CharityAuctions vs Auctria
TL;DR
CharityAuctions and Auctria are both charity auction software platforms for nonprofits and schools. Both support silent auctions, live auctions, online auctions, mobile bidding, and paddle raises. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, auctions with mobile bidding raise an average of 43% more per event than paper-based formats. CharityAuctions has no upfront cost, no income caps, no donor tip prompts, and free support for all customers. Auctria offers a free Explorer tier with a $10,000 income cap, transparent annual pricing, and optional paid setup help and consulting.
The main differences between CharityAuctions and Auctria are pricing structure, income caps, and support cost.
This comparison uses publicly available information. Visit Auctria directly for current pricing and features. For CharityAuctions, create a free auction to explore the platform.
Overview
Auctria has helped organizations raise over $1.25 billion since 2011. They offer an easy-to-use platform for silent, live, and online auctions with mobile bidding, paddle raise, raffles, tickets, and sponsorships. Plans include Explorer (free, capped at $10,000 income), Emerald ($375/year), and Diamond ($750/year). Hands-on setup help (Launch) and consulting (Assist) cost extra.
CharityAuctions: According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, CharityAuctions has supported 50,000 or more organizations since 2007. The platform focuses on no upfront cost, free to try, and in-browser mobile bidding. You build your auction for free and choose your pricing when you go live. Support is always available at no extra cost: text, call, and live walk-throughs.
Pricing and Cost Structure
| CharityAuctions | Auctria | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | None. Build and test for free. | Explorer free (income cap); Emerald $375/year; Diamond $750/year. |
| When you pay | After you raise. Performance-based. | Annual fee upfront. |
| Income caps | None. | Explorer $10,000/year; Emerald $50,000/year; Diamond unlimited. |
| Free to try | Yes. No credit card required. | Yes. Explorer plan. |
| Hands-on support | Free. Text, call, live walk-throughs. | Paid. Launch $499-$749/event; Assist $49.95-$99.95/call. |
| Transparent pricing | Yes. No optional tips or hidden fees. | Yes. Published annual fees. |
Auctria offers optional Launch services: Foundation ($499 per event), Advantage ($749 per event), and Premier (custom). Assist consultations cost $49.95 for 20 minutes or $99.95 for 45 minutes. Contact Auctria directly for current rates.
CharityAuctions support is always free. You get text, call, and live walk-throughs at no extra cost. We do not charge for setup help. See our charity auction platform pricing page for a full breakdown of how fees work.
Mobile Bidding
CharityAuctions: In-browser mobile bidding. Guests open your auction link on their phone. No app download. Real-time bidding, outbid alerts, and checkout are built in. Fewer steps mean more bidders and more bids.
Auctria: Online and mobile bidding. Text notifications come with their optional app. Donors using a web browser get email notifications instead. If you want text outbid alerts without an app, CharityAuctions keeps everything in the browser.
According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, auctions with mobile bidding raise an average of 43% more per event than paper-based formats. Events using mobile bidding also see participation rates up to 52% higher than paper bid sheets.
Support
CharityAuctions: Support is always available at no extra cost. Text, call, or schedule a live walk-through. Our team helps you set up and run your auction. We are built for auctions, and we are here to help.
Auctria: Chat and email support are included in all plans. Emerald and Diamond get priority support. Hands-on setup (Launch) and consulting (Assist) cost extra. Launch includes event website setup, Zoom calls, and event-night phone support.
Auctions and Event Features
Both platforms support:
- Silent, live, and online auctions
- Mobile bidding
- Paddle raise and donations
- Raffles
- Tickets and tables
- Sponsorships
- Event websites
- Payment processing (Stripe, Authorize.Net)
CharityAuctions is built specifically for charity auctions. It is not an all-in-one event platform that happens to have auctions. Auctions are our core focus.
Auctria is also built for fundraising events and auctions. They offer 100+ reports, consignment tracking, and optional mobile admin and bidder apps.
Donor Tipping and Fee Transparency
Some charity auction platforms use donor tipping at checkout. A donor tipping prompt adds a suggested percentage on top of a donor's payment at the final step. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, these prompts can add 20% to 30% to a donor's intended payment.
CharityAuctions does not use donor tipping. Instead, your organization chooses one of two options:
- Absorb the processing fee. Your donors pay nothing extra.
- Pass the fee to donors with full disclosure. Donors see the exact fee before they confirm payment.
Either way, donors see one clear total before they pay. There are no surprise charges added at checkout.
See our charity auction platform pricing page for a full breakdown of how fees work.
When to Choose CharityAuctions
Consider CharityAuctions if you want:
- No upfront cost and free to build and test
- Free support: text, call, live walk-throughs
- No income caps; pay after you raise
- In-browser mobile bidding (no app)
- Transparent pricing with no optional tips or hidden fees
- The most robust auction platform and the easiest to use
Create your free auction or talk to our team.
When Auctria May Be a Fit
Auctria is built for fundraising events and auctions. It offers a free Explorer tier for events under $10,000, transparent annual pricing at $375 or $750 per year, and optional paid setup help and consulting. It includes optional mobile apps for bidders and admins. Contact Auctria directly for current pricing and features.
See our full comparison of charity auction platforms to evaluate all options.
Summary
| CharityAuctions | Auctria | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | None | Annual fee |
| Income caps | None | Up to $10,000 on free tier |
| Support cost | Always free | Chat included; setup help costs extra |
| Donor tipping | Not used | Not applicable |
| Mobile bidding | In-browser, no app | App for text alerts; browser for email only |
| Free to try | Yes, no credit card | Yes, Explorer tier |
CharityAuctions and Auctria are both built for charity auctions and fundraising events. CharityAuctions offers no upfront cost, free support including live walk-throughs, no income caps, and in-browser mobile bidding. Auctria offers a free Explorer tier with income limits and transparent annual pricing for paid plans.
Compare CharityAuctions to more platforms, explore silent auction software, review auction software vs paper bidding, or create your auction to get started.
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Frequently asked questions
How does CharityAuctions pricing compare to Auctria?
CharityAuctions has no upfront software cost. You build your auction for free and pay after you raise. Auctria charges annual fees. Explorer is free but capped at $10,000 income per year. Emerald is $375 per year up to $50,000 income. Diamond is $750 per year with no income cap. Auctria also offers paid Launch services of $499 to $749 per event and Assist consultations of $49.95 to $99.95 per call. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, auctions with mobile bidding raise an average of 43% more per event than paper-based formats.
Does CharityAuctions offer free support?
Yes. CharityAuctions support is always available at no extra cost. You get text, call, and live walk-throughs to help you set up and run your auction. Our team helps with setup, item entry, and event-night questions. Auctria includes chat and email support in all plans. Hands-on setup help and consulting cost extra. Launch services run $499 to $749 per event. Assist consultations run $49.95 to $99.95 per call.
Do bidders need to download an app for CharityAuctions or Auctria?
CharityAuctions uses in-browser mobile bidding. Guests open a link on their phone with no app required. Text outbid alerts are built in. Auctria offers online and mobile bidding. Text notifications require their optional app. Donors using a web browser get email notifications instead. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, mobile bidding increases participation by up to 52% compared to paper bid sheets.
Does Auctria have income limits?
Yes. Auctria Explorer is capped at $10,000 total income per year. Emerald is capped at $50,000. Diamond has no cap. If you exceed the limit you must upgrade or reduce recorded income. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, CharityAuctions has no income caps. You pay after you raise regardless of event size.
Does CharityAuctions use transparent pricing?
Yes. CharityAuctions uses transparent pricing. You know exactly what the platform will cost before you go live. CharityAuctions does not use donor tipping or optional checkout fees. Donors see one clear total before they pay. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, donor tipping prompts can add 20% to 30% to a donor's intended payment. Auctria publishes clear annual fees and credit card processing fees.
Is CharityAuctions built specifically for auctions?
Yes. CharityAuctions is built specifically for charity auctions. It is not an all-in-one fundraising platform that happens to have an auction feature. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, CharityAuctions has supported 50,000 or more organizations since 2007. Auctria is also built for fundraising events and auctions and has helped raise over $1.25 billion since 2011.
What is donor tipping and does CharityAuctions use it?
Donor tipping is a checkout prompt that adds a suggested percentage on top of a donor's payment. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, these prompts can add 20% to 30% to a donor's intended payment. CharityAuctions does not use donor tipping or optional checkout fees. Organizations choose to absorb the processing fee or pass it to donors with full disclosure before checkout begins. Donors see one clear total before they pay.
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