- Auction platforms at a glance
- Eleven auction platforms to compare
- Which auction platform fits your event
- A tax point every US charity auction should know
- Charity auction platforms versus commercial auction software
- Questions to ask before you choose auction software
- Signs your auction needs better software
- My plain advice on choosing auction software
- Frequently asked questions
The best auction software lets you list items, take bids online or in the room, and collect payments without spreadsheets and paper bid sheets. Some platforms are built for charity and school fundraisers, while others are white-label systems for auction houses and liquidators. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
A charity auction can raise a lot in one evening, and it can also leave volunteers chasing bids, re-typing paper sheets and matching payments for a week afterwards. Commercial auctioneers face the same problem at a bigger scale, with thousands of lots and bidders spread across the world.
The eleven auction platforms below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. If your auction is part of a wider fundraising plan, my guide to five ways to fundraise online covers other routes too.
Auction platforms at a glance
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free allowance or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32auctions | Online silent auction platform | Small silent auctions online | Yes |
| AuctionMethod | Specialised auction software | Auctioneers and estate liquidators | Trial only |
| AuctionWorx | White-label online auction platform | Building a branded auction website | Not stated |
| Auctria | Fundraising event and auction software | Charity events with tickets and raffles | Not stated |
| BiddingOwl | Nonprofit auction fundraising tool | Mixing online, live and paper bidding | Not stated |
| Bidpath | Auction software and technology | Commercial, industrial and fine art auctions | Not stated |
| CharityAuctions | Auction platform for nonprofits and schools | Running an auction without events staff | Yes |
| GalaBid | Fundraising platform for nonprofits | Charities in several English-speaking countries | Not stated |
| GiveSmart | Fundraising software for nonprofits | Larger galas with seating and check-in | Not stated |
| Handbid | Auction and event technology | Auctions beyond the charity world | Not stated |
| Maxanet | White-labelled online auction platform | Auction companies wanting a quick launch | Trial only |
Eleven auction platforms to compare
32auctions
Best for: Small charities and schools that want to run an online silent auction set up in minutes, with a free option for up to 20 items.
AuctionMethod
Best for: Auctioneers, estate liquidators and equipment sellers who want white-label auction software for timed online and simulcast events.
AuctionWorx
Best for: Companies that want their own branded auction site, either for their own auctions or with multiple sellers listing items.
Auctria
Best for: Fundraising teams that want auctions, ticketing, raffles, donations and an event website in one easy-to-use system.
BiddingOwl
Best for: Charities running in-person events that want online and mobile bidding alongside traditional live, silent and paper bid sheets.
Bidpath
Best for: Commercial, industrial and fine art auctioneers that want online bidding technology from a provider working with auction houses globally.
CharityAuctions
Best for: Volunteer-led charities and schools that want guests to bid and pay from their phones, online, in the room or both.
GalaBid
Best for: Fundraisers in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and beyond who want silent and live auctions, raffles and ticketing in one platform.
GiveSmart
Best for: Larger nonprofits running galas that want ticketing, seating, mobile bidding, check-in and checkout managed in one place.
Handbid
Best for: Organisations running auctions for charities, schools, real estate or asset sales that want one auction and event technology provider.
Maxanet
Best for: Auction companies that want a white-labelled online auction platform with a WordPress website option and a quick setup.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Which auction platform fits your event
- A small online silent auction: 32auctions or CharityAuctions.
- Charity galas with tickets and raffles: Auctria, GalaBid or GiveSmart.
- Mixing phone bidding with paper sheets: BiddingOwl.
- Auctions for charities, schools and asset sales: Handbid.
- Estate, equipment and liquidation auctions: AuctionMethod or Maxanet.
- A branded site with several sellers: AuctionWorx.
- Commercial, industrial and fine art auctioneers: Bidpath.
A tax point every US charity auction should know
The Internal Revenue Service says donors who buy items at a charity auction can claim a charitable contribution deduction only for the amount they spend above the item's fair market value. The donor also has to be able to show they knew the item's value.
In practice, that means charities in the US should publish a fair market value for each lot and include it on receipts. Auction software that shows values on item pages and prints them on receipts makes this far easier for your volunteers and your donors.
Charity auction platforms versus commercial auction software
Charity platforms focus on the event: tickets, seating, raffles, paddle raises and mobile bidding from guests' phones. They're designed so volunteers can run them without technical help.
Commercial auction software focuses on the catalogue: thousands of lots, timed and live bidding, invoicing and a branded website. It suits auction houses, liquidators and businesses selling stock or equipment.
Questions to ask before you choose auction software
- Will bidding be online, in the room or both?
- Can guests bid and check out from their phones?
- Does it handle tickets, raffles and donations as well?
- Can I show each item's fair market value?
- Will it work in the country where my bidders live?
- How much help do I get on the night?
Signs your auction needs better software
- Volunteers re-type paper bid sheets. Move bidding online.
- Guests queue for ages to pay. Offer mobile checkout.
- Bids arrive after the auction closes. Use timed closing.
- Receipts lack item values. Record fair market value.
Do you make auction or fundraising event software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing auction software
Run a practice auction with a handful of volunteers a week before the real thing, using their own phones. That one rehearsal shows you every confusing step while there's still time to fix it.
For charity events, set up checkout so guests can leave without queuing, as a slow exit is the thing people remember. And if you're organising donor records too, my roundup of CRM options for nonprofits pairs well with this list.
Frequently asked questions
What is auction software?
Auction software lets you list items, take bids online or at an event, and handle checkout and payments, replacing paper bid sheets and spreadsheets.
Is there free auction software?
Some platforms offer free options with limits, and others offer trials. The free plan column above shows what each vendor's site says.
Can I run a silent auction online?
Yes. Many platforms run silent auctions entirely online, with bidders using their phones or computers.
Can guests bid from their phones at an event?
Most charity auction platforms support mobile bidding, so guests can bid and pay from their own phones in the room.
Do donors get a tax deduction for auction purchases in the US?
The IRS says donors can deduct only the amount they spend above the item's fair market value.
What's white-label auction software?
It's auction software you run under your own brand and domain, often used by auction houses and liquidators.
