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Ovante vs Zeffy
A free, all-in-one fundraising platform for nonprofits, paid for by optional donor tips. Here is how it compares with Ovante for running a gala, feature by feature, from each company’s own website.
The short answer
When to pick Zeffy, and when to pick Ovante
Choose Zeffy if
- Cost is the deciding factor: Zeffy charges nothing and covers card fees, funded by donor tips.
- You want an online auction that closes on a timer.
Choose Ovante if
- You need seating, a paddle raise, or a tribute journal.
- You need a native Salesforce sync.
- Your sponsors should see their levels on the page and upload their logos.
Feature by feature
Ovante and Zeffy, side by side
| Feature | Ovante | Zeffy |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing | Gala $2,500 per event, paid once. Pro $49 a month. | $0 for every feature1 |
| Platform fee | None on Pro or a Gala event. 5% on Free. | None; runs on optional donor tips and covers card fees.1 |
| Silent auction and mobile bidding | No | Yes. Timed online bidding2 |
| Live auction | No | No. No auctioneer-led bidding, per their FAQ2 |
| Paddle raise or fund-a-need | Yes. Volunteers enter paddles by phone; guests pledge from their ticket | Not listed |
| Big-screen display | Yes | Yes. Live thermometer for a projector or TV3 |
| Tickets and tables | Yes | Yes. Table ticket types4 |
| Seating | Yes. AI turns seating requests into rules you accept | No. Their help center suggests uploading a photo of your chart5 |
| Sponsor levels on the event page | Yes | Partly. Sponsor tiers sold as ticket types4 |
| Sponsors upload their own logos | Yes. From their order page, with review and reminders | Not listed |
| Tribute journal: ad sales and artwork | Yes | Not listed |
| Check-in app | Yes | Yes6 |
| Text-to-give | No | Not listed |
| Salesforce integration | Yes. Also ChabadOne | No. No native sync, per their site7 |
| AI features | Yes. Reads seating requests | Yes. Data assistant in the dashboard8 |
| Claude or ChatGPT connector | No. Not yet | Yes. Claude and ChatGPT connectors7 |
Checked on each company’s own website on October 25, 2026. A feature shows as Yes only when their site describes it; Not listed means we didn’t find it there, which isn’t the same as No. Numbers link to the page each fact came from. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it.
More comparisons
Ovante beside other platforms
Planning a gala?
Tell us the date and the size of the room, and we’ll walk you through it on your own event.
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