How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- RallyUp and Givebutter lead for nonprofits that want a free way to start and a full fundraising suite beyond the auction.
- 32auctions is the cheapest entry point: a genuinely usable free base auction for schools, PTAs, and small nonprofits.
- GiveSmart and OneCause are the enterprise picks for large galas with complex check-in and checkout.
- Handbid is the mobile-first choice for events where guests bid from their phones in the room.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 RallyUp | full-stack fundraising with auctions | See website | Yes |
 32auctions | free-first silent auctions | See website | Yes |
 GiveSmart | large galas and event programs | See website | No |
 OneCause | enterprise nonprofit auctions | See website | No |
 Handbid | mobile-first in-room bidding | See website | No |
 Auctria | budget branded auction sites | See website | Yes |
 GalaBid | tip-funded all-in-one events | See website | Yes |
 Givebutter | free all-in-one fundraising | See website | Yes |
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We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best auction software
Paper bid sheets cap your revenue at the room's attention span. The best auction software for nonprofits replaces them with mobile bidding, automatic checkout, and fundraising tools that reach people who never set foot in the venue. Whether you need a free start for a school fundraiser or enterprise controls for a gala, these eight platforms cover the spectrum.
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
RallyUp is the most complete option for nonprofits that want the auction stacked with everything else. The Tucson-based company, founded in 2014, serves 55,000+ nonprofits and has powered over $1 billion raised. Its 12+ stackable campaign components let you run a silent auction, raffle, ticketing, and fund-a-need from one campaign URL with one checkout.
The Auction Gifts feature is genuinely differentiated: losing bidders can pledge a gift that only charges if they win nothing, lifting auction revenue 20 to 35 percent. Live in about 15 minutes from a template, or have their team build the auction for you free. The free plan runs on donor tipping; Flex runs 4.9% per item.
What we like- Free plan with no platform fee
- Auction Gifts raises 20-35% more from non-winners
- Free done-for-you campaign build
Watch out for- Event Balances system has a learning curve for volunteers
- Flex fee tier at 4.9% per item
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Based in Mansfield, Texas since 2009, 32auctions is the most popular free entry point into online silent auctions, holding a 5.0 rating on G2. You launch a base auction free forever, publish a catalog, open bidding, and start collecting bids the same afternoon. Guests bid from any browser with outbid alerts built in, and automatic checkout collects payment when the auction closes.
Paid packages run around $170 per event when you outgrow the free tier, and an online payment collection upgrade adds 2.9% plus $0.40 per transaction. For schools, PTAs, and small nonprofits running a first online auction, this is the safest test.
What we like- Free base auction with no credit card required
- No-app mobile bidding for guests
- Automatic checkout at close
Watch out for- Online-only, less gala infrastructure
- Small team, business-hours support
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
GiveSmart, part of Momentive Software, is the unified pick for nonprofits running a serious annual event program. One flat fee covers unlimited campaigns all year: auctions, ticketing, donations, donor management, and real-time reporting. Check-in, badge printing, table seating, and payment processing live in one system.
Basic plans start from about $3,000 per year, so this is priced for organizations, not one-off fundraisers. The tradeoff: some users report slower support responses, and the breadth of features can be overkill for a simple silent auction. For enterprise galas that want one vendor for the whole event season, GiveSmart is built for exactly that.
What we like- One flat fee, year-round, unlimited campaigns
- End-to-end check-in, ticketing, and checkout
- Integrated with Momentive Software's nonprofit suite
Watch out for- Annual plans start in the thousands
- Feature depth can overwhelm small teams
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
OneCause, part of Bonterra, is the enterprise fundraising platform behind BidPal, the mobile bidding product that defined the category. It combines event fundraising, silent and live auctions, peer-to-peer, text-to-give, payments, and professional services with onsite event support.
Pay-as-you-go starts from about $200 for simple needs, but Pro plans run $2,995 per year and enterprise contracts go higher. Client logos include March of Dimes, the Arthritis Foundation, and Meals on Wheels. If your gala has 500+ guests, live paddle raises, and a board that wants reporting on everything, OneCause is the safe enterprise choice.
What we like- Creator of BidPal mobile bidding
- Enterprise event infrastructure with onsite support
- Strong integrations with donor CRMs
Watch out for- Pricing runs into thousands annually
- Smaller orgs will find it expensive
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Handbid, founded in 2011 in Englewood, Colorado, is built for the gala room itself. Its native mobile app delivers instant outbid notifications, and real-time gamified leaderboards on venue screens drive competition. For guests without smartphones, the BidPad app lets anyone bid from a shared iPad with a paddle ID.
Pricing runs per-event (from around $995) or annual, with fixed packages tied to event size and frequency. Onsite expert support is available if you want the night handled for you. It is more expensive than the free-first options, but for event-heavy fundraising teams that live on mobile bidding, Handbid's in-room experience is the best in the category.
What we like- Native mobile app with instant outbid push notifications
- BidPad app for guests without smartphones
- Real-time leaderboards for the room
Watch out for- Fixed packages can be expensive for small events
- Guests prefer the app over the browser
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Auctria, formerly Charity Auction Organizer, has served nonprofits from Ontario, Canada since 2011. Its pricing is the most transparent in the category: a free Explorer plan, Emerald at $375 per year, and Diamond at $750 per year, with the license valid for one year and small credit card integration fees on top.
The platform builds fully branded auction websites with mobile bidding, and reviewers rate it 4.8 on Capterra. The honest catch is that customization takes real volunteer time, and integrations are limited compared to Momentive or Bonterra products. For small teams that want a polished branded auction on a nonprofit budget, Auctria is the value leader.
What we like- Free Explorer plan
- Emerald at $375/year and Diamond at $750/year
- 4.8 on Capterra
- Deeply branded auction websites
Watch out for- Customization is time-intensive
- Fewer third-party integrations than enterprise rivals
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
GalaBid, founded in 2011, ranks first by Trustpilot score among silent auction platforms in 2026 comparisons, with 4.9 ratings on both Trustpilot and Capterra. It handles silent auctions, raffles, ticketing, and donations in one campaign, with volunteers managing raffle tickets, paddle raises, and live auction bids from a single device.
The free plan is tip-funded, and paid options add capacity. Notably, all funds go directly into your connected Stripe account with no holdbacks and no intermediary. The gap is donor management: GalaBid exports to your CRM rather than replacing it. For nonprofits that want an affordable, well-reviewed all-in-one event platform, GalaBid is the strongest underdog.
What we like- Free tip-funded plan
- 4.9 on Trustpilot and Capterra
- Funds flow directly into your Stripe account
Watch out for- No built-in donor CRM, exports to yours
- Newer than the enterprise incumbents
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Givebutter, founded in 2016 and run by founders on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Impact list, is the most-loved nonprofit platform on G2 across multiple categories. It unifies donation forms, fundraising campaigns, events, auctions, donor management, email, and texting, all free thanks to a 100% transparent tip-or-fee model.
The pricing model is clean: no SaaS subscription, just optional fees around 1% for donations, 2% for campaigns, and 3% for tickets, covered by donor tips if you enable them. Plus plans start from $29 per month for advanced features. The auction tools are solid but lighter than specialists like Handbid or Auctria. If the auction is one part of a broader fundraising strategy, Givebutter keeps everything in one free platform.
What we like- Free forever with a transparent tip-or-fee model
- Auctions plus CRM, email, and texting in one
- The #1 rated nonprofit software on G2
Watch out for- Auction depth is lighter than auction specialists
- US-focused
The hidden math: tipping vs. fees vs. subscriptions
Auction pricing comes in three shapes, and the cheapest depends on your event. Free tip-funded platforms like RallyUp, Givebutter, and GalaBid let donors cover fees voluntarily, which keeps your budget at zero but leaves revenue dependent on donor generosity. Annual licenses from Auctria ($375 to $750) or 32auctions ($170 per event) are cheap and predictable. Enterprise subscriptions from GiveSmart and OneCause start around $3,000 per year and only make sense when the auction anchors a full event program. Model two or three scenarios against your expected raise before committing.
How to choose auction software for your nonprofit
Start with the event, not the feature list. Online-only silent auctions run fine on 32auctions, RallyUp, or Auctria. In-person galas with live bidding need Handbid, OneCause, or GiveSmart. If the auction is one campaign among many, Givebutter or GalaBid unify everything under one login.
Count your volunteers and their tech comfort
Complex platforms like GiveSmart and OneCause assume staff and volunteers who can learn a system. Volunteer-heavy teams with one night to pull this off do better with RallyUp's done-for-you build, GalaBid's volunteer accounts, or 32auctions' simplicity.
Decide who pays the fees before you sign
Run the math on tipping models versus flat fees. A $50,000 auction on a 4.9% Flex fee costs $2,450; a $375 Auctria license costs $375. If your donors tip generously, the free platforms can be nearly free. If not, the flat license wins by a mile.
Test mobile bidding before the event
Every guest bids from a phone, so run a test auction with real devices and your venue's Wi-Fi. Check outbid notifications, checkout flow, and what happens when 200 people bid in the last five minutes. The platforms that survive your test will survive your gala.
How we chose
We compared nonprofit auction platforms against what US fundraising teams actually need: silent and live auction support, mobile bidding, ticketing, checkout, reporting, and donor management, weighted by pricing transparency, third-party reviews on G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot, and fit for different organization sizes. We included free-first options, mid-tier values, and enterprise platforms. Pricing was confirmed on vendor sites or reputable comparison sources. We did not test any of these tools hands-on.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best auction software for nonprofits?
For most nonprofits, RallyUp or Givebutter, both free to start with full fundraising suites. 32auctions is the cheapest pure auction option. Large galas should look at GiveSmart or OneCause.
What is the best silent auction software?
For online-only silent auctions, 32auctions or Auctria lead on value. For in-room mobile bidding, Handbid is the specialist. RallyUp and GalaBid cover both formats well.
How much does silent auction software cost?
It ranges from genuinely free (32auctions base, Auctria Explorer, RallyUp and Givebutter tip-funded) through $170 to $375 per event or year, up to $3,000+ annually for enterprise platforms like GiveSmart and OneCause.
Does auction software replace bid sheets?
Yes. Mobile bidding lets guests bid from their phones with instant outbid alerts, automatic max bids, and checkout from the same device. That is the core value of every platform in this list.
Do donors tip cover the fees on free plans?
On tip-funded platforms, donors are offered the chance to add a tip that covers processing and platform fees. It works well for most nonprofits, but model the fee exposure in case tips come in light.
Can auction data sync with my donor CRM?
Enterprise platforms like OneCause and GiveSmart integrate with donor CRMs directly. Others, like GalaBid, export data to your CRM after the event. Check the integration list before you commit if donor retention matters.
Sources we checked (11)
- https://rallyup.com/
- https://32auctions.com/
- https://givesmart.com/
- https://www.onecause.com
- https://www.handbid.com
- https://auctria.com/
- https://galabid.com/
- https://givebutter.com
- https://www.guideflow.com/blog/silent-auction-software
- https://www.galabid.com/silent-auction/best-silent-auction-software-for-nonprofits-in-2026
- https://bloomerang.com/blog/silent-auction-software
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.