CharityAuctionsToday vs. Auctria

Online fundraising platforms have become essential for non-profits, schools, and organizations looking to conduct auctions and raise funds efficiently. Two popular platforms in this space are CharityAuctionsToday and Auctria. Both offer robust solutions for hosting auctions, but they differ in terms of features, pricing, and user experience. This article provides a detailed comparison between CharityAuctionsToday and Auctria, helping organizations choose the best platform for their needs.

Take a look at 13 top fundraising auction sites to see how they stack up against each other, and us.

Features

CharityAuctionsToday

CharityAuctionsToday is known for its user-friendly interface and versatility. Some key features include:

• Mobile Bidding: Seamless mobile bidding experience, allowing users to place bids from their smartphones.
• Auction Types: Supports online, silent, live, and hybrid auctions.
• Customizable Auction Pages: Easy-to-create custom auction pages with branding, images, and videos.
• Bidder Notifications: Automated notifications via SMS and email to keep bidders engaged.
• Fund-a-Need Donations: Allows supporters to donate directly to a specific cause or need, outside of bidding.
• Payment Integration: Integrated payment processing, allowing bidders to pay through multiple methods including credit cards and PayPal.
• Analytics and Reports: Real-time data reporting on bidder activity, auction progress, and revenue.

Auctria

Auctria offers a comprehensive suite of tools, designed for both novice and experienced users. Key features include:

• Customizable Auction Sites: Users can create a branded auction website with personalized content, colors, and images.
• Mobile Bidding and Online Auctions: Supports online and mobile bidding for live, silent, and online auctions.
• Automated Invoicing and Receipts: Automatically generates invoices and receipts for winning bidders and donors.
• Auction Item Management: Allows users to manage and organize auction items easily, including setting bid increments, buy-it-now options, and package creation.

Feature Comparison Summary:

• Both platforms offer customizable auction sites, mobile bidding, and automated notifications.
• CharityAuctionsToday excels with real-time analytics and easy-to-use payment integration.
• For an additional fee, Auctria offers additional auction launch support. 

Pricing

CharityAuctionsToday

CharityAuctionsToday offers just two pricing plans:

• Flex Plan: No upfront cost, and 5% of the total auction revenue, plus processing fees of 3% + $0.30 per transaction.
• Prepaid Plan: Offers custom solutions and costs between $297 and $1,500 per auction depending on your needs as well as a platform fee of up to 3%. This plan also includes processing fees of 3% + $0.30 per transaction.

Auctria

Auctria’s pricing is tiered, based on the size of the auction and the number of items:

• “Free” Explorer Plan: Free for unlimited events, however these events are limited to 250 bidders and this plan includes a 1% credit card fee. Does not include certain features, most notably chat or email support. (Learn why there’s no such thing as a truly free auction site.)
• Emerald Plan: $350/year and offers 750 bidders per event, a 0.5% credit card and some features not available on the free plan, like live support, texting, and custom emails.
• Pro Plan: $700/year and offers 1,000 bidders as well as the features available at the Emerald tier.

Pricing Comparison Summary:

• CharityAuctionsToday provides a flexible payment plan or subscription option. Both offer the same level of support as well as popular features.
• Auctria offers a very limited “free” plan as well as two subscription plans that can accommodate larger events.
• For organizations running larger auctions, CharityAuctionsToday’s plans might offer more flexibility without bidder restrictions.

User Reviews

See how users rate us on different platforms. Keep in mind that aggregators like G2 and Capterra often include incentivized reviews.

User Review Comparison Summary:

• CharityAuctionsToday is praised for its simplicity and strong customer support, making it ideal for users who need quick and easy setup.
• Auctria is appreciated for its robust features, though it may require more time to master.

Wondering if an auction site is the real deal? Read our take on How to Tell if an Auction Site is Legit.

Conclusion

Both CharityAuctionsToday and Auctria are solid platforms for hosting charity auctions, each with its own strengths.

• CharityAuctionsToday is ideal for organizations that prioritize ease of use, customer support, and flexibility in payment options. Its mobile bidding features and simple setup are attractive to smaller nonprofits or first-time auctioneers.
• Auctria might be better suited for organizations with both larger budgets and who raise a certain amount of funds each year.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your organization’s specific needs, auction size, and budget. Both platforms offer trial or free options, allowing users to test them out before committing.