

The same applies on your side of the desk. Ticketing, check-in, auctions, raffles and donations all live in one fundraising platform with one login and one dashboard. There's no stitching together a ticketing tool, an auction app and a donation page, no exporting guest lists between systems, and one set of reports to reconcile afterwards.

The table management is the other standout for gala organisers. Sell single tickets or table tickets; table purchasers assign their own seats, invite their own guests and handle transfers if someone can't come. Custom questions collect dietary needs and preferences at purchase. Check-in runs from any device with volunteer accounts, and reports give you everything needed for a seating plan.

Payments run through your organisation's own Stripe account. GalaBid never holds your funds, so ticket revenue is available to you on Stripe's normal payout schedule rather than after the event. Ticketing is free to use on the tip-funded plan, with paid options if you'd rather show no tip prompts.

Support is human: live chat 7 days a week and real fundraising experts rather than a bot.

Consider something else if: you're running a general-public event with no fundraising component and want marketplace discovery. That's Eventbrite's home turf.

2. Zeffy: best free ticketing for registered nonprofits who are happy to have higher tipping defaults.

Trustpilot: 4.6 Zeffy asks buyers for an optional contribution to fund its platform without lower drop down tips. Buyers can change or remove that contribution. Preview the checkout before choosing a platform so you understand what supporters will see alongside their ticket purchase.

The trade-offs: you need to be a registered nonprofit in a country Zeffy supports (US, Canada, UK and Australia), funds flow through Zeffy's infrastructure before being paid out to you, and the event-night depth (table management, integrated bidding) is thinner than purpose-built event platforms. See our full GalaBid vs Zeffy comparison for the detail.

Best for: registered nonprofits running straightforward ticketed events on a zero budget.
Because Zeffy is funded by tips, its checkout suggests a contribution by default. Buyers can adjust or remove it, but it's worth previewing the checkout to see how the prompt looks to your supporters.
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3. Eventbrite: best for public discovery

Trustpilot: 4.2

Eventbrite is the biggest name in general event ticketing, and its strengths are real: an enormous public marketplace where people actively browse for events, polished event pages, marketing tools and a mature check-in app. If your fundraiser sells to the general public rather than your own supporter base, that discovery engine can genuinely sell tickets for you.

Eventbrite supports paid admission, donation tickets and attendee check-in. Ticketing fees apply to paid tickets, so compare the total cost at your expected ticket price and sales volume. Payout timing depends on your account and selected schedule; eligible organizers can receive funds before their event. If you also need a silent auction or raffle, check how those activities will connect to ticketing and guest records.

Best for: public-facing events where marketplace discovery outweighs fees and the fundraising happens elsewhere.

4. Givebutter: events, fundraising and donor management

Trustpilot: 4.2

Givebutter combines ticketing, donations, peer-to-peer fundraising and auctions. Its event tools include table seating, guest assignments and check-in, making it relevant to galas as well as community fundraisers. Compare the complete guest journey—including table purchases, guest invitations and auction registration—against your event requirements.

Best for: US nonprofits wanting events, fundraising and donor management within one platform.

5. Donorbox: best if you're already a Donorbox customer

Trustpilot: 3.9

Donorbox is a donation platform first, with strong recurring giving and donor management, and ticketing added as a feature. Its events module handles the basics, and if your donor data already lives in Donorbox, keeping ticketing in the same system has real workflow value. It charges a platform fee plus payment processing, so unlike the tip-funded options it always costs your organisation something.

Best for: organisations already running donations through Donorbox who want a lightweight ticketing add-on.

Other platforms fundraisers ask about

A few other names come up when nonprofits compare ticketing options. RallyUp is a fundraising platform with ticketing, raffles and auctions, closest in scope to the platforms above. TicketTailor is a general ticketing tool known for low flat fees, with no built-in fundraising features. Brown Paper Tickets and TicketLeap are budget general ticketing platforms; both sell tickets and stop there. BetterWorld offers free fundraising tools including basic ticketing. Universe is a Ticketmaster-owned general ticketing product aimed at public events. None of these connects a ticket purchase to auction bidding, raffle entry and donations in a single registration, which is the structural test for a fundraising event. If your event is ticket-only, they may be worth a look; if it includes an auction or raffle, the five platforms above are the shortlist.

How to choose

Start with what happens after the ticket. If your event includes an auction, raffle or donation appeal, integrated registration is worth more than any fee difference: every extra signup step on event night costs you bidders, and every extra tool costs your team another login, another guest-list export and another report to reconcile. If the ticket is the whole transaction, a simpler tool is fine.

Selling tables? Table tickets with purchaser-managed guest lists and seat assignment narrow the field fast. Check the platform actually does this before you commit; most don't.

Do the maths on fees at your ticket price. A per-ticket service fee is negligible on a $10 ticket and painful on 300 tickets at $150. Tip-funded platforms cost your organisation nothing but show your buyers a tip prompt. Decide which trade-off suits your event and audience.

Check when you get paid. Some platforms pay out after your event; others pay as sales happen. If you have deposits and suppliers to pay before event night, cash flow timing matters as much as the fee percentage.

Go deeper

• Event ticketing and check-in on GalaBid
• Best event fundraising software for nonprofits
• GalaBid vs Zeffy: which one is right for you?
• The top raffle platforms for fundraising in 2026

Frequently Asked Questions About Nonprofit Event Ticketing

How do I choose the best ticketing platform for a nonprofit event?

Start with what your event needs beyond selling admission. A community fundraiser may need straightforward ticket sales and check-in, while a gala may also require corporate tables, guest invitations, meal choices and an auction.

Compare the complete cost, the buyer’s checkout experience, payout timing and available support. Ask for a demonstration of your actual workflow, including what happens when a table purchaser has not yet confirmed all their guests.

What does GalaBid’s nonprofit event ticketing software include?

GalaBid supports individual tickets, table purchases, free admission, discount codes, custom guest questions and QR check-in. Organizers can manage guest information and download ticket sales and payment reports.

Use GalaBid’s nonprofit event ticketing on its own or alongside auctions, raffles and donations within the same campaign.

Is GalaBid free for US nonprofit event ticketing?

GalaBid offers a tip-funded option with no platform fee. Supporters see an optional contribution to GalaBid at checkout, which helps fund the software.

Stripe payment-processing fees still apply. Your organization can absorb these fees or pass them on to ticket buyers. When comparing free platforms, check platform fees, processing charges and any optional contribution requested from supporters separately.

How does GalaBid get paid?

GalaBid earns revenue through optional supporter tips on its free plan or platform charges on its paid plans.

With the tip-funded option, supporters can contribute toward the cost of providing the platform. GalaBid shares 10% of those tips with your cause. Organizations that prefer no platform tipping request can choose a paid alternative, including a fixed fee per campaign.

Stripe’s payment-processing fees are separate, and GalaBid does not add a markup to them.

How does GalaBid’s tip sharing work?

Your cause receives 10% of each platform tip collected through GalaBid’s tip-sharing model.

For example, if a supporter leaves a $10 platform tip, your cause receives $1 through tip sharing. This is 10% of the tip—not 10% of the ticket price or donation—and provides additional income alongside your fundraising proceeds.

Learn more about GalaBid’s Tip Revenue Share.

What happens if a ticket buyer chooses not to tip?

The platform tip is optional. A buyer can opt out, and GalaBid does not replace the declined tip with a platform charge to your organization on the free plan.

Stripe processing fees still apply. The optional platform tip and any contribution toward processing fees are separate, so review your checkout settings before launching ticket sales.

Can we use GalaBid without asking supporters for tips?

Yes. Some events prefer not to show a tipping request to their supporters. That is why GalaBid offers alternative pricing options, including a fixed fee per campaign, with platform tips switched off.

Choose the model that suits your event, budget and audience. Stripe processing fees remain separate and can be absorbed by your organization or passed on to buyers.

Pricing for GalaBid

Should we choose tipping or a fixed fee?

The tipping option may suit organizations that want no upfront platform cost and are comfortable presenting an optional contribution request to supporters. Tip sharing also creates an opportunity for additional income.

A fixed fee may suit events that want a known platform cost and no platform tip prompt at checkout. Compare the package price, included features, processing costs and expected fundraising revenue before choosing.

Can we absorb processing fees or pass them on to ticket buyers?

Yes. You can absorb Stripe’s processing fees, ask buyers to cover them optionally, or make fee coverage compulsory through your campaign settings. GalaBid does not add a markup to Stripe’s fees.

Absorbing fees reduces the proceeds your organization retains. Passing them on increases the buyer’s total payment. Choose the approach that suits your event and make the full cost clear before supporters complete their purchase.

When do we receive our ticket revenue?

Online payments are processed through your organization’s connected Stripe account. GalaBid does not hold your ticket revenue until the event finishes.

Transfers to your bank follow your Stripe account’s payout schedule and applicable requirements. This does not mean every payment reaches your bank immediately.

Read more about GalaBid’s payments and funds handling.

Can we sell whole tables and let purchasers manage their guests?

Yes. Sell tables alongside individual tickets and let purchasers invite and manage their guests. Guest details can be completed at checkout or later, and tickets can be transferred if plans change.

This is useful when a corporate sponsor books a table before knowing everyone who will attend. You can also collect meal choices, dietary requirements and accessibility information in advance.

Do supporters need separate logins for tickets, auctions and donations?

No. When these activities are part of the same GalaBid campaign, supporters use one registration and login to purchase event tickets, bid in the auction and make donations. They do not need separate accounts for each feature.

For table bookings, invited guests should complete their individual guest registration so they can participate using their own details.

Connect ticketing with silent auctions, raffles and donations in one campaign.

How does event check-in work?

Volunteers can use GalaBid’s event check-in tools to scan ticket QR codes and record arrivals. Organizers can monitor attendance through the campaign.

Before the event, brief your volunteers, test devices and internet access, and agree how to handle guests who cannot find their ticket. A short rehearsal helps identify problems before the busiest arrival period.

Can we use GalaBid for ticketing without running an auction?

Yes. Ticketing can operate as a standalone service. You do not need to add an auction, raffle or donation appeal to sell tickets and manage admission.

If you need additional fundraising activities, you can run them within the same GalaBid fundraising platform.

What support is available when setting up and running our event?

GalaBid provides live chat support from real people, seven days a week. The team can help with ticket setup, guest management, payment settings and event-day check-in.

You can also access step-by-step guidance and video resources in the GalaBid Help Center. If you need hands-on assistance at your venue, ask the team about on-site support availability and pricing.

What should we test before launching ticket sales?

Make a test purchase from a phone and review the experience from the supporter’s perspective. Check ticket descriptions, table quantities, custom questions, processing-fee settings, any tipping request, confirmation messages and guest invitations.

Also test check-in and confirm that your team can access the reports it needs. If you are combining ticketing with an auction or donations, test that journey using the same supporter login.

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