Zeffy vs Purplepass

Zeffy (0%, nonprofits only) is cheaper than Purplepass (2.5% + $0.99) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, Zeffy costs $0.00 and Purplepass costs $2.64.

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

Zeffy and Purplepass at a glance

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

Purplepass

Purplepass is a US ticketing platform for venues, schools, festivals and other events that sell both online and at the door. It builds assigned-seating maps for its organizers, runs a box office and scanning app, and sells printed ticket stock and wristbands. By default Purplepass processes the card payments and pays the organizer after the event.

Fee per paid ticket
2.5% + $0.99plus card processing
When you're paid
The Thursday after your event by default; as tickets sell if you connect your own PayPal or merchant account
Best for
US venues and schools that sell a lot at the box office and want seat maps built for them
Based in
Not stated

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, an embedded widget or a box office at the door, and card payments settle straight into their own Stripe account as tickets sell.

Fee per paid ticket
1.25% + $0.60plus 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 Zeffy and Purplepass 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
Zeffy · 0%, nonprofits only$0

Card processing is included in the fee.

Purplepass · 2.5% + $0.99$660

$435 platform fee + about $225 card processing.

Hi.Events · 1.25% + $0.60$536

$244 platform fee + about $292 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 2.9% + $0.30 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

Zeffy vs Purplepass, feature by feature

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

FeatureZeffyPurplepassHi.Events
Platform fee per paid ticket0%, nonprofits only2.5% + $0.991.25% + $0.60
Card processingIncluded in the feeCharged on topCharged on top
Free eventsFreeFreeFree
When you're paidWeekly by default, after a fraud review of one to three business daysThe Thursday after your event by default; as tickets sell if you connect your own PayPal or merchant accountAs tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule
Payment processorZeffy, through StripePurplepass by default, or your own PayPal or Authorize.net-compatible merchant accountYour own Stripe account
Pass fees on to buyersNo fees to pass on; buyers see an optional tip Yes Yes
Your branding at checkoutYour logo and colors on formsEvent page images and your own CSS Yes
Embed checkout on your site Yes Yes Yes
Listed in a consumer marketplaceNot statedEvents are listed and searchable on purplepass.comNo
Tickets work without an app or account YesNot stated Yes
QR check-in appYes, in any phone browserYes, for iOS and AndroidYes, in any phone browser
Reserved seatingNo Yes Yes
Box office for door salesTap to Pay app, some countriesYes, in its app or on an iPad terminal, with no service fee Yes
Recurring events and time slots Yes Yes Yes
Promo codes Yes Yes Yes
WaitlistNoNot stated Yes
Custom checkout questions Yes Yes Yes
Agenda or lineup on the event pageNot statedNot statedLineup and agenda by room
API and webhooksRead-only APIZapier integrationREST API and webhooks
Single sign-on (SSO) for your teamNot statedNot statedOIDC, on request (no SAML)
Official ticket resaleNot statedNot statedNo
Open sourceNoNo Yes
Can be self-hostedNoNo Yes
§ 03 · Trade-offs

Strengths and limitations

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.

Purplepass

Strengths

  • No service fee on box office sales, and no charge for seat maps, comp tickets or free events
  • Assigned-seating maps built for you, with rows, tables and booths drawn to scale
  • Box office and scanning app for iOS and Android, plus an iPad terminal with a built-in card reader
  • Printed ticket stock and wristbands available from the same supplier

Limitations

  • Online tickets cost 5.5% + $0.99 all-in with Purplepass processing
  • Payouts arrive the Thursday after the event unless you connect your own PayPal or merchant account
  • Fees are published in USD only
  • Service fees are kept when tickets are refunded

Non-profits pay 2.0% + $0.99. Box office sales carry no service fee, and card payments at the door cost 2.5% + $0.25 a transaction. Buyers pay the fees by default, and you can absorb or split them.

§ 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

Zeffy vs Purplepass: common questions

Is Zeffy cheaper than Purplepass?
Zeffy (0%, nonprofits only) is cheaper than Purplepass (2.5% + $0.99) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, Zeffy costs $0.00 and Purplepass costs $2.64. Zeffy's published fee includes card processing and Purplepass' does not, so the figures above add card processing to Purplepass to keep the comparison like for like.
Which pays out faster, Zeffy or Purplepass?
Zeffy: weekly by default, after a fraud review of one to three business days. Purplepass: the Thursday after your event by default; as tickets sell if you connect your own PayPal or merchant account. Zeffy gets money to you sooner, which matters if you have deposits or suppliers to pay before the event.
Do Zeffy and Purplepass promote events in a marketplace?
Purplepass 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 Zeffy and Purplepass?
Zeffy: free. Purplepass: free.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Zeffy and Purplepass?
Hi.Events charges 1.25% + $0.60 per paid ticket, the same for every organizer, with no monthly fee. On a $30 ticket that is $2.15 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

Zeffy vs

Purplepass vs

See every comparison → · Zeffy fees explained → · Purplepass 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 Zeffy or Purplepass.

Switching platforms? We'll pay you €250.

Sell at least 50 tickets at €10 or more on your first Hi.Events event, and we send you €250 no later than 10 days after it. 20 places, for approved applicants.

See the switch fund →

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 Zeffy and Purplepass for yourself.

Get started free

Free events cost nothing. Paid tickets are 1.25% + $0.60, with no monthly fee and no contract — see the full pricing.