BiddingOwl vs iBid

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.

iBid is a web service for mobile bidding and charity auctions, including silent, live, and online formats. Auction AutoPilot supports the auction cycle from soliciting items and managing a catalog through bidding and closing. Guests can bid remotely, receive instant text alerts when outbid, and get organizer messages by text or email. Organizations can brand the bidding experience with a logo, colors, sponsor images, and a message. After closing, guests receive a text link to a digital receipt. iBid runs with Events.org, and its site says donor information can be exported through an Open API. It describes donor information as secure; Events.org says stored card information uses industry-standard encryption. The free plan lists 3.5% payment processing fees plus $1, which can be covered by the bidder, and a $100 referral credit. Event-day support is advertised at 866.513.7627.