Catalot vs HiBid
HiBid is a solid, widely used platform. Here's what Catalot does to save your team time, and what one example sale costs on each.
Lot 8Commodore 64 with 1541 disk drive and VIC-1525 printerAI draft
Lot 73Drexel buffet server on wheelsAI draft
Lot 45Claudia crystal martini and beer glassesAI draft
Lot 162000 Topps Traded Miguel Cabrera #T40, PSA 10Approved
Lot 65Town Center 8-ft black metal post clockApproved
Lot 47Kobalt stainless steel tool chestApprovedWhat Catalot does for your team
- AI cataloging from phones. Your crew shoots lots on their phones and AI drafts titles, descriptions and categories from the photos and voice notes; staff approve. Our estimate for a 500-lot sale: about 20 minutes of AI drafting instead of about 30 hours of typing.
- Automatic charging after close. Winners' saved cards are charged automatically when the sale closes, on your own Stripe account.
- Self-booked pickup with QR check-in. Buyers choose their own pickup time from their invoice and check in with a QR code.
- All-in prices and shipping estimates for buyers. Buyers see what a bid really costs with premium and tax, and can see a shipping estimate to their address, before they bid.
- A marketplace with the buyer tools in one place. A map of local auctions, saved searches with alerts and an archive of sold prices, alongside the all-in price on every lot.
- Family referrals. Families nearby who need help selling an estate are sent to local companies, Pro and Volume first.
One example sale, priced out
A $20,000 sale with about 150 bidders, on Catalot Pro and on HiBid with Auction Flex 360.
| HiBid with Auction Flex 360 | Catalot Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Fees on the sale | $437.50 2% of hammer ($400.00) plus $0.25 per unique bid, counting each of 150 bidders once ($37.50). At most $550.00, with the $150 cap. | $525.00 3% of the first $15,000 and half that on the rest. |
| Card processing | Through your own processor; not compared here. | Stripe's standard rate on your own Stripe account. Catalot adds nothing to it. |
| Monthly | $95 (1 user), $145 (2 to 5 users), $195 (6 to 9 users), $295 (unlimited users) a month for Auction Flex 360 | $199 a month, unlimited users |
| Included | See their site for what each plan includes. | AI cataloging, automatic charging after close, pickup booking and shipping labels |
The fees on the sale: $525.00 on Catalot and about $437.50 on HiBid (at most $550.00). Catalot's $199 a month is more than Auction Flex 360's $95, $145, $195 plans and less than its $295 plan. Catalot includes AI cataloging, automatic charging, pickup booking and labels.
Catalot prices as of October 21, 2026. Prices as published on October 19, 2026; check their site for current prices: Auction Flex 360 and HiBid pricing.
Catalot and HiBid, side by side
| HiBid | Catalot | |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | $95 (1 user), $145 (2 to 5 users), $195 (6 to 9 users), $295 (Unlimited users) a month | $79 Starter, $199 Pro, $499 Volume a month; unlimited users |
| Share of hammer | 2% | 3.5% / 3% / 2.75%, halving above $15,000 within a sale |
| Per bid | $0.25 per unique bid, up to $150 an auction | None |
| Per card authorization | $1 each, up to $50 an auction | None |
What a month costs
| Seller | HiBid | Catalot |
|---|---|---|
| Small seller 3.3 sales a month, $1,384 hammer each | about $470 | $239 Starter |
| Typical seller 4 sales a month, $10,000 hammer each | about $1,745 | $1,399 Pro |
| Large seller 13 sales a month, $11,000 hammer each | about $5,700 | $4,432 Volume |
| One big sale One $200,000 sale in a month | about $4,300 | $3,424 Pro |
HiBid figures: Auction Flex 360 pricing page (as of October 2026). Prices change; check HiBid's current pricing.
HiBid monthly totals: a St. Louis-area auction company's 2023 HiBid invoices. Card processing is left out on both sides. Catalot figures are the subscription plus the platform fee on each sale's hammer, calculated the way Catalot bills.
What comes with every Catalot plan
- AI cataloging from photos and voice notes, with staff review
- Pickup slots booked by buyers, QR check-in and handoff receipts
- Shipping in-house, through a partner shipper, or an outside service
- Consignor proposals, settlement statements and a consignor portal
- Your lots on Catalot's marketplace, with search and saved-search alerts
- Unlimited lots, sales and staff
Run your next sale on Catalot
Catalot is opening to auction companies in stages. Ask for an invite and we'll be in touch.
HiBid is a trademark of its owner. Catalot is not affiliated with or endorsed by HiBid.