WordPress Penny Auction Theme by SiteMile 1.5.0

The WordPress Penny Auction Theme by SiteMile is a specialized, "turn-key" solution designed to transform a standard WordPress site into a fully functional "pay-per-bid" auction platform, similar to sites like DealDash or QuiBids.

As of 2026, SiteMile remains one of the few developers providing a dedicated, all-in-one Penny Auction framework for WordPress that doesn't rely on dozens of external plugins.

How the Penny Auction Model Works

Unlike standard eBay-style auctions, a Penny Auction (also known as a "bidding fee auction") follows these rules:

Bid Credits: Users must purchase "bid packs" (e.g., $50 for 100 bids) before they can participate.

Incremental Bidding: Each bid placed increases the item's price by a small amount (usually $0.01) and extends the countdown timer by a few seconds.

The Winner: The last person to bid before the timer hits zero wins the right to buy the item at the final (usually very low) price.

Key Features

Bidding Fee System: Built-in tools to define and sell "Bid Packages" to your customers.

Live Timer (AJAX): Real-time countdown timers that refresh instantly without reloading the page, crucial for high-intensity last-second bidding.

Auto-Bid (Bid Butler): Allows users to set a range and a number of bids to be placed automatically by the system.

Payment Gateways: Native integration with PayPal and Stripe, with support for custom integrations (Authorize.net, 2Checkout).

Credit System: A comprehensive user dashboard where bidders can track their remaining credits, won auctions, and bidding history.

Total Admin Control: Set starting prices, minimum/maximum bid increments, and "time increase" per bid from the WordPress backend.

Technical Specifications (2026 Updates)

Feature

Details

Current Compatibility

Optimized for WordPress 6.x and PHP 8.2+

Design

Fully responsive (Bootstrap-based); looks great on mobile apps

License Model

Available as a single site license or unlimited "entrepreneur" packs

Monetization

Earn from bid pack sales and the final auction sale price

SEO

Built-in SEO fields for auction listings to capture search traffic

Why Choose SiteMile's Version?

Most auction themes are "Simple Auctions" (highest bid wins). SiteMile’s theme is one of the only ones that includes the specific logic for "pay-to-bid" mechanics. > Warning: Running a penny auction site involves complex legal and financial regulations in many countries (often classified similarly to gaming or gambling). Always ensure you have the proper licenses for your jurisdiction before launching.

Pricing (Approximate)

Basic Version: ~$149 (Standard features, 6 months support).

Pro/Entrepreneur Version: ~$299 - $349 (Includes extensions and lifetime support options).

Would you like me to help you compare this with "Simple Auction" plugins if you don't need the pay-per-bid model, or do you need a list of the legal requirements for running a penny auction?