Before the night
Share the auction URL
Email or text the link so people can bid early. Guests open it on their phone. No app.
Silent auction software
Silent Auction Software for Nonprofits and Schools
Direct answer: Silent auction software runs your auction night in the room and online. Print bid sheets and display sheets with SCAN TO BID codes, check guests in with bidder numbers, and take bids on paper, on phones, or both. No app required. Winners pay from the same link, and the tally is done when the night ends.
4.9/5rating
$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%.
Event night
Built for the room
CharityAuctions runs the night in the room. Paper bid sheets, phones, and paddle raise are three channels on the same event. No app required.
Display Sheets with SCAN TO BID
Print a sign for each item table. Guests scan SCAN TO BID and open that item.
Attendee List, bidder numbers, and check-in
Add guests, assign bidder numbers, and check people in.
Ticket Sales with offline sale entry
Sell tickets and record an in-person sale with Add Offline Sale.
Enter winning bidders for off-site events
After an off-site night, enter winning bidders so packages can be redeemed.
Teams using mobile bidding raise an average of 43% more per event and see participation up to 52% higher than paper sheets.
Organizations using mobile bidding raise an average of 43% more per event than those using paper bid sheets. Outbid alerts drive the re-bids. Phones are one channel. Paper bid sheets still work in the same room.
For a full comparison, see auction software vs. paper bidding.
How it works
From signup to winners paying
You set up the auction and add items. In the room you print bid sheets and Display Sheets with SCAN TO BID, check guests in with bidder numbers, and take bids on paper, on phones, or both. Share your link so people can also bid early. Winners pay. You download the results.
In the live room
Display Sheets + SCAN TO BID
Print a sign for each item table. Guests walking the room scan and open that item. Table signs only.
1
Create your free account.
Sign up, name your event, and you are in. No credit card.
2
Add your auction items.
In the left sidebar under Fundraising Modules, open Online Auction. Add photos, a starting bid, and value. Gift certificates can be items too.
3
Share your link so people can bid early.
Send the auction URL by email or text before the night. Guests open the link on their phone and start bidding. No app.
4
Print SCAN TO BID signs for the room.
At the live event, put a Display Sheet on each item table. Guests walking the room scan the sign and land on that item.
5
Guests keep bidding on their phones.
In the room or from home, they bid in the browser. If someone gets outbid, they get an alert and can bid again in one tap.
6
Winners pay. You export the list.
When you close, winners pay from the same link. You download donors, bids, and payments for receipts.
What you get
Built for a real silent auction night
Printable SCAN TO BID signs, bidding with no app, outbid alerts, and checkout on the phone. That is what makes the night work.
Display Sheets with SCAN TO BID
For the live event, print a Display Sheet for each item and set it on the table. Guests walking the room scan SCAN TO BID and open that item on their phone.
Clearer tables. Faster bids in the room.
No-App Mobile Bidding
Guests bid from any smartphone in the browser. No App Store step. Parents and older donors stay in the auction.
More bidders. Higher final prices.
Real-Time Outbid Alerts
When a guest is outbid, they get a text or email with a one-tap re-bid link. That drives most of the lift versus paper sheets.
More re-bids. Higher final prices per item.
Instant Checkout
Winners pay from their phone when the silent auction closes. You are not chasing invoices on Monday.
Funds collected faster. No checkout chaos.
Gift Certificates as Items
You can list gift certificates next to physical donations. Same photos, start bid, and checkout flow.
Easier when a donor gives a gift card. Cleaner thank-yous.
Published Fees
CharityAuctions publishes 5% or $499+3%. No tip prompt at checkout. You know the take rate before the night.
No surprise fees. More money for your cause.
Donor Data Exports
After close you export a clean CSV of every donor, bid, and payment for receipts and thank-yous.
Clean data. Better donor relationships.
Same account
Need tickets, a paddle raise, or a raffle too?
This page is about the silent auction. If your night needs more, you turn those on in the same account. Same login. No second vendor.
Paddle Raise / Fund a Need
Add a paddle raise or fund-a-need in the same login when the room goes live.
Ticket Sales
Sell tickets and collect guest info in the same account as your silent auction.
Sponsors
Sell and show sponsor packages in the same event. See the broader software page for the full picture.
Live / Hybrid
Keep one item list for people in the room and people bidding online.
Donation Button
Add a flat gift button next to bidding when someone wants to give without an item.
Side by side
CharityAuctions.com vs Competitors
Auctria is the closest in-lane compare. GiveSmart is the enterprise sales-call path. 32auctions, Givebutter, and BiddingOwl start at $0 and still leave night-of work on you. OneCause and GiveSmart often fit paid-staff nights over $100,000.
Swipe the table to compare platforms.
| Compare | CharityAuctions | OneCause | Auctria | 32auctions | Givebutter | BiddingOwl | GiveSmart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $0 | Subscription / quote | Free tier, then annual license | $0 | $0 | $0 | Custom / typically annual |
| App required | No | No | Optional bidder app | No | No | No | Confirm with vendor |
| Free item cap | None | Paid plans | Income cap on the free plan | 20 items on the free plan | None | None | Paid plans |
| Hybrid (same catalog, in-room + online) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Built for online silent auctions | Yes | Yes (online + paper) | Yes |
| Event-night support | Free | Usually part of a paid plan | Paid Launch add-on is common | Included on the platform | 24/7 | Phone / 24-7 included | Usually part of a paid plan |
CharityAuctions vs GiveSmart CharityAuctions vs OneCause CharityAuctions vs Givebutter All comparisons
Three plans
Fees
$0 to start. You pick a plan. Published fees: 5% or $499+3%. No tip prompt.
$0 to start
Nothing Out of Pocket
5%
$0 to start. You pay 5% of funds raised.
Prepay and Save
$499+3%
From $499 prepaid, then 3%.
Same evening
How to set up your silent auction in 30 minutes
You can launch a silent auction on CharityAuctions.com in under 30 minutes. Median time to first item is 10 minutes. Share the auction URL for early bidding. Print Display Sheets for the item tables at the live event.
1
2 minutes
Create Your Free Account
Go to CharityAuctions.com and create a free account. No credit card. Your silent auction dashboard is ready.
2
3 minutes
Name Your Silent Auction and Set Dates
Give the silent auction a name and set open and close times. Your public page URL is generated automatically.
3
15-20 minutes
Add Your Items
Add items one by one or import in bulk. Add a photo, description, fair market value, starting bid, and increment. Gift certificates work the same way. Median time to first item is 10 minutes.
4
3 minutes
Configure Checkout
Connect your payment processor or use CharityAuctions.com integrated checkout. Set whether winners pay at close or receive an invoice.
5
2 minutes
Share your link for early bidding
Preview the bidder view, then email or text the auction URL so people can bid before the night.
6
3 minutes
Print SCAN TO BID signs for the room
For the live event, print Display Sheets and put one on each item table. Guests walking the room scan SCAN TO BID.
10 min
Median time from account creation to first published item, even for first-time chairs.
For a complete walkthrough, see our launch your auction in 30 minutes guide.
For a complete walkthrough, see our launch your auction in 30 minutes guide.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best silent auction software for nonprofits?
The best silent 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, Display Sheets with SCAN TO BID, published fees, and no tip prompt at checkout. CharityAuctions is built for small and medium nonprofits and schools running about $1,000-$75,000 on top of a real job. $0 upfront. No sales call. Median 10 minutes to first item. For a side-by-side comparison, see our platform comparisons hub.
How much does silent auction software cost?
CharityAuctions fees are 5% or $499+3%. No tip prompt. $0 to start. See pricing.
What is silent auction software?
Silent auction software replaces paper bid sheets. You add items. Guests bid on their phones. Winners pay from the same link. No app. No clipboards. No manual tally at close. Schools and volunteer chairs run this on top of a real job.
What are Display Sheets and SCAN TO BID?
Display Sheets are printable signs for the live event. You put one on each item table. Guests walking the room scan SCAN TO BID and open that item on their phone. For bidding before the night, you share the auction URL by email or text. That is a different step.
Can I add gift certificates as silent auction items?
Yes. You can list gift certificates next to physical donations in Online Auction. Add a photo, start bid, and value the same way you add any other item. Winners check out from the same link.
Do you also do tickets, paddle raise, and live auctions?
Yes. The same CharityAuctions account can add ticket sales, paddle raise / fund-a-need, raffle, sponsors, live, and hybrid when you need them. This page is for silent. For the broader stack, see charity auction software, what is a paddle raise, and hybrid auctions.
How does mobile bidding work?
Guests bid from their phones in the browser. No app download. Before the night they open your auction link. At the live event they can also scan SCAN TO BID on a Display Sheet on the item table. They place bids, get outbid alerts, and winners pay from the same link. See the mobile bidding guide.
Can silent auction software work for hybrid events?
Yes. The same CharityAuctions account can also run live or hybrid if you need that later. This page is for silent. See how hybrid auctions work.
What features should I look for in silent auction software?
Look for Display Sheets with SCAN TO BID, no-app mobile bidding, item photos, outbid alerts, gift certificates, instant checkout, and donor exports. Published fees and no tip prompt matter at checkout. Compare features across platforms.
How long does it take to set up a silent auction?
You can launch a basic silent auction in 30 minutes: add items, share your link for early bidding, and print Display Sheets with SCAN TO BID for the item tables at the live event. Median time from account creation to first published item is 10 minutes. See our 30-minute setup guide.
Do bidders need an app?
No. Guests open a link on their phone or scan a SCAN TO BID QR and bid in the browser. No App Store step.
Is a credit card required to start?
No. Create Your Free Account when you are ready. Preview the silent auction on a phone with your team, and check out before anything is public.
Explore our guides
Deep dives on silent auctions, mobile bidding, and setup. Each guide links back to this page.
What is a silent auctionBest mobile bidding software for nonprofitsWhat is a paddle raiseBest free online auction sitesFundraising events examplesCharity auction platform pricingAuction software vs. paper biddingText-to-donate for nonprofits
Also: pricing · charity auction software · features · hybrid auctions
Why Chairs Choose CharityAuctions
Chairs use risk-free consignment when they need more items and do not want to buy inventory up front. You browse the catalog, add items to your silent auction, and you owe nothing if an item does not sell. CharityAuctions.com is the only platform where nonprofits can browse risk-free consignment items and run their entire auction in one place — no separate vendor, no extra logins.
What Chairs Say
“We built the silent auction after dinner and shared the link the same night. Guests bid on their phones. We did not chase a single clipboard.”
Jordan P.
Auction Chair, Lakeside Elementary PTA
Set up in 28 minutes
“Checkout used to take our whole Monday. Winners paid from the same link when bidding closed. Our treasurer had the export before we packed up.”
Priya S.
Volunteer Chair, North Shore Animal Rescue
Raised $8,200
“Our board previewed the bidder view on their own phones before we went live. First item was up the same evening we created the account.”
Chris T.
Booster Treasurer, Westfield Youth Soccer
First item live in 12 minutes
Ready when you are
See it on a phone with your team
then share your link when you're ready.
Create Your Free Account. No credit card. No sales call.
No credit card required$0 upfrontNo sales call4.9/5
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