There are two kinds of TikTok LIVE auction. A TikTok Shop LIVE Auction sells a product for money and is set up in Seller Center. A gift auction is a game: viewers bid with gifts, an overlay ranks them, and the highest total wins when the clock stops. This guide covers the gift auction, which you run with BetterTok's Live Auction overlay on the Creator plan.
What you need
- The BetterTok Creator plan ($9.99 a month or $99.99 a year)
- TikTok LIVE Studio or OBS on a computer
- Something to put up for each round, and a way to deliver it
Shop auction or gift auction?
- TikTok Shop LIVE Auction. You sell a product and the buyer pays for it through TikTok Shop. You set it up in Seller Center and LIVE Manager. If you are selling goods for money, this is the one to use, and BetterTok is not part of it.
- Gift auction. Viewers compete by sending Gifts, and every gift adds to their total. It is a game on your stream, with a reward you choose for the winner.
Run a gift auction
Open Live Auction
Open Overlays in the sidebar and choose Live Auction. Viewers bid with gifts, and the top bidder wins.
Set the timer
Set how long each round runs. You can still add or remove time while it is live.
Set a minimum bid
Min Bid stops tiny bids from winning: a bidder whose total stays below it cannot win.
Decide what happens at the buzzer
Bonus time adds seconds when the timer hits 0, so a gift at the buzzer can be answered, and Bonus rounds limits how many times that can happen. Tie Overtime adds time when a round ends level, instead of ending it as a tie.
Copy the link and add it
Press Copy link. Add it as a Link source in LIVE Studio or a Browser source in OBS, then size and drag the source to where you want the auction.
Announce the prize and start
Say what is up for grabs before the clock runs, then press START. PAUSE freezes the timer and RESET clears the round. The rules lock while a round runs or is paused, so change them between rounds.
Deliver what you promised
The highest total when the clock stops wins. Give the reward on stream if you can, then set up the next round.
Stay inside TikTok's rules
TikTok's LIVE Monetization Guidelines do not mention gift auctions by name. They do say content may lose monetization if it uses misleading promises or mechanically and repeatedly solicits Gifts, and that enforcement can reach LIVE Gifts and LIVE Match. The Virtual Items Policy says Virtual Items cannot be exchanged for cash or used as currency.
So say clearly what the winner gets, deliver it every time, and do not use Gifts as a way to take payment for goods. Rules change and differ by region, so check them for yours. If you are unsure about a prize, use TikTok Shop for anything you are really selling.
Running a good round
- Keep rounds short. Several small rounds beat one long one.
- Mention the leader and the gap now and then, rather than asking for gifts outright.
- Show who else is in it. A gifter leaderboard beside the auction means a viewer who loses a round still sees their name.
- Mix it up between rounds with a spin wheel.
Frequently asked questions
Is a TikTok Shop auction the same as a gift auction?
No. A TikTok Shop LIVE Auction sells a product for money through Seller Center. A gift auction is a game where viewers bid with Gifts and an overlay ranks them. BetterTok runs the second kind.
How do viewers bid in a gift auction?
By sending any gift during the round. Each gift's coins add to that viewer's total, so several small gifts can beat one big one. The top bidders show on the overlay as the round runs.
Can I change the timer during a round?
You can add or remove time while a round runs. The other rules, such as Min Bid and Bonus time, lock while a round is running or paused, so change those between rounds.
What stops someone winning with a last-second gift?
Bonus time. It adds seconds when the timer hits 0, so a gift at the buzzer can still be answered. Bonus rounds sets how many times it can extend a round.
Do I need the Creator plan to run a gift auction?
Yes. Live auctions are part of the Creator plan ($9.99 a month or $99.99 a year). Your BetterTok account itself is free.