Stop chasing volunteers

Zelos is a simple volunteer signup app, perfect for nonprofits, community organisations, and disaster response teams.

Start a free project

No credit card · No onboarding call · Set up in under 5 minutes

Volunteer self-signup
Built-in team messaging
Skills-based targeting
Hoursheets and exports
Gamification and leaderboards
Free forever with unlimited volunteers

You post. They pick. Everyone stays in sync.

Post tasks and shifts

Create volunteer opportunities with a description, time slot, location, and how many people you need. Publish to your full team or target specific groups. Volunteers see only what's relevant to them.

Volunteers sign up

Your volunteers browse open opportunities and claim what fits their availability and skills. First come first served — or switch to approval mode and pick from a queue of applicants. No algorithms assigning people. No awkward phone calls.

Coordinate in context

Every task gets its own chat channel. Send updates, answer questions, and share logistics without losing the thread in a group chat. Push notifications reach volunteers on their phone whether they're using the app or a browser.

Track and report

See who showed up, how many hours they worked, and what got done. Export participation data as CSV for grant reporting, funder documentation, or internal records.

Illustration of team members working together

What teams replace with Zelos

SignUpGeniusShared Google SheetsReply-all email threadsWhatsApp group chaosPaper signup clipboardsFacebook group posts

Built for how volunteer coordination actually works

People choose their work

You post what needs doing. Volunteers pick what fits. Higher show-up rates, fewer no-shows, and a team that feels trusted.

Free for unlimited volunteers

Your whole team joins free, 12 people or 12,000. Paid plans unlock features, not headcount. Nonprofits qualify for further discounts.

No training required

If your volunteers can text, they can use Zelos. They join through a link, set up a profile, and start signing up for tasks in minutes.

Chat with guardrails

All conversations include admin oversight. By design, there is no unsupervised 1:1 messaging between volunteers. Safe for youth programmes and vulnerable adults.

Illustration of a team handling a project together

These are just the highlights. See everything Zelos can do →

Who uses Zelos for volunteer management

Nonprofits and charities

Coordinate community service, fundraising events, and programme delivery without the admin overhead of enterprise volunteer management systems. Track participation for grant reporting and funder accountability.

Churches and faith communities

Organise ministry teams, Sunday service support, community meals, and outreach events. The admin-supervised chat and all-ages simplicity make Zelos a natural fit for congregations.

Food banks and pantries

Distribute shifts for sorting, packing, and delivery. Target requests by role — recruit helping hands from volunteers and specific items from donation partners.

Disaster response and emergency relief

Scale from zero to thousands of volunteers in hours, not weeks. Dispatch tasks based on skills and equipment. Document civilian volunteer efforts so emergency professionals can see what's being handled by community response.

Schools and parent organisations

Field trip chaperones, special event support, fundraising campaigns, and parent engagement activities. Handle varying volunteer needs throughout the school year without complex scheduling systems.

Event-based organisations

Festival production, charity fundraisers, community celebrations, and awareness campaigns. Scale volunteer teams up and down based on event calendars.

Advocacy and grassroots campaigns

Petition drives, voter registration, awareness events, and community organising. Coordinate hundreds of supporters through one invite link — no training, no onboarding deck, no public visibility of your volunteer network.

What volunteer coordinators say

★★★★★

"I have personally been registering and trying over 20 alternatives to find a good scheduling option, and I am glad I found Zelos! The app offers everything our non-profit needs within the free version limits, from recruiting to scheduling, messaging and the gamification feature is adorable!"

Cristina P.

Coordinator

Non-profit management

Full review →

★★★★★

"Love it! The support team is friendly and genuinely wants to help. I've never felt pushed into purchasing even when I inquired about it. Thanks for keeping it real!"

Patricia F.

Outreach and volunteer program coordinator

Non-profit management

Full review →

★★★★★

"The support is incredible! Supported every step of the way. The majority of our users find it so easy to navigate and use. For an organisation as big as ours it has reduced admin burden and streamlined scheduling."

Capterra reviewer

Volunteer coordinator

Non-profit management

Full review →

Free for volunteer teams of any size

No credit card, no trial expiration. Pro starts at $99/month, never per volunteer. Registered nonprofits qualify for additional discounts.

See full pricing → Or just get started, it's free!

Frequently asked questions

Is Zelos really free for volunteer management?

Yes. The free plan includes unlimited volunteers, task posting, built-in messaging, skills-based targeting, and CSV exports. There is no trial period and no credit card required. You'll only pay if you choose to upgrade for higher task volume or advanced features.

How many volunteers can I add to Zelos?

There is no limit. Whether your programme has 15 volunteers or 15,000, the volunteer count does not affect your plan or your price. Zelos never charges per user.

Can I track volunteer hours for grant reporting?

Yes. Zelos tracks task completion with detailed timestamps. You can generate hour summaries filtered by date range, volunteer, or task type, and export everything as CSV. This is available on every plan, including free.

Is Zelos safe for youth volunteer programmes?

Yes. All conversations on Zelos require admin oversight — there is no unsupervised 1:1 messaging between volunteers. Volunteers cannot see each other's contact information. The platform is GDPR-compliant and invite-only.

How do my volunteers join?

When you create a team, you receive a personal invite link. Share it via text message, email, social media, QR code, or print it on a flyer. Volunteers follow the link, create a profile, and start browsing available tasks. No app download is required.

Do my volunteers need training?

No. Zelos is designed to be self-explanatory. Volunteers follow an invite link, fill in a profile, and start signing up for tasks. Most volunteers are active within minutes of joining.

Can I use Zelos for one-time events as well as ongoing programmes?

Yes. Zelos works equally well for a single weekend event and a year-round volunteer programme.

How is Zelos different from SignUpGenius?

SignUpGenius is primarily a web-based signup sheet. Zelos is a full volunteer management app with member profiles, built-in messaging, skills-based targeting, gamification, and participation tracking. Zelos also includes native mobile apps and doesn't show ads to your volunteers.

How is Zelos different from using WhatsApp or Facebook groups?

Group chats are easy to start but become chaotic as teams grow. There's no way to post structured tasks, track completion, or manage capacity. Zelos provides all of this while keeping the simplicity of a messaging-first experience.

Do you offer discounts for nonprofits?

Yes. Registered nonprofits and charitable organisations may qualify for discounted pricing on Pro and Enterprise plans. Contact our support team with details about your organisation.

Ready to stop chasing and start coordinating?

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Trusted by volunteer teams in 40+ countries since 2018.