If you're searching for a MaxSold alternative, you probably already know roughly how its pricing works and want to know what else exists. This is a plain comparison of MaxSold and BackyardAuction for sellers: what each charges, when you get paid, how pickup day works, and what the terms say about selling elsewhere.
We run BackyardAuction, so check the numbers yourself. Everything about MaxSold below comes from its own help center and seller terms, checked September 2026, and we've tried to be fair about where MaxSold is the better choice.
The short version
MaxSold runs online estate and downsizing auctions across the United States and Canada. Sellers choose between a Seller Managed auction, where you photograph and catalog everything yourself, and a MaxSold Managed auction, where a local team does the work for a flat fee plus commission. Bidding usually starts at $1 with no reserves.
BackyardAuction is a local online auction marketplace built around in-person pickup, with a buyer community centered on the Denver area. You photograph items with your phone, the AI writes the listings, local buyers bid, and winners pick up from you during windows you choose. There is no managed tier; it's built for people doing the sale themselves, at a much lower fee.
Seller fees, side by side
MaxSold's help center lists Seller Managed auctions at 30% of total sale proceeds or a $99 minimum commission, whichever is greater. MaxSold Managed auctions are $2,000 flat plus 30% commission, with a $500 deposit up front.
BackyardAuction's Backyard tier charges 10% of what sells, with no setup fee, no deposit, no subscription, and no minimum. Auction Pro, for vetted high-volume sellers, is $249 per active month with no per-sale fees, but for a one-time clear-out the 10% tier is the one to compare.
What that looks like on real sales:
- A $250 auction of a small apartment's leftovers: 30% would be $75, so MaxSold's $99 minimum applies, which is 40% of the sale. BackyardAuction's fee is $25.
- A $1,500 auction: MaxSold $450. BackyardAuction $150.
- A $6,000 whole-house auction: MaxSold $1,800 self-managed, or about $3,800 managed. BackyardAuction $600.
The minimum is the number that surprises people: sellers in MaxSold's own reviews describe small auctions that netted very little once it was taken. The pricing page has a calculator for your own figures.
When you actually get paid
MaxSold's help center says sellers are paid within 15 business days of the auction closing, and its seller terms allow gross proceeds to be held for up to ten business days after the auction to cover refunds and alternate pickups. In calendar terms, that is usually about three weeks from the close before the money lands.
On BackyardAuction, winning bidders are charged automatically the moment the auction ends, and your proceeds go to your connected bank account through Stripe, typically within about two business days. You never collect cash at the door or wait on a check.
Pickup day
MaxSold schedules one pickup date per auction, usually a three-to-four-hour window, set with the seller in advance. Buyers agree when they bid that they, or someone on their behalf, will be there. On a Seller Managed auction, hosting that window is your job. MaxSold's guidance is to organize lots so they can be found quickly, print the master invoice list, clear the driveway and paths, bring a few helpers to escort buyers, and check ID on invoices over $300.
BackyardAuction lets you set several pickup windows across different days, and each winner picks the one that suits them, so you're not hosting everyone at once. Every buyer who shows up has already paid, so there is nothing to collect and nothing to reconcile. You're handing over items, not running a checkout.
Selling elsewhere while the auction runs
MaxSold's seller terms say that if goods included in the auction are sold outside it during the term, the sale price must be reported to MaxSold and is added to the gross proceeds, meaning commission is owed on it.
BackyardAuction locks an item only while its auction is live, which is the minimum needed to protect the people bidding on it. There is no contract term, so before an auction starts and after it ends, you can sell anything anywhere. The lock is functional, not a commitment.
Where MaxSold is the better choice
Being fair to both sides, MaxSold makes more sense when:
- You're not near Denver. BackyardAuction's bidders are local by design, so far outside the Denver area the pool is thin; MaxSold operates across North America.
- You want it fully done for you. MaxSold Managed sends a team to photograph, catalog, and run pickup. BackyardAuction's AI does the writing, but you take the photos and host the windows.
- The estate is unusually large or specialized and you would rather pay for a managed process than coordinate it yourself.
If none of those apply, the fee gap is usually large enough that the decision makes itself. For the do-it-yourself route, how to liquidate an estate without hiring a company covers the order of operations, and selling estate items online locally covers the mechanics.
What sellers say about MaxSold
Review sites are a blunt instrument, but the pattern is consistent. On Trustpilot, MaxSold's TrustScore has sat around 2 out of 5 across more than 1,300 reviews (checked September 2026), and the most common seller complaints are the minimum commission, the 30% rate on small sales, and the wait for payment. Buyer reviews run warmer; the platform is popular with people who like $1 starting bids.
BackyardAuction is newer and has far fewer reviews of any kind, which is worth knowing too.
Frequently asked questions
Is BackyardAuction a MaxSold alternative if I don't live near Denver?
Not really, yet. Buyers pick up in person and the bidder community is centered on the Denver metro, so a listing far outside it won't reach many people. MaxSold or a regional auction house is the practical choice elsewhere.
Does BackyardAuction have a minimum commission?
No. The Backyard tier is 10% of what sells with no minimum, no setup fee, and no subscription. If an auction brings in $200, the fee is $20.
How does MaxSold's $99 minimum work?
On a Seller Managed auction, MaxSold charges 30% of proceeds or $99, whichever is greater. Below $330 in total sales the $99 minimum applies, so a small auction can cost a much larger share than 30%.
Can I sell things on Facebook Marketplace while my auction is running?
On MaxSold, items in the auction that sell elsewhere during the term are added to gross proceeds and commission is owed. On BackyardAuction, an item is locked only while its auction is live; outside that window, sell it wherever you like.
Which is better for clearing a whole house?
In the Denver area, a single BackyardAuction sale handles a full house at 10%, and the plan in how to sell a house full of stuff walks through it. Elsewhere, or if you want a team to do the work, MaxSold Managed is the closest thing to a full-service option online.