Looking for free auction software that won't eat into your fundraising budget? You're in the right place.
Most auction platforms charge hundreds or thousands of dollars per event. But several free options exist if you know where to look.
We've tested every auction software on the market to find the ones that actually work without hidden costs. Here are the best free options.
The Top 5 Best Free Auction Software
| Software | Truly Free? | Catch | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| FreeAuctionSite | ✅ Yes | 10 item limit | Display on TVs |
| BiddingOwl | ⚠️ Mostly | 5% transaction fee | Online auctions |
| Charity Auctions Today | ⚠️ Mostly | Transaction fees | Virtual events |
| Auctria | ❌ Trial only | 14-day limit | Testing before buying |
| SilentAuctionPro | ⚠️ Mostly | 8% transaction fee | Simple online auctions |
1. FreeAuctionSite – Best Truly Free Option
Price: Free (up to 10 items) | Pro $29 | Event $79
Why It's #1
FreeAuctionSite is the only auction software that's genuinely free with no transaction fees. Most “free” platforms take 5-8% of your revenue. FreeAuctionSite takes nothing.
The platform focuses on one thing: displaying auction items beautifully on TVs and projectors at live events. No bloat, no complexity — just clean displays that make your items look great.
What You Get Free
- ✅ Display up to 10 auction items
- ✅ Show on any TV or projector
- ✅ Real-time bid updates
- ✅ Professional templates
- ✅ No signup required
- ✅ No credit card needed
- ✅ Zero transaction fees
The Catch
Limited to 10 items on the free plan. If you need more:
- Pro ($29): Up to 50 items
- Event ($99): Unlimited items (one-time)
Even the paid plans are a fraction of what competitors charge.
Best For
- School fundraisers
- Church silent auctions
- Community charity events
- PTA/PTO galas
- Small nonprofit events
Verdict
If you're running a live auction and want to display items on screens without paying hundreds of dollars, FreeAuctionSite is the obvious choice. Start for free, upgrade only if you need to.
Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
2. BiddingOwl – Best Free Online Bidding
Price: Free (5% transaction fee) | Premium $199/year (3% fee)
BiddingOwl has been around for years and offers a legitimately free online auction platform. The catch? They take 5% of every transaction on the free plan.
What You Get Free
- ✅ Unlimited auctions
- ✅ Online bidding
- ✅ Item management
- ✅ Bidder registration
- ✅ Basic reporting
The Catch
5% transaction fee on every payment. If you raise $10,000, BiddingOwl keeps $500.
The Premium plan ($199/year) reduces this to 3%, which may be worth it for organizations running multiple events.
Best For
- Online-only auctions
- Virtual fundraisers
- Organizations comfortable with percentage fees
Verdict
BiddingOwl is “free” in that there's no upfront cost, but the 5% fee adds up quickly. Good for online auctions if you accept the fee structure.
Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
3. Charity Auctions Today – Best Free Virtual Platform
Price: Free (with transaction fees) | Premium $299/event | Pro $599/event
Charity Auctions Today markets itself as the “easiest to use” free charity auction platform. They offer a free tier focused on virtual/online auctions.
What You Get Free
- ✅ Create auction pages
- ✅ Online bidding
- ✅ Mobile-friendly
- ✅ Basic item management
- ✅ Social sharing
The Catch
Transaction fees apply on the free plan (typically 3-5% depending on payment processor). Premium removes platform fees but you still pay payment processing.
Best For
- Virtual charity auctions
- Simple online events
- Organizations testing the platform
Verdict
A solid free option for online auctions. Less established than BiddingOwl but has a more modern interface.
Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
4. Auctria – Best Free Trial
Price: Free trial (14 days) | Paid plans start ~$400
Auctria offers a comprehensive auction platform with a 14-day free trial. It's not permanently free, but the trial lets you fully test the platform before committing.
What You Get in the Trial
- ✅ Full feature access
- ✅ Online bidding
- ✅ Mobile bidding
- ✅ Item management
- ✅ Reporting tools
The Catch
14-day trial only. After that, you'll need to pay for a package (typically $400-800 depending on features).
Best For
- Organizations evaluating paid options
- Schools with budget for auction software
- Testing before a big event
Verdict
Not truly free, but the trial is useful for testing. Only relevant if you're willing to pay after the trial ends.
Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5 for free use)
5. Silent Auction Pro – Free Demo Option
Price: Demo available | Paid plans start ~$300
Silent Auction Pro offers demos and limited free access to test their hybrid paper/mobile bidding system. Not a true free tier, but worth mentioning for organizations considering paid options.
What You Get
- ✅ Demo access
- ✅ Webinar training
- ✅ Test the platform
The Catch
No permanent free tier. You'll need to purchase a package for actual events.
Best For
- Organizations needing paper + mobile bidding
- Those evaluating paid solutions
Verdict
Not free for actual use, but useful for evaluation. Solid paid option if you need hybrid bidding.
Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5 for free use)
“Free” Auction Software: What to Watch Out For
Hidden Fees to Look For
- Transaction fees — Most “free” platforms take 3-8% of every payment
- Payment processing — Credit card fees (2.9% + $0.30) are often separate
- Feature limits — Free tiers may lack essential features
- Time limits — Some “free” options are actually trials
- Item limits — Caps on how many items you can list
The Real Cost of “Free”
Let's say you raise $10,000 at your auction:
| Platform | Their Fee | You Keep |
|---|---|---|
| FreeAuctionSite | $0 | $10,000 |
| BiddingOwl (free) | $500 (5%) | $9,500 |
| 32auctions | $800 (8%) | $9,200 |
| Charity Auctions Today | ~$400 (4%) | $9,600 |
Payment processing fees (2.9% + $0.30) apply to all platforms
Free vs Paid: When to Upgrade
Stay Free If:
- Your auction has fewer than 10-15 items
- You're running a simple event
- Budget is extremely tight
- You're testing for a future event
Consider Paid If:
- You have 20+ auction items
- You need mobile bidding
- You want advanced reporting
- You're running multiple events per year
Best Free Option by Use Case
For Display on TVs/Projectors
Winner: FreeAuctionSite
The only free option specifically designed for large-screen displays. Perfect for galas and live events.
For Online-Only Auctions
Winner: BiddingOwl
Most established free online platform. Accept the 5% fee or pay $199/year for reduced fees.
For Virtual Charity Events
Winner: Charity Auctions Today
Modern interface, good for remote bidding. Transaction fees apply.
For Testing Before Buying
Winner: Auctria
Best free trial for evaluating full-featured auction software.
Our Top Pick: FreeAuctionSite
For organizations that want truly free auction software with no transaction fees, FreeAuctionSite is the clear winner.
Why FreeAuctionSite Wins:
| Feature | FreeAuctionSite | Others |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $0 | $0 |
| Transaction fees | 0% | 3-8% |
| Signup required | No | Yes |
| Credit card required | No | Usually |
| Items included | 10 | Varies |
The Bottom Line
Most “free” auction platforms aren't really free — they take a cut of your fundraising. FreeAuctionSite is the exception.
If you're displaying auction items at a live event and want to keep 100% of what you raise, start here.
Create Your Free Auction Display →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any completely free auction software?
Yes. FreeAuctionSite offers a genuinely free tier with no transaction fees for up to 10 items. Most other “free” platforms charge 3-8% of transactions.
What's the best auction software for schools with no costs?
FreeAuctionSite is ideal for school fundraisers. It's free, requires no signup, and displays beautifully on gymnasium TVs and projectors.
Can I run a silent auction for free?
Yes. For live events with display screens, use FreeAuctionSite (free, no fees). For online auctions, BiddingOwl is free but charges 5% on transactions.
What's the catch with cheap auction software?
Most free platforms make money through transaction fees (3-8%). FreeAuctionSite is different — the free tier has an item limit (10) but no transaction fees.
How do auction platforms make money?
- FreeAuctionSite: Paid upgrades for more items ($29-79)
- BiddingOwl: Transaction fees (5%) or annual subscription
- Others: Transaction fees, premium features, or they're loss leaders for larger platforms
Summary: Best Free Auction Software 2026
- FreeAuctionSite — Best truly free option (no transaction fees)
- BiddingOwl — Best free online bidding (5% fee)
- Charity Auctions Today — Best free virtual platform (fees apply)
- Auctria — Best free trial for testing
- Silent Auction Pro — Demo only, paid for events
For most nonprofits, schools, and community organizations, FreeAuctionSite offers the best value: genuine free usage without transaction fees eating into your fundraising.
As one of the co-founders of Codeless, I bring to the table expertise in developing WordPress and web applications, as well as a track record of effectively managing hosting and servers. My passion for acquiring knowledge and my enthusiasm for constructing and testing novel technologies drive me to constantly innovate and improve.
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