What Easy Live Auction does

Easy Live Auction is a UK-based provider of an integrated online auction platform serving traditional auction houses and the bidders who participate in their sales. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Eastbourne, East Sussex, the company operates a two-sided marketplace at easyliveauction.com alongside dedicated software services for auctioneers, with primary markets in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Its customer base spans hundreds of named auctioneers across antiques, fine art, jewellery, watches, coins, diecast, toys, and general goods categories, supported by over 1 million registered bidders and a cumulative track record of 100,000+ auctions hosted.

The core platform comprises three tightly integrated products: a web-based Live Bidding console built on HTML5 with WebRTC-based low-latency audio/video broadcasting; the AUCTIONEER back-office system for lotting, invoicing, payment processing, and bidder management; and White Label technology that lets auctioneers embed ELA's live and timed bidding on their own branded websites while remaining synchronised with the central marketplace via a single clerk. Notable product features include an industry-first Autobid system with Plus One (+1) increment protection, an anti-sniping automatic end-time extension on timed auctions, and PCI DSS-compliant card processing via tokenised third-party payment infrastructure. No public-facing API, SDK, or developer programme is offered.

The business operates a hybrid revenue model combining transaction-based fees from bidders (a per-auction flat fee for unlimited bidding, or a free registration with an auctioneer-set surcharge of up to 3% of hammer price that ELA facilitates) with recurring software and service fees from auctioneers for live bidding, back-office, and white-label access. Distribution is sales-led for auctioneers (direct outreach, demonstrations, dedicated enquiry channels) combined with self-serve bidder registration on the marketplace, supplemented by content marketing via the company blog, SEO-driven organic discovery of aggregated catalogues, and auction-alert email campaigns. The company is privately held, appears to be bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding, and operates with 11–50 employees.

Name

Easy Live Auction

Legal name

Easy Live Auction

Website

https://easyliveauction.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Easy Live Auction is a UK-headquartered provider of an integrated online auction platform serving traditional auction houses and bidders in the UK and Ireland, offering live and timed bidding, white-label solutions, and a back-office management system (AUCTIONEER) with over one million registered bidders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Auction Software

akta.pro primary industry

Auction-based Generalist Marketplaces (CRAFAAAC)

Keywords

• Online auction platform
• Live bidding software
• Auction management software
• White label auctions
• Timed online auctions

Headquarters

HQ city

Eastbourne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Flat Fee Registration (Bidders): Bidders can choose a flat fee option paid directly to Easy Live Auction per auction. This fee allows unlimited bidding on all lots within that auction without incurring further fees. The flat fee is non-refundable unless Easy Live Auction agrees to change the registration method.
2. Auctioneer Commission Surcharge: When bidders choose the FREE Registration option, auctioneers may charge a percentage surcharge of up to 3% of the hammer price for successful live bids and Autobids. Easy Live Auction facilitates this transaction.
3. Auctioneer Software Services: Easy Live Auction provides live bidding, back-office, and white-label software services to auctioneers. Revenue comes from software licensing and service fees for auctioneers using their platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Easy Live Auction operates an integrated online auction platform that connects traditional auction houses with online bidders. It provides auctioneers with live bidding technology, a back-office auction management system (AUCTIONEER), and white-label branded bidding solutions, while offering bidders a marketplace to participate in live and timed auctions with features such as Autobid, Pre-Bid, and Plus One protection.

Product overview

Easy Live Auction provides a complete, integrated auction platform solution consisting of three core components: easyliveauction.com (the main marketplace connecting auctioneers with bidders for live and timed auctions), Live Bidding technology (real-time bidding with HD video/audio), and AUCTIONEER back-office software (auction management). The platform also offers White Label functionality for auctioneers wanting branded bidding on their own websites. All components are fully integrated, eliminating the need for dual or triple processing and providing a single seamless transaction from start to finish. The platform supports both live auctions (with real-time bidding) and timed auctions (automatic bidding without auctioneer involvement), with additional features including Autobid, Pre-Bid, and '+1' increment protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AUCTIONEER: Auction management software - described as the most powerful auction management software in the market, providing back-office functionality including lotting-up, invoicing, payment processing, and client management.

Products and services

• easyliveauction.com Marketplace Core online auction marketplace platform connecting auctioneers with bidders for participation in live and timed auctions via web browser. Aggregates catalogues from multiple auction houses and provides catalogue listing, easy navigation, advanced search, watch lists, auction alerts, and bidder self-registration.
• Live Bidding

Quantifiable outcome

• Time savings of up to 40% compared with traditional systems (for back-office operations)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• iCollector: Online auction aggregator offering live and timed bidding across multiple auction houses — comparable marketplace serving the same two-sided dynamic of auctioneers and online bidders.
• Auction Mobility: Provider of auctioneer website and bidding software solutions including white-label capabilities — directly competes with ELA's white-label and back-office software offerings for traditional auction houses.
• Proxibid: Online auction platform providing live bidding and auctioneer software tools across multiple verticals including antiques and general merchandise — competes with ELA's marketplace and software offerings.
• The Saleroom: UK-focused online auction aggregator that connects traditional auction houses with online bidders — the closest direct competitor to Easy Live Auction in terms of geography, target customers (UK auctioneers), and marketplace model.
• Bidsquare: Online auction aggregator specializing in fine art, antiques, and luxury goods that brings together multiple auction houses on a single bidding platform — directly comparable marketplace model to easyliveauction.com.
• LiveAuctioneers: Major global online auction marketplace for fine art, antiques, and collectibles offering live bidding and aggregated catalogues — directly competes with ELA for both auctioneer supply and bidder demand across international markets.

Broad incumbents

• eBay: Global online marketplace with auction-format listings covering general merchandise, collectibles, and antiques — operates as a broad incumbent with overlapping auction capabilities that compete for bidder attention in adjacent categories.
• Christie's: Global auction house with proprietary live online bidding platform covering fine art, luxury, and collectibles — broad incumbent serving similar high-value categories that ELA's auctioneer customers also operate in.
• Bonhams: Established international auction house operating its own online bidding platform across art, antiques, and collectibles — broad incumbent that competes with ELA-hosted auctioneers for both consignors and bidders.

Regional players

• Hammerstone Marketing & Auction Services: UK-focused provider of auction marketing and related services to traditional auction houses — regional adjacent player supporting similar auctioneer customers with complementary (rather than directly competing) services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/easyliveauction
• Facebookfacebook.com/easyliveauction

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Easy Live Auction