Payment Processors Like Stripe: What to Know If Zeffy Doesn't Fit Your Needs
When Zeffy and Stripe might not be the right fit
Zeffy is a payment processor built specifically for nonprofits and charities—it charges zero percent processing fees on donations and offers free fundraising tools. Stripe is a general-purpose payment processor that charges a percentage of each transaction and works for any business type. Neither one is right for every situation. You might need a different processor if you run a for-profit business, if you need industry-specific features like recurring billing or invoicing built in, if you process high transaction volumes and want to negotiate rates, or if you need payment methods Zeffy and Stripe don't support in your region.
The choice between processors comes down to what you actually do with the money, how often you process payments, what your customers expect to pay with, and how much support you need when something goes wrong. This guide walks through the real alternatives, what each one costs, and how to figure out which one matches your situation.
Key Takeaways
- Zeffy is free for nonprofits but only processes donations; Stripe charges fees but works for any business and handles subscriptions, invoices, and in-person payments.
- Square, PayPal, and Shopify are full-service alternatives that each cost differently and work best for different transaction types and business sizes.
- Specialized processors like Authorize.net, Worldpay, and Adyen exist for high-volume businesses, international payments, or specific industries like healthcare or e-commerce.
- The lowest fee is not always the best choice—consider setup time, customer payment methods, reporting tools, and what happens when you need help.
- Most processors let you test their system before you commit money, so you can see whether the dashboard and payment flow work for your actual customers.
Stripe alternatives for nonprofits that want zero fees
If you run a nonprofit and Zeffy's feature set is too limited, Donorbox and GiveWP both offer zero-fee donation processing similar to Zeffy. Donorbox charges nothing on donations but does charge a small fee if you use their recurring giving or peer-to-peer fundraising tools. GiveWP is free for donations but charges a monthly subscription if you want their full suite of fundraising features. Both integrate with your website and send donation receipts automatically.
PayPal Giving Fund is another zero-fee option, but only for registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the United States. PayPal covers all processing fees, so 100 percent of what donors give reaches your organization. The tradeoff is that you can only use it for donations—not for selling merchandise or services.
If your nonprofit needs to process both donations and payments for services or products, Stripe itself remains a common choice because it handles all three. You pay Stripe's standard percentage fee (which varies by payment method and country), but you get one dashboard for everything. Many nonprofits negotiate lower rates with Stripe if they process high volumes.
General-purpose processors for small businesses and online stores
Square is built for businesses that take payments in person, online, or both. Square charges a flat percentage per transaction (the rate depends on how you accept payment—in-person card readers, online checkout, or invoices). Square's strength is simplicity: the dashboard is straightforward, customer support is available by phone, and you can start taking payments within hours. Square also offers point-of-sale hardware if you have a physical location.
PayPal (separate from PayPal Giving Fund) works for any business type and charges per transaction. PayPal's main advantage is that it's been around for decades and most customers recognize it. The main disadvantage is that PayPal's fees are higher than Stripe's for most transaction types, and their customer support can be slow. PayPal does offer invoicing, subscription billing, and in-person payments through their card reader.
Shopify Payments is built into Shopify's e-commerce platform and charges a percentage per transaction. If you already use Shopify to run an online store, Shopify Payments is the simplest option because it connects directly to your inventory, shipping, and customer data. If you don't use Shopify, you'd be paying for the platform subscription plus the payment processing, which makes it more expensive than Stripe alone.
Processors for high-volume businesses and specific industries
Authorize.net is one of the oldest payment processors and is popular with businesses that process thousands of transactions per month. Authorize.net charges a monthly gateway fee plus per-transaction fees, which can be cheaper than percentage-based pricing if your average transaction is large or your volume is very high. Authorize.net's dashboard is less modern than Stripe's, but it's stable and integrates with almost every accounting and e-commerce system.
Worldpay (owned by Fiserv) and Adyen are enterprise-level processors used by large retailers, hotels, and international businesses. Both offer custom pricing based on your volume and industry, support dozens of payment methods and currencies, and provide dedicated account management. These are not self-service platforms—you work with a sales team to set up your account, and fees are negotiated rather than published.
Clover is a point-of-sale system with integrated payment processing, designed for restaurants, retail shops, and service businesses. Clover charges a percentage per transaction plus a monthly subscription for the hardware and software. If you need a complete register system, not just payment processing, Clover bundles everything together.
How to compare processors on what actually matters
The published fee is only one part of the cost. Before you switch, check whether the processor charges setup fees, monthly minimums, batch fees, or early termination penalties. Some processors charge extra for features like invoicing, recurring billing, or API access. Others charge to move your data out if you leave.
Next, test the payment flow with a real customer or a test transaction. Does the checkout page load fast? Can customers pay with the methods they actually use—credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets like Apple Pay, or local payment methods if you're international? How long does it take money to show up in your bank account? Some processors deposit daily; others hold funds for a week.
Finally, check what happens when you need help. Does the processor offer phone support, or only email and chat? How long do they take to respond? Do they have a knowledge base or community forum? If you process payments for a living, slow support costs you money.
Moving your payments from one processor to another
Switching processors is not automatic—you have to tell your customers about the change and update any recurring payments manually. If you use invoicing, you'll need to generate new invoicing links in the new processor. If you have a website, you'll need to update the payment button or checkout code.
Most processors can export your transaction history as a CSV file, which you can import into your accounting software or keep for your records. Some processors charge a fee to export data or to close your account early. Check the terms before you commit.
The actual switch usually takes a few hours to a few days. During that time, you can run both processors in parallel—accept payments through the old one while you test the new one. Once you're confident the new processor works, you can turn off the old one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use multiple payment processors at the same time?
Yes. Many businesses use one processor for online payments and another for in-person payments, or one for donations and another for product sales. Each processor gives you a separate dashboard and separate bank deposits. The tradeoff is that you have to manage multiple accounts and reconcile payments across them.
What if a processor goes out of business or stops serving my country?
Your money is protected—processors hold customer funds in separate bank accounts and cannot use them for their own expenses. If a processor shuts down, your bank account information stays yours, and you can move to a new processor. You may lose access to your transaction history temporarily, but most processors are required to provide it within a set timeframe.
Do I need a business license to use a payment processor?
Requirements vary by processor and by country. Most processors require a business tax ID or nonprofit registration number. Some accept sole proprietors with just a Social Security number. Check the processor's requirements before you sign up—they'll tell you exactly what documents they need.
Which processor is cheapest for small transaction amounts?
Zeffy and PayPal Giving Fund are free for nonprofits. For for-profit businesses, Stripe and Square are usually cheaper than PayPal for small amounts because they charge a lower percentage. Authorize.net can be cheaper if you process high volume, because the monthly fee spreads across many transactions. Calculate your actual costs using your expected transaction size and volume.
Can I negotiate fees with a payment processor?
Yes, but only if you process high volume. Stripe, Square, and PayPal all negotiate rates for businesses processing tens of thousands of dollars per month. Worldpay and Adyen negotiate with almost every customer. Zeffy and most small-business processors have fixed rates that don't change.