We know that effective fundraising is the heartbeat of every successful nonprofit or charity. It fuels your mission, amplifies your impact, and helps you connect with supporters.
One of the most exciting (and effective) ways to raise money today? Online auctions. They’re not only popular with donors (24% of donors prefer giving through auction events!) but also a fantastic way to boost engagement, expand your reach, and spotlight your cause.
With the right auction software, your supporters can bid from anywhere — whether they’re at home on a laptop or out and about on their phones. These tools also simplify your fundraising efforts by managing item listings, tracking bids in real time, processing payments, and keeping your donors in the loop every step of the way.
Even better? Some of the most powerful platforms out there are absolutely free. We’ve rounded up the best online auction solutions that help you raise more without spending more.
For small nonprofit or charity organizations with tight budgets, finding free auction software empowers your fundraising without cutting into your pocket. And, with the software options below, free doesn’t equal basic. These platforms offer robust features at no cost so your nonprofit can host successful fundraising events while keeping expenses low.
BiddingOwl is a widely used auction system designed specifically for nonprofits. It’s a free, easy-to-use solution that lets you set up and manage your auctions online, providing mobile-friendly bidding and real-time tracking.
While it’s free to use, there is a 5% performance fee on online bids (deducted from the winning bid) instead of charging an upfront fee. This is so that we can keep the technology up-to-date and efficient and provide a great user experience for NPOs like you!
If you’re a small to mid-sized NPO or charity organization looking for a no-cost solution to effortlessly run online auctions and raise more funds, BiddingOwl is the perfect platform for you!
Auctria is a good bet for full-feature auction management software that caters to nonprofits of all sizes. Its free plan is suitable for small organizations, offering core auction features, including basic auction site design and apps.
As fundraising needs grow or become more specific, however, nonprofits may find that the free option comes short. To scale up with Auctria, you’d have to pay for upgrades from $375 with enhanced functionalities.
Charity Auctions Today is a versatile auction platform offering a free plan for nonprofits, schools, and community organizations. The platform provides mobile bidding, event customization, and real-time notifications, ensuring a smooth auction experience.
The platform’s pricing is simple: the free plan charges 5% of funds raised with no monthly subscription fee. If you're looking for more features and lower transaction fees, you can explore their prepaid plans, which range from $297 to $1,500 per year plus 3% of funds raised.
32auctions is a platform for hosting silent auctions and offers a free plan tailored to smaller fundraising events. It’s well-suited for nonprofits that want a simple solution to run online or hybrid auctions.
The interface is intuitive and easy to set up, which is good for teams without much tech experience. With basic customization features and a smooth bidder experience, 32auctions helps you focus on fundraising, not logistics.
That said, the free plan does have limitations, such as a cap on the number of items and a lack of advanced features like ticket sales, donation options, or integrated checkout. If you’re looking for a more all-in-one platform that supports both online and in-person events, BiddingOwl offers more flexibility at no added cost.
Givebutter is an all-in-one fundraising platform that offers a generous free plan packed with features like auction tools, peer-to-peer fundraising, donation forms, and live streaming support. It’s designed to improve donor engagement and simplify donation processing, making it a popular choice for nonprofits running virtual events and campaigns.
One big plus? The platform is technically free to use, and you can pass on the 2.9% + 30c processing fee to donors, allowing you to fundraise without out-of-pocket expenses.
However, Givebutter’s auction capabilities aren’t as robust or specialized as platforms designed specifically for charity auctions. If your focus is on running detailed auction events, BiddingOwl offers more auction-specific tools like paddle raises, item watchlists, and integrated ticket sales, all built into a platform designed just for nonprofits.
Whether you're planning your first fundraiser or your fiftieth, choosing the right auction platform can make all the difference in your nonprofit's success. We know that effective fundraising is the heartbeat of every successful nonprofit or charity—it fuels your mission, empowers your work, and sustains your organization.
Comparison Table: How BiddingOwl Stacks Up Against Competitors
| Feature | BiddingOwl | RallyUp | OneCause | Givebutter | 32auctions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | 5% fee on winning online bids only | Free with donor tips; 4.9% platform fee on Flex plan | $500 upfront + 5% on funds raised; Annual: $2,995 | Free with donor tips | Free for up to 20 items; $100–$770 per campaign |
| Payment Processing | Standard fees apply (can be passed to donors) | 1.9–2.9% + $0.30 per transaction | Standard fees apply | Standard fees apply | 2.9% + $0.40 per transaction |
| Mobile Bidding |
✅ Mobile optimized |
✅ Fully optimized | ✅ AI-powered bidding | ✅ Mobile optimized | ⚠️ Basic functionality |
| Customer Support | ✅ Phone support during business hours + 24/7 emergency | ⚠️ Limited direct support | ✅ Dedicated account managers | ⚠️ Email support | ⚠️ Limited support |
| Event Tools | ✅ Integrated fundraising tools | ✅ Comprehensive event tools | ✅ Full event suite | ✅ Integrated fundraising tools | ⚠️ Basic event tools |
| Ease of Use | ✅ Highly intuitive interface | ✅ User-friendly | ⚠️ Steeper learning curve | ✅ Modern interface | ⚠️ Not the easiest to use |
| Best For | Small to medium nonprofits seeking simplicity and support | Organizations wanting all-in-one fundraising | Nonprofits with significant budgets | Modern nonprofits wanting free core features | Organizations needing basic auction functionality |
| Unique Strength | Pay only if items sell; exceptional customer service | Unique “Auction Gifts” feature | AI-powered optimization | Complete fundraising toolkit | Long track record |
BiddingOwl believes in good old-fashioned business practices: only pay for what works. With a straightforward 5% fee applied exclusively to winning online bids, there are no monthly fees, no setup costs, and no surprises. Traditional silent and live auctions? Completely free.
Looking for a platform with actual people behind it? BiddingOwl stands out with phone support during business hours and 24/7 emergency assistance. As one preschool auction organizer put it: "The team would personally answer the phone and help us if we had a question."
What goes into hosting a successful online auction? A whole lot! But BiddingOwl makes the process intuitive with step-by-step guidance that doesn't require you to become a tech expert. The platform addresses both online and in-person auction needs with tools designed specifically for nonprofits.
Don't take our word for it! BiddingOwl has earned multiple industry accolades including Crozdesk's "Happiest Users" award, G2's "Easiest to Use," and consistent rankings on Capterra's shortlist for top fundraising solutions.
Since 2012, BiddingOwl has helped over 30,000 organizations raise hundreds of millions for their causes. Many users report their most successful auctions ever after switching to BiddingOwl, with record-breaking gross and net amounts.
BiddingOwl keeps pricing refreshingly simple. Traditional silent and live auctions are completely free—yes, really! For online and mobile auctions, we charge a 5% performance fee, but only on winning bids. If an item sells for $100 online, the fee is just $5. No item sold? No fee charged. Standard payment processing fees may apply, though we give you the option to pass these costs to your donors.
Absolutely not! We've designed BiddingOwl with ease of use in mind. Bidders can participate from any device without downloading apps, making it simple for everyone to engage, whether they're tech-savvy or not. This mobile-optimized approach leads to wider participation and higher bids for your cause.
While there are endless options for fundraising and charity auctions available to you, not many other providers offer all the premium features with the best customer service. BiddingOwl combines instant bid notifications, AI-generated item descriptions, fund-a-need options, ticket sales management, and team collaboration tools—all with the personal touch of accessible support when you need it.
Finding reliable, transparent, and cost-effective fundraising solutions is crucial for small nonprofits—and BiddingOwl excels here. With no upfront costs and fees only on successful sales, the platform is particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized organizations with limited budgets. It's ideal for schools, churches, animal shelters, and community groups exploring online auctions without breaking their fundraising budget.
Yes! Whether you're having an online auction or an in-person event, BiddingOwl gives you the tools to make your fundraiser successful. Many organizations find success using a hybrid approach—as one customer noted: "We found it especially helpful, both used as a stand-alone online auction and used in conjunction with an in-person but bidding online auction."
Sure, there are endless options for fundraising and charity auctions available to you. But not many other providers offer you all the premium features with the best customer service at such a transparent price point. BiddingOwl delivers exceptional value through its intuitive design and stellar customer support, without requiring the significant upfront investment demanded by some competitors.
Fundraising can be overwhelming. Whether you're supporting a youth program, school, community center, or charitable cause, BiddingOwl gives you the tools to make your auction fundraiser a success. We'd love to show you how we can help fuel your mission and empower your work!
Online auctions are now a core part of nonprofit and charity organizations’ fundraising. Your NPO can use them to reach more donors, engage supporters, and improve your fundraising.
When choosing your free auction software, look for key features such as mobile bidding, real-time tracking, and donor management tools. To help you make the right decision, we’ve put together a fantastic guide for choosing the best auction management software for fundraisers.
Or if you’re ready to take your auctions to the next level, explore our full feature set here and discover how BiddingOwl can help your nonprofit boost donations without boosting expenses.
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