Live Auction Software

Live auction software for scheduled events with staggered lot closing

Bring your lots together in one named sale. Set the event schedule and the gap between closing times, then let buyers browse the catalog and bid on individual lots.

No transaction fees on any plan
License £399

Adding items continuously, each on its own schedule? See Online Timed Auctions. Both formats run on the same site.

Example catalog in PHP Pro Bid. Click or tap to see the details.
One event, one catalog

Group lots under a name, date and location.

Separate closing times

Choose the interval between lots.

Your website

Run several sales under your own brand.

52-second walkthrough

See how to create an auction event

Follow the actual screens: choose a category, enter the details, add an image, set the schedule and review the event.

Read the setup guide

Silent setup demonstration; no lots have been added yet. Use full screen for the form details. Watch on YouTube.

  1. Create the event

    Add the title, category, images and sale details.

  2. Build the catalog

    Add individual lots or use the CSV bulk lister.

  3. Set the closing interval

    For example, a 3-minute gap gives closing times of 14:00, 14:03 and 14:06.

  4. Manage the sale

    Publish the catalog, manage lots and handle winning buyers’ invoices.

Catalog to payment

The tools behind your event

Set the sale rules before bidding opens and manage the lots from the same installation. If enabled, buyers can bid on scheduled lots before the event starts.

Explore all platform features

Staggered lot closing

Event lots share an opening time and close at the interval you set. View the closed lots.

Soft close / anti-sniping

Configure extensions so a late bid gives other buyers time to respond.

Proxy bidding

Buyers set a maximum bid. The system bids for them up to that limit.

Bulk lot listing

Use a CSV file to prepare listings with opening bids, reserves and images. See the import fields and sample file.

Buyer invoicing

Invoices are generated after completed purchases. Buyers find them under Buying → Purchases. Read the invoice guide.

Payment & collection

Choose payment methods, pickup or postage options, and sale instructions. See the event settings.

PHP Pro Bid event settings showing a 30-second interval between lots Expand screenshot
Riverside Interiors Sale: a 30-second interval between lots.
Buyer invoice 456 with the vase at £60, quilt at £95 and £155 unpaid total Expand screenshot
The buyer’s two winning lots on invoice #456: £155, unpaid.

For sales with a complete catalog

  • Estate sales
  • Business liquidations
  • Vehicles
  • Antiques & fine art
  • Farm machinery
  • Industrial equipment
  • Jewelry & collectibles
  • Surplus stock
  • Weekly & monthly auctions

Every other platform charges per event. PHP Pro Bid doesn't.

The standard model for auction events software is a monthly subscription plus a per-event fee, plus a percentage of gross sales. That's three layers of cost on top of each other. PHP Pro Bid charges for the software — once, or monthly. Run as many events as you want for the same price.

License £399 one-time · Cloud from £63/mo · VPS from £159/mo · Zero transaction fees on all plans

Monthly base subscription
£63/mo
Per-event fee
SaaS competitors typically charge £800–£1,999 per event
£0
Transaction / success fee
Many platforms take 2–5% of GMV
£0
Lots per event
Unlimited
Simultaneous events
Unlimited
Common questions

Auction Events — answered

An Auction Event groups lots into a named sale with a shared opening time and staggered closing intervals. Standard Timed Auctions are individual listings with independent schedules. Use events for a complete catalog; use timed listings when adding inventory continuously. Both formats run on the same installation.
This page covers scheduled online sales: buyers browse a catalog and bid on individual lots, which close at staggered intervals. The walkthrough shows how to set up that format. It does not demonstrate an auctioneer-led audio or video simulcast.
Set the interval between lots in seconds. With a 3-minute interval, the first three lots close at 14:00, 14:03 and 14:06. Anti-sniping can extend a lot when a late bid arrives, giving other bidders time to respond.
Yes. You can run several named sales on the same installation, each with its own catalog and schedule. For example, one sale can accept bids while another is being prepared.
Invoices are generated after completed purchases. Buyers can find them under Buying → Purchases to view or print them and proceed to payment. See the invoice guide for the account screens.
Yes. The Auction Events format, Timed Auctions, and the Marketplace with shopping cart are all included on every plan — License (£399 one-time), Cloud (from £63/month), and VPS (from £159/month). You don't need a higher tier to unlock the events format, and there are no per-event add-on fees. Choose the License if you will arrange your own hosting; choose Cloud or VPS for managed hosting. All three formats run on the same installation.
There is no fixed software limit on lots per event. Practical capacity depends on your hosting, catalog size and bidder traffic. Choose hosting suited to the sale you plan to run.
Auction event catalog
Expanded PHP Pro Bid event catalog, including the site header, schedule and first four lots