11 Best Online Auction Websites of 2020

eBay is one of the oldest auction sites online, and it offers a huge array of items, from diamonds to used clothes and even real estate. Buyers can bid or buy instantly, and sellers can use eBay to get rid of unwanted items. 

The company claims to be where the world goes to shop, sell, and give. There doesn't seem to be anything you can't find at this bargain-hunters behemoth. Place your bids from your computer or with the eBay auction app.

Sometimes, too much of a good thing is tough to navigate. Learn how to search eBay to find the product you're looking for, but remember that there are other sites like eBay, as you'll see below.

Goodwill is a nonprofit organization that operates retail stores to raise money for people with disabilities or who otherwise need a helping hand. Its online auction site, ShopGoodwill, is a collaborative effort from Goodwill stores all across the United States and provides an impressive variety of all sorts of products.

Some of the categories of items that go for auction from Goodwill include For The Home, Bulk, Art, Tools, Wedding, Clothing, Musical Instruments, Pet Supplies, Computers & Electronics, Sports, Bath & Body, and Toys/Dolls/Games.

Instead of using cash to bid, Listia offers credits to users, so all the items are technically free.

Here's how it works: a Listia user lists something they don't want anymore, other users bid on it using credits they earn from referring friends or selling their own merchandise. The user with the most credits wins the item.

Another way to look at this auction site is as a trading system, but since not all items are equal in value, you're given credits to use for other trades.

Depending on the item and where it's being sold from, some things can be purchased online as digital orders, shipped to you for free or a fee (which you'll need real money for), or picked up locally.

UBid offers leftover inventory from brand names like Sony and Dell. Since the inventory is discounted, you can find a really good deal.

The UBid auction site carries new, overstock, closeout, and recertified products in categories like Fashion, Collectibles, Sunglasses, Discount Certificates, Computers & Electronics, and Sports Memorabilia. There are also auctions in travel categories for various countries, as well as vacation rentals and cruises.

GovDeals is the official portal to government auctions. There are dozens of categories of products to bid on, such as janitorial equipment, batteries, aviation, lumber, gambling machines, trailers, all-terrain vehicles, commercial furnaces, motorcycles, exercise equipment, and real estate.

The rules and regulations vary depending on the participating agency, and you deal directly with the agency after you're awarded your bid.

The deals are great, but be sure to inquire about packaging and shipping of an item before you place your bid because most sellers don't ship, pack, or palletize. You may be responsible for picking it up or paying someone to transport it.

An amazing number of goods is seized in the course of law enforcement, and the PropertyRoom online auction site aims to make it all available via public police auctions. Not surprisingly, there are tons of vehicles on the site, but it also features electronics, jewelry, art, coins, watches, and more.

Law enforcement is required to auction seized, found and unclaimed personal property at public auction. PropertyRoom works with more than 3,000 law enforcement and municipal agencies, so the selection is vast and constantly changing. 

Ever wonder how you can get your hands on something the government doesn't want anymore? Municibid is your best bet. This is an auction website for government agencies, schools, authorities, and utilities to sell their surplus and forfeitures directly to the public.

Auction items include cars, boats, furniture, computers, kitchen equipment, and much more. 

Webstore is an auction site supported by donations and advertisements, so costs are kept low and there are no membership fees.

Although not everything is sold at auction at this site, the site's online auctions are highly rated for rare and collectible merchandise and state-of-the-art electronics.

Auction categories include cameras, art, music, sports memorabilia, real estate, bullion, books & magazines, clothing, DVDs & movies, jewelry, pottery, travel, tickets, specialty services, and more.

If you're looking for live auctions, AuctionZip is the place to go. These live auctions are events that you can view right from your web browser to bid for items online at the same time as bidders on the auction floor.

With live bidding, you can access auctions around the world and get in on all the action without any software to download or special tools to buy. The website lists auctions that are live right now and ones that are upcoming.

After you register to bid, you go straight to the auction where you watch what's happening and bid in real-time if you see something you like.

Catawiki describes itself as an auction site with "inspiring objects to discover every week." There are over 300 auctions on this site each week and lots of unique finds to sift through.

You can find auctions for everything from modern and contemporary art to stamps, classic cars, and jewelry. All items are handpicked and verified by their staff, which is comprised of over 100 experts.

There's also an auction app from Catawiki that you can use to place bids on the go.