BiddingOwl vs BidJS

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.

BidJS is a JavaScript embed that lets auctioneers run timed and webcast auctions on their own websites and domains. Timed auctions can use scheduled or staggered lot closings, max bids, and overtime extensions; webcast auctions combine floor, phone, and internet bids in real time. Timed sales can also offer Buy Now, Make Offer, or private treaty listings. Auction teams can require identity checks, refundable deposits, or manual approval before granting bidder access. BidJS calculates buyer’s premium, creates itemised invoices, and supports Stripe deposit processing and Xero accounting connections. Installation options include WordPress and a JavaScript plugin for WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, custom-built sites, and other websites. Bidders can browse, register, and bid in desktop, tablet, and mobile browsers without downloading an app; a branded native app is an optional extra. The service supports multilingual content and local currency formatting, and bidder data can be exported. BidJS is made by Bidlogix, which says it began building auction technology in Brighton in 2008. Listed plans include a £200 a month developer sandbox, a £300 a month annual contract, and a £400 a month month-to-month option.