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
Charity auction software for the whole night, not just the bids.
Direct answer: Charity auction software runs your entire fundraising auction online: items, mobile bidding, payments, and reports. CharityAuctions starts free with $0 upfront: the Nothing Out of Pocket plan takes 5% of funds raised, and Prepay and Save starts at $499 plus 3%.
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, tickets, and donations. Guests bid in the browser. No app.
250,000+events since 2007
$1B+raised
4.9on Google
$0upfront
No sales callto start
30 minto launch a basic auction
10 minmedian to first item
No tip prompt. Published fees: 5% or $499+3%.
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.
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.
Three 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% | You pay 5% of funds raised. $0 to start. |
| Prepay and Save | from $499 plus 3% | You prepay from $499. Then 3%. |
Schools and PTAs
School auction software, same product.
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 setupMedian 10 minutes to first item. 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
CharityAuctions vs OneCause vs GiveSmart.
Built for about $1,000-$75,000 events you run yourself. OneCause and GiveSmart often fit paid-staff nights over $100,000.
| Feature | CharityAuctions | OneCause | GiveSmart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | CharityAuctions | OneCause | GiveSmart |
| Upfront cost | $0 | Subscription / quote | Quote |
| Fees | 5% or $499+3% | Quote | Quote |
| Mobile bidding (no app) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Online / live / hybrid | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| No tip prompt | No tip prompt | Not stated here | Not stated |
| Support | Included | Varies | Varies |
Competitor pricing from their published pages; fees marked Quote require contacting the vendor. Verified October 9, 2026.
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. Median 10 minutes to first item.
TL;DR
CharityAuctions is charity auction software for small and medium nonprofits and schools. One account for online, live, and hybrid, plus tickets, paddle raise, raffle, sponsors, donations, and attendees. Fees are Nothing Out of Pocket 5% or Prepay and Save from $499 plus 3%. You can pass the fee to bidders so your organization pays $0. No tip prompt. Median 10 minutes to first item. Silent-only nights start on silent auction software. Create Your Free Account.
Planning help: how to run a charity auction · resources · silent auction software
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 launchMedian 10 minutes to first item. Real bidder view in the same sitting.
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. Median 10 minutes to first item. Compare CharityAuctions vs OneCause and CharityAuctions vs GiveSmart.
How much does charity auction software cost?
CharityAuctions is $0 to start. Nothing Out of Pocket is 5%. Prepay and Save is from $499 plus 3%. You can pass the fee to bidders so your organization pays $0. Other platforms often quote a subscription. OneCause and GiveSmart typically require a sales conversation. There is no optional tip prompt on CharityAuctions. Donors feel tricked when a tip screen appears, extra often goes to the platform, and you own the angry email. See pricing.
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.
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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