CharityAuctions vs BiddingOwl
TL;DR
CharityAuctions and BiddingOwl are both charity auction software platforms for nonprofits and schools. Both support online and mobile bidding, silent auctions, live auctions, 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 Buyer's Premium or optional checkout fees, and free support included for all customers. BiddingOwl offers free setup for traditional auctions, a 5% fee on online and mobile bids, and an optional Buyer's Premium so nonprofits can pass fees to supporters.
The main differences between CharityAuctions and BiddingOwl are pricing structure, checkout fee transparency, and support availability.
This comparison uses publicly available information. Visit BiddingOwl directly for current pricing and features. For CharityAuctions, create a free auction to explore the platform.
Overview
BiddingOwl positions itself as the "best nonprofit auction fundraising management tool for charity." They offer online and mobile bidding, virtual and in-person auctions, paddle raises, crowdfunding, tickets, and donations. Setup is free for traditional auctions with paper bid sheets. They charge a 5% performance fee on winning bids when you run online or mobile bidding. They offer a Buyer's Premium option of 1% to 15% so nonprofits can pass fees to supporters and keep 100%. Support is by phone Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm Eastern with 24/7 critical emergency support.
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. CharityAuctions uses transparent pricing and does not ask bidders to add optional tips or Buyer's Premium at checkout. Support is always available at no extra cost: text, call, and live walk-throughs.
Pricing and Cost Structure
| CharityAuctions | BiddingOwl | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | None. Build and test for free. | Free to set up. |
| When you pay | After you raise. Performance-based. | 5% on winning bids when online/mobile bidding is used. |
| Traditional auction (paper bid sheets) | N/A | Free. No charge. |
| Passing fees to bidders | No. Transparent pricing. | Optional. Buyer's Premium (1-15%) so nonprofits keep 100%. |
| Free to try | Yes. No credit card required. | Yes. Free setup. |
| Support | Free. Text, call, live walk-throughs. | Phone support. No extra charge. |
BiddingOwl charges a 5% performance fee only when items are bid on online or via mobile. Traditional silent and live auctions with paper bid sheets are free. They offer the option to add a "supporter contribution" or Buyer's Premium typically 1% to 15% at checkout so donors cover the fee and nonprofits keep 100%. Contact BiddingOwl directly for current rates.
CharityAuctions uses transparent pricing. CharityAuctions does not use donor tipping, Buyer's Premium, or optional checkout fees. Donors see one clear total before they pay. See our charity auction platform pricing page for details.
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.
BiddingOwl: Mobile-optimized bidding. Access from any device. SMS and email notifications. No app required. Supports watchlists and proxy bidding.
Both support in-browser mobile bidding without an app. 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.
BiddingOwl: Human support only. No AI or bots. Phone support Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm Eastern, plus 24/7 critical emergency support. No extra charges for support or features. Customers praise their responsive, knowledgeable team.
Auctions and Event Features
Both platforms support:
- Online and mobile bidding
- Silent and live auctions
- Paddle raise and Fund-a-Need
- Ticketing and admissions
- Raffles and donations
- Paper bid sheets (BiddingOwl)
- Custom event websites
- Stripe and PayPal payment processing
CharityAuctions is built specifically for charity auctions.
BiddingOwl is also built for charity auction fundraising. They offer crowdfunding, round-up donations at checkout, and event duplication.
Donor Tipping and Fee Transparency
Some charity auction platforms use donor tipping, Buyer's Premium, or supporter contribution prompts at checkout. These prompts add 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 any of these prompts. 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:
- Transparent pricing with no optional tips or Buyer's Premium at checkout
- Free support: text, call, live walk-throughs
- No upfront cost and pay after you raise
- The most robust auction platform and the easiest to use
- In-browser mobile bidding (no app)
Create your free auction or talk to our team.
When BiddingOwl May Be a Fit
BiddingOwl is built for nonprofit auction fundraising. It offers free setup for traditional auctions with paper bid sheets, a 5% fee on online and mobile bids, and a Buyer's Premium option so nonprofits can pass fees to supporters. It includes phone support with a 24/7 emergency line. Contact BiddingOwl directly for current pricing and features.
See our full comparison of charity auction platforms to evaluate all options.
Summary
CharityAuctions and BiddingOwl are both built for charity auction fundraising. CharityAuctions offers transparent pricing, no optional tips or Buyer's Premium at checkout, free support including live walk-throughs, and no upfront cost. BiddingOwl offers free setup for traditional auctions, a 5% fee on online and mobile bids, and the option to pass fees to supporters via Buyer's Premium.
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 BiddingOwl?
CharityAuctions has no upfront software cost. You build your auction for free and pay after you raise. BiddingOwl is free to set up for traditional auctions with paper bid sheets. They charge a 5% performance fee on winning bids when you run online or mobile bidding. BiddingOwl offers a Buyer's Premium option of 1% to 15% so nonprofits can pass fees to supporters and keep 100%. 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. BiddingOwl offers phone support Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm Eastern, plus 24/7 critical emergency support.
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. BiddingOwl is also built for nonprofit auction fundraising and supports online, mobile, silent, and live auctions.
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, Buyer's Premium, or optional checkout fees. Donors see one clear total before they pay. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, donor tipping and Buyer's Premium prompts can add 20% to 30% to a donor's intended payment. BiddingOwl publishes a 5% performance fee and offers a Buyer's Premium option so nonprofits can pass fees to supporters.
Do bidders need to download an app for CharityAuctions or BiddingOwl?
Neither platform requires an app. CharityAuctions uses in-browser mobile bidding. Guests open a link on their phone and bid in real time. BiddingOwl offers mobile-optimized bidding accessible from any device with SMS and email notifications. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, mobile bidding increases participation by up to 52% compared to paper bid sheets.
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. Buyer's Premium and supporter contribution prompts work the same way. 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, Buyer's Premium, 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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