eBay is our best overall pick for rare products and good deals for the best online auction websites for 2023. The e-commerce and online auction space is a $934.2 billion industry in the U.S. alone.1 Online auctions are a great place to find deals, sell your stuff, buy business equipment, or even secure your next family vacation. Other auction items include real estate, vehicles, aircraft, jewels, electronics, clothing, and even NASA Shuttle/Hubble equipment. 
If you’re looking for great deals, there’s a good chance you’ll find them on an online auction website. Whether you’re on the hunt for jewelry, clothes, books, cars, a house, or even a piece of land, they’re all available at bargain prices on these bidding websites.
While eBay is the most popular and widely known auction website, there are plenty of alternatives that offer niche topics like collectibles, specialty items, or big-ticket purchases like real estate and vehicles. Before choosing the best site for your needs, check for any extra fees that could be applied to your purchase. Some sites even offer memberships for additional benefits.
Gavel on laptop computer keyboard concept for online internet auction or legal assistance
Here, find the best online auction websites to find your favorite items without breaking the bank.
10 Best Online Auction Websites Of 2023
- Best Overall: eBay
- Best Nonprofit: ShopGoodwill
- Best for Trading Items: Listia
- Best for Government Sales: GovDeals
- Best Online Police Auction: PropertyRoom
- Best Municipal Surplus: Municibid
- Best for Collectibles: Webstore
- Best Live Auctions: Auction Zip
- Best for Specialty Items: Catawiki
- Best for Big-Ticket Items: IRS Treasury Auctions
Best Overall: eBay
Key Specs
- Fees: Varied percentage of the winning bid amount plus $0.30 per order selling fee
- Membership: Multiple options for free or reduced selling fees
- Shipping: Free, calculated at checkout, or local pickup
Why We Chose It
eBay is the best overall online auction website because it’s free for buyers, both seller and buyer have protections from fraud, and you’re not restricted to just the United States. You can buy and sell on eBay from most countries.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Well-established site with reasonable policies and procedures
- Buyer and seller reputations are a key part of transactions
- Includes just about every type of item
- Buyers and sellers from all over the world
- It’s free for buyers
- Offers both seller’s and buyer’s protection
Cons
- “Professional” buyers often engage in last-minute bidding wars, to the detriment of casual users
- The feedback system can be confusing and unhelpful
- Seller’s fees aren’t uniform across categories
- Final value fees can be as high as $750, depending on your category
- Displays third-party advertisements and listings from other sellers on any eBay page—including your listing
Overview
eBay is one of the oldest auction sites online, and it offers a huge array of items from diamonds to used clothes and even real estate. Buyers can bid or buy instantly, and sellers can use eBay to get rid of unwanted items.
Self-proclaimed to be “where the world goes to shop, sell, and give,” this bargain hunter’s super auction site seems to have everything you can dream of. Users can place bids via computer or directly through the eBay auction app.
However, too much of a good thing can be tough to navigate. Learn how to search eBay to narrow down the options and find the product you’re looking for.
Categories on eBay include:
- Collectibles and art
- Electronics
- Entertainment memorabilia
- Fashion
- Home and garden
- Motors
- Real Estate
- Sporting goods
- Toys and hobbies
- Tickets and travel
- Pet supplies
- Specialty services
- Baby essentials
Anyone can sell on eBay, although there are restricted and prohibited categories. For example, you can’t sell lockpicking or locksmithing devices. eBay also doesn’t sell any of its own items, which means you have no competition from them as a seller.
When selling on eBay, you can use photos and video to showcase your items.
Seller’s fees depend on your category, listing price, and final sale price. Fees include:
- Insertion fees: For most categories, you receive up to 250 listings for free per month, then pay $0.35 per listing.
- Final value fees: Pay a percentage of the total sale price, which is usually less than 12.9% for most sellers.
- Listing upgrades: Take advantage of optional upgrades like international visibility, larger photos, and listing your item in multiple categories. Upgrades start at $0.10 per listing and go up to $6.00 per listing, depending on the item price
Best Nonprofit: ShopGoodwill
Key Specs
- Fees: None
- Membership: N/A
- Shipping: Free, calculated at checkout, or local pickup
Why We Chose It
ShopGoodwill is a nonprofit online auction site that brings popular items from Goodwill stores to its online marketplace. Buyers can have their items shipped or opt for local pickup on many different items.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Proceeds benefit a good cause
- Lots of unique finds
- Easy-to-use platform
Cons
- Lots of chaff to sift to find the wheat
- Donations can be cherry-picked by Goodwill staff
Overview
Goodwill is a nonprofit organization that operates retail stores to raise money for people with disabilities or who otherwise need a helping hand. Its bidding website, ShopGoodwill, is a collaborative effort from Goodwill stores all across the United States and provides an impressive variety of all sorts of products.
Some of the categories of items that go for auction on Goodwill include home, bulk, art, tools, wedding, clothing, musical instruments, pet supplies, computers and electronics, sports, bath and body, toys, and games.
Best for Trading Items: Listia
Key Specs
- Fees: 10 percent of fixed price
- Membership: Multiple options for bonus credits
- Shipping: Free, flat rate, or exact cost
Why We Chose It
Listia is essentially an online trading system. The site gives users credits for listing their unwanted items, which can be used to “purchase” other items.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Interesting take on the online auction experience
- Earn in-app currency through referrals as well as sales
Cons
- Credit system is unnecessarily complex
- Not many users
Overview
Instead of using cash to bid, Listia offers credits to users, so all the items are technically free.
Here’s how it works: First, a Listia user lists something they don’t want anymore. Then, other users bid on it using credits they earn from referring friends or selling their own merchandise. The user who bids the most credits wins the item.
Another way to look at this auction site is as a trading system, but since not all items are equal in value, you’re given credits to use for other trades.
Depending on the item and where it’s being sold from, some things can be purchased online as digital orders, shipped to you for free or a fee (which you’ll need real money for), or can be picked up locally.
Best for Government Sales: GovDeals
Key Specs
- Fees: 0 to 7.5 percent seller’s fee, 5 to 12.5 percent buyer’s fee
- Membership: N/A
- Shipping: Local pickup or buyer-arranged shipping
Why We Chose It
GovDeals offers legitimate government sales of surplus or confiscated items, including a wide range of categories from heavy equipment to electronics, automobiles, and more.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Diversity of items, from office supplies to heavy industrial equipment
- Very clear terms and conditions for each sale
- Legitimate government sales
Cons
- Most places don’t ship, so you’ll need to pick up items yourself or arrange for shipping
- Online listings aren’t always written by experienced salespeople
Overview
GovDeals is the official portal for government auctions. There are dozens of categories of products to bid on, such as janitorial equipment, batteries, lumber, gambling machines, trailers, all-terrain vehicles, commercial furnaces, motorcycles, exercise equipment, and real estate.
The rules and regulations vary depending on the participating agency, and you deal directly with the agency after you’re awarded a bid.
The deals are great, but be sure to inquire about packaging and shipping of an item before you place your bid because most sellers don’t ship, pack, or palletize. You may be responsible for picking it up or paying someone to transport it.
Best Online Police Auction: PropertyRoom
Key Specs
- Fees: Varied percentage of the winning bid amount
- Membership: N/A
- Shipping: Flat rate, calculated at checkout, or local pickup
Why We Chose It
Property Room is an online resource that lets buyers browse police auctions for seized, found, and unclaimed items at low prices.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Wide variety of items
- Many items are listed and sold below value
- Clean, easy-to-use website
Cons
- Hit-or-miss listings
- Work directly with the police department, so pick-up arrangements vary
- Vehicle titles may be complicated because of state-specific forms related to asset seizures
Overview
Law enforcement is required by law to auction seized, found, and unclaimed personal property at a public forum. A large number of goods are seized regularly, and the PropertyRoom bidding site aims to make it all available via public police auctions. There are tons of vehicles on the site, but it also features electronics, jewelry, art, coins, watches, and more.
PropertyRoom works with more than 4,100 law enforcement and municipal agencies, so the selection is vast and constantly changing.
Best Municipal Surplus: Municibid
Key Specs
- Fees: Varied percentage of the winning bid amount
- Membership: N/A
- Shipping: Local pickup or specified by seller
Why We Chose It
Like other government auction sites, Municibid offers a wide variety of item categories to bid on. Starting prices are often very low, giving users the opportunity to find great discounts on their items.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Items from city/state-level government agencies up for bid
- Large range of items
Cons
- Not many participating jurisdictions
- Harsh charges accrue if you default on a bid
- There is an automatic 9% fee when you win a bid and is charged to your credit card
Overview
Have you ever wondered how you can get your hands on something the government doesn’t want anymore? Municibid is your best bet. This is an auction website for government agencies, schools, authorities, and utilities to sell their surplus and forfeitures directly to the public.
Auction items include cars, boats, furniture, computers, kitchen equipment, and much more.
Best for Collectibles: Webstore
Key Specs
- Fees: None
- Membership: N/A
- Shipping: Free, flat rate, or calculated at checkout
Why We Chose It
While Webstore’s site may be outdated, this online auction platform is completely free to use. Unique and collectible items are widely available and often include free shipping.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Eclectic batches of items
- Similar to eBay
Cons
- Outdated site design
- Too many ads
Overview
Webstore is an auction site supported by donations and advertisements, so costs are kept low and there are no membership fees.
Although not everything is sold on this site, their online auctions are highly rated for rare and collectible merchandise and state-of-the-art electronics.
Auction categories include cameras, art, music, sports memorabilia, real estate, bullion, books and magazines, clothing, DVDs and movies, jewelry, pottery, travel, tickets, specialty services, and more.
Best Live Auctions: Auction Zip
Key Specs
- Fees: $20 seller’s fee per listing
- Membership: Optional for unlimited listings
- Shipping: Free, calculated at checkout, or local pickup
Why We Chose It
AuctionZip offers live auctions for users to bid in real time without having to wait days or weeks to know if they won.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Site design mimics an auction hall
- Real-time bidding
- Clean site design
Cons
- Some auction lots are huge
- Registration barrier precludes random browsing
Overview
If you’re looking for live auctions, AuctionZip is the place to go. These live auctions are events that you can view right from your web browser to bid for items online at the same time as other bidders on the auction floor.
With live bidding, you can access auctions around the world and get in on all the action without any software to download or special tools to buy. The website lists auctions that are currently live and ones that are upcoming.
After you register to bid, you go straight to an auction to watch what’s happening and bid in real time if you see something you like.
Best for Specialty Items: Catawiki
Key Specs
- Fees: 12.5 percent fee for sellers, 9 percent fee for buyers
- Membership: N/A
- Shipping: Free, calculated at checkout, or local pickup
Why We Chose It
Catawiki’s website is user-friendly, guarantees quick shipping, and makes it easy for buyers to find the items they want with plenty of search filters.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Specializes in unique items
- All items are sent within three business days
- Huge number of filtering options
Cons
- Fees are not included in purchase price
- Must change the billing currency in your settings if you don’t use the Euro
Overview
Catawiki describes itself as an auction site with “inspiring objects to discover every week.” There are over 300 auctions on this site each week and lots of unique finds to sift through.
Users can find auctions for everything from modern and contemporary art to stamps, classic cars, and jewelry. All items are handpicked and verified by their staff, which is comprised of over 200 experts.
Catawiki also offers a mobile app to place bids on the go.
Best for Big-Ticket Items: IRS Treasury Auctions
Key Specs
- Fees: None
- Membership: N/A
- Shipping: Local pickup when applicable
Why We Chose It
The IRS Treasury Auction website lets users bid on large items like homes, land, and vehicles.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- A legitimate site operated by the U.S. Department of Treasury, not an intermediate contractor
- Emphasis on high-value items
- About 300 auctions per year
Cons
- Complexity of working with federal procedures
- Limited availability
Overview
Don’t let the somewhat barebones website fool you; the IRS Treasury Auctions site features a treasure trove of items that you won’t find anywhere else.
Every listing on this auction site is under the authority of the Internal Revenue Code, and the properties described were seized or acquired for nonpayment of internal revenue taxes (and therefore, sold at auction).
The auctions are a bit more complicated than you’ll find at other auction sites, but the items tend to be higher-ticket such as homes and land. They include great deals on anything from jewelry and art to commercial property and vehicles.
Final Verdict
Online auction websites allow you to sell and bid on items from the comfort of your home or office. Purchase or sell things like real estate, jewels, business equipment, vehicles, and electronics. Most online auction websites offer protection for both buyers and sellers.
We recommend eBay as the best online auction website because it’s free for buyers, fees are reasonable for sellers, and its platform is incredibly user-friendly. It also offers protection for buyers and sellers from fraudulent and misrepresented listings.
Guide to Choosing an Auction Website
Auction websites include different types of items, shipping and pickup options, and various fees. When choosing the best site for your needs, consider these factors:
- Item categories
- Fees (flat rate, based on a percentage of your item, or free)
- Whether shipping is available
- Local pickup options for large items
- Title change process for vehicle sales
- Instant purchase options
- Length of auctions
- Clear seller reviews
Compare the Best Online Auction Websites
| Website | Fees | Membership | Shipping |
| eBay Best Overall | Varied percentage of the winning bid amount plus $0.30 per order selling fee | Multiple options for free or reduced selling fees | Free, calculated at checkout, or local pickup |
| ShopGoodwill Best Nonprofit | None | N/A | Free, calculated at checkout, or local pickup |
| Listia Best for Trading Items | 10 percent of fixed price | Multiple options for bonus credits | Free, flat rate, or exact cost |
| GovDeals Best for Government Sales | 0 to 7.5 percent seller’s fee, 5 to 12.5 percent buyer’s fee | N/A | Local pickup or buyer-arranged shipping |
| PropertyRoom Best Online Police Auction | Varied percentage of the winning bid amount | N/A | Flat rate, calculated at checkout, or local pickup |
| Municibid Best Municipal Surplus | Varied percentage of the winning bid amount | N/A | Local pickup or specified by seller |
| Webstore Best for Collectibles | None | N/A | Free, flat rate, or calculated at checkout |
| Auction Zip Best Live Auctions | $20 seller’s fee per listing | Optional for unlimited listings | Free, calculated at checkout, or local pickup |
| Catawiki Best for Specialty Items | 12.5 percent fee for sellers, 9 percent fee for buyers | N/A | Free, calculated at checkout, or local pickup |
| IRS Treasury Auctions Best for Big-Ticket Items | None | N/A | Local pickup when applicable |
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do Online Auction Sites Make Money?
Online auction sites make money through listing fees, advertising fees, and buyer’s premiums. Think of buyer’s premiums as a commission—it’s a price above the winning auction price. You’ll usually find buyer’s premiums with online auction sites that use auctioneers. Other websites like eBay charge insertion fees, final value fees, and fees to upgrade listings.
What Are the Most Popular Online Auction Sites?
The most popular online auction sites include eBay, eBid, Sotheby’s, Copart, Auction.com, and GSA Auctions. Most of these sites offer free buyer registration and allow winning auctions to be paid for with credit, debit, money orders, and cashier’s checks. Some even provide in-house financing options.
How Can You Tell If an Online Auction Site Is Legit?
Before buying and selling on an online auction site, look at its reputation. You can usually find real reviews on social media sites like Reddit or Facebook. Legitimate auction sites offer privacy, security, and dispute resolution.
It’s important to understand that while an online auction site might be legit, there are unscrupulous buyers and sellers on most platforms. Check seller reviews before bidding on an item, and if you’re a seller on a platform that allows buyer reviews, like on eBay, look at their reviews, too.
What Measures Do Auction Sites Take to Protect Buyers and Sellers?
Most auction sites offer dispute resolution for buyers and sellers and limit what methods of payment are available. For example, most auction sites don’t allow wire transfers but allow payment by debit card, credit card, or PayPal. The Fair Credit Billing Act helps protect buyers when using their credit cards.13
Use the auction site’s in-house communication system if available. This way, should a dispute arise, the site can see the exchange between buyer and seller. Never take communication or payment offline to avoid fees because that limits your protection.
How We Chose the Best Online Auction Websites
We looked at 28 online auction websites available and narrowed it down to the best options based on several features and considerations. We considered fees for both the buyer and seller, the site’s online reputation, real customer reviews, and available categories. Some sites are free for buyers, and others require a membership to bid on items. Those membership fees should be reasonable.
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