GalaBid vs PaddleUp

GalaBid combines auctions, raffles, event ticketing and donations in a single fundraising campaign. Participants open a campaign link in a browser on any device, without downloading an app. Silent auction options include automatic closing, winner notifications, overtime bidding, sealed bids and reserve prices. Raffles support electronic tickets, automated notifications and a certified random number generator for draws. Stripe processes payments, and GalaBid says campaign funds go directly from Stripe to the fundraiser’s bank account. Apple Pay and Google Pay are listed as participant payment options. The platform is intended for charities, nonprofits, community groups and individual fundraisers, with human fundraising support available seven days a week. The free plan allows optional participant tips, with 10% of tips shared with the cause. Pro (no tips) costs $4.90, paid once; Flat Fee costs $1,250 as a one-time purchase. Both have no tip prompts or revenue share. Displayed pricing varies by region, and uploaded files can be up to 8MB.

PaddleUp provides event and fundraising software for schools and nonprofits, covering jog-a-thons, galas, auctions, and online sales. Campaign dashboards bring fundraising goals, settings, and related activities together. The platform supports live, silent, and online auctions, with mobile bidding; staff can use its iOS app to set up and monitor events in person. Ticketing covers registration and attendee check-in, and seating links tables and guests to the ticket roster. Bid sheet tools include printable sheets with QR anchors, photo uploads, and AI-assisted read-back against registered bidders. Stripe processes card and ACH payments, and the staff app can pair with Stripe Terminal Bluetooth readers for on-site sales. Organizations can use API keys and webhooks, with staff MCP tools for custom workflows and AI-assisted operations. The maker says sensitive attendee and bidder contact fields are encrypted with AES-256-GCM and per-organization keys managed through AWS KMS in production; service traffic uses TLS. Stripe handles card numbers and records payouts and refunds. There is no monthly platform subscription; Stripe processing fees apply, and AI tokens are pay-as-you-go.