LiveAuctioneers vs CTBIDS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
LiveAuctioneers
Discover and bid on unique items from around the world. This app connects you with thousands of auctioneers, offering a vast marketplace for antiques, collectibles, and luxury goods. Participate in live auctions or place bids before they start, all from your device.
- Browse and search vast inventory
- Bid in live auctions
- Place pre-auction bids
- Follow searches for new items
- Contact auction houses
- Research sold item prices
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LiveAuctioneers is the world's trusted marketplace for unique and one-of-a-kind items. Discover and bid on hundreds of thousands of treasures, from vintage jewelry and Mid-Century Modern furniture to rare, collectible coins and works of fine art. With live auctions added daily from 5,000+ auctioneers, there's something for all treasure-seekers, whether you're a passionate collector, seasoned buyer, or casual shopper. How it works: • Browse and search across hundreds of thousands of antiques, collectibles and luxury goods • Easily contact auction houses with questions • Place bids before auctions begin or watch auctions when they are live and bid in real-time • Check back often and follow searches as new items are added daily LiveAuctioneers is the easiest and most trusted way to find and bid in auctions locally and from afar. • Bid in auctions from 5,000+ auctioneers (it's like having thousands of auction apps in one) • Thousands of items added daily • Find auctioneers near you • Follow searches to be notified when matching items are added • View items matching followed searches • View auctions and items from followed auctioneers • Browse items by category • Search for live and upcoming auctions • View auction descriptions and catalogs • Register to bid in auctions • View item images, descriptions, and auctioneer information • Easily message auctioneers • Leave a bid on any item before auctions start • Watch live auctions and bid live in real-time • Save items, and view a list of all of the items you've saved • View a list of all of the auctions you've registered for • View a list of all of the items you've left bids on before auctions start • Search for sold items and access our entire sales database to research sell prices • Get push notification alerts when items you save or bid on are almost up for auction "My go-to place for the things in my collection!" - Dwight "LiveAuctioneers is a great auction site, with all the best online auctions in one site. Excellent way to keep track of your bids and wins." - Betty "Best variety of auctions; excellent customer service." - Stephen "My only criticism of LiveAuctioneers is that it's addictive! I've found incredible deals on rare and niche pieces of vintage furniture close to me that I wouldn't have found otherwise. A new way to find and shop for antiques, and WAY better selection than eBay, Etsy, or 1stDibs." - Casey
CTBIDS
Participate in online estate sale auctions with bidding starting at just $1. Discover unique items and everyday treasures from the comfort of your home. The app offers easy navigation, bid tracking, and favorite lists for a seamless auction experience.
- Bidding starts at $1
- Bid from anywhere
- Set maximum bids
- Filter items by category and location
- Track bidding status
- Create favorites lists
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Discover a world of unique and everyday treasures with CTBIDS, where bidding starts at just $1. Our user-friendly app makes online auctions a breeze, ensuring a seamless experience for all. Users of this app must be 18 years or older. Welcome Home to CTBIDS: •Bid from anywhere! •Set maximum bids so that you don’t miss out on fun while you are away. •Easily filter items by category, location, featured estate sales, and more. •Stay in the loop with your bidding status every step of the way. •Create favorites lists to explore more of what you love. CTBIDS grew from an idea over 10 years ago by Caring Transitions owners across the country. These owners are carefully managing the treasures and everyday household items for their clients as they downsize or transition to new homes. These items have quality, value, and a history that are a perfect fit for someone else. Our mission was to create a platform where these estate sales are brought to you online. Instead of set pricing, bidding starts at $1. This process allows our bidders to find unique and everyday treasures for a great value. In addition, the repurposing of these belongings will have a positive and lasting impact on the world we all share. CTBIDS is powered by Caring Transitions. Established in 2006, Caring Transitions is the nation’s largest and most trusted organization specializing in downsizing, relocation, estate sales, decluttering, home cleanouts, online auctions, and other services. To learn more, visit CaringTransitions.com.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: LiveAuctioneers at 4.8 against CTBIDS's 2.3. LiveAuctioneers also leads on ratings volume (11K vs 237) and review sentiment (21% vs 6%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
LiveAuctioneers holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LiveAuctioneers has 11K ratings behind it against 237, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of LiveAuctioneers's written reviews are positive against 6% of CTBIDS's.
LiveAuctioneers ships an update every 5 weeks, CTBIDS every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | LiveAuctioneers | CTBIDS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (11K ratings) — better | 2.3 (237 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 21.4% of reviews — better | 6.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 11K — better | 237 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 86 MB | 49 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | LiveAuctioneers | Caring Transitions, Inc |
Customer experience
LiveAuctioneers
CTBIDS
User reviews
LiveAuctioneers
From 11K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Lightning-fast app
- 👍 Great platform for auctions
- 🚀 Vast array of auctions
- 👍 Excellent option for antique shopping
- 👍 Curated gallery auctions
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy app
- 🔍 Difficult to search and navigate
- 💰 Exorbitant shipping and fees
- 🔒 Lack of buyer protection
- 🚫 Allows fraudulent auction houses
CTBIDS
From 237 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Smooth and efficient app
- 👍 Useful features like marking favorites
- 🔒 Secure login options
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🔍 Poor search functionality
- 💤 Sluggish performance
- 🤖 Unintuitive and confusing UI
- 🔋 High battery consumption
Bugs and requests
LiveAuctioneers
Reported bugs
5 issues- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Inaccurate lot progression and bidding information
- Login and registration issues
- Inconsistent app behavior across updates
- Inability to navigate back to previous screens
Requested features
5 requests- Improved search and filtering options
- Ability to view past auction results
- Streamlined bidding interface
- Better integration between app and website
- Auction house rating and review system
CTBIDS
Reported bugs
4 issues- Login issues with Google/Apple accounts
- Inconsistent app behavior and crashes
- Incorrect or missing auction information
- Inability to access account and bidding history
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to view item photos without opening listing
- Improved navigation and back button functionality
- Real-time bid updates and notifications
- Filtering and sorting options for search
- Seamless integration with website and account management
In-app purchases
LiveAuctioneers
No in-app purchases
CTBIDS
No in-app purchases









