Which auction software is right for you? A fair, sourced head-to-head comparison of fees, features, buyer ownership, and the real-world cost of running auctions in 2026.
A 2-minute head-to-head: features, fees, and real auctioneer economics.
HiBid layers per-bid, per-auction, and percentage-of-proceeds fees. Selling Lane charges one flat subscription. That's it.
| Fee type | What HiBid charges |
|---|---|
| Internet absentee bidding | $0.25 per unique bid, capped at $25/auction |
| Internet-only auction | $0.25 per unique bid, capped at $75/auction |
| Webcast / simulcast | $25 setup + $0.25 per unique bid, capped at $150/auction |
| Gross proceeds fee | 0.4% of every winning high bid |
| Credit-card authentication | $1.00 per bidder (optional) |
| Listing-only auction | $195 per listing |
| Real estate tiered fee | Based on total hammer price |
That 0.4% gross-proceeds fee adds up fast. A $250,000 auction = $1,000. A $1,000,000 month = $4,000 โ paid on top of the per-bid, per-auction, and simulcast setup fees. HiBid may also collect a share of the buyer's premium as an "Internet Premium."
| Fee type | What Selling Lane charges |
|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | $995/month (or $9,995/year) |
| Per-bid fees | $0 |
| Per-auction fees | $0 |
| Simulcast / webcast setup | $0 |
| Gross proceeds fee | $0 |
| Per-item listing fees | $0 |
| Buyer's premium taken by platform | $0 โ you keep 100% |
Your cost is the same whether you do $50K or $5M in a month. No success tax. No unpredictable invoices. Predictable software cost means predictable margins.
Plug your volume into these scenarios to see the gap.
4 auctions/month, $200,000 total sales
| Cost | HiBid | Selling Lane |
|---|---|---|
| Auction fees (4 internet-only) | $300 (4 × $75 cap) | $0 |
| 0.4% gross proceeds ($200K) | $800 | $0 |
| Monthly platform cost | Varies by AuctionFlex plan | $995 |
| Total monthly cost | ~$1,100+ (before AuctionFlex) | $995 |
| Buyer's premium | HiBid may take a share | You keep 100% |
8 auctions/month, $500,000 total sales
| Cost | HiBid | Selling Lane |
|---|---|---|
| Auction fees (8 auctions) | $600–$1,200 | $0 |
| 0.4% gross proceeds ($500K) | $2,000 | $0 |
| Monthly platform cost | Varies | $995 |
| Total monthly cost | ~$2,600–$3,200+ | $995 |
The more successful your auctions, the bigger the gap. HiBid's economics punish growth. Selling Lane's reward it.
| Feature | Selling Lane | HiBid |
|---|---|---|
| Simulcast / live streaming | Included โ stream from your phone, no special equipment | $25 setup + per-bid fees per auction |
| Simulcastless™ live bidding | Yes โ real-time bidding without video | No equivalent |
| Timed online auctions | Included | Included |
| Silent / sealed-bid auctions | Included | Limited |
| Buy It Now | Included | Available |
| Proxy bidding | Included โ auto-adjusting increments | Included |
| Branded auction website | Included โ your logo, your domain, your brand | You list on HiBid.com under their brand |
| Buyer CRM | Built-in โ profiles, history, segmentation, blocking | Basic โ through AuctionFlex |
| Condition reports | Customizable templates for any item type | Limited |
| Automated invoicing | Included โ auto-generated with fee calculations | Available through AuctionFlex |
| Bulk upload (CSV/Excel) | Included โ unlimited items, photos, docs | Available through AuctionFlex |
| Deal desk / second-chance offers | Built-in โ negotiate below reserve | Limited โ items marked "unsold" |
| Live auction TV display | Included โ lane lights, bid history, upcoming | Not included |
| Mobile bidding app | PWA โ any device, no download | Mobile web + app |
| Unlimited users / staff | Yes โ no per-seat charges | Depends on AuctionFlex plan |
| Unlimited photos | Yes | Varies |
| Data export | Full CSV โ items, bids, buyers, invoices, anytime | Available |
| Custom domain | Included | Through AuctionFlex |
| Built-in arbitration | Yes โ resolve disputes without killing the deal | No equivalent |
| AI-powered tools | Yes โ built on Google Cloud with generative AI | No |
This is the most important question HiBid doesn't want you to ask. In the auction business, your bidder list is your most valuable asset โ often worth more than your inventory.
You list your auctions on HiBid.com โ a marketplace that HiBid owns and controls. Bidders see HiBid's brand. When a buyer falls in love with your lots, HiBid has the customer relationship, the email address, and the login. Leave HiBid and you leave behind much of the audience you spent years cultivating.
Your auctions live at your domain, under your brand. Bidders register with you. Their data lives in your CRM โ exportable to CSV at any time. If you ever want to leave Selling Lane, you take your buyers with you. No lock-in, no brand dilution, no hostage situation.
HiBid has a large user base and many long-tenured customers. These are real, sourced complaints from that same community.
"The platform collects 2% from each winning bid. Auctioneers who exploit their bidders truly deserve a special place in hell."โ r/hibid discussion, Reddit
Common bidder complaints around shill-bidding visibility and transparency in multi-seller auctions.โ Aggregated community feedback
"HiBid has a look the other way, head in the sand stance on honest people being taken advantage of."โ BBB complaint
"Very hard to navigate, expensive, huge learning curve on the auctioneer side."โ G2 review
HiBid positions itself as a "technology provider" rather than a party responsible for the auctions on the platform โ which limits recourse for both buyers and sellers.โ Paraphrased from HiBid's own terms
We'll be honest: HiBid isn't wrong for everyone.
No data-migration consultant required. Most auctioneers are running their first Selling Lane auction the same day.
14 days, no credit card required.
Bulk upload via CSV. Photos, descriptions, reserves โ all at once.
Your logo, your colors, your domain. No HiBid branding anywhere.
Email your existing bidder list with your new auction link.
Your first auction can be running the same day.
"Finally, software that doesn't charge me a percentage of my sales. Simple, fast, and fair."โ Rachel P., Independent Auto Auctioneer
Every dollar HiBid takes from your proceeds is a dollar you earned. Selling Lane lets you keep it.
14-day free trial · No credit card required
Fees, features, and business practices on both platforms can change. Figures are accurate as of publication. HiBid is a registered trademark of Auction Flex LLC; Selling Lane is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by HiBid or Auction Flex.