Silent auction software has become an essential tool for modern fundraising, empowering nonprofits, schools, and community organizations to host seamless, engaging events—both in-person and online.
While traditional silent auctions once relied on clipboards and paper bids, today’s digital landscape demands intuitive, mobile-friendly solutions that enhance the donor experience and maximize fundraising potential.
In this guide, we’ve curated the top silent auction software platforms designed to simplify event planning, boost bidder participation, and help your organization raise more with less effort.
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Handbid
Handbid is a leading silent auction and mobile bidding platform designed specifically for nonprofits. With an emphasis on user experience and donor engagement, Handbid makes it easy to run live, virtual, or hybrid events with real-time bidding updates and gamified features. Its visually appealing interface keeps bidders engaged and coming back for more, increasing your fundraising potential.
Key Features:
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📱 Mobile-first bidding app (iOS & Android)
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💳 Secure in-app payment and checkout system
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📈 Live dashboards for performance tracking
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📤 Easy item management and auction setup
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🧾 Tax-compliant receipts and post-auction reports
Why We Like It:
Handbid’s sleek design and emphasis on bidder engagement make it a strong choice for organizations looking to modernize their fundraising efforts without sacrificing simplicity.
Greater Giving
Greater Giving is a robust event fundraising platform tailored for nonprofits managing auctions, galas, and donor engagement year-round. It offers a full suite of tools for planning, promoting, and executing silent auctions—both online and at in-person events. The platform integrates donor data, ticketing, table management, and post-event analytics to support long-term fundraising growth.
Key Features:
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🖥️ Online + mobile bidding options
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🎟 Advanced ticketing and table assignments
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🧾 Donor CRM and database integration
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📋 Real-time bidding reports and dashboards
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💳 PCI-compliant payment processing
Why We Like It:
It’s an all-in-one solution ideal for organizations with complex event needs or multiple fundraising events throughout the year.
OneCause
OneCause is a top-rated auction and event fundraising platform used by over 10,000 nonprofits. It supports a wide range of events, from small school fundraisers to large virtual galas. OneCause stands out for its powerful virtual event capabilities, including live streaming integration, live auction support, and real-time donation tracking, all within a branded fundraising site.
Key Features:
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🎥 Seamless virtual auction + livestream tools
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🎁 Mobile bidding with item display and filters
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🔔 Real-time push notifications for outbid alerts
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📊 Advanced donor and auction analytics
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🧾 Integrated donor receipts and payment options
Why We Like It:
Its enterprise-level scalability and hybrid event features make it perfect for large nonprofits or multi-site organizations aiming to reach donors across different locations.
ClickBid
ClickBid is known for its ease of use, affordability, and reliable mobile bidding features. The platform is well-suited for smaller nonprofits or organizations hosting their first silent auction. It offers essential tools to manage items, collect bids, and check guests in and out—without overwhelming your team with unnecessary complexity.
Key Features:
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📱 User-friendly mobile and web bidding
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🔄 Text-based outbid notifications
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🧾 Customizable donation receipts
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💳 Secure payment collection and tracking
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📁 Easy import/export of donor and item data
Why We Like It:
ClickBid provides core auction features at a competitive price point, with a focus on fast setup and reliable performance.
GiveSmart
GiveSmart by Community Brands is a premium fundraising platform offering dynamic silent auction tools combined with donor engagement and campaign management features. From item management to guest check-in to post-auction reporting, GiveSmart makes running an event seamless and highly automated.
Key Features:
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📲 Mobile-first bidding and auction setup
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📩 Auto-generated receipts and thank-you messages
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📊 Performance tracking via intelligent dashboards
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🎫 Event registration, ticketing, and seating
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🤝 Multi-campaign support (raffles, donations, auctions)
Why We Like It:
Its automation features and intelligent reporting make it a powerful solution for nonprofits that want to streamline operations and gain deep insights into donor behavior.
BiddingOwl
BiddingOwl is a budget-friendly auction platform perfect for schools, clubs, and grassroots nonprofits. It offers a free plan for auctions raising less than $5,000, with a small percentage fee above that threshold. Despite its affordability, it provides customizable auction pages, mobile bidding, and donor reporting features.
Key Features:
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💸 Free for auctions under $5,000
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🌐 Online bidding with mobile compatibility
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🛍 Customizable auction item listings
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🧾 Donor and item performance reports
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🧰 Simple drag-and-drop auction site editor
Why We Like It:
For organizations looking to minimize costs without sacrificing core features, BiddingOwl is a smart starting point.
Auctria
Auctria offers powerful customization and branding tools for auction websites, making it a popular choice for nonprofits that want a polished, branded experience. It supports mobile and web bidding, detailed reporting, and multi-event capabilities for growing fundraising teams.
Key Features:
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🎨 Branded auction website builder
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📈 Real-time bid updates and leaderboards
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💳 Secure checkout with multiple payment gateways
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🔧 Multi-event and team collaboration support
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🧾 Comprehensive financial and donor reports
Why We Like It:
Auctria gives fundraising teams a high level of control over branding and layout while offering flexible features that scale with your organization.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right silent auction software can make or break your event. Whether you’re organizing a small school fundraiser or a large hybrid gala, the right platform will save you time, engage your donors, and maximize your impact.
