On this page
Key takeaways
5- Horizons and the Hangar AuctionHousePlugin list bidding and Buy-It-Now listings.
- zAuctionHouse and AT-AuctionHouse focus on fixed-price purchases.
- Vault connects plugins to an economy, so Vault-based markets also need an economy plugin.
- Check Minecraft version, server software and Folia support on the current plugin listing.
- Test a full listing and purchase on a backup or staging server before launch.
If you run a survival server, SMP or network, an auction house can give players a place to trade without arranging every sale in chat. This comparison covers four options, what each listing supports, and the economy and version checks to make before choosing one.
Compare the listing and server requirements first
These plugins differ in whether players can bid, which economy connections are available, and whether their listings mention cross-server or Folia support. Check the plugin page against your exact server software and Minecraft version before installing it.
| Plugin | Listing types | Economy | Storage or network notes | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| zAuctionHouse | Fixed-price instant buying | 15+ economy plugins, including Vault and PlayerPoints | SQLite, MySQL, MariaDB and Redis; Folia support | Paid listing; a free demo is also listed on Modrinth |
| Horizons Auction House | Buy-It-Now and bidding | Vault, PlayerPoints, CoinsEngine, XP or items | SQLite or MySQL; Folia support is not stated on its listing | Free |
| AuctionHousePlugin on Hangar | Buy-It-Now and bidding | Vault, or VaultUnlocked on Folia, plus an economy plugin | Folia use requires the listed Vault alternative | Availability is not stated here |
| AT-AuctionHouse | Fixed-price listings | Requires Vault and an economy plugin | Cross-server sync and Folia support are listed | Paid |
1. zAuctionHouse
zAuctionHouse suits owners looking for fixed-price listings and a broad set of market controls. Its listing describes instant purchases, bulk selling, confirmations, price limits, expired-item recovery, categories, search, sorting, personal listings and purchase history. The resource is paid, and a free demo is listed separately on Modrinth. The demo is one version behind and does not include official support.
Its listing names more than 15 economy integrations, including Vault and PlayerPoints. Storage options include SQLite, MySQL, MariaDB and Redis, and Folia support is listed. Menus are customised through zMenu. The documentation could not be checked during research, so confirm its current dependencies and setup steps on the documentation page before installing.
See zAuctionHouse on BuiltByBit.
2. Horizons Auction House
Horizons is a free option if you want both instant purchases and bidding in a GUI. Its listing includes search and filtering, configurable taxes, permission-based tax reductions, listing limits and cooldowns, plus item and lore blacklists. It can store data in SQLite or MySQL and log transactions.
Vault is one of five currency backends, alongside PlayerPoints, CoinsEngine, XP and item-based currency, so Vault is optional for this plugin. The listing shows Paper, Purpur and Spigot support for Minecraft versions 1.21 through 1.21.11 and 26.1 through 26.2. It does not state Folia support. Check the version list again if your server runs a different release.
See Horizons Auction House on Modrinth.
3. AuctionHousePlugin on Hangar
This Paper plugin offers both Buy-It-Now and bidding auctions. Its listing gives default durations of 48 hours for Buy-It-Now and two hours for bidding. Owners can configure taxes, GUI layout and colours, and permission-based listing limits. Other listed features include auto-collect, partial selling and the option to summon a villager NPC.
It requires Vault, or VaultUnlocked on Folia, plus an economy plugin such as EssentialsX. That means installing the auction house alone will not create player balances. Its listed commands include /ah to open the market, /ah sell, /ah bid, and admin commands for removing items or blocking a player's access. Review the Hangar page for current compatibility before choosing it.
See AuctionHousePlugin on Hangar.
4. AT-AuctionHouse
AT-AuctionHouse is made by our team. The catalogue describes it as a fixed-price market with eight automatic categories, cross-server sync and Folia support. Players set a price and another player buys the listing directly, so it suits owners who want a buy-now flow rather than bidding.
It requires Vault and an economy plugin. The catalogue lists Folia support, but make sure the Vault and economy components you use are compatible with Folia too. Compare the product's stated scope with your server needs, especially if bidding, timed auctions or a particular integration is essential.
Choose an economy and decide whether listings cross servers
First check which plugin manages player balances. For a Vault-based market, install and configure an economy plugin as well as Vault. EssentialsX is one example named by the Hangar plugin's listing. Horizons offers additional currency backends, including XP and items, if those fit your server better.
Next, decide whether each server needs its own market or whether listings should be shared across a network. zAuctionHouse lists Redis and several database options. Horizons lists SQLite and MySQL. AT-AuctionHouse lists cross-server sync, but its catalogue entry does not give setup details. Check the relevant documentation before planning a multi-server database or Redis deployment.
For permission-based listing limits or tax reductions, confirm which permissions the plugin exposes and how they interact with your rank groups. Our guides to EssentialsX and permissions and LuckPerms ranks can help with the surrounding server setup. If your market is part of a larger player shopping area, see our guide to survival server shops.
Install on a test server before opening the market
Plugin installation touches server files and requires a restart. Use the instructions for where your server runs, then follow the plugin's own setup documentation for dependencies and configuration.
- Back up the server before changing its plugins.
- Upload the plugin jar to the server's
plugins/directory. - Restart the server, then review the console for load errors.
- Create a backup from the Backups tab before changing files.
- Upload the plugin jar into
plugins/through File Manager or SFTP. - Restart from the Console and check the startup output for errors.
- Make a backup before changing files.
- Upload the plugin jar into
plugins/from Files or FTP. - Restart using the console and check the startup output.
Test with a second account before announcing the market. Create a listing, buy it, check that the payment and item delivery both work, then test expired-item handling or bidding if your chosen plugin supports those features. If the market is shared across servers, verify that a listing made on one server appears and completes correctly on another.
Which auction house fits your server?
Choose based on the trade flow your players need. Horizons and the Hangar plugin list both bidding and Buy-It-Now. zAuctionHouse and AT-AuctionHouse focus on fixed-price purchases. Economy requirements and server support also vary, so verify those against your current Paper, Purpur or Folia setup before committing. Start on a copy, test a complete trade, and only then open the market to players.
Frequently asked questions
Which Minecraft auction house plugins support bidding?
Horizons Auction House and AuctionHousePlugin on Hangar list both bidding and Buy-It-Now listings. zAuctionHouse and AT-AuctionHouse are described here as fixed-price options.
Does an auction house plugin need Vault?
It depends on the plugin. The Hangar AuctionHousePlugin requires Vault or VaultUnlocked on Folia, plus an economy plugin. Horizons has several currency backends and lists Vault as optional.
Does Vault provide the server economy?
No. Vault is an API that connects plugins to an economy, permissions or chat system. A Vault-based auction house still needs an economy plugin to manage player balances.
Can I use an auction house across multiple Minecraft servers?
zAuctionHouse lists Redis and database storage options, and AT-AuctionHouse lists cross-server sync. Check each project's current documentation for the exact setup requirements before connecting servers.
Which auction house plugin supports Folia?
The zAuctionHouse listing and AT-AuctionHouse catalogue entry list Folia support. The Hangar plugin describes using VaultUnlocked on Folia, while Horizons' listing does not state Folia support.
