Bid Beacon
Bid Beacon is an online silent-auction platform for fundraising, available on Android, iOS and the web.
What Bid Beacon is
Bid Beacon is an online silent-auction platform for fundraising, available on Android, iOS and the web. Its setup wizard guides organizers through creating and configuring auctions. Full auctions can use custom color themes, banner images, logos and custom links or access codes. Bidding tools include extensions, proxy bidding and max bidding, and organizations can import up to 600 items at once with a preformatted template. Full auctions use Express Banking through Stripe Connect to charge winners automatically when items close. An active CommuniBee subscription enables Stripe, Square, PayPal and offline payment options. Bid Beacon integrates with CommuniBee and Raffle Rocket and supports USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, AUD and NZD. It says it does not store card or banking information; payment details are handled by PCI-compliant Stripe. Email support and live Bid Beacon 101 group sessions are available. A free plan is listed. The Full Auction plan has a 4.9% platform fee per transaction, collected up to a $999 cap, plus a Stripe Connect fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
Good
- Auction setup wizard guides configuration.
- Imports up to 600 items at a time.
- Supports proxy and max bidding.
- Automatically charges winners when full-auction items close.
- Supports six listed currencies.
Watch out
- Admin functions require a web browser.
- Multiple payment options require an active CommuniBee subscription.
- Full Auction has platform and Stripe Connect transaction fees.
Who it suits
Bid Beacon suits event fundraisers, charities, nonprofits, school societies and sports clubs running silent auctions. It also serves for-profit retailers, and may fit organizers who want mobile bidding alongside web-based administration.
Verdict
Bid Beacon pairs auction branding and bidding controls with item imports and automatic winner charging on full auctions. Note that administrators must use a browser, and some payment choices depend on a CommuniBee subscription.
Plans and prices
From Bid Beacon's own pricing page, checked 2 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Full Auction | — | unlimited guests, items, images, and admin roles · optional duration up to 365 days · Stripe Connect 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee · 4.9% platform fee per transaction, collected up to a $999 Platform Fee cap |
The facts
Each one read from Bid Beacon's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Admin limitation
- Admin functionality is unavailable in the downloaded app and requires a web browser.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The service is aimed at event fundraisers, charities, nonprofits, school societies, sports clubs, and for-profit retailers.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Bidding
- The platform supports bidding extensions, proxy bidding, and max bidding.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Branding
- Full auctions include custom color themes, banner images, custom links or access codes, and logos.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Bulk import
- Organizations can import up to 600 auction items at a time using a preformatted template.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Currencies
- Supported currencies are USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, AUD, and NZD.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Bid Beacon integrates with CommuniBee and Raffle Rocket.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Payment options
- An active CommuniBee subscription enables Stripe, Square, PayPal, and offline payment options.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Payments
- Full auctions use Express Banking through Stripe Connect, with automatic winner charging when items close.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Product
- Bid Beacon is an online silent-auction platform for fundraising.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Security
- Bid Beacon says it does not store credit-card or banking information; payment information is handled by PCI-compliant Stripe.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Setup
- The auction setup wizard guides users through creating and configuring an auction.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Support
- Email customer support and live Bid Beacon 101 group sessions are available.checked 2 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2018checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Edmonton, Alberta, Canadachecked 28 Sep 2026
- Maker
- Bid Beacon is owned and managed by Launch57, a Canadian mobile software development company.checked 2 Oct 2026
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