# Handbid — A Brand New Way to Bid!

> Mobile silent auction bidding and management platform for event attendees. (iPhone/iPad app by Handbid.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handbid/id433831139 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Handbid](https://appshunter.io/developer/433831142)
- Category: Lifestyle, Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 27,086 App Store ratings · 85 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 14.0 · 126 MB
- Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), European Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified, China), European Spanish
- Released: 2011-04-27
- Data updated: 2026-08-31
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handbid/id433831139/reviews.md

## What is Handbid?

Mobile iOS Client for the Handbid® Silent Auction service. This client allows bidders who are invited to Handbid® powered silent auctions to bid on items from their mobile device, manage bids and proxy bids, purchase items, checkout, issue payment, and get a receipt.

Handbid has powered hundreds of events and delighted thousands of bidders in the process. With native apps for iPhone well as a kiosk app available for the iPad for non-smartphone users, there is not a better experience and solution for running your silent auction or fundraising event. 

Here are 3 great reasons to use Handbid for your next event:

1. Our mobile app experience is second to none. Your bidders will love it! And yes, they WILL download an app on their phone!    

2. Handbid is built for AUCTION HOSTS by AUCTION HOSTS.  Handbid has been powering silent auctions since 2011 and we have been running auctions ourselves much longer than that. We know how hard it is and we have built this system to make it EASY for you, your volunteers, and your guests. 

3. Our commitment to service is as great as our software.  We get as many (if not more) compliments on our customer service as we do on our software.  You can be assured we will do everything we can to make your experience as smooth and easy as possible. 

Common questions about Handbid:

- Can people pay though Handbid
Yes! We have integrated payments in the app so that at the end of the night, your guests can view and pay their invoice without having to stand in line. Our system supports all major credit cards as well as Apple Pay! Can you accept payments outside of Handbid? Sure (cash, check or your own CC system)

- Do you provide on-site support?
Yes we can do that. We have built Handbid to be easy enough to use where you can train and do it yourself, but we certainly do offer onsite experts who can do it all for you or even just provide extra "tech support" the day of your event. 

- How much does it cost?
We offer a number of fixed price packages that are based on the size and number of events you run. Please contact us or visit our website to view all of our pricing. 

- It looks cool, but is it worth the investment? 
Absolutely.  Sure, you expected to hear us say that. But remember, we run auctions for our own organizations. We know you are on a tight budget and you want to maximize dollars for your program services.  Handbid more than pays for itself.  Most of our clients see anywhere from a 30% to 50% increase over what they did before on paper.  Some even higher.  

Put it this way, this is one investment that will generate more revenue at your event.  You can't say the same for your caterer, venue or even the band.  

What are you waiting for? Download the app already? Sign up! It's free to check out. Just go into our demo auction and start to bid around.  Trust us, we won't make you pay for what you bid on there!  

Check out our iPad kiosk app, also in the iTunes App Store.  Play with both of them!

Have fun, play around, then give us a call and lets get started! Your bidders are waiting for an awesome auction experience.  Don't deny them what they deserve! 

With love - 

The Handbid Team

## Key features

- Mobile bidding on auction items
- Manage bids and proxy bids
- Purchase items directly
- Integrated payment processing
- Digital receipts
- iPad kiosk app for non-smartphone users

## What do users think of Handbid?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Seamless and user-friendly experience
- 💡 Innovative features like instant outbid notifications
- 👍 Secure payment processing
- 🚀 Detailed analytics and management tools

**Cons**

- 🐛 Crashes and technical issues during high-traffic events
- 🐛 Inconsistent login/registration experience
- 🐛 Difficulty finding and accessing previously favorited items
- 🐛 Dynamic island on new iPhones blocks auction time display

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Losing bids after auction closes
- Inability to clear badge notifications after auction ends
- Inconsistent login/registration experience across devices
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Most requested features**

- Ability to favorite/save items for later
- Clearer display of auction end times
- More user-friendly error messaging during sign-up/login
- Option to disable Dynamic Island time display on new iPhones

## Recent user reviews (10 of 85)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handbid/id433831139/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Horrible app

*2025-10-14, version 5.9.8*

I do not recommend this method!  Don’t waste your money.

### 2/5 — Wont work

*2025-10-04, version 5.9.8*

Wanted to use this to follow a charity benefit auction and maybe bid. Cant see the items, cant bid, cant follow the live auction. No benefit to me , disappointed. I’ve bid and purchased lots of items at online auctions , but this format is the worst Ive seen

### 5/5 — VCHS AUCTION

*2024-11-23, version 5.8.0*

Always such a fun evening!!! Great CROWD OF PEOPLE and such a neat evening!!! I love how the host and auctioneer “rib”
each other too. 😂

### 5/5 — First time

*2024-10-27, version 5.8.0*

This app was so easy to use! I love it.

### 5/5 — Excited

*2024-10-02, version 5.8.0*

I am very excited about winning the dragonfly art. Can’t wait to see the art.

### 5/5 — Woo

*2024-05-11, version 5.7.4*

It was good but I couldn’t see the auction unless I hit a space in the search bar. I won one so it’s all good!!

### 1/5 — Problems

*2024-04-26, version 5.7.3*

Every time I bid on an auction item the app shuts down.  So frustrating!

### 1/5 — Failed at the last minute

*2024-04-13, version 5.7.3*

App went down with three minutes left of our fundraiser. The servers couldn’t handle 400 people bidding and cost the fundraiser between $10k and $20k compared to prior years.

### 1/5 — Terrible for iPhone users

*2024-03-25, version 5.7.3*

I went to my school action last night. Everyone with an iPhone had major issues. Every time I bid on an item, I got kicked out of the app & had to start again. So frustrating. I missed closures & did not bid on certain items beyond this glitch. I’m CERTAIN this caused lower final prices because people were tired of dealing with it. Do not recommend. Find another platform for your auction.

### 1/5 — Frustrating

*2024-03-24, version 5.7.3*

At a silent auction and trying to bid but the app co Stanley kicks us out when we place a bid and we have to start all over again. Not good software.

## Frequently asked questions about Handbid

### What can I do with the Handbid app?

The app allows you to bid on items in Handbid-powered silent auctions, manage your current bids, set proxy bids, purchase items directly, and complete your checkout and payment. You can also receive digital receipts for your purchases.

### How does payment work within the app?

The app features integrated payments, allowing guests to view and pay their invoices at the end of the event without waiting in line. It supports major credit cards and Apple Pay.

### Is there a cost to use Handbid?

The app itself is free to download and explore. For event hosts, Handbid offers fixed-price packages based on the size and number of events. Pricing details are available by contacting them or visiting their website.

### Can I use Handbid on different devices?

Yes, Handbid offers a mobile iOS client for iPhones and a separate kiosk app for iPads, catering to non-smartphone users at events. Both apps are available in the iTunes App Store.

### What is the benefit of using Handbid for an event?

Handbid is designed to make silent auctions easier for hosts, volunteers, and guests. It aims to increase revenue, with many clients reporting a 30-50% increase over traditional paper auctions, making it a worthwhile investment for fundraising events.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 6.2.5 — 2026-08-12

Updates to bid box functionality for auctions
General improvements

### 6.2.3 — 2026-05-20

General updates and fixes to 2FA

### 6.2.2 — 2026-04-14

General app performance improvements

### 6.2.1 — 2026-03-23

General app improvements and bug fixes

### 6.2.0 — 2026-02-23

This update includes a streamlined guest check-in experience and tap-to-edit quantity for For Sale and Appeal items. We've also made improvements to payment and checkout flows, along with general bug fixes and performance enhancements.

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## More apps by Handbid

- [Handbid for iPad](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handbid-for-ipad/id476689122)
- [ECHL Auctions](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/echl-auctions/id1483775761)
- [ICALA](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/icala/id1533063035)
- [Oil & Gas Clearinghouse](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oil-and-gas-clearinghouse/id1557438134)
- [Genetics Sale](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/genetics-sale/id1569352578)

All apps by Handbid: https://appshunter.io/developer/433831142

## Related topics

[silent auction app](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/silent-auction-app) · [bidstation](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/bidstation) · [outhouse auctions](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/outhouse-auctions)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-31.*