CharityAuctionsToday vs. 32Auctions: A Comparison of Features, Pricing, and Reviews

Choosing the right auction platform can make a significant impact on a nonprofit’s fundraising success. CharityAuctionsToday and 32Auctions are both popular online auction platforms tailored to meet the needs of nonprofits, schools, and other organizations looking to raise money through online events. This article compares the features, pricing structures, and user reviews of CharityAuctionsToday and 32Auctions to help you determine which platform best suits your organization’s needs.

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

Features

CharityAuctionsToday offers a robust suite of tools designed for flexibility in hosting various types of auctions, including silent, live, and hybrid formats. The platform’s features include:

• Mobile Bidding: Users can bid on items directly from their phones, which increases participation and makes it easier for supporters to engage with the auction.
• Customizable Auction Pages: Organizers can create personalized auction pages with logos, themes, and branding, giving the event a professional look.
• Donation Options: In addition to bidding, supporters can make direct donations, allowing nonprofits to increase revenue from their auction events.
• Real-Time Notifications: Bidders receive instant notifications on bid status, encouraging continued engagement.
• Social Media Integration: Shareable auction links can help reach a wider audience, as supporters share the event on social media platforms.

32Auctions focuses on creating a simple, user-friendly auction experience. Its notable features include:

• Customizable Auction Pages: Users can personalize auction pages with photos and descriptions for each item, as well as brand their pages with custom colors and logos.
• Private Auctions: 32Auctions allows for private auctions, where organizations can restrict auction access to invited participants, adding an extra layer of exclusivity and privacy.
• Buy Now and Reserve Prices: Organizers can set “Buy Now” prices and minimum reserve prices on items, giving flexibility in item sales.
• Bid Notifications: Instant notifications alert bidders when they’ve been outbid, encouraging higher engagement.

Both platforms cover core features like bid notifications, customizable pages, and the option to add “Buy Now” pricing. However, CharityAuctionsToday offers a few more advanced tools, such as mobile bidding and direct donation options, making it potentially more versatile for organizations seeking maximum flexibility.

Pricing

CharityAuctionsToday

CharityAuctionsToday offers a flexible pricing model with two simple plans that cater to different event sizes and budgets:

1. Flex Plan: No upfront cost, and 5% of the total auction revenue, plus processing fees of 3% + $0.30 per transaction.
2. 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.

32Auctions

32Auctions uses a pay-as-you-go model, which is structured based on auction size and needs:

1. 1. Free Plan: The free plan allows for auctions with up to 20 items and includes basic features like bid notifications and limited auction customization.
   2. Most Popular: At $110 this plan allows more images per auction item, text and email notifications, and the ability to use your organization’s branding.

• Best for Live Event: Starting at $210, this level includes texting and images (but, notably, not branding) and adds donor and sponsor management as well as the ability to transition to a live event.

• The Works: The Works plan gives you access to all features. This includes those previously mentioned (except, strangely, the ability to transition to a live event) as well as advanced insights and the ability to opt out of third party ads on your auction.

32Auctions also has two sets of transaction fees. The first set is 2.9% + $0.40 per online payment or donation: this goes to the platform itself. The second set is from your payment processor, PayPal or Stripe. The charge depends on the payment account connected to the auction but is typically 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction for PayPal and 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for Stripe, or lower if their non-profit discount is applied.  There are no transaction fees if you collect the payments in person instead of doing it online.

The third-party ads on 32auctions’ “free” plan have been reported as confusing to bidders, unsure whether they were part of the auction or not. We feel that the only thing on your event page should be your organization and your sponsors’ information.

User Reviews

Both platforms generally receive positive feedback, though there are some distinctions in user satisfaction.

CharityAuctionsToday

Pros: CharityAuctionsToday is widely praised for its ease of use, mobile bidding feature, and excellent customer service. Many users appreciate the platform’s variety of customization options and how intuitive the platform is, making it accessible even for first-time users.

Cons: Of course, we don’t really think there are any cons. It’s true that we don’t currently provide all of the fundraising tactics that some fundraising platforms do, like peer-to-peer features or games. But we’re the best at offering easy, affordable auctions, event ticketing, donations, and other features that can help you raise more.

32Auctions

Pros: Users consistently highlight 32Auctions for its simplicity and affordability, especially for smaller or private auctions. 

Cons: While the platform is easy to use, some users feel that 32Auctions lacks certain advanced features, such as direct donation options. For larger or more complex auctions, users may find 32Auctions less suitable due to its limited functionality compared to CharityAuctionsToday.

See how users rate us on different platforms. Keep in mind that aggregators like G2 and Capterra often include incentivized reviews. Additionally, some sites might only have a handful of reviews on them: you’ll have to weigh whether a few people’s experience reflects on the platform overall.

Which Platform is Right for You?

Both CharityAuctionsToday and 32Auctions offer distinct benefits depending on your organization’s needs.

• For Small to Medium-Sized Auctions or Organizations on a Tight Budget: 32Auctions may be the ideal choice. It is affordable and offers a customizable menu of options. However its third party ads can be disruptive to your event.
• For Small to Large Events that Need Comprehensive Features: CharityAuctionsToday may be the better option, with features like mobile bidding, social media integration, and more advanced customization and reporting capabilities. It is well-suited for events that require higher engagement and outreach potential.

Both platforms have their strengths, and nonprofits can maximize their benefits by choosing a platform that aligns with their specific auction requirements, budget, and donor engagement strategies.