I Examined the 8 Finest Public sale Software program That Made Bidding Simpler

Having labored in numerous nonprofits for over 4 years, I’ve seen firsthand the complexities of organising fundraisers, from managing donations to dealing with last-minute bidder requests. I perceive the behind-the-scenes effort it takes to drag off a profitable public sale and why having the suitable instruments could make all of the distinction.

Organizing an public sale is difficult sufficient. What makes it even more durable is managing all the things manually or with outdated methods. With out the finest public sale software program, you threat errors, inefficiencies, and annoyed donors who could hesitate to take part once more.

The excellent news? With the suitable instruments, you’ll be able to streamline all the things from merchandise listings to fee processing, making the expertise seamless for each organizers and bidders. And these instruments aren’t only for nonprofits—companies, colleges, and people operating charity occasions and even industrial auctions can profit.

My prime 8 finest public sale software program suggestions for 2025

Public sale software program helps me handle and streamline your entire public sale course of, from itemizing gadgets and monitoring bids to processing funds and holding bidders engaged.

I’ve used these instruments to simplify fundraising occasions, however they’re not only for nonprofits—companies use them for asset liquidation, colleges for charity drives, and people for property gross sales. Irrespective of the business, the suitable public sale software program makes organizing and operating auctions simpler and extra environment friendly.

With so many choices, I understand how overwhelming it may be to seek out the suitable one. That’s why I’ve compiled a listing of the 8 finest public sale software program instruments for 2025 that can assist you select the proper match in your wants.

What I search for in the most effective public sale software program

When testing the most effective public sale software program, I give attention to the next key options to make sure it meets the wants of auctioneers, consumers, and sellers:

• Consumer-friendly interface: I consider how intuitive the software program is for each auctioneers and bidders. The platform ought to have a clear, organized structure that enables customers to shortly navigate and take part in auctions with out feeling overwhelmed. For auctioneers, ease of use in managing heaps, bids, and participant data is crucial. For bidders, the method of inserting bids ought to be easy, with clear directions on easy methods to take part in auctions, view gadgets, and monitor bid statuses.
• Actual-time bidding performance: One of the best public sale software program ought to help real-time bidding, permitting contributors to put bids immediately and see updates on their present standing within the public sale. I check if the system updates bid quantities dwell, guaranteeing there isn’t any lag or delay, particularly throughout fast-paced or timed auctions. Moreover, the device ought to notify customers instantly after they’ve been outbid or after they’ve received an merchandise.
• Customizable public sale codecs: I verify whether or not the software program affords flexibility in configuring numerous public sale varieties, comparable to dwell auctions, silent auctions, reverse auctions, and sealed bids. The power to set particular parameters for every public sale sort, comparable to bid increments, reserve costs, and public sale period, is essential for adapting to completely different public sale eventualities. The extra customizable the software program, the higher it may cater to various public sale occasions and codecs.
• Cost integration and safety: Seamless fee processing is critical for public sale platforms. I make sure the software program integrates with a number of fee gateways, comparable to bank cards, PayPal, and financial institution transfers whereas offering safe transactions. Encryption and PCI compliance are important to guard delicate monetary data. I additionally assess whether or not the system can routinely set off bill era, fee reminders, and affirmation after the public sale ends.
• Lot administration instruments: Efficient lot administration is vital to operating a profitable public sale. I search for options that enable auctioneers to simply checklist gadgets, add descriptions, set reserve costs, and categorize heaps. The system ought to help batch processing for big auctions, enabling auctioneers to deal with a number of gadgets without delay. Moreover, instruments for including photos, movies, and detailed descriptions assist entice extra bids and supply higher visibility of the heaps.
• Cellular accessibility: With growing demand for mobile-friendly platforms, I consider how properly the public sale software program performs on cell units. One of the best public sale platforms ought to provide absolutely responsive web sites or devoted cell apps for bidders and sellers to entry public sale listings, place bids, and monitor public sale progress on the go. Cellular accessibility enhances person engagement and permits auctions to succeed in a wider viewers.
• Bidding historical past and notifications: I assess whether or not the software program permits bidders to trace their bidding historical past and obtain notifications of bid standing modifications. For auctioneers, it’s essential to have detailed logs of all bids positioned in the course of the public sale and notifications of key occasions, comparable to when a reserve value is met or a bid surpasses a threshold. Automated notifications through electronic mail, SMS, or in-app alerts ought to be customizable and despatched in actual time.
• Analytics and reporting instruments: A top-tier public sale software program ought to present sturdy analytics and reporting options to assist auctioneers consider public sale efficiency. I search for instruments that generate studies on bidding exercise, income generated, prime bidders, and merchandise efficiency. Auctioneers ought to have the ability to export information for post-auction evaluation, which helps with planning future auctions and refining methods. Insights into purchaser conduct, successful bid traits, and lot demand can provide beneficial suggestions.
• Compliance and authorized options: Public sale platforms should adhere to authorized and regulatory necessities, particularly in areas with strict legal guidelines governing auctions and gross sales. I make sure the software program complies with related native and worldwide legal guidelines, comparable to client safety, tax laws, and on-line playing legal guidelines (for sure forms of auctions). I additionally search for options like digital signatures for authorized agreements, public sale phrases and circumstances, and computerized receipt era for successful bidders.

The checklist beneath accommodates real person opinions from our greatest public sale software program class web page. To qualify for inclusion within the class, a product should:

• Create public sale listings, bid sheets, on-line auctions, or public sale catalogs
• Present options to handle stock and pricing
• Produce studies on purchases, donations, earnings, and remaining stock
• Handle funds natively or through built-in software program

This information has been pulled from G2 in 2025. Some opinions have been edited for readability.

Regardless of having no prior expertise with OneCause, I navigated the system effortlessly. The interface was well-designed and allowed me to arrange an occasion web page with ease. Customizing it with particular branding and monitoring registrations was a seamless course of. Whether or not I accessed the platform from a desktop or cell system, the method of buying tickets and making donations was extremely easy.

One of many standout options of OneCause is its versatility in fundraising choices. I appreciated the power to promote tickets and incorporate sponsorships, auctions, and different donation alternatives into the occasion. This flexibility ensures that campaigners can maximize fundraising efforts in ways in which finest go well with their viewers.

One other function that I discovered notably valuable was OneCause’s built-in communication instruments. The power to ship reminders, updates, and thank-you messages through each electronic mail and textual content can hold supporters engaged earlier than, throughout, and after an occasion. This streamlined strategy to communication helps preserve a robust reference to donors and attendees.

Moreover, the reporting and analytics instruments inside OneCause offered beneficial insights. Whereas testing, I noticed that producing detailed studies and monitoring key metrics was tremendous straightforward. This makes it straightforward for public sale groups to evaluate efficiency and pinpoint areas for enchancment. Gaining access to this stage of information is essential for refining methods and optimizing fundraising efforts.

Batching choices have been considerably restricted in sure areas, which meant that I needed to make some tedious modifications manually, one after the other. This might decelerate sure facets of occasion administration.

I additionally wished for extra design customization choices for the occasion web site. Whereas the accessible templates have been purposeful, having extra inventive management over the structure and aesthetics would have made the expertise even higher.

One other difficulty I encountered concerned bugs with the Save and Subsequent function. When reviewing packages, I observed that the system would steadily unpackage related gadgets, requiring me to manually reconfigure them. 

I noticed that the platform had some restrictions relating to textual content and electronic mail communications. There have been limitations on what may very well be despatched, in addition to character constraints that made it tough to craft messages precisely as meant. It will be nice to have extra flexibility on this space, particularly with the power to create customized mailing lists for extra focused communication.

What I dislike about OneCause:

• The restricted batching choices led to some tedious guide changes. This sluggish course of may hinder effectivity, particularly throughout bigger occasions with many updates.
• I discovered the design customization choices for the occasion web site to be too restrictive. Having extra inventive management over layouts and aesthetics would have enhanced the general expertise.

What G2 customers dislike about OneCause:

“It will be nice to have extra batching choices in sure areas, as some modifications needed to be made one after the other, which felt a bit tedious. Moreover, extra design choices for the occasion web site could be a welcome enchancment.”

– OneCause Evaluation, Wendy R.

After I was testing Givebutter, I used to be instantly impressed by the truth that I may create dummy occasions to check all accessible options. It turned out to be a superb method to discover Givebutter’s full potential.

One other function I admired was the fast volunteer coaching. Givebutter organized all of the sources in a central place, which makes it extremely straightforward for volunteers to stand up to hurry and begin contributing inside hours. 

I additionally appreciated the silent public sale setup, which allowed me to effortlessly regulate elements like begin/finish instances, pricing, and incremental bid will increase. The platform’s flexibility ensures that groups can tailor the public sale to their wants and optimize fundraising efforts.

I noticed that whereas Givebutter matches properly with the use case of smaller organizations, it could not be perfect for bigger organizations that require a extra intensive API connection or a richer set of integrations. In case you’re on the lookout for a extremely customizable and scalable system, this might not be the best choice.

Constructing segments and lists felt considerably clunky to me, and determining the suitable filters and logic wasn’t all the time intuitive. Excluding sure standards proved to be tougher than anticipated. A extra user-friendly segmentation device would significantly improve this function.

Presently, exporting studies feels cumbersome, and customization choices for the homepage and occasion order are fairly restricted. Due to this, some groups favor to keep away from directing customers to the Givebutter homepage.

What I dislike about Givebutter:

• Whereas Givebutter works properly for smaller organizations, it could not meet the wants of bigger ones. The platform lacks a extra intensive API connection and richer integrations, limiting scalability for greater operations.
• I discovered the method of constructing segments and lists to be clunky and unintuitive. The challenges with filtering and excluding standards make this function much less environment friendly than it may very well be.

What G2 customers dislike about Givebutter:

“It will be perfect to register bidders on their behalf so they’re within the system earlier than the occasion. A few of our company are usually not tech-savvy, so doing extra for them would make the method smoother. Since they’re used to paper-based bidding, there was a little bit of a studying curve, and we’re unsure if we acquired extra bids in comparison with the paper system. Moreover, with the ability to add gadgets in bulk as a substitute of one after the other could be a useful function.”

– Givebutter Evaluation, Brent H.

A function that stood out to me nearly instantly was Handbid’s glorious on-line coaching and help documentation. These offered clear directions and made onboarding easy for me as a newbie. 

I had entry to the web site and the cell app. This added comfort allowed me to check the device on the go. I used to be simply in a position to arrange and interact with auctions. This ensures a seamless expertise for public sale groups, attendees, and distant supporters alike.

I additionally observed that Handbid permits contributors to begin bidding early, which implies that even those who can’t bodily attend an occasion can nonetheless contribute and really feel engaged within the fundraising course of.

The system may be very user-friendly, and each time I wanted help, buyer help was available.

That mentioned, there are a few areas the place enhancements may improve the person expertise.

One limitation is that Handbid doesn’t sync with accounting methods. From my private expertise, I do know that organizations typically deploy separate platforms for CRM and accounting. Not with the ability to join methods creates plenty of work like manually transferring information, which may make it actually powerful for small groups that handle massive occasions. 

One other problem I encountered was with importing horizontal footage. The method was cumbersome—we needed to first export photos to PowerPoint, crop them, take a screenshot, after which add them into Handbid. This further step was time-consuming, and an improved picture add operate would make the expertise a lot smoother.

What I dislike about Handbid:

• One main downside is Handbid’s lack of integration with accounting methods. With out syncing capabilities, it turns into difficult to switch information manually, which will be particularly burdensome for small groups dealing with giant occasions.
• I discovered importing horizontal photos to be a cumbersome course of. The necessity to export, crop, and screenshot photos earlier than importing added pointless time to the occasion setup.

What G2 customers dislike about Handbid:

“I want the platform did not have such strict dimensions for importing graphics for the gadgets. It will be a lot simpler if there was extra flexibility.”

– Handbid Evaluation, Verified Consumer in Main/Secondary Schooling

I discovered GiveSmart to be a extremely versatile platform for managing numerous facets of fundraising occasions. With it, I may seamlessly arrange auctions, raffles, contests, sign-ups, fee processing, and day-of-event coordination—all inside a single platform. This all-in-one resolution is a boon for occasion managers. 

One of many standout options was the power to share our GiveSmart hyperlink with attendees quite than manually dealing with funds and tickets. This explicit function can considerably cut back logistical challenges and enhance the general attendee expertise, permitting for a smoother and extra partaking occasion.

I additionally appreciated the dashboard options, which made monitoring occasion progress extra intuitive. From monitoring ticket gross sales to overseeing donation totals, the dashboard offered real-time insights into each side of the occasion.

One other side that stood out to me was the volunteer administration. The platform makes it straightforward to recruit, monitor, and talk with volunteers. They may additionally join particular duties and log their hours instantly inside the platform. 

That mentioned, organising GiveSmart initially took a while. The intensive vary of options felt a bit intimidating the primary few instances I created campaigns. Whereas the platform affords many instruments, determining one of the simplest ways to make use of them took some trial and error.

One other space the place I noticed room for enchancment was occasion webpage customization. Whereas GiveSmart permits customers to create a devoted webpage for his or her occasion, I discovered the customization choices to be fairly restricted. The function serves its function, however I want it supplied extra flexibility to tailor the design and structure to raised match branding and occasion themes

What I dislike about GiveSmart:

• Organising GiveSmart initially took extra time than anticipated. The intensive function set will be overwhelming, requiring some trial and error to determine the most effective strategy for marketing campaign creation.
• The customization choices for occasion net pages have been considerably restricted. Though the function is purposeful, I felt that extra flexibility in design and structure would higher mirror occasion branding and themes.

What G2 customers dislike about GiveSmart:

“Types can solely be embedded, and there isn’t sufficient integration with platforms like WordPress, which limits its flexibility.”

– GiveSmart Evaluation, Rose G.

I lately examined Occasion.Offers, and I used to be impressed with its clear design and ease of use. The platform makes it extremely easy for folks to interact, providing a number of sturdy options whereas sustaining zero latency in digital settings. 

One in every of te greatest highlights was the distinctive help from the Occasion.Offers workforce. From the second I started inputting gadgets into the occasion web site their workforce was all the time accessible to help. This stage of responsiveness ensured easy testing and, in a real-world state of affairs, would help occasion setup and execution.

Organising tickets was fast and intuitive. Visitors, too, discover it extraordinarily user-friendly when making ticket purchases. The check-in and checkout professionalcess is seamless. Since visitor’s data is already saved of their accounts, they will simply full their funds with a single click on. This effectivity eliminates the same old end-of-event chaos typically related to amassing funds.

That mentioned, I discovered the reporting capabilities missing in comparison with different software program. Whereas there are workarounds, comparable to exporting information, the platform may gain advantage from enhanced built-in reporting instruments to offer deeper insights and analytics.

The real-time show function was extremely efficient for showcasing occasion updates, however I wanted for extra customization choices to raised align it with an occasion’s branding—comparable to the power to vary the background colour or make photos extra distinguished. 

What I dislike about Occasion.Offers:

• I discovered the reporting capabilities missing in comparison with different platforms. Whereas workarounds like information exports exist, the dearth of built-in, detailed reporting instruments makes it tougher to realize deeper insights.
• The actual-time show function was efficient however lacked customization choices. I wanted for extra flexibility to tailor the function to raised match the occasion’s branding, comparable to background colour modifications or picture prominence.

What G2 customers dislike about Occasion.Offers:

“The platform will not be very user-friendly for extra complicated Gala-type occasions. We needed to provide you with workarounds so as to add menu choices and different particulars. The studies are additionally not user-friendly; when exporting, further ticket choices are laborious to seek out, and you’ll’t run them by date. Moreover, there’s no choice to “bundle” public sale gadgets collectively, making it extra time-consuming when organizing public sale gadgets later.”

– Occasion.Offers Evaluation, Daybreak D.

Throughout my testing, Givergy has confirmed to be a stable device for occasion administration. From the get-go, the onboarding expertise was easy and detailed. The setup was intuitive, guaranteeing I may shortly familiarize myself with the platform and check it.

The neighborhood boards have been notably useful. They supplied solutions to most of my questions and steering on easy methods to arrange numerous occasion options. These boards have been an incredible useful resource for troubleshooting and discovering tricks to take advantage of the device.

One of many standout options for me was how straightforward Givergy made the registration course of. Most volunteers discover it easy to navigate, which makes managing the occasion for public sale groups that rather more environment friendly. 

Nevertheless, there have been a number of facets the place Givergy didn’t fairly meet expectations. One limitation I encountered was the integration with different platforms, which at instances felt considerably restrictive. Whereas it labored properly in lots of areas, the power to seamlessly join with different instruments wasn’t as sturdy as I had hoped, which may trigger some frustrations if you happen to’re trying to sync information throughout a number of methods.

One other draw back I observed was the dearth of a operating tally for dwell public sale bids. It is a essential function for any occasion that features a dwell public sale, because it helps hold contributors engaged and knowledgeable. With out this functionality, it grew to become a bit tough to trace bids in real-time, which may very well be a major downside for bigger fundraising occasions or auctions.

Lastly, the ticketing system is usually a bit difficult, particularly for bigger occasions like galas. It really works properly for smaller, extra intimate gatherings, however for giant occasions with many company, it could require some further effort to make sure easy ticket administration. 

What I dislike about Givergy:

• I discovered Givergy’s integration with different platforms to be considerably restrictive. Whereas it labored properly in lots of instances, the dearth of seamless connectivity with different instruments made syncing information throughout methods a bit irritating.
• The absence of a operating tally for dwell public sale bids was a major downside. This function is crucial for holding contributors engaged, and its absence made monitoring bids in actual time-challenging for me.

What G2 customers dislike about Givergy:

“Givergy ticketing will be difficult for big gala-style occasions, however their workforce is great at offering sources and directions on easy methods to use the system successfully.”

– Givergy Evaluation, Sarah E.

I examined RallyUp, and I need to say that my expertise was largely constructive. One of many standout options for me was the seamless means of gathering all the mandatory data to create an internet occasion. The platform made it straightforward to compile all the things into a transparent and concise setup, eliminating lots of the typical friction I’ve encountered with comparable instruments.

I additionally actually appreciated the pliability of utilizing my personal title for the occasion, which will help to instill belief and readability with donors. It is a superb method to validate the trigger and what public sale groups are elevating funds for.

I observed that RallyUp really excels at offering a number of fee choices, permitting groups to simply accept a wide range of fee varieties. The customized ID for every transaction and the simple fee integration are additionally standout options that make the entire fee course of easy and environment friendly.

One other main benefit of RallyUp is its customizability. The platform affords a spread of choices to tailor the occasion to particular wants, nevertheless it does not overwhelm with pointless complexity. I used to be in a position to choose from numerous fundraiser varieties with out feeling slowed down by too many selections or difficult settings. 

Nevertheless, not all the things was excellent. I did discover that some bidders have been initially confused in regards to the checkout course of. They didn’t all the time notice that that they had to take a look at for his or her bids to take impact, which prompted a little bit of confusion. 

One other minor difficulty I bumped into was the template limitations of the positioning. Though the design was easy, it took me a short time to get comfy with the structure. The customization choices for the template may have been extra versatile, however as soon as I acquired the dangle of it, the method grew to become smoother

What I dislike about RallyUp:

• Some bidders have been confused in regards to the checkout course of, not realizing that they had to take a look at for his or her bids to take impact. This created pointless confusion, which I consider may very well be averted with clearer directions.
• The platform’s template limitations have been a minor difficulty. Whereas the design was easy, the dearth of flexibility in customization choices made it difficult to completely tailor the structure to my preferences initially.

What G2 customers dislike about RallyUp:

“It’s tough to seek out details about payout dates and when they are going to happen. Since we’re utilizing the free model, this is perhaps higher in a paid model, however a tracker exhibiting when the verify is distributed, or clear dates accessible by way of the company profile could be actually useful.”

– RallyUp Evaluation, Sarah Okay.

BiddingOwl.com is a stable platform for managing and selling auctions. Its key options made the expertise each environment friendly and gratifying.

The public sale promotion instruments are extremely easy to make use of, making it straightforward to share occasions and enhance visibility. I notably appreciated the import and export performance for gadgets. It saved me plenty of time when including public sale gadgets or making modifications, as I may shortly add or regulate a bulk checklist of things.

One function I completely cherished was the power to crop, edit, and add textual content to pictures instantly inside the platform. This allowed me to simply improve the photographs of public sale gadgets while not having any third-party software program. It’s an incredible time-saver and actually helped me enhance the presentation of the gadgets.

One other spotlight for me was the public sale administration instruments, which offered a formidable array of choices to streamline the public sale course of. From merchandise and donor administration to public sale catalog creation, all the things was designed to simplify the method. The automated bidding and fee processing options have been extremely useful, making it straightforward for each bidders and organizers to handle their bids and funds.

BiddingOwl.com can also be extremely mobile-compatible, which meant I may handle the public sale from my smartphone or pill with none points. This flexibility allowed me to remain linked and on prime of all the things, even once I was away from my laptop. 

Nevertheless, I did encounter a number of drawbacks throughout my expertise. Navigating the platform is usually a little bit of a studying curve, particularly for these like me who’re new to public sale administration. It took me just a little time to get comfy with all of the options and work out the most effective methods to optimize them.

Moreover, there have been integration limitations. Whereas BiddingOwl.com helps some integrations, I discovered that it may gain advantage from increasing compatibility with extra exterior instruments, such as CRM methods or electronic mail advertising and marketing platforms.

Lastly, I observed that the platform primarily helps English, which may very well be a difficulty for customers who wish to goal worldwide audiences or favor to work in different languages. The dearth of multilingual help may restrict its accessibility for some customers.

What I dislike about BiddingOwl.com:

• There was a little bit of a studying curve for me, particularly since I used to be new to public sale administration. It took a while to get comfy with the platform’s options and work out the most effective methods to make use of them.
• I additionally observed some integration limitations. Whereas BiddingOwl.com helps a number of integrations, I believe it may gain advantage from increasing compatibility with extra exterior instruments, like CRM methods or electronic mail advertising and marketing platforms.

What G2 customers dislike about BiddingOwl.com:

“I want there was a method to filter out bidders who didn’t win any gadgets in the course of the end-of-auction processing. It will be a lot simpler if I didn’t need to manually choose their invoices to exclude from printing.”

– BiddingOwl.com Evaluation, Susan M.

A few of the finest free silent public sale software program choices embrace SchoolAuction.internet, Givebutter, and Auctria. These are excellent for small—to mid-sized fundraisers and nonprofits. Discover different free public sale software program.

Q. Are public sale websites protected?

Most respected public sale websites use safe fee strategies and information encryption to guard customers’ private data and transactions. Nevertheless, security can fluctuate relying on the platform. All the time verify opinions, guarantee safe fee gateways are in place, and be cautious of scams by verifying sellers and gadgets earlier than bidding.

Q. Which is the most effective dwell public sale software program?

One of the best dwell public sale software program consists of platforms like OneCause, which provide real-time bidding capabilities, video streaming, safe fee processing, and a easy bidding expertise.

Q. Which is the most effective silent public sale software program?

Let’s elevate the stakes!

In my work with non-profits, I’ve all the time strived to ship the most effective outcomes, guaranteeing all the things is executed exactly and punctiliously. From organizing occasions to managing donations, I’m dedicated to perfection in each side.

After testing a number of public sale software program instruments, it grew to become clear to me that these platforms are indispensable for operating an environment friendly and profitable public sale. I spotted that with out them, attaining the excessive requirements I set for myself and the organizations I work with could be a problem.

However it doesn’t matter what business you’re in, whether or not it’s non-profit, company, or another sector, work must be excellent to attain optimum outcomes. That is the place the suitable public sale software program is available in. It makes all of the distinction in optimizing workflows, growing bidder engagement, and finally guaranteeing easy execution.

I hope this checklist of public sale software program choices has helped you slim down the alternatives and discover the proper match in your wants.

Use the finest venture administration instruments to make sure that each side of your public sale runs easily.