CharityAuctions vs BiddingForGood
TL;DR
CharityAuctions has no upfront cost, free support, and transparent checkout. BiddingForGood offers a community of 4.4 million members who can discover and bid on your auction. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, auctions with mobile bidding raise an average of 43% more per event than paper-based formats.
CharityAuctions and BiddingForGood both support charity auctions. BiddingForGood offers the BiddingForGood Community: 4.4 million members who can discover and bid on auctions. CharityAuctions focuses on your organization's auction with in-browser mobile bidding and no upfront cost.
According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, auctions with mobile bidding raise an average of 43% more per event than paper-based formats. The platform you choose affects your cost, your reach, and your donors' checkout experience.
The main differences between CharityAuctions and BiddingForGood are pricing model, community reach, and support cost.
What BiddingForGood Is Built For
BiddingForGood is a digital auction platform by FrontStream for nonprofits, schools, and charities. Over 20,000 organizations have raised $600 million through the platform. Their dominant differentiator is the BiddingForGood Community: 4.4 million members who can discover and bid on auctions. Nonprofits that open their fundraisers to the community raise 27% more on average.
BiddingForGood main features:
- Live, silent, online, and mobile auctions
- Proxy bidding and bid tracking
- Event ticketing and registration with seating charts
- Item and bidder management
- Sponsor management and VIP status
- Email marketing and social integration
- Payment processing and reporting
- BiddingForGood Community (4.4M members)
Pricing is custom; reports suggest approximately $595/year plus 7–9% platform fee on winning bids and donations. Optional event support ranges from $495 to $2,995 per event. Contact BiddingForGood for a quote.
What CharityAuctions Is Built For
CharityAuctions is built for charity auctions. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, more than 50,000 organizations have used the platform since 2007. We support online, live, and hybrid auctions with mobile bidding, ticketing, raffles, and checkout in one place.
CharityAuctions main features:
- Mobile bidding (no app required)
- Silent, live, and hybrid auctions
- Ticketing and registration
- Raffles and fixed-price items
- Checkout and payment processing (see charity auction platform pricing)
- Donor management and reporting
- Free support: text, call, live walk-throughs
We use transparent pricing. You know what the platform will cost before you go live. We do not ask bidders to add optional tips at checkout.
Pricing and Cost Structure
| CharityAuctions | BiddingForGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | None. Build and test for free. | Approximately $595/year (reported). Custom quotes. |
| When you pay | After you raise. Performance-based. | Annual subscription plus platform fee. |
| Platform fee | N/A. Transparent pricing. | 7–9% on winning bids and donations (reported). |
| Event support | Free. Text, call, live walk-throughs. | Optional: $495–$2,995 per event. |
| Pricing visibility | Transparent. Known before go-live. | Custom. Demo required. |
| Free to try | Yes. No credit card required. | No. Demo must be requested. |
BiddingForGood does not publish pricing. Contact BiddingForGood directly for current pricing and a quote based on your organization size and event needs.
CharityAuctions has no upfront cost. We use transparent pricing and do not ask bidders to add optional tips at checkout. 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.
According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, events using mobile bidding raise an average of 43% more per event than paper-based formats. Mobile bidding also increases donor participation by 52%.
BiddingForGood: Mobile auction management with proxy bidding and bid tracking. Guests can bid from mobile devices. Event ticketing and registration with seating charts are included.
CharityAuctions mobile bidding works on any device with no app download required.
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.
BiddingForGood: Event support services available at additional cost ($495–$2,995 per event depending on support level). Contact them for details.
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.
Auctions and Event Features
Both platforms support:
- Online and mobile auctions
- Live and silent auctions
- Ticketing and registration
- Payment processing
- Reporting
CharityAuctions is the most robust auction platform and the easiest to use. We are built for charity auctions.
BiddingForGood offers the BiddingForGood Community: 4.4 million members who can discover and bid on auctions. Nonprofits that open fundraisers to the community raise 27% more on average. Features include item categories, sponsor management, and customizable branded templates.
When to Choose CharityAuctions
Consider CharityAuctions if you want:
- No upfront cost and free to build and test
- Transparent pricing with no optional fees at checkout
- Free support: text, call, live walk-throughs
- The most robust auction platform and the easiest to use
- In-browser mobile bidding (no app)
When BiddingForGood May Be a Fit
BiddingForGood is built for charity auctions. Their BiddingForGood Community has 4.4 million members who can discover and bid on your auction. Nonprofits that open fundraisers to the community report raising 27% more on average. Pricing is custom and includes an annual subscription plus a platform fee on winning bids. Optional event support is available at an additional cost. Contact BiddingForGood directly for current pricing and features.
See our full comparison of charity auction platforms to evaluate all options.
Summary
CharityAuctions and BiddingForGood both support charity auctions. CharityAuctions offers no upfront cost, transparent pricing, and free support via text, call, and live walk-throughs. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, more than 50,000 organizations have used the platform since 2007.
BiddingForGood offers the BiddingForGood Community: 4.4 million members who can discover and bid on your auction. Nonprofits that open fundraisers to the community report raising 27% more on average. Pricing is custom and requires a quote.
To learn more about running a successful auction, see our guide to silent auction software or compare auction software vs paper bidding.
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Frequently asked questions
How does CharityAuctions pricing compare to BiddingForGood?
CharityAuctions has no upfront software cost. You build your auction for free and pay after you raise. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, more than 50,000 organizations have used the platform since 2007. BiddingForGood uses custom pricing. Reports suggest approximately $595 per year plus 7 to 9% platform fee on winning bids and donations. Optional event support ranges from $495 to $2,995 per event. Contact BiddingForGood directly for current pricing.
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. BiddingForGood offers event support services at additional cost ranging from $495 to $2,995 per event depending on support level.
Do bidders need to download an app for CharityAuctions or BiddingForGood?
CharityAuctions uses in-browser mobile bidding. Guests open a link on their phone with no app required. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, events using mobile bidding raise an average of 43% more per event than paper-based formats. BiddingForGood offers mobile auction management and proxy bidding from mobile devices.
Is CharityAuctions built specifically for auctions?
Yes. CharityAuctions is built for charity auctions. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, more than 50,000 organizations have used the platform since 2007. BiddingForGood is also built for online auctions. Over 20,000 schools and charities have raised $600 million through their platform. Their BiddingForGood Community of 4.4 million members helps nonprofits raise 27% more when auctions are opened to the community.
Does CharityAuctions have a bidding community like BiddingForGood?
CharityAuctions focuses on your organization's auction with in-browser mobile bidding and no app required. BiddingForGood offers the BiddingForGood Community: 4.4 million members who can discover and bid on auctions. Nonprofits that open fundraisers to the community report raising 27% more on average.
Does CharityAuctions use donor tipping at checkout?
No. CharityAuctions does not use optional tip prompts at checkout. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, optional tip prompts can add 20% to 30% to a donor's intended payment. CharityAuctions gives organizations two options: absorb the processing fee, or pass it to donors with full disclosure before checkout begins. Donors see one clear total before they pay.
Does CharityAuctions use transparent pricing?
Yes. CharityAuctions uses transparent pricing. You know exactly what the platform will cost before you go live. We do not ask bidders to add optional tips at checkout. BiddingForGood does not publish pricing. Contact them for a customized quote.
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