Silent auction
Early bidding from a link, then SCAN TO BID Display Sheets on the tables. Full silent workflow lives on its own page.
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For nonprofits and schools
Auction Software for Nonprofits, Charities and Schools
Charity auction software for the whole night, not just the bids.
CharityAuctions is auction software for nonprofits, schools, and PTAs. You run online, silent, and live auctions in one account. Nothing Out of Pocket is 5% of funds raised with $0 to start; Prepay and Save starts at $499 plus 3%. A free account takes under 30 minutes. Guests bid in the browser.
Book a free setup callSee pricing
Jenifer Strait Memorial Foundation raised $648,341 at one George Strait benefit event.
250,000+auctions and events run
$1B+raised
4.9on Google
50,000+nonprofits and schools
$0upfront
No tip prompt. Published fees: 5% of funds raised with $0 to start, or $499 plus 3%.
Buying checklist
What to look for in nonprofit auction software
Use this list before you pick a platform. Ask each vendor the same seven questions.
01
Total fees at $5k, $25k and $50k raisedAsk what you pay at those three totals. A starting price is not the whole bill.
02
Who pays card feesYou, the bidder, or both. Get that in writing before you pick a plan.
03
Tip promptsSome tools add a suggested tip at checkout. Extra often goes to the platform.
04
Mobile bidding without an appGuests should bid in the browser on the phone they already have.
05
Live, silent and online in one accountYou should not need a second product for the rest of the night.
06
Payments and receiptsWinners pay. You get records for thank-yous and your books.
07
SupportWho answers when the night is live. Is help included, or extra?
Charity auction sites
What are charity auction sites?
Charity auction sites are websites a school or small nonprofit uses to host a fundraising auction. Guests open a link. They look at items. They bid. The same site can sell tickets, run a raffle, and take donations.
People search this when they want a place to run the night, not a list of live auctions to shop. Compare charity auction sites on four things:
01
Can you set it up yourself?A volunteer chair should not need a sales call to start.
02
Do guests need an app?A browser link is easier for parents and grandparents.
03
What do you pay?$0 upfront and a published fee beat a quote you cannot see.
04
Does it cover the whole night?Bids only, or tickets, raffle, and donations in one account.
CharityAuctions is one of those sites. Fees are on pricing. Side-by-side writeups live on compare charity auction software. If you are shopping $0-start tools, see free online auction sites.
How it works
From free account to winners paying.
Real night path. You turn on modules, share a URL for early bidding, put Display Sheets SCAN TO BID on the tables, then check out. Silent-only chairs should start on silent auction software.
01
Create your free account and name the eventSign up, name your night, and you are in. No credit card. $0 upfront.
02
Turn on what you need under Fundraising ModulesOnline Auction, Ticket Sales, Paddle Raise, Fund a Need, Raffle, Sponsor Logos, Donation Button, Attendees. Flip on only what this night needs.
03
Add items and share the auction URL for early biddingPhotos, starting bids, values. Send the link by email or text so guests can bid before the door opens. No app.
04
At the live event: Display Sheets SCAN TO BID on the tablesPut a Display Sheet on each item table. Guests scan SCAN TO BID and land on that item. Tickets, check-in, and paddle raise when you need them.
05
Winners pay. You export.Close the night. Winners pay from their phones. You download bidders, payments, and receipts for thank-yous.
Ready to set up your night?
Create Your Free Account. Under 30 minutes for a basic auction. No sales call.
What you get
One account. Modules for the whole fundraiser.
Turn on what you need under Fundraising Modules. Silent auction details live on silent auction software. This page is the umbrella for the full night.
Ticket sales
Sell tickets and collect guest info in the same account as the auction.
Paddle raise / Fund a Need
Run a paddle raise or fund-a-need when the room goes live. Same login.
Raffle
Add a raffle next to bidding when you want ticket draws too.
Sponsors
Sell packages and show sponsor logos on the event. Turn Sponsor Logos on under Fundraising Modules.
Live / hybrid
One account for people in the room and people bidding online. Same item list.
Donation button
Add a flat gift button when someone wants to give without bidding on an item.
Attendees
Track who is coming, check them in, and keep guest lists next to bidding and tickets.
Two plans
CharityAuctions fees.
$0 to start. You pick a plan. No tip prompt at checkout.
| Plan | Fee | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing Out of Pocket | 5% | Nothing Out of Pocket costs 5% of funds raised with $0 to start. Success fee capped at $100 per item. |
| Prepay and Save | from $499 plus 3% | Prepay and Save starts at $499 plus 3%. Success fee capped at $75 per item. |
Schools and PTAs
School auction software and PTA auctions
A PTA, booster club, or parent committee can run the night on top of a real job. Add items, turn on tickets or a raffle if you need them, and send a link families open without an app. You do not need a separate school product.
✓
$0 upfrontNothing Out of Pocket is 5%. You do not buy a license before the first bid.
✓
Volunteer-friendly setupLive in under 30 minutes. Share the link with your committee before parents see it.
✓
No-app bidding for familiesParents and grandparents bid in the browser. Test it from a parent phone first.
More for school silent nights: silent auction management for schools · silent auction software.
Side by side
Charity auction software compared
Published plans only. No extra competitor claims beyond this table.
| Platform | Pricing model | Mobile bidding | Tip prompt | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CharityAuctions | 5% of funds raised ($0 to start), or from $499 plus 3% | Yes, no app | No tip prompt | Yes, Nothing Out of Pocket ($0 to start) |
| OneCause | Custom quote | Yes | Not published | Not published |
| Givebutter | 0% platform fee with optional donor tips; flat 3% platform fee if tips are off | Yes, auctions with mobile bidding notifications | Yes, optional donor tips (can be turned off) | Yes, free; Plus from $29/month |
| RallyUp | Free plan with optional donor tips, or Flex: 2.9% to 6.9% platform fee per activity, no tip prompt | Online bidding; silent and live auctions on Flex | Yes on Free; none on Flex | Yes |
| Handbid | Annual license by quote; no percentage of funds raised | Yes | Not published | Not published (priced by quote) |
| Auctria | Free under $10K tracked per year; $375 or $750 per year above that | Yes, online and mobile bidding on all plans | Not published | Yes, Explorer (under $10K per year) |
| 32auctions | Free base features; optional paid upgrades | Yes, mobile friendly, nothing to download | Not published | Yes |
| GalaBid | Free with suggested tips, Pro at 4.9% with no tips, or US$1,250 flat fee with no tips | Yes | Yes on Free; none on Pro or Flat Fee | Yes, free with tipping |
| GiveSmart | Annual fee subscription, or Pay-As-You-Go ($0 to start; rate disclosed at signup) | Yes | Not published | Not published |
Sources (checked Oct 21, 2026)
- CharityAuctions: pricing, charity auction software
- OneCause: plans, mobile bidding
- Givebutter: pricing, auctions
- RallyUp: pricing
- Handbid: pricing
- Auctria: pricing
- 32auctions: pricing
- GalaBid: pricing, home page
- GiveSmart: plans, mobile bidding
CharityAuctions vs OneCause · CharityAuctions vs Handbid · CharityAuctions vs Auctria · CharityAuctions vs GiveSmart
Why CharityAuctions
4.9 on Google, $0 upfront, no sales call, under 30 minutes.
Built for small and medium nonprofits and schools: run by volunteers with full-time jobs, raising $1,000 to $75,000 a night. One account for the auction and the rest of the night.
01
4.9 on GoogleRated by teams who run the event themselves.
02
$0 upfront5%, or from $499 plus 3%. You pick a plan when you are ready.
03
No sales callSet it up yourself. Free help when your event is live.
04
Under 30 minutes to launchSee the real bidder view in the same sitting.
Planning help: how to run a charity auction · resources · silent auction software
TL;DR
CharityAuctions is auction software for nonprofits, schools, and PTAs. You run online, silent, and live auctions in one account. Nothing Out of Pocket is 5% of funds raised with $0 to start; Prepay and Save starts at $499 plus 3%. A free account takes under 30 minutes. No tip prompt. Silent-only nights start on silent auction software. Create Your Free Account.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about charity auction software.
Short answers for nonprofit and school teams picking a platform.
What are charity auction sites?
Charity auction sites are websites a school or small nonprofit uses to host a fundraising auction. Guests open a link, look at items, and bid. Compare sites on setup (can you do it yourself), whether guests need an app, what you pay, and whether the site covers the whole night. CharityAuctions is one of those sites. This page is the guide for that search.
What is charity auction software?
Charity auction software helps you plan, run, and close a fundraising night in one place. You add items, take bids, sell tickets, run a paddle raise or raffle, show sponsors, take donations, and check out winners. It is the same category people call fundraising auction software or online auction software for nonprofits. CharityAuctions supports online, live, and hybrid from one account. Guests bid in the browser. No app. If you are only running a silent auction, see silent auction software.
What is the best charity auction software?
The best charity auction software is the one you can set up yourself, guests can use on a phone, and you can afford without a surprise invoice. Look for no-app mobile bidding, online/live/hybrid in one account, clear fees, and no tip prompt at checkout. CharityAuctions is built for small and medium nonprofits and schools. $0 upfront. No sales call. Live in under 30 minutes. Compare CharityAuctions vs OneCause and CharityAuctions vs GiveSmart.
How much does charity auction software cost?
Nothing Out of Pocket costs 5% of funds raised with $0 to start. Prepay and Save starts at $499 plus 3%. Success fee capped at $100 per item on Nothing Out of Pocket. Success fee capped at $75 per item on Prepay and Save. See pricing. To compare charity auction software pricing, use that guide. OneCause uses a custom quote. Givebutter is 0% platform fee with optional donor tips, or a flat 3% platform fee if tips are off. RallyUp has a free plan with optional donor tips, or Flex at 2.9% to 6.9% platform fee per activity with no tip prompt. Handbid is an annual license by quote and does not charge a percentage of funds raised. Auctria is free under $10K tracked per year, then $375 or $750 per year. 32auctions has free base features and optional paid upgrades. GalaBid is free with suggested tips, Pro at 4.9% with no tips, or US$1,250 flat fee with no tips. GiveSmart is an annual fee subscription, or Pay-As-You-Go ($0 to start; rate disclosed at signup).
Is there free auction software for nonprofits?
Yes. CharityAuctions has Nothing Out of Pocket ($0 to start). Givebutter is free, with Plus from $29/month. RallyUp has a free plan. Auctria has Explorer, free under $10K tracked per year. 32auctions is free. GalaBid is free with tipping. OneCause, Handbid, and GiveSmart do not publish a free plan. See free online auction sites.
What is the best auction software for a small nonprofit or PTA?
Look for software a volunteer can set up without a sales call. Guests should bid in the browser. Fees should be published. CharityAuctions is built for small nonprofits, schools, and PTAs. Nothing Out of Pocket is 5% of funds raised with $0 to start. Prepay and Save starts at $499 plus 3%. No tip prompt. Under 30 minutes for a basic auction.
Do bidders need to download an app?
No. Guests open a link or scan a QR code and bid in the browser on the phone they already have. An app download is a barrier for parents, grandparents, and occasional donors. CharityAuctions is no-app mobile bidding.
Can we run silent, live and online auctions in one account?
Yes. CharityAuctions runs silent, live, and online auctions from one account. Turn on the modules you need. For silent-only nights, see silent auction software.
What's the difference between online, live, and hybrid auctions?
Online auctions run remotely over days or weeks. Live auctions support an in-person room (mobile bidding, checkout, paddle raise, Display Sheets SCAN TO BID on item tables). Hybrid uses one item list for early online bidding and event night. CharityAuctions runs all three from one account. Silent-auction workflows live on silent auction software.
Which charity auction platforms are best for schools?
Schools and PTAs need software a rotating volunteer team can run on top of a real job. Look for $0 upfront, no-app bidding, and a setup you can test with your committee before parents see it. CharityAuctions is school auction software in the same product, not a separate site. See silent auction management for schools.
Start with a free account
Create Your Free Account
One account for online, live, and hybrid, plus tickets, paddle raise, raffle, sponsors, and donations. Under 30 minutes. No sales call. $0 upfront.
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