# Blackwell Auctions vs DirectBids

The clearest difference is ads: Blackwell Auctions at none against DirectBids's shown. Blackwell Auctions also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Blackwell Auctions against 5.0 for DirectBids. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 6 respectively.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blackwell Auctions | DirectBids |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackwell-auctions/id1377883713/reviews) | [5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/directbids-surplus-auctions/id1636338853/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **10** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 135 MB | 89 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Blackwell Auctions LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1377883712) | [Direct Bids, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1636338855) |

## What reviewers say

### Blackwell Auctions

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackwell-auctions/id1377883713)

Participate in live and online auctions from your mobile device. Preview items, register easily, and receive notifications for your favorite lots. Track your bidding history and activity conveniently.

**Highlights:** Preview auction items, Watch live auctions, Bid in real-time, Easy registration, Push notifications, Bidding history access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**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 Blackwell Auctions free?

Blackwell 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, Blackwell Auctions or DirectBids?

Blackwell Auctions and DirectBids are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 10 and 6 ratings respectively.

### Do Blackwell Auctions or DirectBids have ads?

DirectBids shows ads; Blackwell Auctions does not.

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

Blackwell Auctions ships an update every 6 months, and DirectBids every 6 months. Most recently, Blackwell Auctions was updated on October 24, 2026 and DirectBids on October 7, 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.*