TryBooking vs Zeffy

Zeffy (0%, nonprofits only) is cheaper than TryBooking (5% + 15p) at every ticket price we checked. On a £30 ticket, with card processing included, TryBooking costs £1.65 and Zeffy costs £0.00.

Fees and features from each platform's public pricing pages, checked September 2026.

TryBooking and Zeffy at a glance

TryBooking

TryBooking is a self-service ticketing and registration platform from Melbourne, with sites for Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Schools, community groups, charities and clubs use it widely, and it also runs donation and fundraising pages.

Fee per paid ticket
5% + 15pincludes card processing
When you're paid
On request from your TryBooking balance; requests before the event can be held for checks of up to seven days
Best for
Australian, New Zealand and UK schools, community groups and charities
Based in
Melbourne, Australia, founded 2008

Zeffy

Zeffy is a fundraising platform for nonprofits that includes event ticketing alongside donations, raffles, auctions and memberships. It charges no platform or card processing fees and is funded by an optional contribution that buyers can add at checkout. Only registered nonprofits can use it.

Fee per paid ticket
0%, nonprofits onlyincludes card processing
When you're paid
Weekly by default, after a fraud review of one to three business days
Best for
Registered nonprofits and charities running fundraising events
Based in
Montréal, Canada

Hi.Events

Also worth a look

Hi.Events is an open-source ticketing platform with a hosted cloud version. Organizers sell from their own branded event pages or an embedded widget, and card payments settle straight into their own Stripe account as tickets sell.

Fee per paid ticket
1.25% + £0.45plus card processing
When you're paid
As tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule
Best for
Organizers who want low published fees, their own branding and their money as tickets sell
Based in
Ireland
Start selling for free
§ 01 · Fees

What TryBooking and Zeffy cost

The all-in cost of selling 250 tickets at £30 each: platform fee plus card processing. Move the sliders to match your event.

Ticket price£30
Tickets sold250
TryBooking · 5% + 15p£413

Card processing is included in the fee.

Zeffy · 0%, nonprofits only£0

Card processing is included in the fee.

Hi.Events · 1.25% + £0.45£369

£206 platform fee + about £163 card processing.

Illustrative, from each platform's published standard rate. Where a platform charges card processing on top, we add its own stated rate or a standard 1.5% + £0.20 per ticket, so every total is like for like. Your actual card rate depends on your processor and the cards your buyers use.

§ 02 · Features

TryBooking vs Zeffy, feature by feature

Where the two differ, and where they don't.

FeatureTryBookingZeffyHi.Events
Platform fee per paid ticket5% + 15p0%, nonprofits only1.25% + £0.45
Card processingIncluded in the feeIncluded in the feeCharged on top
Free eventsFreeFreeFree
When you're paidOn request from your TryBooking balance; requests before the event can be held for checks of up to seven daysWeekly by default, after a fraud review of one to three business daysAs tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule
Payment processorTryBooking by default, or your own Stripe accountZeffy, through StripeYour own Stripe account
Pass fees on to buyers YesNo fees to pass on; buyers see an optional tip Yes
Your branding at checkoutYour branding on tickets and booking pagesYour logo and colors on forms Yes
Embed checkout on your site Yes Yes Yes
Listed in a consumer marketplace YesNot statedNo
Tickets work without an app or account Yes Yes Yes
QR check-in app YesYes, in any phone browserYes, in any phone browser
Reserved seating YesNoNo
Recurring events and time slots Yes Yes Yes
Promo codes Yes Yes Yes
Waitlist YesNo Yes
Custom checkout questions Yes Yes Yes
API and webhooksRead-only APIRead-only APIWebhooks
Official ticket resaleNot statedNot statedNo
Open sourceNoNo Yes
Can be self-hostedNoNo Yes
§ 03 · Trade-offs

Strengths and limitations

TryBooking

Strengths

  • Low Australian and New Zealand fees, with card processing included
  • Free events are free, with the same features as paid ones
  • Seating plans, session times, waitlists and gift certificates included
  • You choose who pays each fee

Limitations

  • Australia, New Zealand and the UK only
  • TryBooking holds the money until you request it, and early withdrawals can be held for checks
  • The UK rate is double the Australian one
  • The API is read-only

In Australia the 50c ticket fee drops to 15c on tickets of A$5 or less. By default the buyer pays the per-ticket fee and the organizer pays the percentage, and either can be switched.

Zeffy

Strengths

  • No platform or card processing fees for the organization
  • Ticketing sits next to donations, raffles, auctions and tax receipts
  • Multi-date events, discount codes and custom questions included
  • Weekly payouts by default

Limitations

  • Nonprofits only, in six countries
  • Buyers are asked for a contribution to Zeffy that you cannot remove
  • No waitlist or reserved seating
  • The API is read-only

Zeffy is funded by an optional contribution shown to each buyer at checkout. The buyer can set it to zero, but the organization cannot remove or change the suggested amounts. Businesses and individuals cannot use Zeffy.

§ 04 · Verdict

Which should you choose?

Choose Hi.Events if

you want a low published fee, your own branding at checkout and card payments in your own Stripe account as tickets sell.

Start selling for free →
§ 05 · FAQ

TryBooking vs Zeffy: common questions

Is TryBooking cheaper than Zeffy?
Zeffy (0%, nonprofits only) is cheaper than TryBooking (5% + 15p) at every ticket price we checked. On a £30 ticket, with card processing included, TryBooking costs £1.65 and Zeffy costs £0.00. Both fees include card processing.
Which pays out faster, TryBooking or Zeffy?
TryBooking: on request from your TryBooking balance; requests before the event can be held for checks of up to seven days. Zeffy: weekly by default, after a fraud review of one to three business days. In practice the two are similar.
Do TryBooking and Zeffy promote events in a marketplace?
TryBooking lists events in its own consumer marketplace, which can bring you buyers you would not otherwise reach. Zeffy does not, so you bring your own audience.
Are free events free on TryBooking and Zeffy?
TryBooking: free. Zeffy: free.
Is there a cheaper alternative to TryBooking and Zeffy?
Hi.Events charges 1.25% + £0.45 per paid ticket, the same for every organizer, with no monthly fee. On a £30 ticket that is £1.48 including Stripe's card processing. Card payments settle into your own Stripe account as tickets sell, and free events are free. It has no consumer marketplace, so it suits organizers who bring their own audience.See pricing →
§ 06 · More comparisons

Compare with something else

TryBooking vs

Zeffy vs

See every comparison → · TryBooking fees explained → · Zeffy fees explained →

Sources and corrections

Every figure on this page comes from the platform's own pricing and help pages, checked September 2026. Platforms change their pricing, so confirm with the vendor before you decide. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it. Product names are trademarks of their owners; Hi.Events is not affiliated with TryBooking or Zeffy.

Or skip both

Hi.Events gives you a low published fee, your own branding and your money as tickets sell. Create an event and see how it compares with TryBooking and Zeffy for yourself.

Get started free

Free events cost nothing. Paid tickets are 1.25% + £0.45, with no monthly fee and no contract — see the full pricing.