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Ovante vs Handbid
Auction and event software for development teams, from black-tie galas to grassroots campaigns. Here is how it compares with Ovante for running a gala, feature by feature, from each company’s own website.
The short answer
When to pick Handbid, and when to pick Ovante
Choose Handbid if
- You run auctions with mobile bidding and want Handbid staff on site for the night.
- You want text-to-give, or an AI that writes auction item descriptions.
Choose Ovante if
- You want the price on the page before you talk to anyone.
- Your gala has a tribute journal, or you want sponsors to upload their own logos.
- You want guests’ seating requests read for you and turned into rules.
Feature by feature
Ovante and Handbid, side by side
| Feature | Ovante | Handbid |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing | Gala $2,500 per event, paid once. Pro $49 a month. | No. Quote only; a term license that renews1 |
| Platform fee | None on Pro or a Gala event. 5% on Free. | No percentage of funds raised. Card fees 3.5% + $0.30.1 |
| Silent auction and mobile bidding | No | Yes3 |
| Live auction | No | Yes4 |
| Paddle raise or fund-a-need | Yes. Volunteers enter paddles by phone; guests pledge from their ticket | Yes2 |
| Big-screen display | Yes | Yes2 |
| Tickets and tables | Yes | Yes2 |
| Seating | Yes. AI turns seating requests into rules you accept | Yes. Seat assignments imported by CSV5 |
| Sponsor levels on the event page | Yes | Yes. Sponsor pages, banners and ads2 |
| Sponsors upload their own logos | Yes. From their order page, with review and reminders | Not listed |
| Tribute journal: ad sales and artwork | Yes | Not listed |
| Check-in app | Yes | Yes5 |
| Text-to-give | No | Yes6 |
| Salesforce integration | Yes. Also ChabadOne | Yes7 |
| AI features | Yes. Reads seating requests | Yes. Item writer, photo enhancement, support chat2 |
| Claude or ChatGPT connector | No. Not yet | Yes. Handbid MCP for Claude and other assistants2 |
Checked on each company’s own website on October 25, 2026. A feature shows as Yes only when their site describes it; Not listed means we didn’t find it there, which isn’t the same as No. Numbers link to the page each fact came from. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it.
More comparisons
Ovante beside other platforms
Planning a gala?
Tell us the date and the size of the room, and we’ll walk you through it on your own event.
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