Finding the perfect auction site to support your nonprofit or charity is a challenge. You’ve researched and narrowed down your search: CharityAuctionsToday vs. GalaBid. We can help you compare and contrast our platform with GalaBid’s and decide on which will best suit your needs.
Keep in mind that many charity auction platforms’ pricing and features change frequently. While this information was accurate at the time of publishing, like CharityAuctionsToday, Galabid is constantly updating and improving its products and services.
You’ve Compared — Now Choose What Empowers Your Mission
GalaBid has its features, but does it give you the nonprofit-first support, transparency, and flexibility you need? Launch your auction with CharityAuctionsToday — fewer restrictions, richer tools, and full control over your event.
Launch Your Auction NowLooking for a different auction platform? Take a look at how we stack up against OneCause, Givebutter, BiddingforGood (Frontstream Panorama), and Charitybuzz.
CharityAuctionsToday vs. GalaBid: Features
GalaBid offers similar features to CharityAuctionsToday. With auctions, raffles, ticket sales, and CRM/data management solutions, both platforms offer common fundraising features. However, not every feature GalaBid offers is available at every pricing tier.
Depending on your price point, GalaBid restricts access to:
- Your ability to turn off a request to tip the platform
- Access to volunteer-level accounts within your event
- Allowing participants to opt into receiving campaign text notifications
- Customizable bulk communications
- A pre-event launch support call
- Allowing participants to text to register
- Your ability mark invoices as paid in person
- Table-specific leaderboards
CharityAuctionsToday also offers slightly different features depending on which plan you choose, however there are fewer restrictions overall:
- Our Flex plan does not offer unlimited Text-to-Give messaging
- Our Flex plan caps the amount of auction attendees but not the number of bidders
- There are restrictions on the number of auction items at the Flex level
- Popcorn bidding and pre-bidding are available for Prepaid plans only
- The ability to disable auto-charge and accept offline payments (in the case of live events) is only available at the Prepaid level.
Compare and contrast 12 of the top fundraising auction sites.
CharityAuctionsToday vs. GalaBid Pricing
GalaBid offers a “free” plan, however this plan doesn’t include access to all of its features, such as customizable mass texts, charing pre-registered credit cards, or a leaderboard for people to see your progress towards your goal. Moreover, this “free” option still includes processing fees, although you can choose to pass these on to your guests. At this Free level, your participants will also be asked to tip the platform itself, a feature that GalaBid allows you to turn off at its higher price tiers.
GalaBid’s paid tiers start at platform fees of 4.9% with processing fees of 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction. This tier does not include a handful of features like Text-to-Register. GalaBid also offers a flat-fee upfront plan that starts at $1,250. At this price level, all features are available with the exception of event ticketing and check-in features, which have an additional cost not implemented at its lower tiers.
Meanwhile, CharityAuctionsToday makes it simple: CharityAuctionsToday has two types of plans. These plans’ prices include platform fees, to help us cover the costs of operation, processing fees to cover transactions, and, in the case of our Pre-Paid plan, a subscription fee to make sure we can provide solutions and support you require.
- Our Flex plan will cost you 5% of your total proceeds. If you don’t raise anything, you don’t pay anything.
- Our Pre-Paid plan costs a subscription fee of $297-$1,500 and platform fees of 0%-3%
- Both plans charge processing fees of 3% + $0.30 per transaction
We strive to provide auction and fundraising tools affordably, so that small nonprofits can make the most of their fundraising efforts. With a no-upfront-cost plan and a subscription plan that starts low at $297, we feel that CharityAuctionsToday is the clear choice against GalaBid’s more expensive auction solutions.
CharityAuctionsToday vs GalaBid Reviews
Both CharityAuctionsToday and GalaBid have great reviews: our users find our tools simple to use and our customer support excellent.
CharityAuctionsToday | GalaBid | |
Google Reviews | 4.9 | 5 |
Capterra Reviews | 4.3 | 4.7 |
Facebook Reviews | 100% recommend | NA |
Expand Your Reach
CharityAuctionsToday offers you the chance to share your event with more than your own email list or social followers. If you choose to make your event public it will show up in our public auction marketplace, putting it in front of a pool of experienced charity auction bidders.
GalaBid does not offer a similar marketplace function. Not only that, but their plans’ varying restrictions on Text-to-Give functionality and messaging could potentially make it more difficult for you to spread the word about your event.
Final Thoughts
While GalaBid offers a variety of fundraising features, we feel that our platform for nonprofits covers the same functions. Auctions that work for live, silent, or hybrid events. Raffles to increase your payout. Ticketing to make your guests’ check in process as simple as possible. Personalized text messaging, high touch support, and easy invoicing—we feel CharityAuctionsToday goes head-to-head with GalaBid. Especially because we’re more affordable.
We aim to help small nonprofits, schools, and charities to raise more with less, expand their reach, and host successful events year after year. If you’re an SMB nonprofit with limited budget and a need for flexible fundraising options, CharityAuctionsToday might be the best choice for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do CharityAuctionsToday and GalaBid compare overall?
Both platforms power charity auctions and gala fundraising. Differences typically show up in setup speed, mobile bidding UX, event-night tools (leaderboards, extended bidding, Fund-a-Need), pricing structure, and the depth of onboarding and live support.
Which is better for small teams or first-time organizers?
If you’re new to auctions, prioritize a guided setup wizard, simple item/bidder imports, clear bidder registration, and responsive support. Pilot with a small catalog to see which interface volunteers grasp fastest.
Which offers a smoother mobile bidding experience on event night?
Evaluate clarity of item pages, one-tap outbid alerts, max/auto-bid options, and a fast cart/checkout. Fewer taps and clear buttons usually mean higher participation and final bids.
Do both platforms support extended bidding to prevent last-second sniping?
Most modern tools allow “extended bidding,” which auto-extends an item when bids arrive near closing. Confirm the extension window, whether it’s configurable per item/category, and how leaderboards update in real time.
How do they handle Fund-a-Need or Paddle Raise during the program?
Look for preset giving levels, big-screen thermometers, table-side payment capture, and fast reconciliation. A strong appeal tool often produces the night’s largest revenue block.
Do CharityAuctionsToday and GalaBid include ticketing and check-in features?
Many platforms include or integrate ticketing, seating, and sponsor packages. Ensure guest lists flow cleanly into bidder profiles to avoid duplicates and delays at registration.
How do they compare on item intake and catalog organization?
Check for CSV imports, donor intake forms, bulk photo uploads, categories, FMV/minimums, Buy-It-Now, bundles, and bulk editing. These save staff time and reduce errors.
Do both platforms support outbid alerts and event-night messaging?
Look for automated outbid notifications, last-call reminders, and configurable SMS/email/push alerts. Timely, targeted alerts keep bidders engaged as items approach closing.
Which handles hybrid events (in-room + remote) more smoothly?
Confirm synchronized bidding for on-site and remote guests, staggered closings, and fair extended-bidding rules for everyone. Real-time leaderboards help maintain energy across audiences.
What payment options should we expect at checkout on either platform?
Seek card + digital wallet payments (Apple/Google Pay), saved cards for quick recharges, split payments (items vs donations), and an optional donor “cover fees” toggle. Verify payout timing and refund/chargeback handling.
How should we compare pricing and potential hidden fees between the two?
Request a sample invoice based on expected items, bidders, tickets, messages, and revenue. Compare platform fees, payment processing, texting/ticketing add-ons, overages, refund policies, and any premium support charges to understand net proceeds.
Do we fully own our data and get strong reporting from both platforms?
Your agreement should state you own your data and can export bidders, bids, items, donors, and payments (CSV/API). Look for post-event summaries by item, category, donor, and payment status.
Which integrations matter most when choosing between CharityAuctionsToday and GalaBid?
Prioritize syncing contacts and gifts to your CRM, email platform, and accounting system. Confirm real-time vs batch syncs, custom field mapping, and whether connectors are included or add-ons.
How customizable are pages, emails, and bidder messages on each platform?
Review themes, logo/colors, custom fields, item templates, and automated messages (outbid alerts, receipts, reminders). Consistent branding builds trust and conversion.
What accessibility and international features should we verify before choosing?
Mobile-first layouts, readable fonts, alt text, clear buttons, and language options. If needed, confirm supported currencies, time zones, tax settings, and address/phone formats for global bidders.
What support should we expect during setup and on closing night from either provider?
Ask about live chat/email hours, weekend coverage, and an escalation path during your final bidding hour. If timing is critical, confirm response SLAs and event-night staff availability.
How hard is it to migrate from one platform to the other before our event?
Create export/import templates for items, photos, donors, and bidders. Test a small import first, then lock edits during the final migration. Confirm how unpaid balances and receipts carry over.
What’s a quick checklist to decide between CharityAuctionsToday and GalaBid?
- List must-haves: mobile UX, extended bidding, Fund-a-Need, ticketing, exports/integrations.
- Run a scripted demo with your real items and a closing-time scenario.
- Request a sample invoice at expected volume to compare net proceeds.
- Confirm event-night support coverage on your specific date and hour.
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