Silent Auction Software: An Overview and 10 Top Choices

When planning your next silent auction, it pays to choose the most appropriate auction software for your charity. Software that automates the auction process can save time for your team, help create an engaging charity auction experience, and encourage more bids from attendees, thus increasing your revenue.

In addition, when picking an online auction software platform, knowing how to use all the features can be daunting. Instead, make sure your silent auction software platform includes resources (beyond a few FAQs) that can assist with using all that you have access to. 

In this guide, we’ll go over these basics and provide our top silent auction software suggestions. Specifically, we’ll cover:

• What Is Silent Auction Software?
• What Should You Look For in Silent Auction Software?
• How to Plan Your Fundraiser With Silent Auction Software
• What Can You Expect From The Support Team?
• 10 Best Silent Auction Software Providers

Knowing which tools to use for your silent auction requires you to understand the basics of hosting your event. Let's begin!

What Is Silent Auction Software?

Silent auction software is a digital platform that manages all your auction information, from inventory details to bid tracking. To get the most out of your software, look for the following features:

• Inventory management: Keep track of each item for sale, including price, placed bids, and the item's location when it's shipped to the winning bidder.
  
  
• Mobile bidding: This allows guests to bid from their phones. Your nonprofit will sell more when people can participate from any location.
  
  
• Online ticket sales: This feature allows guests to reserve tickets directly through your platform and automatically collects contact information and accepts payments for you.
  
  
• Volunteer tools: Give your volunteers the tools to manage check-in, check-out, and payments all from one software.
  
  
• Mass messaging: Organize communication by pre-composing messages through your software.

Your auction will be a success when guided by software that organizes these processes as well as item information, payment details, and messaging between your organization, volunteers, and donors.

What Should You Look For in Silent Auction Software?

At ClickBid, we have teamed up with many organizations to conduct successful silent auctions, generating positive results for nonprofits and their donors. Our team of experts can help you develop your event and learn how to make it stand out. The firsthand knowledge we have gained also helps us identify key characteristics to look for when evaluating silent auction software. 

The most important attribute of effective silent auction software is feature diversity, meaning you should look for an all-in-one solution for your auction planning needs. All-inclusive software can consolidate each process for everyone involved in your silent auction. Successful silent auctions are guided by software that organizes: 

• Item information
• Payment details
• Messaging 

Overall, the right software simplifies planning, managing, and concluding a silent auction so that you can focus more on engaging your supporters and meeting your goal. Using an all-inclusive platform also limits your learning curve when investing your committee's time and energy into a silent auction event.

How To Plan Your Fundraiser With Silent Auction Software

Even equipped with the right software, your nonprofit still needs an actionable plan to start a silent auction. Utilize relevant features as you take these first steps to plan your auction.

Procure auction items

To get the highest revenue from your auction, you'll want to secure free or low-cost items. That way, participants' bids are purely donations to fund your nonprofit's cause rather than reimbursements for the cost of your inventory.

Your silent auction software should provide an easy way to solicit auction items. Using forms on your event landing page to allow donors to submit items is an effective way to save valuable time.

For more item procurement ideas, consider your nonprofit's connections who might be interested in donating quality silent auction items for your event. You might reach out to:

• Board members: Start with the people who are directly involved with your nonprofit. Use auction software to send out a mass message to all your board members asking for donations or ideas for item procurement.
• Volunteers: Expand your request to people outside of your internal team who are still heavily involved and support your cause. This can be a great way to engage your volunteers, especially if they have already expressed interest in helping out at your upcoming event.
• Local businesses: Turn to your community for donations of unique items and services. In exchange for their donations, these businesses will gain visibility from your event and create strong connections with your organization and the community.
• Auction consignment companies: Some nonprofits choose to work with auction consignment companies, like TravelPledge,  to tap into high-end auction items and packages they wouldn't have access to otherwise. This can be a great option for nonprofits that want to procure unique items with minimum risk.

The right software can manage contact information and even send messages asking for donations. Centralizing communication from the beginning of your event can make it easier to keep track of auction item requests and send subsequent messages throughout the auction-planning process. 

Price auction items

Filling your venue is key to a successful silent auction event fundraiser. This includes attracting donors who can contribute at different levels. 

Supporters won't be interested in competing for your items if the starting bid is outside of their price range. Price-setting for silent auction items should reflect an awareness of your supporters' different buying motivations. Consider these categories of participants:

• Looking for a steal: Some participants will arrive at your auction expecting to leverage their bidding abilities to secure high-value items at low prices. Set some starting bids at lower prices to appeal to these bidders.
• Bidding for fun: Silent auctions can be fun, and some attendees just enjoy the competition! Choose some moderate prices to provide bidding opportunities for reasonable buyers.
• No budget buyers: Some supporters will be happy to give any amount of money knowing that their bids contribute to your cause. Set a few high prices and highlight them as the most valuable items at the event.

Locate silent auction items that can begin at lower starting points. Increase the window of bids such that your donors can bid 15 or more times before reaching the fair market value. This will increase activity and excitement with your donor base.

Silent auction software can organize your item prices and provide an overview of the price range you're offering. Provide a wide range to appeal to every supporter and encourage more attendance.

Set up registration for participants

Silent auction software can be especially useful for the registration process. Share instructions on your nonprofit's communication channels and the software will do the rest of the work for you.

This is also a good place to provide additional context about the event. Provide the following information:

• Explain what it is. Some people are more familiar with traditional auctions. A brief explanation of a silent auction will give them the context they need before registering.
• Provide preparation tips. First-time bidders might benefit from establishing their budgets and browsing auction items ahead of time. Provide quick tips on how to prepare for your event.
• Give bidding instructions. If you're using your software's mobile bidding feature, explain how participants will browse items and place their bids.

Promoting your auction's virtual capabilities can also encourage greater participation since the convenience of digital bidding will make it easier for some supporters to join.

Create a silent auction event page

The website that you promote on social media, in newsletters, on the radio, and on billboards should contain everything that your donors need to engage in your event. This means that your silent auction software should include the ability to: 

• Buy tickets
• Purchase sponsorships
• Add underwriting
• Choose a preferred table assignment
• Select meals for all their guests
• Donate an auction item
• Preview the silent auction
• Register to bid
• Place bids
• Add a donation 
• Make payments

At ClickBid, we call this a virtual venue because, in the same way that your physical venue provides all the necessities for a successful event, your virtual venue will do the same. What's more, your silent auction software's venue is limitless and much more dynamic than a ballroom.

Promote your silent auction

Your nonprofit likely already has a marketing strategy. Use your existing communication channels, like social media or email, to promote your event! Utilize the unique strengths of each communication tool to draw attention to your auction, such as:

• Instagram: Social media platforms all incorporate visual elements, but Instagram is especially photo-centric. Post pictures of procured items to capture your followers' interest.
• Search engines: Since your website hosts all information about your mission and work, it's the perfect platform to promote when marketing your silent auction! 
• Emails: Regular updates about your nonprofit's work, such as email newsletters, are likely text-based. Use the written word to provide event context and instructions for supporters who want to learn more.
• Direct mail: Physical mail can be a difficult-to-ignore reminder of your nonprofit's auction. Include a QR code on any printed mail you send to direct recipients to your silent auction platform.

Additionally, your silent auction software can effectively promote your auction through its event landing page. Combine the power of your marketing tools and the software's unique landing page by promoting the link on your existing communication channels.

What can you expect from the support team?

Signing up for a silent auction software platform is the first in several important steps to achieving a successful online or in-person silent auction. This first step unlocks the features of the platform you've chosen. From registration tools to outbid notices, to AI assistants to check-in and check-out features, your event is like a rocket filled with fuel.

Make the support process work for you

Having a rocket ship at your disposal is one thing, but knowing how to use it and in what order to use it is another. We recommend that you make a specific point to ask vendors about the onboarding phase, the ongoing support resources they offer, and how you can go beyond just a few silent auction software DIY articles.

10 Best Silent Auction Software Providers

You may know what you're looking for in your silent auction platform, but not what specific software providers will provide the features you need. Here are your top 10 options:

ClickBid

ClickBid is an all-in-one event fundraising platform that offers a wide variety of features from auctions to paddle raises to peer-to-peer campaigns, in an easy-to-use software. ClickBid integrates with multiple CRMs to make data sharing and post-event reconciling a breeze. Nonprofits love ClickBid for the ease of use and wide range of year-round fundraising features paired with dedicated support and low transparent pricing.

ClickBid Highlights

Since fundraising events are the entire focus of this software, ClickBid's team gives nonprofits unparalleled support during the planning and fundraising process. Years of experience make this a reliable platform and knowledgeable team to trust with your auction. 

Plus, ClickBid's website provides transparent pricing so you know exactly what package will work best for your nonprofit's budget. 

ClickBid Pricing

ClickBid's most popular plan costs $1,495/year, but other options are available depending on the included features. 

OneCause

OneCause is a fundraising software for nonprofits that includes an auction management feature. 

OneCause Highlights

OneCause offers data analysis for nonprofits to see what went well and what could be improved about their auctions. Overall, it's most helpful with auction planning and follow-up and is a better fit for organizations with a bigger budget. 

OneCause Pricing

OneCause does not list pricing information for its auction software plans, but you can request a demo on its website to get more information.

Handbid

Handbid is an auction platform that specializes in mobile bidding, but also offers other fundraising features, like text-to-give and peer-to-peer. 

Handbid Highlights

Handbid offers customization options in its theme editor. Paired with its opportunities for peer-to-peer fundraising, Handbid's personalization features are great for more tech-savvy nonprofit leaders. 

Handbid Pricing

Handbid's cheapest plan starts at $1,396/year, but a more expensive plan is available that includes all its auction features and full customer support. 

Qgiv/Bloomerang Fundraising

Qgiv is a fundraising software that includes an auction platform with all of the essential auction-planning features. 

Qgiv/Bloomerang Fundraising Highlights

Qgiv regularly updates its software and fundraising apps, so you'll know the system is regularly adapting to meet customers' needs. This is great for nonprofit professionals that like to see updates in software and experiment with new tools. 

Qgiv/Bloomerang Pricing

Qgiv's auction plan is $259/month, or $3,108/year. Any other services, such as peer-to-peer and text fundraising software, can be added for an additional cost. 

Auctria

Auctria is an auction planning tool that specializes in data organization and auction website building. 

Auctria Highlights

Auctria offers all the basic tools for auction planning, with a variety of plans based on nonprofits' needs. 

Auctria Pricing

For a plan that equates to the features offered by the other top providers, Auctria charges $1,150/year. Cheaper plans are available, but limit certain capabilities, such as the number of bidders, amount of income tracked, price of credit card fees, and more. 

Givebutter

Givebutter is what we call a "free with fee" platform that eliminates the cost of starting your silent auction events. Instead, participants of the software for nonprofits are asked to pay a fee or 'Tip' in addition to their checkout totals to cover Givebutter platform fees.

Givebutter Highlights

Nonprofits do not pay up front for Givebutter's services. This can offset the costs of smaller events on a budget. Donors who are asked to pay an additional fee can also opt out. 

Givebutter Pricing 

Fees for using Givebutter are completely passed to the donors of the charity. This can range from 10-15% of silent auction totals. 

GiveSmart

GiveSmart is a mobile bidding and silent auction software that supports both live and silent auctions with additional features available for an upgraded price. While this software has the basic functionality you need, some users note that the cost can be high and lacks support services.

GiveSmartHighlights 

Users consistently praise GiveSmart for its wide range of features that enhance fundraising events and tailored reports.

GiveSmart Pricing

GiveSmart does not list its pricing for silent auction software, but you can request a demo on their website to learn more information.

ReadySetAuction

ReadySetAuction covers all the bases for event management, including RSVPs, auction donations and post-event reporting. This software is a go-to solution for many in-person fundraising events 

ReadySetAuction Highlights 

For organizations that need help streamlining tickets, meals, and seating for their auction events, ReadySetAuction is a great option.

ReadySetAuction Pricing 

Annual pricing plans range from $1,099 - $1,999 per year. Each plan includes unlimited events, bids, and email support.

32Auctions

32Auctions is a free online auction site for online nonprofit fundraising events that don't need ticketing or advanced features. Nonprofits with limited budgets find 32Auctions helpful in their fundraising efforts.

32Auctions Highlights

32Auctions is designed to work for online-only or hybrid silent auctions, and offers bidding notifications, multiple payment methods, and online auction catalogs.

32Auctions Pricing

32Auctions offers a free plan with limited features. Users can purchase additional upgrades for further customization, starting at $135/auction. 

Silent Auction Pro

Silent Auction Pro supports in-person and online events with their silent auction software, along with text-to-give and other aspects of event fundraising. This software focuses heavily on auction events, but also includes some general giving features.

Silent Auction Pro Highlights

Users appreciate how the software simplifies auction processes, allowing for efficient bidding and also enhancing communication with bidders. 

Silent Auction Pro Pricing

Packages start at $449/year + 2% of event proceeds; however,  this is for in-person auctions with paper bidding only. Their most popular plan starts at $899 + 2% of event proceeds, with a wider range of online fundraising features and customization.