Silent auction software comparison: 32auctions vs the alternatives
Most silent auction platforms are annual contracts built for large galas. 32auctions is free to start and priced per event. Here's an honest, sourced side-by-side.
✓ Free for up to 20 items · Unlimited bidders · No credit card required
Choosing silent auction software usually comes down to one question that vendors make surprisingly hard to answer: what will this actually cost, and am I locked in? The enterprise platforms in this category — OneCause, Handbid, GiveSmart — are built for large, staffed gala events and priced accordingly, typically as annual contracts or custom quotes. 32auctions takes the opposite approach: free to start, priced per event, and designed for organizers running online or hybrid silent auctions themselves.
The table below pulls every competitor figure straight from that vendor's own pricing pages. Where a vendor doesn't publish a number, we say “quote” rather than guess.
The platforms side by side
Sourced from each vendor's own site. Pricing changes — confirm before you buy.
| 32auctions | OneCause | Handbid | GiveSmart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free (up to 20 items) | From $200 pay-as-you-go | From $1,396 / year | Quote only |
| Pricing model | Per event, upgrade only if needed | $2,995/yr Professional package | Annual packages | Annual subscription |
| Contract | None | Annual / quote | Annual | Annual |
| Platform fee on funds raised | None | Quote | Varies by package | Quote |
| Bidder app | No app (browser) | App-based | Native app | App-based |
| On-site event staffing | Self-run | Available | Higher tiers | Available |
| Best fit | Online / hybrid silent auctions | Large staffed galas | App-first gala events | All-in-one event + CRM |
Sources: onecause.com, handbid.com and givesmart.com public pricing pages. 32auctions figures from 32auctions.com. Verify before purchase.
How to actually choose
Price isn't the only axis, and the cheapest option isn't automatically right. Here's the honest way to decide:
Choose an enterprise platform if…
- Your event is a staffed, in-person gala and you want a team on-site on event night.
- You need ticketing, table and seating management, and paddle raises in one system.
- You run several large events a year and want a connected donor CRM.
- A five- or six-figure event justifies a $1,396–$2,995+ annual platform.
Choose 32auctions if…
- You want to launch an online or hybrid silent auction today, free, without a sales call.
- You'd rather pay per event than sign an annual contract.
- You don't want to force bidders to download an app.
- You want to keep 100% of what you raise, with no platform commission.
Compare 32auctions to a specific platform
Silent auction software: common questions
What's the cheapest silent auction software?
32auctions is free to start — you can run a full auction with unlimited bidders and up to 20 items at no cost. Most enterprise platforms (OneCause, Handbid, GiveSmart) start in the $1,396–$2,995+ per year range or are quote-based, per their own pricing pages.
Which silent auction platform has no contract?
32auctions has no annual contract and no minimums — you pay per event only if you choose a paid upgrade. OneCause, Handbid and GiveSmart use annual plans or custom quotes.
Do bidders need to download an app?
Not with 32auctions — bidders open a link and bid in their phone browser. Handbid is built around a native app; OneCause and GiveSmart use app-based mobile bidding.
When is an enterprise platform the better choice?
If you run a large, staffed, ticketed gala and need on-site event-night support, seating and table management, or a deep donor CRM, a platform like OneCause or GiveSmart is purpose-built for that. 32auctions is built for self-run online and hybrid silent auctions.
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