Choosing the right silent auction platform can have a direct impact on how much you raise—and how smoothly your event runs. While there’s no shortage of tools available, not all silent auction platforms are built with the same goals in mind.
In this Bid Beacon vs. Zeffy review, the differences go well beyond “paid vs. free.” Bid Beacon is designed to help organizations run engaging, scalable auctions that drive competitive bidding and higher results, while Zeffy offers organizations with a no-fee, optional donation option for running events.
Below, we’ll break down how each platform works, where they shine, and which one makes the most sense for your organization and fundraising goals.
Introductions: Bid Beacon vs. Zeffy
What Is Bid Beacon?
Bid Beacon is built specifically for online silent auctions but can also support hybrid events. It’s an online platform that helps charities, sports clubs, school groups, and even for-profit retailers reach their fundraising goals through easy-to-run online auctions.
Designed to be both cost-effective and user-friendly, Bid Beacon simplifies the experience for everyone involved. Organizers can showcase unlimited auction items, while bidders can place bids directly from their personal devices and receive real-time updates throughout the auction—keeping the experience engaging from start to finish.
What Is Zeffy?
Zeffy’s silent auction feature is part of its larger, all-in-one fundraising platform designed for nonprofits. Rather than focusing exclusively on auctions, Zeffy offers auctions alongside other tools like donations, ticketing, and fee collection.
Its auction tool provides a straightforward way to run smaller online silent auctions, with simple setup and bidding accessible from participants’ phones. As a free platform supported by optional donor/bidder contributions, Zeffy appeals to organizations looking to manage multiple fundraising activities in one place—though its auction functionality is more limited compared to platforms built specifically for silent auctions.
Key Comparisons: Bid Beacon vs. Zeffy Auctions
User-friendly and easy through every step of your auction.
Simple to use, with a more basic auction setup.
Fast, easy-to-navigate setup that makes managing your auction items simple. Add images, descriptions, and links for video.
The platform is designed for simplicity. Add images, starting prices, and descriptions for each item.
No upfront cost, 4.9% platform fee with a fee cap for pricing certainty.
No fees, but bidders have the option to donate to Zeffy.
Extensive and responsive, with guides to help you with your auction and live group sessions.
Detailed instructions are provided for hosting auctions; some Zeffy customers have complained about customer support.
Payments are processed securely through Stripe Connect, Stripe, Square, or PayPal. Bid Beacon does not store payment any payment information.
Process payments securely with standard credit card and digital payment channels; organization-wide security is part of the platform.
Platform Features: Bid Beacon vs. Zeffy Auctions
Next in this Bid Beacon vs. Zeffy review, we’ll compare the features of each of the platform.
Unlimited items.
Up to 50 items per auction.
Multiple images and video links.
Images only.
Start and end auctions when you want, with staggered end times for individual items.
End date only, no ability to set start time.
Mobile bidding, app, and web bidding.
Web bidding only.
Real-time popups, push, SMS, and email notifications when someone is outbid.
E-mails for winners and when they’re outbid.
Integrated payment options and auto-charging available.
Auto-charge winners.
Who It’s For: Bid Beacon vs. Zeffy Auctions
Who Is Bid Beacon For?
- Charities, for-profit retailers, nonprofit and religious organizations, school groups, and sports clubs, among many others.
- Auctions large and small. It allows for unlimited items, images, guests, and administrators.
- Organizations requiring dynamic bidding, staggered ends, and teams that want detailed reporting.
Who Is Zeffy For?
- Small or budget-constrained nonprofits.
- Organizations requiring fewer than 50 items posted in their silent auction.
Fees: Bid Beacon vs. Zeffy Pricing
Bid Beacon Fees
- No upfront costs to start.
- Transparent platform fee starting at 4.9% + Stripe fees.
- Platform fee cap to keep costs predictable for organizations.
- A CommuniBee subscription can reduce platform fees and fee caps.
- Include an optional surcharge to recoup fees.
- Zero hidden fees.
Zeffy Fees
- Zeffy does not charge platform fees, meaning 100% of the money raised goes to your organization.
- No add-on or credit card fees.
- Donors have the option of tipping.
A note on free platforms: Is free better? Some bidders may feel confused in thinking they are donating to the organization, not the platform, or put off by the optional contribution prompt. In either case, it could negatively affect their giving experience or reduce overall bids. While using a platform with a more traditional pricing model may seem less appealing than a “free” product, it takes the potential stress or confusion off bidders, creating a fun, relaxed environment.
Customer Feedback: Bid Beacon vs. Zeffy Reviews
At the time of writing this, Bid Beacon has over 750 reviews on Google with an average rating of 4.9 stars. Zeffy currently has 14 reviews and a rating of 3.0 stars. We’ve dug into the differences between the two companies for this Bid Beacon vs Zeffy review, but what do customers say?
Bid Beacon Reviews
“We used this app to auction off several prizes to given at the end of our golf tournament. It worked flawlessly. We were able to adjust the time to end the auction to when everyone gathered at the end of the tournament and giving everyone about 15 minutes to place final bids. After our door prizes, regular raffles and 50/50 of course. So convenient and easy to use.” – Larry B
“Set up our first silent auction using Bid Beacon. Incredibly easy to manage and cost was very reasonable for our non-profit. No complaints from bidders. Will definitely use again!” – Jennifer Del Grande
“Bid Beacon was the easiest online auction service I have ever used. I was able to move through the items quickly, going back and forth. It let me know when I needed to bid again, securing the items I really wanted. I’m happy to have been part of this event online!” – Kalen Corrie
Overall, Bid Beacon reviews revealed the following about the silent auction platform:
- Extremely easy to set up and use
- Reliable, smooth experience for live and online events
- Flexible auction timing and management
- Affordable and nonprofit-friendly
- Engaging bidder experience with real-time notifications
- Great for all sizes of auctions
Zeffy Reviews
“Fantastic resource for non-profits. It has made fundraising and our fee collection so much easier for our non-profit. I highly recommend!” – Lisa Anderson
“Has been an excellent platform and resource for our foundation.” – Mitch Pearson
“Zeffy has a 50 item limit for their online auction. Please note this before setting everything up and being shocked when you can’t add anymore after 50 like I was! Ugh!” – L.H.
What users revealed in Zeffy reviews:
- Easy-to-use platform designed for nonprofits
- Simplifies fundraising and fee collection
- Works well for foundations and smaller organizations
- No platform or transaction fees (only optional donations)
- Online auctions are limited to 50 items, which may be restrictive for larger events.
Support & Onboarding Resources
Bid Beacon Support & Resources
- Expansive resources to help you not only get started and set up your auction, but also make sure it reaches its full potential. These include expansive resource guides and a blog with great ideas for improving your auction.
- Live Q&A Sessions with Bid Beacon staff to help you manage your silent auction
- Resources with great silent auction item ideas to help you raise as much money as possible.
Zeffy Support & Resources
- Expansive help centre and guides, with how-to articles and blog posts designed to make your auction easier to set up.
- Resources focus more on getting started and less on specific strategies for hosting a silent auction.
- Zeffy explicitly states that its auction feature is “specifically designed for online silent auctions and is not adapted for live auctions,” but in-person payments can be handled via a QR code or Zeffy’s Tap to Pay app.
Security, Compliance & Trust Signals
Bid Beacon Security & Trust Signals
- Supports several PCI-compliant online payment providers such as Stripe Connect, Stripe, Square, and PayPal, which enables all major credit cards and Canadian pre-authorized debit cards.
- Thousands of successful auctions have been hosted, with over 158,000 items sold as of this review.
- Over 750 reviews on Google with an average rating of 4.9 stars.
Zeffy Security and Trust Signals
- PCI-compliant practices for donation forms
- Uses Stripe for payments
Final Takeaway: Bid Beacon vs. Zeffy Review
Both Zeffy and Bid Beacon offer tools to support silent auctions, but they’re built for different types of organizations and events.
Zeffy can be a good fit for small nonprofits with limited budgets running simple, lower-volume auctions, and willing to work within platform constraints such as the 50 item limit.
Bid Beacon, on the other hand, is designed for organizations that want their silent auction to perform. With unlimited auction items, real-time bid alerts that drive competition, intuitive setup for organizers and bidders, and detailed reporting that shows exactly how your event performed, Bid Beacon delivers a smooth experience—and strong fundraising results.
If your goal is to run a more engaging auction, scale without limits, and raise more money with less friction, Bid Beacon is the clear choice.
FAQ
Is Zeffy legitimate?
Absolutely. Zeffy’s silent auction platform doesn’t offer all the features Bid Beacon does, but it’s free to use and may work well for budget-constrained organizations looking to host smaller auctions.
How does Zeffy make money?
When you host a Zeffy auction, there are no fees for your organization. They make money through optional tips from bidders.
