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Top 10 Best Contest Management Software of 2026

Discover the top 10 contest management software solutions to streamline promotions. Explore features, comparisons & choose the best fit today.

Rajesh Patel

Rajesh Patel

Feb 11, 2026

10 tools comparedExpert reviewed
Independent evaluation · Unbiased commentary · Updated regularly
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Contest management software is indispensable for streamlining submissions, judging, and promotion, whether for awards, creative campaigns, or programming challenges. With tools tailored to everything from photography contests to viral giveaways, selecting the right platform directly impacts efficiency and success.

Quick Overview

  1. 1#1: Submittable - Comprehensive platform for collecting, reviewing, and managing submissions for contests, awards, and publications.
  2. 2#2: Award Force - End-to-end solution for creating, promoting, and judging online awards and contests.
  3. 3#3: Judgify - Powerful online judging software for scoring and selecting winners in contests and competitions.
  4. 4#4: Entrythingy - Online entry management system tailored for creative contests like photography and design.
  5. 5#5: Gleam - Versatile tool for running viral giveaways, contests, and lead generation campaigns.
  6. 6#6: EasyPromos - App for creating and managing promotional contests, sweepstakes, and marketing campaigns.
  7. 7#7: FilmFreeway - Submission platform for filmmakers to enter festivals, contests, and screening opportunities.
  8. 8#8: Woobox - Social media contest and promotion builder for engaging audiences and growing followers.
  9. 9#9: Rafflecopter - Simple giveaway and raffle tool for bloggers and small businesses to run contests.
  10. 10#10: DOMjudge - Open-source system for managing programming contests with judging and scoreboard features.

We ranked these tools based on feature versatility, user-friendliness, technical reliability, and value, ensuring they meet the diverse needs of contests—from filmmakers to small businesses—while balancing power with accessibility.

Comparison Table

Navigating contest management software can be challenging, but this comparison table simplifies the process by examining top tools like Submittable, Award Force, Judgify, Entrythingy, Gleam, and more. It outlines key features, usability, and practical details to help readers identify the tool that aligns best with their contest goals, whether for grants, creative competitions, or marketing campaigns.

Comprehensive platform for collecting, reviewing, and managing submissions for contests, awards, and publications.

Features
9.8/10
Ease
9.2/10
Value
9.4/10

End-to-end solution for creating, promoting, and judging online awards and contests.

Features
9.5/10
Ease
8.2/10
Value
8.7/10
3Judgify logo8.7/10

Powerful online judging software for scoring and selecting winners in contests and competitions.

Features
9.2/10
Ease
8.5/10
Value
8.0/10

Online entry management system tailored for creative contests like photography and design.

Features
8.8/10
Ease
8.2/10
Value
8.0/10
5Gleam logo8.3/10

Versatile tool for running viral giveaways, contests, and lead generation campaigns.

Features
8.7/10
Ease
9.2/10
Value
7.6/10
6EasyPromos logo8.5/10

App for creating and managing promotional contests, sweepstakes, and marketing campaigns.

Features
9.0/10
Ease
9.2/10
Value
7.8/10

Submission platform for filmmakers to enter festivals, contests, and screening opportunities.

Features
9.2/10
Ease
8.3/10
Value
8.1/10
8Woobox logo7.9/10

Social media contest and promotion builder for engaging audiences and growing followers.

Features
8.1/10
Ease
8.4/10
Value
7.2/10

Simple giveaway and raffle tool for bloggers and small businesses to run contests.

Features
7.2/10
Ease
9.1/10
Value
9.3/10
10DOMjudge logo8.1/10

Open-source system for managing programming contests with judging and scoreboard features.

Features
8.5/10
Ease
7.0/10
Value
9.8/10
1
Submittable logo

Submittable

enterprise

Comprehensive platform for collecting, reviewing, and managing submissions for contests, awards, and publications.

Overall Rating9.6/10
Features
9.8/10
Ease of Use
9.2/10
Value
9.4/10
Standout Feature

Sophisticated blind review system with automated reader assignments, customizable scorecards, and real-time collaboration for fair, efficient judging.

Submittable is a leading platform for managing submissions in contests, grants, awards, and publishing programs. It enables organizers to build custom entry forms, collect secure submissions, and streamline collaborative review processes with blind judging, scorecards, and workflow automation. With powerful reporting, integrations, and scalability, it handles everything from small calls to enterprise-scale contests.

Pros

  • Highly customizable forms and workflows for any contest type
  • Advanced collaborative blind review with reader assignments and scoring
  • Comprehensive analytics, reporting, and integrations like Zapier and Google Workspace

Cons

  • Pricing scales quickly with submission volume
  • Steeper learning curve for advanced customization
  • No free plan; trials required for testing

Best For

Mid-to-large organizations and teams running professional contests, awards, or grant programs that need robust, secure, and collaborative judging tools.

Pricing

Starts at $99/month (billed annually) for Essentials (500 submissions/year), $199/month for Professional, with Enterprise custom pricing based on volume.

Visit Submittablesubmittable.com
2
Award Force logo

Award Force

enterprise

End-to-end solution for creating, promoting, and judging online awards and contests.

Overall Rating9.1/10
Features
9.5/10
Ease of Use
8.2/10
Value
8.7/10
Standout Feature

Smart multi-language support with automated workflows for global, conflict-free judging

Award Force is a robust end-to-end platform for managing awards, contests, grants, and competitions, handling everything from customizable entry forms and nominations to multi-stage judging, voting, and winner announcements. It offers white-label branding, automated workflows, and real-time analytics to streamline large-scale programs. With strong API integrations and multi-language support, it's built for global, professional use cases.

Pros

  • Highly customizable workflows and white-label branding for professional experiences
  • Advanced multi-stage judging with conflict checks and scoring matrices
  • Comprehensive analytics, reporting, and API integrations for scalability

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for complex setups
  • Pricing can be high for small-scale contests
  • Limited self-service options for basic users without support

Best For

Mid-to-large organizations and associations running sophisticated, multi-round awards programs with high entry volumes.

Pricing

Custom quote-based pricing starting around $1,000/month for entry-level plans, scaling with entries, judges, and features (no public tiers).

Visit Award Forceawardforce.com
3
Judgify logo

Judgify

specialized

Powerful online judging software for scoring and selecting winners in contests and competitions.

Overall Rating8.7/10
Features
9.2/10
Ease of Use
8.5/10
Value
8.0/10
Standout Feature

Multi-judge panel with blind judging and weighted scoring for fair, professional evaluations

Judgify is a specialized online platform for managing contests, with a strong focus on photo, video, and creative submission-based competitions. It streamlines the entire process from participant entry forms and social media integrations to public voting, expert judging panels, and real-time leaderboards. Organizers can embed contests on websites, track analytics, and export results effortlessly.

Pros

  • Robust social media integrations for easy submissions from Instagram and Facebook
  • Flexible judging system supporting blind reviews and multiple judges
  • Real-time leaderboards and embeddable widgets for seamless promotion

Cons

  • Limited support for non-creative contests like quizzes or essays
  • Advanced customization requires higher-tier plans
  • Analytics reporting lacks depth compared to enterprise tools

Best For

Marketing teams and brands organizing photo/video contests with public voting and expert judging.

Pricing

Starts at $49/month for Basic (up to 500 submissions), $99/month for Pro, $249/month for Business; pay-per-contest options from $29 available.

Visit Judgifyjudgify.me
4
Entrythingy logo

Entrythingy

specialized

Online entry management system tailored for creative contests like photography and design.

Overall Rating8.4/10
Features
8.8/10
Ease of Use
8.2/10
Value
8.0/10
Standout Feature

Built-in mobile-friendly judging app for real-time scoring by multiple judges anywhere

Entrythingy is an all-in-one online platform for managing contests, competitions, and submission-based events, supporting photo, video, art, writing, and more. It enables organizers to build custom entry forms, collect secure payments for fees, showcase submissions in public or private galleries, and facilitate judging with tools like scorecards and leaderboards. The software streamlines participant communication, winner announcements, and data exports for seamless event management.

Pros

  • Robust judging tools with multi-judge scoring and blind review options
  • Secure payment processing for entry fees with multiple gateways
  • Customizable galleries and leaderboards for participant engagement

Cons

  • Limited advanced analytics and reporting compared to enterprise tools
  • Customization of forms can feel restrictive for highly complex needs
  • Pricing scales quickly for high-volume contests

Best For

Small to mid-sized event organizers hosting creative contests who need an affordable, user-friendly platform without extensive technical setup.

Pricing

Starts at $29/month (Starter plan, up to 100 entries), $99/month (Pro, unlimited entries with advanced features), $299+/month (Enterprise); pay-per-entry add-ons available.

Visit Entrythingyentrythingy.com
5
Gleam logo

Gleam

other

Versatile tool for running viral giveaways, contests, and lead generation campaigns.

Overall Rating8.3/10
Features
8.7/10
Ease of Use
9.2/10
Value
7.6/10
Standout Feature

Viral referral system where entrants gain bonus entries by sharing, amplifying reach organically

Gleam is a marketing-focused platform specializing in viral giveaways, contests, and sweepstakes to drive audience growth through social media and email signups. It allows users to create customizable embeddable widgets where entrants complete actions like follows, shares, or referrals to unlock entries and rewards. The tool provides fraud detection, leaderboards, analytics, and integrations to manage and optimize campaigns effectively.

Pros

  • Intuitive drag-and-drop builder for quick contest setup
  • Strong viral mechanics with action-based entries and referrals
  • Advanced fraud prevention and real-time analytics

Cons

  • Limited support for complex submissions like file uploads or judging
  • Higher pricing tiers may not suit small-scale or non-marketing users
  • Primarily optimized for promotional giveaways over general contest types

Best For

Digital marketers and brands running social media promotions to grow email lists and followers.

Pricing

Free plan with basic features; Pro at $99/month (billed annually); Business at $399/month; Enterprise custom.

Visit Gleamgleam.io
6
EasyPromos logo

EasyPromos

other

App for creating and managing promotional contests, sweepstakes, and marketing campaigns.

Overall Rating8.5/10
Features
9.0/10
Ease of Use
9.2/10
Value
7.8/10
Standout Feature

Over 15 customizable promotion types with built-in social media virality tools and GDPR-compliant features

EasyPromos is a versatile platform for creating and managing online promotional campaigns, specializing in contests, sweepstakes, photo/video competitions, quizzes, and coupons. It offers a drag-and-drop builder to design mobile-optimized landing pages and entry forms that integrate directly with social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The software handles participant data, automated winner selection, legal compliance tools, and in-depth analytics for campaign performance tracking.

Pros

  • Wide variety of contest and promotion templates
  • Seamless social media integrations
  • Comprehensive analytics and reporting

Cons

  • Higher pricing tiers required for advanced features
  • Limited customization in entry-level plans
  • Support can be slower for non-enterprise users

Best For

Marketing teams and agencies running social media-based contests and promotions for brand engagement.

Pricing

Plans start at €29/month (Starter, annual billing) up to €399/month (Enterprise), with a 14-day free trial.

Visit EasyPromoseasypromosapp.com
7
FilmFreeway logo

FilmFreeway

specialized

Submission platform for filmmakers to enter festivals, contests, and screening opportunities.

Overall Rating8.6/10
Features
9.2/10
Ease of Use
8.3/10
Value
8.1/10
Standout Feature

Secure, private Vimeo-powered streaming rooms for remote juror screening

FilmFreeway is a specialized platform for managing film festival and contest submissions, enabling organizers to create custom entry forms, collect fees, and handle the full lifecycle of film contests. It provides tools for secure streaming to jurors, automated judging workflows, award management, and detailed analytics. Primarily tailored for the indie film industry, it connects festivals with a vast global database of filmmakers.

Pros

  • Highly specialized film contest tools including private streaming and juror management
  • Extensive filmmaker database for easy promotion and submissions
  • Robust analytics and reporting for data-driven decisions

Cons

  • Niche focus on film limits versatility for non-film contests
  • Pricing scales with submission volume, costly for high-traffic events
  • Steeper learning curve for advanced customization

Best For

Film festival directors and indie film contest organizers seeking an industry-standard submission and management platform.

Pricing

Tiered plans start free for basics (pay-per-submission ~$0.99-$1.49 each), with Pro/Enterprise subscriptions from $29/month plus fees scaling by volume.

Visit FilmFreewayfilmfreeway.com
8
Woobox logo

Woobox

other

Social media contest and promotion builder for engaging audiences and growing followers.

Overall Rating7.9/10
Features
8.1/10
Ease of Use
8.4/10
Value
7.2/10
Standout Feature

One-click cross-platform social contest apps with viral sharing mechanics

Woobox is a comprehensive platform for creating and managing social media contests, giveaways, sweepstakes, and promotional campaigns across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. It offers tools for building entry forms, moderating submissions, selecting winners randomly or via judging, and tracking performance with analytics. Ideal for marketers, the software ensures compliance with promotion laws and includes fraud prevention features to maintain contest integrity.

Pros

  • Seamless integrations with major social media platforms
  • User-friendly drag-and-drop contest builder with templates
  • Built-in fraud detection and legal compliance tools

Cons

  • Pricing escalates quickly for high-volume campaigns
  • Limited advanced customization without higher tiers
  • Customer support can be slow during peak times

Best For

Mid-sized brands and agencies running social media promotions and viral contests.

Pricing

Starts at $39/month (billed annually) for basic plans; scales to $199+/month or custom enterprise pricing based on entries and features.

Visit Wooboxwoobox.com
9
Rafflecopter logo

Rafflecopter

other

Simple giveaway and raffle tool for bloggers and small businesses to run contests.

Overall Rating7.8/10
Features
7.2/10
Ease of Use
9.1/10
Value
9.3/10
Standout Feature

Action-based entry system that rewards participants with extra entries for social shares, follows, and subscriptions to drive organic growth

Rafflecopter is a user-friendly platform designed for creating and managing online giveaways and contests, particularly popular among bloggers and small businesses. It allows hosts to build entry forms where participants gain entries by completing actions like social media follows, email sign-ups, or website visits, with built-in tools for random winner selection and fraud prevention. The service emphasizes simplicity and viral growth through incentivized sharing.

Pros

  • Extremely intuitive drag-and-drop form builder
  • Generous free plan with unlimited basic giveaways
  • Robust anti-fraud measures including email verification

Cons

  • Limited advanced contest types beyond simple entry actions
  • Outdated interface lacking modern customization options
  • Basic analytics and reporting compared to enterprise tools

Best For

Bloggers, influencers, and small businesses running straightforward social media giveaways to boost followers and email lists.

Pricing

Free plan for unlimited giveaways with branding; Pro plans start at $25/month for ad-free experience, priority support, and higher entry limits.

Visit Rafflecopterrafflecopter.com
10
DOMjudge logo

DOMjudge

other

Open-source system for managing programming contests with judging and scoreboard features.

Overall Rating8.1/10
Features
8.5/10
Ease of Use
7.0/10
Value
9.8/10
Standout Feature

Modular judging system with support for custom executable judges and partial scoring

DOMjudge is a free, open-source contest management system designed for running programming contests, particularly ICPC-style events. It provides web-based tools for problem management, automated judging across multiple programming languages, live scoreboards, team submissions, and jury oversight. The system supports features like clarifications, partial scoring, and customizable contest formats, making it suitable for educational and small-scale competitions.

Pros

  • Completely free and open-source with no licensing costs
  • Supports a wide range of programming languages and custom judges
  • Highly customizable for various contest rules and formats

Cons

  • Complex installation and setup requiring Linux server expertise
  • Dated web interface that feels less modern
  • Limited scalability and support for very large contests without tweaks

Best For

Educational institutions and small contest organizers seeking a cost-free, flexible solution for programming competitions.

Pricing

Free (open-source, self-hosted)

Visit DOMjudgedomjudge.org

Conclusion

The reviewed tools cover diverse contest needs, from collecting submissions to running viral campaigns. At the top, Submittable shines as the most comprehensive option, seamlessly handling submissions, reviews, and management. Award Force leads with end-to-end creation and promotion, while Judgify excels in precise judging—both strong alternatives for specific priorities. Together, they showcase the best in contest management versatility.

Submittable logo
Our Top Pick
Submittable

Take the next step for your contests: try Submittable, the top-ranked platform, to simplify workflows, enhance engagement, and bring your events to life.