Run a silent auction fundraiser on Wix

By Kayabyte

A silent auction is one where bids are written down instead of called out, and the highest bid at the end wins. Wix has no built-in auction or fundraiser auction feature, but you can run one online with Wix’s forms and payment tools, or with an auction app. This guide covers what Wix can do on its own, how to run the event, and the app I make.

What Wix does on its own

Wix Forms for bids

Add one form per item with name, email and bid fields. Wix Forms emails the site owner for every submission by default, and you can choose who is notified (Wix guide). Submissions are kept in a table that you can edit and export as a CSV file (Wix guide). A paper-style silent auction works the same way: bids are private, and you pick the highest one at the end.

Limits to plan for:

Nobody sees the current top bid, and nothing enforces a minimum increase.
You close each form by hand at the end time.
Anyone can enter any email address.
With many items, you sort a lot of submissions in a table to find the top bid per item.

Fits best: a small event with a handful of items.

Collecting payment from winners

After the event you need to charge each winner. Wix Pay Links let you create a custom amount link, with an optional expiry date, and send it by email or share a QR code. Each payment becomes an order in your dashboard (Wix guide). Your site must be published and upgraded, with a payment method connected.

A note on donations

Wix has a Donations app, but it is built for donation campaigns, not auctions. It needs a plan that supports payments and a payment provider, and Wix says Wix Payments doesn’t support non-registered charities or crowdfunding (Wix guide). Check what your payment provider accepts for your organisation before you take money for a cause, and check the rules for your country. This guide can’t tell you what counts as a deductible gift: for auctions, the deductible part is usually only the amount above an item’s fair value, so ask your tax adviser.

Embedding an outside platform

Many fundraising platforms offer a page you can show on your site. Add Elements > Embed Code > Embed a site displays it, over HTTPS only, and some sites don’t allow embedding. Wix says embeds are iframes that don’t resize responsively (Wix guide). Bidding and payment then happen on that platform, with its fees.

How to run the event

Choose the items and photos. Write a clear description and note the fair value, if you know it.
Set a start and an end. A week is common for online silent auctions. Keep the end time exact and in the time zone your guests expect.
Set starting bids. A common starting point is a fraction of the value. Choose a minimum raise so bids don’t go up by a cent.
Decide how winners collect. Pickup at the event, or shipping with a stated cost.
Promote it. Email your list and share the link on social media. Send a reminder before the end.
Close, then charge. Contact winners the same day, with a payment deadline.

What to look for in an auction app for a fundraiser

No account needed to bid, so guests at a dinner can bid from their phones.
Sealed bids, so the top bid stays hidden until the end if you want a true silent auction.
Soft close, so a late bid gets answered.
A pickup option with a note, for donated items.
Payment in your own checkout.
Plan price. Many fundraisers run one or two events a year, so a free tier for one auction at a time, or a monthly plan you can cancel after the event, matters.
Multiple items at once. A real silent auction has many lots, which usually needs a paid plan. Check the limits.

Our app: Live Auctions & Bidding

I make Live Auctions & Bidding (disclosed: it’s mine). For a silent auction:

Turn on sealed bids: amounts are hidden until the end, and bidders see only the number of bids and their own bid.
Bidders enter a name and email, with a one-time email check on the first bid. No sign-up.
Soft close moves the end by a few minutes when a late bid arrives.
Mark each lot as pickup and add a note such as “Collect at the school hall”, or ship it using your shipping rates.
When the auction ends, each winner gets an email with a link to pay at your own Wix checkout. If a winner doesn’t pay, Pro lets you offer the item to the next highest bidder.
Every bid is listed in the dashboard, and bidders are saved in your Wix Contacts with an “Auction bidder” label, so you can thank them afterwards.
No commission on sales. Bidder page and emails come in 11 languages.

The Free plan runs one auction at a time with unlimited bids. A sale with several lots at once needs Pro, at $11.99 a month, or $9.99 a month billed yearly, with a 14-day free trial. You can cancel after the event. It has no reviews yet. See it on the Wix App Market.

FAQ

What is a silent auction? Bids are placed privately, on paper or online, and the highest bid when time runs out wins. Bidders don’t see each other’s bids.

Can I run a silent auction on Wix without an app? Yes, for a few items: a form per item for bids, then you pick the winners and send them a Wix Pay Link. Nobody sees the current price, and you do the admin by hand.

How do I take payment from winners? Through your Wix checkout or a Pay Link, with a connected payment method. Your site needs to be on a plan that accepts payments.

Can guests bid from their phones without an account? With our app, yes: a name and email, and a one-time email check. Other apps may require sign-up.

Is the money tax-deductible for bidders? That depends on your country and organisation, and usually only covers the part above an item’s fair value. Ask a tax adviser. This guide doesn’t give tax advice.

Last checked: 30 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Write to support@kayabyte.dev and I’ll fix it.