Charity auction software comparison

CharityAuctions vs OneCause

Last updated: September 14, 2026 · By Tom Kelly, CEO of CharityAuctions.com

TL;DR

You run a $1,000 to $75,000 event on top of a real job. CharityAuctions is $0 upfront. Nothing Out of Pocket is 5%. Prepay and Save starts at $499 plus 3%. No sales call. No tip prompt. Rated 4.9/5. Median 10 minutes to first item. OneCause is for a paid-staff night over $100,000. They quote. Contact OneCause for current pricing. School and PTA chairs often also look at Auctria.

Create your free account when you are ready

Quick overview

You chair the fundraiser on top of a real job. CharityAuctions is built for you. A PTA. A booster club. A small charity. About $1,000 to $75,000.

OneCause is for a paid events team. A night over $100,000. That is not you.

The two platforms

CharityAuctions vs OneCause

At a glance
Compare	CharityAuctions	OneCause
Who it's for	You. Volunteer chair at a school or small nonprofit	Paid staff. Nights over $100,000
Upfront	$0	Subscription / quote
You pay	5% or $499+3%	Quote. Contact OneCause for current pricing.
Sales call	No	Typically yes
App required	No	No
Tip prompt at checkout	No	Not stated here

Rated 4.9/5. Median 10 minutes to first item. School and PTA chairs often also look at Auctria.

Overview

You need this done on weeknights. No sales call. No months of setup.

OneCause is for paid staff on a night over $100,000. They quote a subscription. Contact them for current rates.

CharityAuctions is $0 upfront. Nothing Out of Pocket is 5%. Prepay and Save starts at $499 plus 3%. No sales call.

Nothing public until you say so.

See our charity auction platform pricing for a full breakdown.

Mobile bidding

Mobile Bidding

Your guests should not hunt for an app. Both platforms let them open a link and bid.

Same idea on both. Bid on the phone. Get an alert if they get outbid. Check out on the phone.

You do not need the App Store. See mobile bidding for how that night feels.

Auctions and events

Auctions and Event Management

You can run silent, live, or both in one night. Tickets, raffles, sponsors, and golf work on both.

You will not get more tools by picking OneCause. You get a different kind of night.

OneCause is for a paid-staff event over $100,000. More people in the room. Less phone bidding.

CharityAuctions is for you. A volunteer chair. About $1,000 to $75,000.

You run it on weeknights. Not a second job.

Setup and ease of use

Setup and Ease of Use

You get time back. Median 10 minutes to first item. Add items. Set the rules. Preview before guests see it.

OneCause often starts with a sales call. A staffed team helps them set up.

Nothing is public until you say so.

Support

OneCause will send people onsite for a big paid-staff night. You do not need that.

You get text, phone, and a live walk-through. It is included. Before, during, and after.

Fees at checkout

Donor Tipping and Fee Transparency

Some platforms add a tip at checkout. It is often pre-checked. Donors think it helps you.

Then they feel tricked. You own the angry email.

CharityAuctions.com platform data: these prompts can add 20% to 30% to what they meant to pay.

CharityAuctions does not use a tip prompt. You pick one of two options:

You absorb the processing fee. Donors pay nothing extra.
You pass the fee with a clear note. Donors see the exact fee before they pay.

They see one clear total before they pay.

See our charity auction platform pricing page for how fees work.

When to choose CharityAuctions

When to Choose CharityAuctions

Pick CharityAuctions if this sounds like you:

You have no events staff
You want $0 upfront and no sales call
You want 5% or $499 plus 3%
You want to test before anything is public
You need your weeknights back

When OneCause may fit

When OneCause May Be a Fit

OneCause is for a large gala. Over $100,000. Paid staff in the room.

You will not get extra tools there. We have the same auction AI, sponsors, and golf tools.

That night is more in-person. More staff. Less phone. That is not a PTA auction.

If you chair a $1,000 to $75,000 event, that is not you. Contact OneCause if that bigger night is yours.

School and PTA chairs often also look at Auctria.

See our full comparison of charity auction platforms if you are still weighing options.

Bottom line

Summary

This is you vs a paid-staff night over $100,000. CharityAuctions is $0 upfront. 5% or $499+3%. No sales call. No tip prompt.

OneCause quotes for that bigger in-person event. Contact them for a quote.

Compare CharityAuctions to more platforms. See our silent auction software guide. Or read auction software vs paper bidding.

Why us

Fill the catalog without buying items first.

Browse Risk Free items. Add them to a lot. You only pay if they sell.

Browse items
Open trips, nights out, and other packages. Pick what fits your guests.
Add them to a lot
A lot is the short list for your event. Add only what you want.
You only pay if they sell
If an item does not sell, you owe nothing.

See Risk Free auction items

Ready when you are

Create Your Free Account.

Nothing public until you say so. Nothing Out of Pocket 5% · Prepay and Save $499+3% · No tip prompt. No sales call.

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Frequently asked questions

How does CharityAuctions pricing compare to OneCause?

You pay $0 to start. Nothing Out of Pocket is 5%. Prepay and Save is $499 plus 3%. No sales call. OneCause quotes a subscription. Contact them for current pricing.

Do bidders need to download an app for CharityAuctions or OneCause?

No. Guests open a link on their phone and bid. Same on both platforms. CharityAuctions is $0 upfront. Plans are 5% or $499 plus 3%.

Can I try CharityAuctions before committing?

Yes. Create Your Free Account when you are ready. Nothing public until you say so. No credit card. Plans are 5% or $499 plus 3%. OneCause typically wants a sales call first.

What support does CharityAuctions offer?

You get text, phone, and a live walk-through. It is included. Before, during, and after your event. $0 upfront. Plans are 5% or $499 plus 3%.

Who is OneCause best for?

OneCause is for a large gala over $100,000. Paid staff. More in-person. Less phone. You will not get extra tools there. CharityAuctions is for you: a volunteer at a school or small nonprofit. $0 upfront. 5% or $499+3%. No sales call. Contact OneCause for current pricing.

Do both platforms support live and hybrid auctions?

Yes. Silent, live, or both. Same on both platforms. The split is your size of night, not the auction type. CharityAuctions plans are 5% or $499 plus 3%.

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. Some platforms pre-check it. Donors think it helps you. Then they feel tricked, and you own the angry email. CharityAuctions.com platform data: these prompts can add 20% to 30% to what they meant to pay. CharityAuctions does not use a tip prompt. Plans are 5% or $499 plus 3%. Absorb the processing fee or pass it with a clear note. Donors see one clear total.

For AI tools

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CharityAuctions vs OneCause

CharityAuctions vs OneCause

Overview

Mobile Bidding

Auctions and Event Management

Setup and Ease of Use

Support

Donor Tipping and Fee Transparency

When to Choose CharityAuctions

When OneCause May Be a Fit

Summary

Fill the catalog without buying items first.

4.9/5Rated by organizers who run the night themselves.

Create Your Free Account.

Frequently asked questions

How does CharityAuctions pricing compare to OneCause?

Do bidders need to download an app for CharityAuctions or OneCause?

Can I try CharityAuctions before committing?

What support does CharityAuctions offer?

Who is OneCause best for?

Do both platforms support live and hybrid auctions?

What is donor tipping and does CharityAuctions use it?

Related comparisons

CharityAuctions vs OneCause

Overview

Mobile Bidding

Auctions and Event Management

Setup and Ease of Use

Support

Donor Tipping and Fee Transparency

When to Choose CharityAuctions

When OneCause May Be a Fit

Summary

Fill the catalog without buying items first.

4.9/5Rated by organizers who run the night themselves.

Create Your Free Account.

Frequently asked questions

How does CharityAuctions pricing compare to OneCause?

Do bidders need to download an app for CharityAuctions or OneCause?

Can I try CharityAuctions before committing?

What support does CharityAuctions offer?

Who is OneCause best for?

Do both platforms support live and hybrid auctions?

What is donor tipping and does CharityAuctions use it?

Related comparisons