TL;DR: free auction software in 2026
- WordPress plugins: free to install, unreliable when many people bid at the same moment.
- Free silent auction software for nonprofits: Zeffy, Givebutter, GalaBid, 32auctions and others, funded by tips or fees on what you raise.
- Free auctioneer software: AuctionMethod’s ClerkBid for in-person clerking, plus free trials.
- Free reverse auction software: open-source code or very limited free tiers.
- When free costs more: a 5% fee on $20,000 raised is $1,000. A one-time license is $899.
Ready to stop paying per event? Our license is $899 to $2,999 once, installed on your server at no extra cost.
Most “free” auction software isn’t free. It’s paid for by your bidders through tips at checkout, by a percentage of what you raise, or by your own time keeping a plugin running. That’s not a scam, and for a lot of events it’s the right deal. You just need to know which kind of free you’re getting.
This list covers twelve free options across four uses, says exactly where each one stops working, and ends with the point where paying once costs less. If you want the step-by-step build instead, see how to create an auction website for free.
Free auction software at a glance
| Software | Use | How it’s paid for | Where it stops |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Auction for WooCommerce | WordPress site auctions | Free plugin, your hosting | Busy closes, no auction-house features |
| Zeffy | Nonprofit auctions | Voluntary contributions from donors | Nonprofits only |
| Givebutter | Nonprofit auctions and fundraising | Optional tips | Nonprofits, tip prompts |
| GalaBid free plan | Charity auctions and galas | Suggested tips at checkout | Tip prompts, paid plans for no tips |
| 32auctions free plan | Small charity auctions | Optional bidder contributions | Limits as events grow |
| BiddingOwl | Silent, live and paper auctions | 5% on winning online and mobile bids | Large online totals |
| WinningBidder | Charity auctions | Optional tips | Stripe fees still apply |
| ClerkBid (AuctionMethod) | Clerking in-person sales | Free | Clerking only, not online bidding |
| Auction Flex and AuctionMethod trials | Auctioneer software | Free trial, then paid | End of the trial |
| OpenProcurement | Reverse auctions | Open source, your developers | Needs technical setup |
| bid-form.com free version | Supplier bidding | Free tier, paid from €29 a year | Very limited features |
| Open-source auction scripts | Any | Your developers and hosting | Security and maintenance are on you |
Free auction software for websites
1. Ultimate Auction for WooCommerce
The best-known free auction plugin on WordPress.org, with more than 2,000 active installs. Install WooCommerce, add the plugin, and you have timed listings, bidding and email notifications on the site you already run. Cost: your hosting.
Where it stops: when lots of people bid on the same item at the same moment. Most WordPress auction plugins store bids the way WordPress stores any post data, without locking, and WordPress’s scheduler runs on page visits rather than a real clock. On a busy close you can get lost bids, late closing times and unreliable soft close. There’s also no buyer’s premium with tax, no consignor settlements and no live simulcast. Our WooCommerce auction plugin alternatives post explains each limit.
2. Open-source auction scripts
There are free auction scripts on code-sharing sites, and open-source shop or marketplace software that a developer can extend with bidding. No license fee, full control.
Where it stops: you’re the maintainer. Security patches, payment gateway changes and PHP upgrades are your problem, and a hired developer costs more than most licenses. Free describes the code, not the project.
Free silent auction software for nonprofits
This is where free genuinely works, because nonprofit platforms are funded by supporters’ tips or small fees on what’s raised.
3. Zeffy
Zeffy says it’s completely free for nonprofits, with no platform fees, processing fees or subscription, and is funded by voluntary contributions from donors. Auctions sit alongside donations, ticketing and raffles. One Zeffy comparison page also mentions paid custom auction setups, so check what’s included for your event.
Where it stops: nonprofits only, and donors see a contribution prompt.
4. Givebutter
Free fundraising with auctions, funded by optional tips from donors. Organizations that don’t want tip prompts can choose a platform fee instead.
Where it stops: it’s a broad fundraising tool, so auction-specific features are lighter than on dedicated auction platforms.
5. GalaBid (free plan)
GalaBid’s free plan has no platform fee and suggests a tip to GalaBid at checkout, which guests can decline. It shares 10% of tips back with your cause. Its Pro plan (4.9%) and flat fee ($1,250 per campaign) remove the tip prompt. Stripe fees apply on every plan.
Where it stops: if you don’t want supporters asked to tip a software company, you’re on a paid plan.
6. 32auctions (free plan)
A usable free plan funded by optional bidder contributions, with paid plans above it. Good for a small online auction. Our 32auctions alternatives cover what to try when you outgrow it.
Where it stops: its homepage says the free plan covers up to 20 items. Larger auctions need a paid plan.
7. BiddingOwl
No setup or annual fee for core silent and live auctions, including paper bid sheets. It charges 5% on items that receive a winning online or mobile bid, plus card processing.
Where it stops: it’s free for paper. The more you raise online, the more the 5% costs.
8. WinningBidder
WinningBidder, from TravelPledge, says it’s free and relies on optional tips from participants at checkout. Stripe’s processing fee still applies.
Where it stops: the same tip trade-off as the others.
For a comparison of the paid options too, see the best silent auction software for nonprofits.
Free auctioneer software
9. ClerkBid by AuctionMethod
In 2026, AuctionMethod launched ClerkBid, a free clerking tool for auctioneers who still run in-person sales. For a small live sale that’s currently clerked on paper or in a spreadsheet, it’s worth trying.
Where it stops: it’s for clerking. Online bidding, invoicing and settlements need AuctionMethod’s paid plans, which start at $100 a month plus a $250 activation fee.
10. Free trials: Auction Flex and AuctionMethod
Auction Flex offers a 30-day free trial of its desktop software, and AuctionMethod offers a free trial of its hosted platform. Useful for a real test sale.
Where it stops: at the end of the trial. Auction Flex then rents from $85 a month per workstation.
There isn’t a free, full-featured auctioneer package that handles online bidding, clerking and settlements. That’s the honest answer for anyone searching “auctioneer software free”. Our auctioneer software is the low-cost version: a one-time license, not a free one.
Free reverse auction software
11. OpenProcurement
An open-source procurement toolkit under the Apache license, with a module for running reverse electronic auctions. Built on Python with CouchDB.
Where it stops: it’s a toolkit for developers, not a ready-to-use product, and we couldn’t confirm how actively it’s maintained in 2026.
12. bid-form.com (free version)
Listed on Capterra with a free version, with paid plans from €29 a year. The free tier is very basic.
Where it stops: it’s not a full reverse auction with live price competition between suppliers.
Real reverse auctions, with suppliers bidding prices down live, supplier pre-qualification and weighted scoring, are almost always paid. On-demand services start around $1,550 per license. See our reverse auction software for a one-time option.
When an $899 license costs less than free
Free software is paid for somewhere. Here’s what common free and low-cost models cost on a year of auctions raising $20,000 online, compared with a one-time license:
| Model | Cost on $20,000 raised online | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| 5% performance fee | $1,000 | Your organization |
| 4.9% platform fee | $980 | Your organization |
| Tips at checkout | Varies with how many supporters tip | Your supporters |
| Free plugin | Hosting, plus your time and the risk of a failed close | You |
| One-time license ($899) | $899 once, plus hosting | You, once |
In year one, the numbers are close. In year two the license costs only hosting, while the percentage fees start again. For one small event a year, use free software. For several events, a year-round online auction, or any auction business, paying once usually wins by the second year. Our online auction software pricing guide has the three-year version.
Our licenses are $899, $1,999 or $2,999, installed on your own server by our team at no extra cost, with no monthly fee and no commission. They cover timed and live auctions, proxy bidding, soft close, sealed bids, Buy It Now, bidder approval, deposits, buyer’s premium and invoicing.
Pay once instead of every event
Try the live demo, see license pricing, or ask us what you’d need.
Frequently asked questions
Is there completely free auction software?
For nonprofits, yes: Zeffy, Givebutter and the free plans of GalaBid and 32auctions are funded by donor tips or contributions rather than fees to you. For businesses, free options are plugins or open-source code that you host and maintain yourself.
Is there free auctioneer software?
AuctionMethod’s ClerkBid is a free clerking tool for in-person sales, and Auction Flex and AuctionMethod offer free trials. A free package that also handles online bidding and settlements doesn’t really exist.
Can I download free auction software?
Yes. WordPress auction plugins and open-source auction scripts are free downloads. You’ll need hosting, and you’re responsible for security and updates.
Is there free reverse auction software?
Only open-source toolkits like OpenProcurement or very limited free tiers. Full reverse auction platforms for procurement are paid.
Is there a free trial of your software?
You can test the full bidding experience on our live demo before buying.
