AuctionMethod vs BiddingOwl
AuctionMethod
auctionmethod.com
BiddingOwl
biddingowl.comSide by side
| Figure | AuctionMethod | BiddingOwl |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $100/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 3 | 2 |
| Spec score · Auction Software | 8.6 (#4) | 8.2 (#8) |
| Auction formats | The platform supports timed online, simulcast, blind timed, catalog-only, fixed-price, and perpetual events. | The platform supports online, mobile, silent, live, and offline auctions. |
| Headquarters | Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, United States | Gaylord, Michigan, United States |
| Payments | The platform supports Fiserv, Stripe, Authorize.net, and eWay, and payments go into the customer's own merchant account. | BiddingOwl integrates with Stripe and PayPal and also supports cash or check payments recorded by manually marking invoices paid. |
| Security | AuctionMethod says it is hosted on AWS and uses SSL/TLS encryption, access controls, and action logs. | The payment integrations page says Stripe and PayPal use SSL encryption and are PCI compliant. |
| Support | Free support includes email, in-app guidance, video tutorials, and biweekly co-working sessions; paid pro support offers phone and email access Monday through Friday, 7AM to 7PM US Eastern Time. | BiddingOwl offers phone and email support during weekday office hours and 24/7 critical emergency phone support. |
Plans
AuctionMethod
- Growth$100 a month
- Scale$750 a month
- Custom Solutions$1,500 a month
BiddingOwl
- Traditional silent/live auction and related servicesFree
- Online/mobile auction$5, paid once
In their own words
AuctionMethod
AuctionMethod is white-label auction software for setting up events and managing lots, consignors, bidders, and sales. It supports timed online, simulcast, blind timed, catalog-only, fixed-price, and perpetual events. Management tools cover cataloging, bidder registration, invoices, taxes, payments, and reports. The Auctioneer Toolbox app for Android and iOS supports item cataloging, photos, and pickup management. Payments can use Fiserv, Stripe, Authorize.net, or eWay, with proceeds going to the customer's own merchant account. Users can export bidder, listing, and report data, upload by CSV, or connect through APIs. Named integrations include Mailchimp, GA4, Google Tag Manager, Avalara, EasyPost, Smarty, and UserWay. Plans include unlimited auctions, bids, lots, items, photos, and admin users. Growth costs $100 a month with a one-time $250 account activation; Scale is $750 a month with a one-time $2500 activation. Custom Solutions starts at $1,500 a month with a one-time $5000 activation. There is a 30-day trial, and subscriptions are month to month and cancelable at any time. The company says it charges no commissions or per-lot, event, or photo fees.
BiddingOwl
BiddingOwl provides online auction and fundraising tools for nonprofits, schools, charities, and other organizations. Organizers can run online, mobile, silent, live, or offline auctions and offer donations, admission and raffle tickets, Fund-a-Need, and paddle raises without separate paid add-ons. Bidders can follow items on a watchlist, set a maximum proxy bid, and receive SMS or email updates about outbids, wins, and events. Organizers can import items from CSV, export item data, manage or duplicate events, and retain their data; one login can manage multiple organizations and simultaneous auctions. Payments can be processed through Stripe or PayPal, or tracked as cash or check by manually marking invoices paid. Traditional silent and live auction services cost nothing; winning online or mobile bids incur a $5, paid once performance fee. Payment processor fees may apply. BiddingOwl is available on Android, iOS, and web. It offers weekday phone and email support and 24/7 critical emergency phone support.