Freedom251 › Charity Auction Software
ReadySetAuction
What ReadySetAuction is
ReadySetAuction is cloud-based auction management software for nonprofit organizations holding fundraising events. It supports silent, live, online, and mobile auctions, and helps organizers manage donors, donations, guests, seating, meal choices, auction packages, check-in, checkout, and receipts. It can create print-ready catalogs, bid sheets, and display sheets; Microsoft Word exports let organizers customize layouts. Bidders use a browser on a phone, tablet, or computer, without downloading an app. The paid plans cover nonconcurrent unlimited events for one year: ESSENTIALS is $1,099 per year, Select is $1,499 per year, and COMPLETE is $1,999 per year. Select includes a hosted auction website, online ticket and sponsorship sales, and self-checkout; COMPLETE includes online and mobile bidding. ESSENTIALS does not list online or mobile bidding among its features. ReadySetAuction integrates with DonorPerfect and provides a report for importing auction data. Card processing requires a compatible merchant account, and bidders can use PayPal for self-checkout only. A free, limited 15-day trial is available. All plans include support, with telephone support Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. ReadySetAuction is a division of SofterWare, Inc., and says it has provided web-based auction management services since 2003.
Who it suits
ReadySetAuction suits nonprofit organizations managing fundraising auctions and the related guest, donor, bidding, and payment workflows. It can also serve event teams that want browser-based bidding, printed auction materials, and DonorPerfect data import support.
What it does well
- Manages donors, guests, seating, packages, and event checkout.
- Creates print-ready catalogs, bid sheets, and display sheets.
- Bidders can participate through a browser without an app download.
- Integrates with DonorPerfect and provides an import report.
- All plans include support.
- Offers a free 15-day limited trial.
What to know first
- There is no free plan.
- ESSENTIALS does not list online or mobile bidding.
- Card processing requires a compatible merchant account.
- PayPal is limited to bidder self-checkout.
Limits
The free trial is limited to 15 days. ESSENTIALS does not list online or mobile bidding; Select and COMPLETE list different online features. Card processing requires a compatible merchant account, and PayPal is available only for bidder self-checkout.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $1,099/Year · Auction preparation · cashiering · event wrap-up/data continuity · support and training · unlimited nonconcurrent events | $1,099 a year |
| Select | $1,499/Year · Essentials features · self-checkout · hosted auction website · online ticket and sponsorship sales · Showcase leaderboard | $1,499 a year |
| Complete | $1,999/Year · Select features · online and mobile bidding · 90-day electronic bidding window · 45-day pre-event and post-event catalog access | $1,999 a year |
As readysetauction.com lists them, read 15 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the ReadySetAuction website.
- Start the free 15-day limited trial or choose a paid plan.
- Select ESSENTIALS, Select, or COMPLETE based on the listed event features.
- Set up event and auction records for donors, guests, packages, and other operations.
- Connect a compatible merchant account if you need credit-card processing.
- Use the DonorPerfect integration and import report if applicable.
Verdict
Choose ReadySetAuction if your nonprofit needs auction administration alongside event operations, printed materials, or browser-based bidding. Compare the plan features before choosing: online and mobile bidding are included in COMPLETE, while ESSENTIALS does not list them.
Questions
How much does ReadySetAuction cost?
ESSENTIALS costs $1,099 per year, Select costs $1,499 per year, and COMPLETE costs $1,999 per year.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. ReadySetAuction offers a free, limited 15-day trial. There is no free plan.
Which platforms are available?
ReadySetAuction lists Android, iOS, and web. Bidders can use a web browser on phones, tablets, or computers without downloading an app.
Which plan includes mobile and online bidding?
COMPLETE includes online and mobile bidding. ESSENTIALS does not list those features, while Select lists a hosted auction website, online ticket and sponsorship sales, and self-checkout.
Does ReadySetAuction integrate with DonorPerfect?
Yes. It integrates with DonorPerfect and provides a report for importing auction data.
Who makes ReadySetAuction?
ReadySetAuction says it is a division of SofterWare, Inc., which has provided web-based auction management services since 2003.
Facts from ReadySetAuction's own pages
- Acquisition news
- SofterWare announced its purchase of ReadySetAuction on October 6, 2016, reporting that RSA had managed more than $300 million in auctions for over 3,000 nonprofits since 2003. · prweb.com, 15 Oct 2026
- API and SDKs
- The documented DonorPerfect transfer uses an API key, but no public ReadySetAuction developer API, SDK or API reference was found. · readysetauction.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Auction operations
- The software manages donors, donations, guests, seating, meal choices, auction packages, check-in, checkout, and receipts. · readysetauction.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Bidding
- Bidders can use web browsers on phones, tablets, and computers for mobile or online bidding; the maker says no app download is needed. · readysetauction.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Bidding modes
- The system supports standard electronic bidding, proxy or robot-assisted bidding, win-it-now purchases, pre-bidding and traditional paper bidding. · helpdesk.readysetauction.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Cashiering
- Staff can capture cards at check-in, record winning bids and pledges, issue consolidated invoices, accept cash, checks or cards, and email receipts. · readysetauction.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Company founded
- SofterWare reports that it was founded in 1981. · softerware.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Company headquarters and size
- LinkedIn lists SofterWare headquarters in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania and company size of 201-500 employees. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Company legal name
- The terms identify SofterWare, Inc. as doing business as ReadySetAuction. · readysetauction.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Company ownership
- ReadySetAuction is a division of SofterWare, Inc., which acquired the auction software in 2016. · readysetauction.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Data continuity
- Donors and bidder information can roll into the next event for solicitation emails and letters. · readysetauction.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The help center lists 151 knowledge-base articles, videos, setup guides, transfer guides and feedback forums. · helpdesk.readysetauction.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Donation tracking
- It tracks auction items, services, in-kind gifts, consignment, sponsorships and cash contributions. · readysetauction.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Event website
- Select and Complete customers receive a hosted, responsive event website with customizable banner, welcome message, colors and sponsor logos. · readysetauction.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2003 · readysetauction.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Guest management
- The system records RSVPs, assigns tables, tracks meal selections and manages guest parties and sponsor guests. · readysetauction.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, United States · readysetauction.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Import and export
- CSV imports are supported for patrons, donations and packages, with validation and exception files for failed records. · helpdesk.readysetauction.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Official documentation describes integrations with DonorPerfect and PayPal, plus SafeSave merchant processing. · helpdesk.readysetauction.com, 15 Oct 2026
- License
- ReadySetAuction is proprietary software; the terms prohibit copying, reverse engineering, modification and derivative works. · readysetauction.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: customization
- Reviewers report dated or limited website design, limited customization and restrictions on organizing or uploading information. · softwareadvice.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: payment workflows
- The help desk shows requests for two payment methods at checkout, custom reporting and charging defined sponsorship sales as still under review. · helpdesk.readysetauction.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: setup complexity
- Reviewers describe a learning curve, many settings for simple auctions and cumbersome guest registration or account creation. · capterra.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Maker
- ReadySetAuction says it is a division of SofterWare, Inc., and that it has provided web-based auction management services since 2003. · readysetauction.com, 7 Oct 2026
Where ReadySetAuction stands on Freedom251
- Charity Auction Software#12 of 27