ReadySetAuction
ReadySetAuction is cloud-based software for nonprofits organizing silent, live, mobile, and online fundraising auctions.
What ReadySetAuction is
ReadySetAuction is cloud-based software for nonprofits organizing silent, live, mobile, and online fundraising auctions. It brings event administration together, with tools for donor and donation records, guest details, seating, meal choices, auction packages, check-in, checkout, and receipts. Organizers can create print-ready catalogs, bid sheets, and display sheets, then export them to Microsoft Word for layout changes. Bidders can participate in a web browser on a phone, tablet, or computer without downloading an app. Features vary by plan: ESSENTIALS is $1,099 per year and lists no online or mobile bidding; Select is $1,499 per year and includes a hosted auction website, online ticket and sponsorship sales, and self-checkout; COMPLETE is $1,999 per year and includes online and mobile bidding. Plans cover nonconcurrent unlimited events for one year. Card processing needs a compatible merchant account, and PayPal is available only for bidder self-checkout. A free, limited 15-day trial is offered. The service integrates with DonorPerfect and includes support on all plans.
Good
- Manages donors, guests, seating, packages, and event checkout.
- Creates print-ready auction materials with Microsoft Word export.
- Bidders can use browsers without downloading an app.
- DonorPerfect integration includes an auction-data import report.
- All plans include support.
Watch out
- ESSENTIALS does not list online or mobile bidding.
- Credit-card processing requires a compatible merchant account.
- PayPal is limited to bidder self-checkout.
Who it suits
It suits nonprofit teams coordinating fundraising auctions and the records, printed materials, and guest logistics around them. Organizations should check plan features if online or mobile bidding is essential.
Verdict
ReadySetAuction covers auction administration from participant records to checkout, with plan-dependent bidding options. Review the included features and merchant-account requirement before choosing a plan.
Plans and prices
From ReadySetAuction's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $1,099 a year | Auction preparation · cashiering · event wrap-up/data continuity · support and training · unlimited nonconcurrent events · $1,099/Year |
| Select | $1,499 a year | Essentials features · self-checkout · hosted auction website · online ticket and sponsorship sales · Showcase leaderboard · $1,499/Year |
| Complete | $1,999 a year | Select features · online and mobile bidding · 90-day electronic bidding window · 45-day pre-event and post-event catalog access · $1,999/Year |
The facts
Each one read from ReadySetAuction's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- 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.checked 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.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Auction operations
- The software manages donors, donations, guests, seating, meal choices, auction packages, check-in, checkout, and receipts.checked 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.checked 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.checked 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.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Data continuity
- Donors and bidder information can roll into the next event for solicitation emails and letters.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The help center lists 151 knowledge-base articles, videos, setup guides, transfer guides and feedback forums.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Donation tracking
- It tracks auction items, services, in-kind gifts, consignment, sponsorships and cash contributions.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Event website
- Select and Complete customers receive a hosted, responsive event website with customizable banner, welcome message, colors and sponsor logos.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Guest management
- The system records RSVPs, assigns tables, tracks meal selections and manages guest parties and sponsor guests.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Import and export
- CSV imports are supported for patrons, donations and packages, with validation and exception files for failed records.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Official documentation describes integrations with DonorPerfect and PayPal, plus SafeSave merchant processing.checked 15 Oct 2026
- License
- ReadySetAuction is proprietary software; the terms prohibit copying, reverse engineering, modification and derivative works.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: customization
- Reviewers report dated or limited website design, limited customization and restrictions on organizing or uploading information.checked 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.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: setup complexity
- Reviewers describe a learning curve, many settings for simple auctions and cumbersome guest registration or account creation.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- Company founded
- SofterWare reports that it was founded in 1981.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Company headquarters and size
- LinkedIn lists SofterWare headquarters in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania and company size of 201-500 employees.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Company legal name
- The terms identify SofterWare, Inc. as doing business as ReadySetAuction.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Company ownership
- ReadySetAuction is a division of SofterWare, Inc., which acquired the auction software in 2016.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2003checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, United Stateschecked 28 Sep 2026
- Maker
- ReadySetAuction says it is a division of SofterWare, Inc., and that it has provided web-based auction management services since 2003.checked 7 Oct 2026
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