Custom Auction App Development

Custom auction apps
for iOS and Android.

We design and build a branded app for your PHP Pro Bid website. Bidders can browse, bid, receive push notifications, and pay without leaving the app. Your website and app use the same auction data, and the store listings carry your name.

Request a quote
Custom auction app development gives bidders an installed iOS and Android version of your auction service. The app connects to PHP Pro Bid through its RESTful API, so it uses the same lots, bids, accounts, and invoices as your website. We scope the screens, build the app, and prepare both store submissions. For changes to the website itself, see auction software development.
White-Label Design Case

A client needed more than a standard app

The auction house wanted a distinct brand, Dutch price-drop events, and Eway payment. Each choice changed how the app had to work.

Brand A calm, editorial look built around the auction house—not a generic marketplace skin.
Auction Keep timed sales, then add Dutch events where the price falls until the first bidder accepts.
Payment Use Eway's hosted checkout and return the result to the same PHP Pro Bid invoice.
Result One branded app for iOS and Android, tied to the existing catalog, accounts, and admin.
A client's bidder journey · 12-second loop
Mobile auction app bidder workflow Four connected mobile screens show a bidder browsing lots, placing a bid, seeing a badge on the H and B app, opening an outbid message, and paying a winning invoice.
  1. Browse the lots

    The bidder searches the catalog, checks the current price and closing time, then opens the Tintin box set.

  2. Set a maximum bid

    The current bid is $200. The bidder enters a $300 proxy maximum and confirms the bid.

  3. Open the app alert

    The app icon shows one new message. The bidder taps it; only then does the outbid view open.

  4. Pay the invoice

    The bidder taps Pay with Eway. Eway's hosted mobile payment page opens with the invoice total.

This is a white-label app concept. Your final screens, payment methods, notifications, integrations, and store work are agreed in the project scope.
Choose The Right Fit

Do you need a custom auction app?

Your PHP Pro Bid website already works on phones and tablets. You do not need an app simply to let people bid from a mobile device. Choose an app when installed access, push notifications, and your own App Store presence matter to the way you run auctions.

Included with the platform

Mobile auction website

The simplest way to let anyone bid from a phone. There is nothing to install.

Access
Opens in a mobile browser
Bidding
Browse, bid, and pay on the responsive website
Notifications
Email and on-site alerts
Best fit
A new platform, occasional sales, or the quickest launch

Start with the website if you are unsure. You can add an app later, once your bidder behaviour and notification needs are clear.

Included In The Build

The bidder tools in a typical app

We start with the core bidder journey below. Before we quote, we confirm the final screens, bidding options, payment methods, alerts, and integrations your app needs.

Home, browse & categories

Show featured lots, browse the catalog, search, filter, and move between categories.

Registration & sign-in

Let new bidders create an account, sign in, and recover a forgotten password inside the app.

Members dashboard

Give each bidder one place for account details, activity, billing addresses, and delivery addresses.

Bidding, offers & buy-now

Place a bid, set a proxy-bid maximum, make an offer, or buy now when those options are enabled.

Current bids & invoices

Show current bids, watched lots, won items, invoice totals, payment links, and payment status.

Wish list

Save lots to the bidder's account so they remain available between app sessions.

Push notifications

Send outbid and auction-won messages through Firebase, even when the app is closed.

Payment gateway

Use PayPal, or scope a regional gateway such as Eway for Australia.

GDPR account deletion

Give members a way to delete their account from the app, as Apple and Google require.

One codebase for iOS and Android

We build the interface with React and Tailwind CSS, package the iOS and Android apps with Capacitor, and use Google Firebase for push notifications. One maintained codebase supports both store builds.

One Set Of Auction Data

Your app and website use the same auction data

The app does not create a second catalog or administration area. It connects to your live PHP Pro Bid platform through the RESTful API.

A bid placed in the app goes to the same bidding engine as a bid placed on the website. Listings, member accounts, current bids, and invoices come from the same platform. You continue to manage the auction from the administration area you already use.

Because we build the auction software and its API, we can scope the app around the way your PHP Pro Bid site is configured.

Same live records

The website and app read the same lots, bids, accounts, and invoices through the API.

Published under your account

We prepare and submit the builds through your Apple and Google developer accounts.

Your branding throughout

Your name, logo, colors, app icon, splash screen, and store copy are part of the design.

Project Stages

How a custom app project works

Every app has an agreed scope, timeline, and fixed quote. We take it through five clear stages.

1

Discovery

You tell us how your auctions work, who bids, and what the app needs to do.

2

Design

We map the bidder journey and apply your logo, colors, app icon, and splash screen.

3

Build

We build the agreed screens and connect them to your PHP Pro Bid platform through the API.

4

Test and publish

We test both apps, prepare the store listings, and submit the builds for Apple and Google review.

5

Maintain

We can scope ongoing maintenance for store-rule changes, operating-system updates, and new features.

Common Questions

Custom auction app FAQ

Do I need a mobile app?
Not always. Every PHP Pro Bid auction website already works on phones and tablets. A custom app is most useful when you run regular auctions, expect people to bid more than once, or want native push notifications and an App Store presence under your own name.
Can buyers bid from a phone without downloading an app?
Yes. Your PHP Pro Bid website is responsive, so bidders can browse lots, bid, and pay in a mobile browser. The app is a separate option for businesses that also want native alerts, an installed home-screen icon, and a listing in the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Do you build for both iOS and Android?
Yes. We use one React and Capacitor codebase to produce the iOS and Android apps, then submit them to the Apple App Store and Google Play. The final scope and store requirements are confirmed before the project starts.
How does in-app bidding work on iOS?
A bidder opens a lot, enters a bid or a proxy-bid maximum, and confirms it in the app. The bid goes to the same catalog and bidding engine as your website. If another bidder passes that maximum, the app can send an outbid notification to the phone.
Is the app published under my account and my branding?
Yes. The app uses your name, logo, colors, icon, and store copy. It is published through your Apple and Google developer accounts. We prepare the build and store submission, while you keep control of the listings.
Does it connect to my existing PHP Pro Bid site?
Yes. The app connects to your live site through the PHP Pro Bid RESTful API. The website and app use the same listings, bids, member accounts, and invoices. You continue to manage the auction from one administration area.
How long does it take to build?
It depends on the screens, payment methods, notifications, integrations, and store setup you need. Apple and Google review times can also vary. We include the planned delivery stages in your project scope and quote.
How much does a custom auction app cost?
Each app is quoted as a separate project. The price depends on the screens, alerts, payment methods, integrations, branding, and store work in the agreed scope. Tell us what the app needs to do and we will send a fixed quote before development starts. You can also combine the app with other custom work on your platform.
Can you build a silent auction mobile app for a charity event?
Yes. We can scope a branded app for a charity or fundraising auction, including the bidder journey and the alerts the event needs. The app connects to the same platform described on our charity auction software page.
Discuss Your App

Tell us what your app needs to do.

Send us your auction format, the bidder tasks you want in the app, the alerts that matter, and the payment method you use. We will separate the typical app features from any custom work and send you a scope, timeline, and fixed quote.

Need changes to the website as well? We can include them through our custom development service.

Start a mobile app inquiry

Tell us about your auction business and what you'd want the app to do. We'll get back to you as quickly as possible.


Last updated 2 September 2026