Contest Management Software

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Top Rated Products

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Submittable

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1
Submittable

Submittable offers tools to launch, measure, and grow social impact programs, locally and globally. From grants and scholarships to awards and CSR programs, Submittable partners with users to make a difference. The vendor states Submittable has supported over 95,000 social impact…

2
Cool Tabs

Cool Tabs is a social media marketing platform that is designed to help users increase their online audience and get qualified leads by creating simple interactive content for apps, social networks, microsites, mobile devices and websites. Users have more than twenty different types…

3
Woobox

Woobox helps create contests, sweepstakes, coupons to grow fans and amplify marketing messages.

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Wishpond Propel IQ

Wishpond's Propel IQ marketing automation platform is designed to make it easy to generate, manage and nurture leads. Business users can automatically score and segment leads into lists based on activity and personal details. They can also send personalized emails after interest…

6
ShortStack

ShortStack is a landing page creation and contesting solution built around features such as social marketing campaigns, robust third-party integrations, and custom design services.

7
Gleam

Gleam (gleam.io) is a contest management application from the Australian company of the same name.

8
Heyo

Heyo is a sweepstakes and social media contest application from the company of the same name in Virginia.

9
ContestPad from Launchpad6

Launchpad6 is a contest management software from the company of the same name in Melbourne.

10
OpenWater

OpenWater headquartered in Arlington offers their awards management and submissions software, supporting contests, academic scholarships and grant submissions, call for papers (cfps) and abstract submission, award submissions, fellowships, and related processes.

11
Votigo

Votigo is a social media marketing and promotions platform allowing business of all sizes to acquire, engage, and manage their customers across social, mobile, and the web. Customers include Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Sony Online Entertainment, Kaiser-Permanente, NCM Fathom…

12
ViralSweep

ViralSweep is a contest and sweepstakes management application.

13
KingSumo

One can spend hours executing marketing plans, thousands of dollars on ads, and a ton of energy begging mom to tell her book club about a business.Do these kinds of approaches really grow business? KingSumo is presented as a way to bring a business or brand into the spotlight without…

14
VYPER
0 reviews

VYPER (VYPER.IO) is a tool that helps build viral contests, giveaways and reward programs, from the company of the same name in Los Angeles.

15
Judgify
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Judgify is a contest, abstract, and submission management application from GlobalSign.In.

16
Zealous
0 reviews

Zealous was built to streamline the process of collecting, reviewing and selecting candidates online. The vendor states their platform has been used to simplify awards, competitions, residencies, exhibitions, grants, public commissions and creative jobs. Created specifically for…

17
Fastory
0 reviews

Fastory (formerly KontestApp) enables users to create marketing games and capture lead data to meet their business objectives. According to the vendor this solution provides marketers with a platform that makes it easy to create promotional games that integrate with social media.…

19
QZZR
0 reviews

20
Submit.com
0 reviews

Irish company Submit.com offers their submission management software, allowing businesses to collect, manage, and evaluate all kinds of applications and submissions.

21
Untap Compete
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25
Skild
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Learn More About Contest Management Software

What is Contest Management Software


Contest management software is used by businesses to market sweepstakes and competitions that offer rewards and benefits. These products are mainly used by marketing teams for promotional purposes. They allow businesses to engage with existing and potential customers, which helps build a stronger connection with them. Additionally, creating a competition can help reach a wider audience and attract people who hadn’t heard of your business or product before. News of your competition or sweepstakes can spread online or by word of mouth and bring in new participants. This helps increase overall brand awareness.


Being able to host competitions through your platform is also a useful tool in that it allows you to capture and store customer data. Participants will likely answer a variety of questions including if they’ve ever shopped or heard of your business before. This data can be used to inform marketing and promotion strategies for your product or service. Contest management platforms are typically user-friendly for marketing and IT end-users alike.


Many of the products, such as Award Force and OpenWater, offer sweepstakes, contests, raffles, and award programs. They are user-friendly for both the business and those participating which allows for high levels of interaction and retention. They also do most of the work when it comes to the distribution of contests through different outlets and devices which is incredibly time-saving for the business.


Contest Management Software Features:


Most contest management software will offer the following features:


  • Awards Management

  • Blind Judging

  • Campaign Management

  • Email Marketing

  • Entry Fee Processing

  • Entry Management

  • Forms Management

  • Fraud Detection

  • Judging Management

  • Scoring

  • Skills Contest

  • Social Promotion

  • Support

  • Sweepstakes

  • Voting Management



Additionally, the types of customer interaction contests offered by most vendors include:


  • Voting Brackets

  • Video Upload contests

  • Sweepstakes

  • Referral contests

  • Polls

  • Ballots

  • Surveys



Contest Management Software Comparison:


Before investing in a contest management platform, consider the following factors:



  • Ease of Use. It's important to have a contest management software program that's easy to use and understand. This applies to both the business using the software and the customers entering the competition. If the platform is too confusing, this may sway individuals away from using it again, which could result in lost potential customers. Be sure the software is easy to use and understand.


  • Social Media Integration. Today’s digital age is dominated by social media. This means there’s a strong chance the general public will learn about your competition on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Therefore, the contest management software you choose must be compatible with different types of social media platforms.



Pricing Information


Contest management software products offer a variety of different pricing ranges and options. Some vendors, such as ShortStack and Wishpond, offer free versions. They will have certain limitations such as the number of leads generated from contests.


If you’re looking to pay a little more to access advanced features, prices range between $34 to $500 per month. Most, if not all, vendors will offer a free trial version which is highly recommended to try before purchasing.


Related Categories

Frequently Asked Questions

What does contest management software do?

Contest management software is used by marketing teams to help promote their business through the use of innovative competitions, contests, sweepstakes, and promotions offering rewards and benefits. This engagement is created in hopes of building the business brand by attracting a variety of different people who will likely spread the word. It’s a creative marketing tactic that can be beneficial for both businesses and customers.

What are the benefits of using contest management software?

The major benefit of using contest management software is the ability to attract and engage a large number of people through a single contest. This creates a lot of attention and enhancement towards your brand and will likely draw people back. This attention also creates a lot more website traffic and generates more leads. Additionally, marketing teams can use these tools to crowdsource ideas and collect data through the overall engagement of the audience.

What are the best contest management software products?

How much does contest management software cost?

Some contest management platforms offer a free version with limited features. If you’re willing to pay for a product that offers more features, you can expect to pay anywhere between $45 to $500 per month, depending on the number and the range of features included. Most vendors will offer a free trial to test out before making a purchase.