The best online auction platforms

Your organisation can drive excitement and energy with live and online bidding events. For fundraising, charities should take advantage of what online auctions have to offer.

 

Below we review the best auction platforms based on price, features, and ease of listing.

 

 

eBay

 

Touted as the best platform for auctions and online charity stores, eBay makes sense for all charities. There’s a dedicated section for charity shops, fundraising, and selling. Listing is easy – there’s even a step-by-step guide to setting up an advert and adding photos.

 

Pros: There’s no charge to start selling either on an auction or via online shop.

 

Cons: Charities need to deal with the logistics and shipping.

 

 

Superstars

 

For those who need a bit more of a hand, Superstars helps charities run online auctions. The platform includes software that works on a mobile phone, device, or computer. Charities have the option of opening auctions across several days or in a single day.

 

Pros: The service is white labelled, so organisers can use their branding.

 

Cons: While the service is free, charities must choose ten items from the product catalogue.

 

 

Easy Live Auction

 

This site caters to buyers with a real passion for auctions. Easy Live Auction aggregates auctions across professional listings. Buyers simply start bidding or sign up for an event they are watching. For now, Temwa, a Bristol-based charity has launched their auction. Successful bids for cycling tech and holiday opportunities go towards charity operations.

 

Pros: Site appeals to audiences who want to experience professional auctioneers.

 

Cons: There’s no special functionality for charities.

 

 

Jumblebee

 

Jumblebee focusses on charities and delivers the best result for fundraising. Both live and silent actions are hosted. For live events, Jumblebee sets up in-person and provides devices to bid with. Online fundraising events also work – the bidding can be done via mobile phone.

 

Pros: Online auction site is simple to use – see The Trussell Trusts’ auction as an example.

 

Cons: The service charges 5% of the total funds raised and payment transaction fees.

 

 

Auctria

 

Auctria isn’t just an auction platform. The cloud-based software is a professional service that streamlines events. The process of fundraising, bidding, and donation is tracked across an easy-to-read dashboard. The platform includes adjacent services. Ticketing, raffles, and receipts are all part of the package.

 

Pros: Enjoy total organization via the event management system.

 

Cons: Pricing may be costly for charities making incomes over certain thresholds.

 

 

GiveFundraising

 

Hands down the most comprehensive service delivering all variations of auctions. Both online and in-person events are possible. For online auctions, the event management team takes care of the set-up, registration, data entry, and transaction processing. For in-person events, guests are provided with tablets for silent bidding. Updates are processed live, so charities can generate excitement.

 

Pros: Event management is free.

 

Cons: No obvious cons.

 

 

Givergy

 

Offering more than auction management, Givergy helps you plan and execute fundraising events. Givergy recognises that coming up with auctions takes time and not all charities have access to quality items. So they source items and deduct the cost from lots that are sold. Givergy offers total pricing transparency so there’s no need to fret over the cost of an item.

 

Pros: No sourcing for lots and if something isn’t sold, it’s simply not charged to the charity.

 

Cons: Charities with various fundraising channels will have to integrate with existing platforms.

 

 

Blue Monday Silent Auctions

 

Another specialist provider, Blue Monday Silent Auctions offers high-profile events. Unlike the other event makers, the service is fully digital. Auction participants use mobile phones to engage in the silent auction. Bids and pledges are accepted on the app, doing away with paper at in-person events.

 

Pros: There’s no limit here with mobile phone tech.

 

Cons: Few other fundraising events are supported.

 

 

Charity Auctions Today

 

An easy-to-use option. Charity Auctions Today just asks charities to upload a list of items to auction off. The wizard sets up what works best based on charity preferences. In terms of payments, the platform has partnerships with Stripe and Worldpay – that means that anyone, based anywhere, can bid on your items.

 

Pros: Increase audience size by leveraging the platform’s marketplace.

 

Cons: Pricing is based on how much is raised.

 

 

Auction Lots

 

This service is best for one-off events. Auction Lots offers a separate site for online auctions. The site is accessible by QR code once the bidding is live. Then, participants start bidding and are notified if their bids are exceeded or won. Payments are transacted via Stripe.

 

Pros: GiftAid is processed here.

 

Cons: Best for simple, single events.