A Comparison of Features, Pricing, and Reviews
Compare and contrast CharityAuctionsToday vs. BiddingOwl. Both sites offer great tools: read on to learn which will best suit your needs and budget.
When planning a charity auction, selecting the right software can make a significant difference in the success of the event.
Stop Comparing — Start Winning
You’ve weighed the pros and cons of different platforms. Now choose the one built for nonprofit success — launch your auction with CharityAuctionsToday and get features, transparency, and support that go the distance.
Launch Your Auction NowCharityAuctionsToday and BiddingOwl are two popular platforms offering user-friendly, affordable tools for hosting online and in-person auctions. Both are well-suited for nonprofits, schools, and community organizations, but they differ in terms of features, pricing, and user experiences.
This article provides a comprehensive comparison of CharityAuctionsToday and BiddingOwl to help you determine the best fit for your event.
Take a look at 13 top fundraising auction sites to see how they stack up against each other, and us.
CharityAuctionsToday vs BiddingOwl Features
CharityAuctionsToday
CharityAuctionsToday provides an extensive range of features designed to enhance the auction experience for hosts and bidders. Key features include:
- Mobile Bidding: CharityAuctionsToday enables bidders to participate from any device, making it ideal for both online and in-person events.
- Real-Time Bidding: Bidders receive instant notifications for outbid alerts, helping increase engagement and competition.
- Customizable Pages: Hosts can brand their auction pages, adding logos, custom themes, and personalized messaging.
- Donation Integration: CharityAuctionsToday allows organizers to collect direct donations through the platform, which can help boost fundraising beyond auction items alone.
- Event Ticketing: We offer integrated event ticketing, allowing users to manage ticket sales alongside the auction.
- Reports and Analytics: The platform provides detailed reports on bids, revenue, and donor activity, helping hosts evaluate auction performance and donor engagement.
CharityAuctionsToday also integrates with popular payment platforms like PayPal and Stripe, which makes financial transactions easier for both organizers and donors.
BiddingOwl
BiddingOwl also offers several robust features that can support smaller events and organizations with limited budgets. Notable features include:
- Mobile-Friendly Bidding: Like CharityAuctionsToday, BiddingOwl offers mobile bidding, allowing participants to bid from any device.
- Customizable Auction Pages: BiddingOwl provides templates to customize auction pages, though customization options are less advanced than CharityAuctionsToday’s.
- Item Categories and Groups: BiddingOwl’s interface enables the categorization and grouping of auction items, making it easier for bidders to navigate auctions with multiple items.
- Basic Reporting: The platform provides essential reporting features that track bid history and donor details, though its analytics capabilities are less detailed than CharityAuctionsToday.
BiddingOwl supports PayPal and Stripe for payment processing but lacks the multiple payment options offered by CharityAuctionsToday.
CharityAuctionsToday vs BiddingOwl Pricing
CharityAuctionsToday
CharityAuctionsToday offers just two simple pricing plans, making it adaptable to various event scales:
- Flex Plan: No upfront cost, and 5% of the total auction revenue, plus processing fees of 3% + $0.30 per transaction.
- Prepaid Plan: Offers custom solutions and costs between $297 and $1,500 per auction depending on your needs as well as a platform fee of up to 3%. This plan also includes processing fees of 3% + $0.30 per transaction.
Each plan includes all core features, including mobile bidding, customizable pages, and reporting.
BiddingOwl
BiddingOwl’s pricing structure is one-size-fits all:
- BiddingOwl charges one rate, a 5% performance fee, for access to all of its features.
CharityAuctionsToday vs BiddingOwl User Reviews and Feedback
See how users rate us on different platforms. Keep in mind that aggregators like G2 and Capterra often include incentivized reviews.
CharityAuctionsToday | BiddingOwl | |
Google Reviews | 4.9 | NA |
G2 Reviews | 4.5 | 4.7 |
Capterra Reviews | 4.3 | 4.8 |
Facebook Reviews | 100% recommend | NA |
CharityAuctionsToday receives generally positive reviews, with users praising its user-friendly interface and extensive features. While BiddingOwl is praised for its affordability, some users express concerns about limited customer support and less sophisticated features.
Which Platform is Right for Your Auction?
When choosing between CharityAuctionsToday and BiddingOwl, the right choice depends on the size and complexity of your event, as well as your budget.
- CharityAuctionsToday is an excellent choice for small to large auctions where advanced features, such as real-time analytics, extensive customization, and multiple payment options, are beneficial. The platform’s pricing allows flexibility, and its comprehensive feature set justifies the cost for events expecting substantial revenue. Schools, larger nonprofits, and organizations hosting multiple events annually may find CharityAuctionsToday’s options to be worth the investment.
- BiddingOwl, on the other hand, is a better fit for smaller auctions and budget-conscious causes that only need the most essential auction tools. With its pay-as-you-go transaction model and straightforward features, BiddingOwl is ideal for organizations looking to keep upfront costs low. However, if your auction requires more advanced functionality, BiddingOwl’s basic features may feel limiting, and transaction fees can add up for high-volume auctions.
Conclusion
CharityAuctionsToday and BiddingOwl each offer valuable features for hosting charity auctions, but they cater to different needs. CharityAuctionsToday is feature-rich, ideal for events of any size and complexity, while BiddingOwl provides an affordable, pared-down experience for simpler events. By considering the specific needs of your auction and budget, you can choose the platform that best supports your organization’s fundraising goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between CharityAuctionsToday and BiddingOwl?
Both are nonprofit-focused auction platforms. CharityAuctionsToday emphasizes mobile bidding, branding options, analytics, and integrated payments, while BiddingOwl focuses on core auction basics with a simpler toolset and entry-level cost structure.
Who is each platform best for?
- CharityAuctionsToday: Small to large events wanting mobile bidding, deeper reporting, and customization.
- BiddingOwl: Smaller, budget-conscious auctions needing essential tools and a simple setup.
How do their pricing models generally compare?
You’ll typically see performance-based fees and payment processing charges, and sometimes prepaid or per-event options. Always model total costs on your expected bidders, items, transactions, and messaging volume. General information, not legal/financial advice.
Which offers better mobile bidding for guests on event night?
Evaluate clarity of item pages, one-tap max bids, fast outbid alerts, cart speed, and checkout friction. A polished mobile flow reduces staff interventions and lifts close-out revenue.
Do both platforms support payments and receipts for donors?
Yes—expect integrated payment gateways and automatic receipts. Confirm accepted cards, payout timelines, refunds/voids, and whether you can customize receipt language for tax acknowledgments. General information, not tax advice.
Can I brand and customize my auction site on both platforms?
Both offer branded pages; depth varies. Look for logo and color controls, custom sections, sponsor callouts, and configurable item page layouts to tell your nonprofit’s story.
What quick-start steps should a small team follow to pick one?
- List must-have features (mobile bids, ticketing, analytics).
- Estimate items, bidders, and transactions.
- Request a demo and sample invoice.
- Run a sandbox test with 5–10 items and 5 bidders.
- Decide on support needs for event week.
What timeline should we plan from selection to event night?
- Weeks 1–2: Demos, selection, data prep, branding.
- Weeks 3–4: Item intake, test bids, staff training.
- Event week: Final messaging, soft launch, go-live.
- Post-event (1–2 weeks): Reconcile, receipts, reports.
Which KPIs should we track to compare platforms fairly?
- Bidder activation rate and % with mobile numbers
- Outbid alert engagement and max-bid usage
- Item sell-through and average bids per item
- Checkout time per bidder and payment success rate
- Net proceeds after all fees
How do reporting and analytics typically differ between the two?
You’ll commonly see deeper real-time dashboards, donor insights, and export options on fuller-featured platforms. Simpler tools usually cover bid history and revenue basics with lighter analytics.
Do both platforms work for in-person, online, and hybrid events?
Yes—confirm check-in/out workflows, paddle raise options, and whether mobile bidding and leaderboards perform well on venue Wi-Fi to support hybrid or fully in-person formats.
What should we ask about support and event-day help?
- Live chat and response times during peak hours
- Event-week availability and escalation path
- Onsite or virtual concierge options
- Training resources and runbooks for volunteers
How do we compare “true cost” beyond headline pricing?
- List platform and payment fees.
- Include texting, ticketing, and add-ons.
- Estimate support time saved (or required).
- Calculate net proceeds at low/expected/high revenue.
Is donor data portable between platforms and CRMs?
Look for CSV exports, API integrations, and mapped fields for donors, bids, and gifts. Verify consent fields, opt-ins, and how refunds/chargebacks sync to your CRM. General information, not legal advice.
What best practices increase revenue regardless of platform choice?
- Use clear categories and high-quality photos.
- Enable outbid texts and promote max bids.
- Stagger closing times and extend for active items.
- Bundle slow items; highlight “hero” experiences.
Do we need ticketing or is an auction-only setup enough?
If you host a gala or hybrid event, integrated ticketing streamlines check-in and payments. For online-only auctions, ensure bidder registration and messaging tools are robust.
Is there a short internal approval script we can use before deciding?
- “Our must-haves are A, B, C; nice-to-haves are D, E.”
- “Here’s the modeled net at $25k/$50k/$100k revenue.”
- “Demo results: setup time, mobile speed, checkout friction.”
- “Support SLAs for event week meet our risk tolerance.”
Any fulfillment and post-event ops tips we should follow?
- Create pickup/shipping rules on item pages.
- Collect addresses at checkout and automate receipts.
- Export winners next-day; reconcile payouts within 7–10 days.
- Send sponsor and donor thank-yous within 48 hours.
How should we test-drive both platforms before committing?
- Spin up a demo auction with 10 items and fake bidders.
- Measure page load times on mobile/data-only.
- Simulate outbid alerts and last-minute checkout.
- Export reports and check field mapping quality.
What about security, privacy, and compliance considerations?
Confirm PCI-compliant payment processing, data encryption in transit/at rest, admin roles and permissions, audit logs, and data retention policies. Review your privacy notices and donor consents. General information, not legal advice.
💡 Try this in ChatGPT
- Summarize the article "CharityAuctionsToday vs. BiddingOwl" from https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/p/charityauctionstoday-vs-biddingowl/ in 3 bullet points for a board update.
- Turn the article "CharityAuctionsToday vs. BiddingOwl" (https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/p/charityauctionstoday-vs-biddingowl/) into a 60-second talking script with one example and one CTA.
- Extract 5 SEO keywords and 3 internal link ideas from "CharityAuctionsToday vs. BiddingOwl": https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/p/charityauctionstoday-vs-biddingowl/.
- Create 3 tweet ideas and a LinkedIn post that expand on this compare top auction sites topic using the article at https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/p/charityauctionstoday-vs-biddingowl/.
Tip: Paste the whole prompt (with the URL) so the AI can fetch context.
How to Choose a Donor Management System
This guide helps nonprofits pick donor software — centralizing donor info, automating emails, offering reports, integrating with other tools, and scaling securely. It’s for teams seeking smarter workflows and stronger donor relationships.
CharityAuctionsToday vs. SilentAuctionPro
A side-by-side comparison of CharityAuctionsToday and SilentAuctionPro — showing that CharityAuctionsToday emphasizes easy setup, mobile bidding, per-auction pricing, and online tools, while SilentAuctionPro leans into event management, ticketing features, and in-person or hybrid events.
CharityAuctionsToday vs. SilentAuctionPro
