If you search for this comparison, you get two sales pages. One is written by CanadaHelps and one by Zeffy, and each says it is the better choice. We do not sell either one. We build websites for Canadian charities, and this comparison uses the providers’ published information, with a checklist for testing your own forms.
The short answer
- Pick Zeffy if keeping every dollar matters most, you run events or raffles as well as donations, and you are fine with donors being asked for a tip.
- Pick CanadaHelps if your donors already know and trust the name, you want to be found in its charity directory, or you accept gifts of securities.
- Both are legitimate. Both issue tax receipts for registered charities. Neither is a scam.
What each one costs
We took each fee from that company's own page on September 21, 2026.
| Feature | CanadaHelps | Zeffy |
|---|---|---|
| One-time gifts, customizable form | 3.75% | 0% to the charity |
| Monthly gifts, customizable form | 3.5% | 0% to the charity |
| Monthly or setup fee | None listed | None |
| How the platform is paid | A share of each gift | Optional tips from donors |
| Tax receipts | Yes, for registered charities | Yes, for registered charities |
| Available in French | Yes, English and French | Yes, English and French |
Sources: CanadaHelps pricing, Zeffy’s optional contribution and Zeffy eligibility.
Fees vary by product. CanadaHelps lists 4.5% for one-time gifts through its public charity profile and 4% for monthly gifts through that profile. The table above covers customizable donation forms, whose fees include card processing.
On $10,000 raised through one-time customizable-form gifts, 3.75% is $375.
Compare the donor controls
These are examples published by the platforms, retrieved September 24, 2026. They illustrate the controls to look for; your current form may look different.
CanadaHelps: the checkbox lets donors cover processing fees. Image from CanadaHelps’ fee explainer, published April 8, 2025.
Zeffy: its help-centre illustration shows the optional contribution menu, including $0. Source: Zeffy’s contribution guide.
Before choosing, try your own form on a phone in both languages and check the total with each optional contribution turned off.
The Zeffy tip, as a donor sees it
Zeffy is free to the charity because it asks the donor for a tip at checkout. The tip goes to Zeffy, not to you.
Two things to weigh:
- Some donors do not notice the tip until they see their card statement. If they feel misled, they may contact you, not Zeffy.
- A donor who leaves a tip has not given you less. Your charity still gets the full gift.
If you choose Zeffy, tell donors up front. One line near the donate button does it: "Our donation form is free for us to use. You will be asked if you want to tip the platform. It is optional."
Are they legit?
People search "is CanadaHelps legit" and "is Zeffy legit" a lot, so here is a direct answer.
CanadaHelps is a registered Canadian charity providing fundraising tools and a directory of charities.
Zeffy is a fundraising platform for eligible organizations, funded by voluntary donor contributions.
Check each platform’s terms, eligibility and donation flow before deciding.
How each form looks on your site
A donation form can live in two places. It can sit on the platform's own page, which you link to. Or it can be embedded in a page on your website, so the donor never leaves.
Embedding usually wins. The donor stays on your site, sees your name in the address bar, and is less likely to drop off. Both platforms offer embedded forms.
What to look for in your own test:
- Does the form fit the width of a phone screen without sideways scrolling?
- Can you match the button colour to your brand?
- How many steps from "Donate" to "Thank you"?
- Can you send donors to your own thank-you page afterward?
Giving in French
If you serve people in Quebec, test the whole donor path in French, not just the form. That means the form labels, the error messages, the confirmation screen, the email receipt and the tax receipt.
A donor who starts in French and gets an English receipt notices. It is a small thing that tells them whether the organization really serves them in their language.
Which fits which charity
| Your situation | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Small charity, every dollar counts, donors are close to you | Zeffy |
| You run raffles, auctions, ticketed events or memberships | Zeffy |
| Older donor base that knows and trusts CanadaHelps | CanadaHelps |
| You want to be found by donors browsing a charity directory | CanadaHelps |
| You accept gifts of securities | CanadaHelps |
| You are a nonprofit but not a registered charity | Zeffy, subject to eligibility; CanadaHelps serves registered charities |
Questions we hear often
What percentage does CanadaHelps take? As of September 2026, its customizable donation forms cost 3.75% for one-time gifts and 3.5% for monthly gifts. Public charity-profile donations cost 4.5% and 4% respectively.
Is Zeffy really free? For the charity, yes. Zeffy is paid through optional tips from donors.
How does Zeffy make money? From those donor tips. There is no fee to the charity.
Can we switch platforms later? Ask both platforms how recurring gifts can be transferred and what donor authorizations are needed before planning a migration.
Can we use both? Some charities do. They keep a CanadaHelps profile so donors can find them in the directory, and use another form on their own website. Just make sure your records and receipts stay in one place.
Need help setting up donations on your site?
We build nonprofit websites with a donation path that works on a phone, in English and French, on whichever platform fits you. Book a 15-minute call.