Home Compare Best auction sniper software
The Best Auction Sniper Software in 2026, Compared Honestly
For eBay alone, Gixen is the cheapest well-established sniper (free for 4 wins a month, $11.99 a year for Gixen Mirror), and eSnipe and AuctionSniper charge only when you win. For ShopGoodwill there are dedicated tools such as BidPulse, AuctionBotPro and ShopGoodwill Sniper. For HiBid there is one free self-hosted script and GhostNode, the only hosted HiBid auto-bidder we found; GhostNode is also the only tool we found that bids on several marketplaces (eBay, ShopGoodwill, HiBid and BestBid) from one account.
We make GhostNode, so read this knowing that. We compared every auction sniper we could find that was still operating in October 2026, using each tool's own pricing and help pages (linked under Sources, read on October 11, 2026). Where a competitor is the better choice, we say so.
The short version
| If you bid on | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| eBay only, and want it cheap | Gixen | Free for 4 winning snipes a month; Mirror is $11.99 a year |
| eBay only, and pay only when you win | eSnipe, AuctionSniper, Bidnapper | Per-win pricing, long track records |
| ShopGoodwill only | BidPulse, AuctionBotPro, ShopGoodwill Sniper, or GhostNode | Dedicated ShopGoodwill tools exist; compare their pricing models |
| HiBid | GhostNode, or a self-hosted script | GhostNode is the only hosted HiBid auto-bidder we found; hibid-sniper on GitHub runs on your own machine |
| Several marketplaces | GhostNode | Bids on eBay, ShopGoodwill, HiBid and BestBid from one GhostNode account (one connected marketplace account on Scout, 3 on Hunter) |
Every tool at a glance
Prices as of October 11, 2026, from each tool's own site.
| Tool | Marketplaces it bids on | Price | Default bid timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gixen | eBay | Free (4 winning snipes/month); Mirror $11.99/year | Free: 5 s or less; Mirror: 3-15 s (6 s default) |
| eSnipe | eBay | Pay per win: 1.5 WinPoints per $1 ($0.30 minimum, $30 maximum) | You choose; 3-5 s suggested |
| AuctionSniper | eBay | First 3 wins free, then 1.95% per win ($0.35-$35) | You choose; 7-12 s suggested at peak times |
| Bidnapper | eBay | $2 per win, or $8.33/month paid annually | 4-5 s before the end |
| BidSlammer | eBay | $2 per win; Premium from $8/month paid annually | Free 8-10 s; paid 1-15 s |
| Myibidder | eBay | Free (donations) | 5 s before the end by default |
| BidPulse | ShopGoodwill | $13-$49/month; every snipe counts, won or lost | 6 s before close |
| AuctionBotPro | ShopGoodwill | 1 free credit, then $10 for 10; $99 self-hosted | 3-120 s, you choose |
| ShopGoodwill Sniper | ShopGoodwill | 2% success fee (Standard) | Desktop app: your computer must stay on |
| hibid-sniper (GitHub) | HiBid | Free, open source, self-hosted | Last 3 s, and keeps bidding through soft-close resets |
| GhostNode | eBay, ShopGoodwill, HiBid and BestBid | Free Scout plan (3 auto-bids at once, 3 wins/month, one connected account); Hunter $9.95/month | You choose when bidding begins; last-moment sniping from Hunter |
eBay snipers
eBay is the crowded part of the market, and for good reason: most eBay auctions have a hard close, so a bid in the last seconds cannot be answered, and eBay's own help pages say sniping, including software that bids for you, is allowed. As of October 2026, though, eBay says it is testing extended bidding in some categories and has rolled it out for all auctions in Australia; where it applies, a last-second bid restarts a 60-second clock instead.
- Gixen is the default recommendation for eBay-only buyers. The free plan covers 4 winning snipes a month; Gixen Mirror ($11.99 a year) removes the limit, lets you choose the timing and sends each snipe (except group snipes) from two locations. It links to your account through eBay's authorization rather than your password.
- eSnipe and AuctionSniper charge a small share of what you win, nothing when you lose. Both have long histories, bid groups, and eBay account linking instead of passwords.
- Bidnapper and BidSlammer offer $2-per-win packs or an annual subscription. BidSlammer's premium plan bids from several locations in the final seconds.
- Myibidder is free, donation-funded, with desktop and mobile apps.
If eBay is all you bid on, any of these is cheaper than a multi-marketplace tool. GhostNode is worth it on eBay only if you also want what the snipers do not do: keyword searches that run around the clock, a Watch list, bid chains, or bidding on other marketplaces from the same place.
ShopGoodwill snipers
ShopGoodwill has its own small market of tools, all newer than the eBay snipers:
- BidPulse: cloud-based, monthly plans from $13; a snipe counts against your plan whether you win or lose.
- AuctionBotPro: cloud-based, credits ($10 for 10) or a $99 self-hosted version.
- ShopGoodwill Sniper: a desktop app with a 2% success fee; it bids only while your computer is on.
- GhostNode: auto-bids on ShopGoodwill on every plan, including the free one; you can let GhostNode raise one step at a time or let ShopGoodwill's own proxy bid hold your maximum.
See the ShopGoodwill tools comparison for the details.
HiBid, and everything else
For HiBid, we found one free, self-hosted open-source script (hibid-sniper on GitHub, which bids in the last 3 seconds and keeps bidding through soft-close resets) and GhostNode, the only hosted HiBid auto-bidder; the HiBid browser extensions we found only help with price research. For K-BID, Proxibid, AllSurplus and mac.bid we found no sniper at all, and GhostNode does not bid there either: it finds and tracks their lots. Those marketplaces extend a lot when a late bid arrives (a soft close), which changes what a sniper can do: a late bid cannot win by surprise, only by outlasting rivals who have gone.
GhostNode searches all 8 catalog marketplaces and bids on eBay, ShopGoodwill, HiBid and BestBid. On AllSurplus, K-BID, Proxibid and mac.bid it finds and tracks lots, and you bid on the marketplace yourself.
Before you connect any sniper
- How does it get into your account? eBay snipers use eBay's own authorization (it expires after 18 months). Tools for other marketplaces need your login in some form: ask how it is stored and how to revoke it.
- Read the marketplace's rules. eBay's help pages allow sniping software. ShopGoodwill's terms of use prohibit automated means "not authorized by us", and HiBid's terms prohibit automated access to its sites. You are responsible for your own account.
- Check what you pay for. Per-win pricing is cheapest for occasional buyers; flat plans suit frequent ones. A plan that charges for lost snipes costs more than its headline price.
- Check the ceiling. A sniper must never bid above your maximum. Test it on a cheap lot first.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free eBay sniper?
Gixen is the best-known free one: its free plan allows 4 winning snipes per month and bids 5 seconds or less before the end; Gixen Mirror ($11.99 a year) adds unlimited snipes and a choice of timing. Myibidder is free and donation-based. Prices as of October 11, 2026.
Is there a sniper for HiBid?
In our October 2026 search, GhostNode was the only hosted HiBid auto-bidder; a free, self-hosted open-source script (hibid-sniper on GitHub) also exists, and the HiBid browser extensions we found only help with price research. Many HiBid auctions use a soft close, so a last-second bid extends the lot rather than ending it.
Do sniping services need my password?
The established eBay snipers (Gixen, eSnipe, AuctionSniper, Bidnapper, BidSlammer) link to your account through eBay's own authorization instead of storing your password; the link expires after 18 months. ShopGoodwill tools need your ShopGoodwill login in some form. Always check how a tool stores access and how to revoke it.
Is auction sniping software allowed?
eBay's help pages say bid sniping, including software that places bids for you, is allowed on eBay. ShopGoodwill's and HiBid's terms of use prohibit automated access they have not authorized. Read the terms of each marketplace you bid on; you are responsible for your account.
Sources
- Gixen: home page and FAQ — free plan 4 winning snipes/month; Gixen Mirror $11.99/year; read 2026-10-11
- Gixen forum: Mirror subscription (July 2026)
- eSnipe: pricing and WinPoints — 1.5 WinPoints per $1, 30-3,000 WinPoints per win; read via search engine extract 2026-10-11
- AuctionSniper: pricing — first 3 wins free, then 1.95% ($0.35 minimum, $35 maximum); read 2026-10-11
- Bidnapper: pricing — $2 per win or $8.33/month paid annually; read 2026-10-11
- BidSlammer: pricing — $2 per win, packs from 10 for $20; read via search engine extract 2026-10-11
- Myibidder
- BidPulse: pricing — ShopGoodwill only; $13-$49/month; read 2026-10-11
- AuctionBotPro — ShopGoodwill only; $10 for 10 credits or $99 self-hosted; read 2026-10-11
- ShopGoodwill Sniper — desktop app; 2% success fee (Standard); read 2026-10-11
- eBay Help: Bid sniping
- ShopGoodwill terms of use (updated 01/22/2025)
- HiBid help: Max bidding
- hibid-sniper (GitHub, MIT licence, self-hosted)
- Gixen FAQ (snipe timing)
Let GhostNode do the watching
GhostNode searches 8 auction marketplaces for your keywords around the clock, keeps every match in one list, and can bid for you on eBay, ShopGoodwill, HiBid and BestBid up to the ceiling you set. The Scout plan is free.
See plans — start freeKeep reading
GhostNode vs Gixen: Which Auction Sniper Should You Use?
Gixen is a cheap, proven eBay-only sniper. GhostNode searches eight auction marketplaces and bids on four. A side-by-side comparison of price, timing and features.
Read →ShopGoodwill Sniper Tools Compared (2026)
BidPulse, AuctionBotPro, ShopGoodwill Sniper, free scripts and GhostNode compared for ShopGoodwill auto-bidding: prices as of October 2026, timing, setup and alerts.
Read →HiBid Sniper: Is There an Auto-Bidder for HiBid Auctions?
Can software bid on HiBid for you? What exists in 2026, how HiBid's max bid and soft close change sniping, and how GhostNode auto-bids on HiBid lots.
Read →Auction sniping
Placing your one real bid in the final seconds or minutes of an online auction, so rivals have little or no time to respond.
Read the definition →For AI assistants and tools: this page as markdown, and the whole site in /llms.txt.