Why is Honeyfund So Obsessed with Being Free?
Weddings are expensive, and 41% of couples go over budget before they even get to the honeymoon. We didn't want Honeyfund to be one more cost on top of that.
So we’ve made a 20-year commitment to maintain fee-free options.
How? Unlike other wedding sites, Honeyfund’s revenue isn't tied to how much your wedding costs. Our mission is to make honeymoons happen, because research shows that couples who travel together, stay together.
That mission shapes our business model. In other words, we make money when you spend your funds on a trip.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t real costs to make the Honeyfund platform work for you.
This page explains how to use Honeyfund's 100% free options, as well as ways to support the platform and pay for convenience.
Our Promise: Maximizing Your Gift Value
Real fee-free ways to redeem — keep every dollar with the Honeyfund Prepaid Mastercard, 200+ gift cards from popular brands, or mix and match.
Convenience of cash — if you'd rather pay out to PayPal, Venmo, or your bank, you’ll pay a small 3rd party fee
Clear pricing, shown before you decide — never a surprise at the finish line
What is the Honeyfund Wallet?
The Honeyfund Wallet, available to USD couples, is a secure digital gift card balance where your guests’ contributions are stored until you’re ready to redeem them. The Honeyfund Wallet is on by default for US couples.
If you'd rather receive gifts to your bank, or need to use another currency, use My Bank Account instead (more on that below).
Want to skip fees entirely?
Redeem straight from your Wallet using the Honeyfund Prepaid Mastercard or a gift card — both are completely free, every time.
Fee-Free Redemption Choices
Honeyfund Prepaid Mastercard®
A debit-style card you can spend anywhere Debit Mastercard is accepted — flights, excursions, dinner on the honeymoon, or everyday life once you're back.
$0 to load, $0 to use
5% cash back at select retailers
One-time load up to $2,500
Load multiple cards as you go
No cap on # of cards or total loaded across cards
Card issued by Pathward®, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Incorporated. No cash access or recurring payments. Funds do not expire and may be available after card expiration date; fees may apply. Card terms and conditions apply. Learn more.
Gift Cards
Choose from 200+ brands across travel, dining, and retail — get the full value of every gift, with instant or fast delivery.
Are there any transaction fees?
Honeyfund doesn't charge you a platform or transaction fee for gifting. A few payout methods carry a small fee from the outside company that moves the money — we'll always show you that fee before you choose.
Why do bank transfers and PayPal/Venmo have fees?
PayPal, Venmo, and bank transfers are run by outside companies — not Honeyfund — and each incurs costs to move money between accounts. We’ve secured special rates with these partners to ensure your funds can be moved safely and securely.
One thing that's easy to miss: My Bank Account is a separate path from your Honeyfund Wallet. It's built for couples who want funds sent straight to a bank account — including couples outside the US — and it needs to be set up ahead of time; we verify your identity and connect your bank before your first gift comes in, not after. It carries its own fee, which varies slightly by currency.
Either way, you'll always see the fee before you confirm — never after.
Fees by Transfer Type
| Redemption Method | Speed | Typical Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepaid Mastercard | Instant | 0% | Fee-free option |
| Gift Cards | Instant or fast | 0% | Fee-free option |
| PayPal | 1-3 business days | 2.2% | Among the lowest available rates |
| Venmo | 1-3 business days | 2.2% | Among the lowest available rates |
| Bank Account | 2-5 business days | 3.5% + $0.59 | Not available with Honeyfund Wallet. Requires set up in advance of gifts. |
Fee figures reflect standard rates as of August 2026; rates may change. You'll always see the exact fee before you confirm. Speed is approximate, and can be impacted by setup status, account verification and fraud review.
How does Honeyfund make money if it’s free?
Fair question — and you deserve a straight answer.
Honeyfund Gives — guests can optionally add a little extra at checkout to support Honeyfund. It's always optional. And, while we hope you’ll keep it on to support the mission, couples can turn it off in settings any time, so it never appears for guests.
Gift card partner commissions — when you redeem a gift card, our retail partners pay us a small commission. You still get full value.
Travel and brand partnerships — companies we work with to bring you honeymoon booking options, deals and perks.
Wallet-related revenue —since we maintain Wallet funds for hundreds of thousands of accounts, we earn interest and other revenue related to Wallet maintenance. See FAQs below for more details.
What will you actually receive?
We want you to feel confident about the amounts you see in your account, so here’s a clear look at how different redemption options impact your gift amount.
| Guest Gift | How You Redeem | Processing Fee | What You Receive |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | Honeyfund Prepaid Mastercard | 0% | $100 |
| $100 | Gift card (e.g. Airbnb, Delta, Amazon) | 0% | $100 |
| $100 | PayPal or Venmo | 2.2% | $97.80 |
| $100 | Bank account | 3.5% + $0.59 | $95.91 |
Key takeaway: If you want to keep 100%, choose fee-free redemption options.
How do Honeyfund fees compare to other registries?
A lot of registries advertise "zero fees," but look closely, and it's because your guests have to pay you directly in the Venmo app where their gift becomes public. And they still might pay fees if they fund that gift on a credit or debit card. Then, you're on your own to track it, deal with refunds and customer service, and have no protection if something goes wrong. And guests without a Venmo account are stuck.
Honeyfund checkout offers credit card, debit card, integrated Venmo/PayPal payments as well as Buy Now Pay Later convenience for guests, and every gift is private (unlike a public Venmo payment). We then hold and protect your gifts in your Wallet — we cover the transaction fees, verify identities, screen for fraud, handle refunds, and keep your funds secure until you're ready to use them. You still get real fee-free ways to access it: the Prepaid Mastercard and gift cards.
That's the difference between "free" because nothing's protected, and free because we built it that way.
| Platform | Platform Fee | Cash-Out Fee | Guest Fee | Secured, Fee-Free Payouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honeyfund | $0 | Free or 2.2% | None* | Yes |
| Zola | $0 | 2.5% | 2.5% | No |
| The Knot | $0 | 2.5% | 2.5% | No |
| Joy | $0 | 2.5% | 3.5% | No |
*Guests can optionally support Honeyfund's mission with a contribution at checkout called Honeyfund Gives. They choose how much.
Why Do Couples Choose Honeyfund?
Real fee-free options — the Prepaid Mastercard and gift cards let you keep 100%
Safe, secure way to keep honeymoon funds and cash gifts separate from everyday checking account
No “Venmo me” ask that leaves friends and family feeling awkward or publicly exposed
Every gift goes toward something meaningful you’ve been dreaming of!
No transaction fees - Honeyfund covers that cost
Trusted by more than 1.6 million couples (and counting)
5-star customer service for you and your friends and family
Built for honeymoon funds, cash gifts, and more
Real couples who kept 100% of their gifts
We built every option on this page because a real couple asked for it. Here's how three of them actually used their gifts:
We used the prepaid card for everything. Flights, hotels, even dinners. We saved about $340 in fees compared to transferring to our bank.
— Sara & James
We redeemed everything as travel gift cards and didn’t lose a single dollar to fees. It felt simple and transparent.
— Alyssa & Marco
We liked having options. Some gift cards, some prepaid card. It gave us flexibility without giving up any of our gifts.
— Taylor & Jordan
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. We don't take a cut of what your guests give. The only fee-based options are for payouts processed by an outside company that moves the money — PayPal, Venmo, or your bank — and only if you choose one of those.
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The Honeyfund Prepaid Mastercard or a gift card — both are fee-free, always.
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If you choose to skip our fee-free Mastercard or gift cards and pay out your secure Wallet to Paypal or Venmo, the rate is 2.2%, cheaper than competitor registries' transaction fees (typically ~5% combined between you and guests). We show you the exact rate before you confirm.
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Yes — redeem through the Prepaid Mastercard or a gift card and you'll never pay a fee.
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Every gift given through Honeyfund carries a real processing cost — the same kind of cost any credit card payment carries. Most registries pass that cost to the guest at checkout. We don't — Honeyfund covers it, so every gift arrives without a fee attached. Honeyfund Gives is one of the ways guests can optionally help support that. It's never required, it's never taken from the couple's gift, and they can skip it in one click.
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Maintaining your Honeyfund Wallet also comes at a cost to Honeyfund, but we don’t charge for that, with one exception. If your Wallet is inactive for longer than 18 months in a row, you will see an account maintenance fee of $10 per month. Since we want you to spend your money on your honeymoon or other life goals, all you have to do to avoid this fee is ensure you redeem or pay out those funds before 18 consecutive months of inactivity.
Our Commitment to Clarity and Trust
Planning your wedding and honeymoon can be overwhelming enough without worrying about your finances. That’s why Honeyfund is dedicated to maintaining a straightforward, fair, and transparent fee structure with no platform fees, no unexpected deductions, and no pressure to upgrade. You’ll always know what to expect and what you’ll keep.
If you have any questions, our team is here to assist you at support@honeyfund.com.
Start your journey with confidence, not confusion.