# Lightning Auctions vs DirectBids

The clearest difference is rating: DirectBids at 5.0 against Lightning Auctions's 3.7. Lightning Auctions's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

DirectBids holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightning Auctions has 34 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Lightning Auctions ships an update every 7 months, DirectBids every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on August 28, 2026 and June 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightning Auctions | DirectBids |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-auctions/id1206491266/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/directbids-surplus-auctions/id1636338853/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **34** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 137 MB | 89 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Lightning Auctions Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1615479128) | [Direct Bids, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1636338855) |

## What reviewers say

### Lightning Auctions

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-auctions/id1206491266)

Participate in live and absentee bidding for a wide range of items, including antiques, collectibles, and vehicles. Preview upcoming auctions, track your bids, and receive notifications directly from your mobile device.

**Highlights:** Preview auctions, Live and absentee bidding, Push notifications, Track bidding activity, Watch live sales, Auction calendar

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### DirectBids

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/directbids-surplus-auctions/id1636338853)

This app provides a mobile platform for participating in online auctions of used medical, laboratory, and business assets. Users can conveniently bid, make payments, and arrange for local pickups or shipping directly from their phones.

**Highlights:** Bid on auctions, Pay for won items, Schedule pickups, Arrange shipping, Browse surplus assets

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightning Auctions free?

Lightning Auctions is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is DirectBids free?

DirectBids is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Lightning Auctions or DirectBids?

DirectBids is rated higher. Lightning Auctions averages 3.7 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while DirectBids averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Lightning Auctions or DirectBids have ads?

DirectBids shows ads; Lightning Auctions does not.

### Which is updated more often, Lightning Auctions or DirectBids?

Lightning Auctions ships an update every 7 months, and DirectBids every 6 months. Most recently, Lightning Auctions was updated on August 28, 2026 and DirectBids on June 10, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*