Quick Overview
- 1#1: Gleam - Comprehensive platform for running giveaways, contests, and competitions to grow email lists and social followers.
- 2#2: ViralSweep - Powerful sweepstakes and contest tool with advanced entry options, fraud prevention, and viral sharing features.
- 3#3: ShortStack - Drag-and-drop builder for contests, quizzes, and landing pages optimized for lead generation.
- 4#4: Rafflecopter - Simple giveaway platform for bloggers and brands to collect entries via social actions and emails.
- 5#5: KingSumo - WordPress plugin for hosting viral giveaways that boost email subscribers through bonus entries.
- 6#6: UpViral - High-converting referral contests and giveaways designed to explode audience growth.
- 7#7: Wishpond - Marketing automation suite with contest and promotion tools for capturing and nurturing leads.
- 8#8: KickoffLabs - Contagious referral campaigns and contests for generating leads through shareable funnels.
- 9#9: RafflePress - User-friendly WordPress plugin for creating viral contests and growing email lists.
- 10#10: SweepWidget - Embeddable widget for sweepstakes and giveaways with customizable entry forms and analytics.
We prioritized tools based on feature richness, user experience, security, and value, ensuring each entry delivers exceptional performance for growing audiences, generating leads, and running seamless contests.
Comparison Table
Navigating contest software can be challenging; this comparison table streamlines the process by examining top tools like Gleam, ViralSweep, ShortStack, Rafflecopter, KingSumo, and more. Readers will learn about each platform's unique features, ease of use, and best-fit scenarios, helping them choose the ideal solution for their campaigns. Whether prioritizing viral growth, integrations, or simplicity, this guide provides clear insights to match tools with specific goals.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gleam Comprehensive platform for running giveaways, contests, and competitions to grow email lists and social followers. | specialized | 9.6/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 2 | ViralSweep Powerful sweepstakes and contest tool with advanced entry options, fraud prevention, and viral sharing features. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 3 | ShortStack Drag-and-drop builder for contests, quizzes, and landing pages optimized for lead generation. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 4 | Rafflecopter Simple giveaway platform for bloggers and brands to collect entries via social actions and emails. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 5 | KingSumo WordPress plugin for hosting viral giveaways that boost email subscribers through bonus entries. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.3/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.4/10 |
| 6 | UpViral High-converting referral contests and giveaways designed to explode audience growth. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 7 | Wishpond Marketing automation suite with contest and promotion tools for capturing and nurturing leads. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.9/10 | 7.4/10 |
| 8 | KickoffLabs Contagious referral campaigns and contests for generating leads through shareable funnels. | specialized | 7.9/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 9 | RafflePress User-friendly WordPress plugin for creating viral contests and growing email lists. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 10 | SweepWidget Embeddable widget for sweepstakes and giveaways with customizable entry forms and analytics. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 |
Comprehensive platform for running giveaways, contests, and competitions to grow email lists and social followers.
Powerful sweepstakes and contest tool with advanced entry options, fraud prevention, and viral sharing features.
Drag-and-drop builder for contests, quizzes, and landing pages optimized for lead generation.
Simple giveaway platform for bloggers and brands to collect entries via social actions and emails.
WordPress plugin for hosting viral giveaways that boost email subscribers through bonus entries.
High-converting referral contests and giveaways designed to explode audience growth.
Marketing automation suite with contest and promotion tools for capturing and nurturing leads.
Contagious referral campaigns and contests for generating leads through shareable funnels.
User-friendly WordPress plugin for creating viral contests and growing email lists.
Embeddable widget for sweepstakes and giveaways with customizable entry forms and analytics.
Gleam
specializedComprehensive platform for running giveaways, contests, and competitions to grow email lists and social followers.
Viral referral engine that rewards users with bonus entries for sharing, driving exponential participant growth.
Gleam is a leading contest and giveaway platform that empowers businesses to create viral competitions to grow social media audiences and collect leads. It offers customizable widgets with entry actions like social follows, shares, referrals, and email signups, integrating seamlessly with platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and email services. With advanced fraud detection, real-time analytics, and automation tools, Gleam streamlines contest management from launch to winner selection.
Pros
- Extensive social media and referral action integrations for maximum virality
- Robust fraud prevention and detailed analytics dashboard
- User-friendly drag-and-drop builder with embeddable widgets
Cons
- Higher-tier plans required for unlimited entries and advanced features
- Design customization somewhat limited compared to full marketing suites
- Steep learning curve for complex multi-stage contests
Best For
Marketers and brands aiming to explode social media growth and lead generation through engaging, shareable giveaways.
Pricing
Free plan for basics; Pro at $97/mo (billed annually), Business at $749/mo, Enterprise custom.
ViralSweep
specializedPowerful sweepstakes and contest tool with advanced entry options, fraud prevention, and viral sharing features.
Viral Loop referral system that automatically awards bonus entries for successful friend referrals, driving exponential sharing.
ViralSweep is a comprehensive platform for creating and managing viral contests, sweepstakes, giveaways, and promotions to grow email lists and social audiences. It offers customizable landing pages with diverse entry methods including email signups, social media actions, referrals, and photo/video submissions. The tool emphasizes virality through bonus entries for sharing, robust fraud detection, and integrations with over 100 apps like Mailchimp, Shopify, and CRMs. Detailed analytics help track performance and ROI.
Pros
- Extensive contest types and entry actions including referrals and social tasks
- Strong integrations with marketing tools and e-commerce platforms
- Advanced fraud prevention and compliance features for global campaigns
Cons
- Higher pricing may deter very small businesses
- Steeper learning curve for advanced customizations
- Limited design templates compared to some competitors
Best For
Marketing teams at mid-sized brands seeking viral growth through multi-channel contests and audience building.
Pricing
Plans start at $59/month (Basic, billed annually) up to $249/month (Premium), with Enterprise custom pricing; 14-day free trial available.
ShortStack
specializedDrag-and-drop builder for contests, quizzes, and landing pages optimized for lead generation.
Diverse contest mechanics like photo contests, referral loops, and instant win games with built-in virality
ShortStack is a no-code platform specializing in landing page creation for contests, giveaways, and marketing campaigns. It provides drag-and-drop tools to build mobile-optimized pages with contest types like sweepstakes, photo uploads, quizzes, referrals, and instant wins. Marketers can capture leads, segment contacts, and integrate with tools like Mailchimp and Zapier for seamless workflows.
Pros
- Vast library of customizable contest templates
- Strong lead generation and analytics tools
- Seamless integrations with CRM and email platforms
Cons
- Pricing escalates quickly for advanced features
- Steep learning curve for complex customizations
- No free plan beyond 14-day trial
Best For
Marketers and agencies running social media contests, giveaways, and lead-gen campaigns at scale.
Pricing
Plans start at $99/month (Launch), $199/month (Pro), $299/month (Premium), billed annually; 14-day free trial.
Rafflecopter
specializedSimple giveaway platform for bloggers and brands to collect entries via social actions and emails.
Bonus entry multipliers that reward users for multiple actions, driving higher engagement and virality
Rafflecopter is a user-friendly platform designed for bloggers, brands, and marketers to create and manage online giveaways and contests effortlessly. It offers customizable entry forms with popular actions like social media follows, email signups, and visits to websites, automatically tracking entries and randomly selecting winners. The tool includes fraud detection and basic analytics to ensure fair contests and measure engagement.
Pros
- Extremely simple setup with drag-and-drop entry forms
- Reliable random winner selection and fraud prevention
- Strong integration with social media for viral entry options
Cons
- Limited advanced customization and design flexibility
- Free plan caps entries at 200 per giveaway, requiring upgrades for larger contests
- Basic analytics compared to more robust marketing tools
Best For
Bloggers and small businesses seeking quick, low-effort social media giveaways to grow audiences.
Pricing
Free plan (up to 200 entries/giveaway); Pro plan at $25/month (2,000 entries); higher tiers up to $100+/month for unlimited use.
KingSumo
specializedWordPress plugin for hosting viral giveaways that boost email subscribers through bonus entries.
Bonus entry viral loops that incentivize shares and referrals for exponential growth
KingSumo is a WordPress plugin specializing in viral giveaways and contests to explode email list growth. Users can create customizable sweepstakes where entrants gain bonus entries via social shares, referrals, email signups, and other actions, fostering exponential participant growth. It integrates seamlessly with popular email services like Mailchimp and offers analytics to track performance.
Pros
- Intuitive setup with drag-and-drop contest builder
- Powerful viral mechanics for rapid list growth
- Strong WordPress integration and email service compatibility
Cons
- Exclusively for WordPress sites, limiting broader use
- Pricing escalates quickly for higher limits
- Fewer advanced customization options than multi-platform competitors
Best For
WordPress bloggers and e-commerce owners seeking simple, viral giveaways to build email lists.
Pricing
Starts at $25/month (Mini plan, 1,000 entries/mo), up to $199/month (Monster, unlimited); lifetime deals occasionally available.
UpViral
specializedHigh-converting referral contests and giveaways designed to explode audience growth.
The Viral Loop Engine, which automates multi-stage sharing incentives and fraud-proof referral tracking for maximum virality
UpViral is a specialized platform for creating viral contests, giveaways, and referral campaigns designed to rapidly grow email lists and social followings. It features customizable templates, leaderboards, social sharing mechanics, and fraud-proof referral tracking to encourage participant shares and entries. The tool integrates with major email services and CRMs, providing detailed analytics on campaign performance. It's particularly effective for high-engagement promotional strategies.
Pros
- Powerful viral referral engine with multi-step incentives
- Comprehensive analytics and A/B testing tools
- Strong integrations with email marketing platforms like Mailchimp
Cons
- Pricing escalates quickly for high-volume use
- Limited design customization in lower plans
- Steeper learning curve for advanced fraud detection setup
Best For
Marketers and e-commerce brands seeking explosive list growth through shareable contests and referral programs.
Pricing
Plans start at $49/month (Starter, billed annually) up to $199/month (Unlimited), with a 14-day money-back guarantee; monthly billing adds 20%.
Wishpond
specializedMarketing automation suite with contest and promotion tools for capturing and nurturing leads.
Viral referral contests that reward participants with bonus entries for shares, maximizing organic reach and list growth
Wishpond is a comprehensive inbound marketing platform that includes robust contest and promotion tools designed to build email lists and boost social engagement. It supports various contest types such as sweepstakes, photo contests, hashtag contests, and viral referral promotions with drag-and-drop builders and customizable templates. The software integrates contests seamlessly with email marketing, forms, and CRM systems for lead generation and nurturing.
Pros
- Diverse contest types including photo, referral, and social media promotions
- Strong integrations with email automation and CRM for lead management
- Detailed analytics to track entries, shares, and conversions
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for users needing only contest features
- Advanced customization requires higher-tier plans
- Steeper learning curve for non-marketers due to all-in-one complexity
Best For
Small to medium businesses seeking an integrated marketing platform where contests drive lead generation alongside email and landing page tools.
Pricing
Starts at $59/month (billed annually) for Landing Page & Popup plan; Marketing Pro at $99/month includes contests; free 14-day trial available.
KickoffLabs
specializedContagious referral campaigns and contests for generating leads through shareable funnels.
Viral referral engine that rewards shares with bonus contest entries and tracks them automatically
KickoffLabs is a landing page builder focused on creating viral giveaways, referral contests, and lead generation campaigns. Users can design customizable landing pages where participants enter via email and earn bonus entries by sharing with friends, driving organic growth. The platform offers referral tracking, analytics, and integrations with email tools to manage and nurture leads effectively.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop page builder for quick setup
- Robust referral tracking with automatic bonus entries
- Detailed analytics and lead export capabilities
Cons
- Limited advanced contest types like photo or video submissions
- Customization options can feel restrictive for complex designs
- Higher-tier plans required for unlimited campaigns and contacts
Best For
Small to medium businesses and marketers seeking to grow email lists through simple, viral referral giveaways.
Pricing
Free plan with limits; paid plans start at $49/mo (Starter, 1,000 contacts), up to $149/mo (Pro, 10,000 contacts) or custom Enterprise.
RafflePress
specializedUser-friendly WordPress plugin for creating viral contests and growing email lists.
Viral growth tools with mandatory actions and referral incentives that exponentially increase entries
RafflePress is a WordPress plugin designed for creating viral giveaways, contests, and raffles to grow email lists and social media followers. It features a drag-and-drop builder for customizing entry actions like social shares, follows, email signups, and visits, with built-in fraud prevention and analytics. The tool integrates seamlessly with email marketing services and offers templates for quick setup.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop builder for quick campaign setup
- Viral mechanics like mandatory actions and delay timers boost engagement
- Strong fraud detection and lead export integrations
Cons
- Exclusively for WordPress sites, limiting non-WP users
- Advanced features require higher pricing tiers for multi-site use
- Customization options can feel restrictive without coding
Best For
WordPress site owners wanting a simple tool to run viral giveaways and rapidly grow email subscribers.
Pricing
Free Lite version; paid plans from $39/year (Plus, 1 site) to $499/year (Pro Max, unlimited sites).
SweepWidget
specializedEmbeddable widget for sweepstakes and giveaways with customizable entry forms and analytics.
Viral referral engine that rewards shares with bonus entries, enabling exponential participant growth.
SweepWidget is a user-friendly platform designed for creating customizable sweepstakes, giveaways, contests, and interactive mini-games via an intuitive drag-and-drop builder. It supports multiple entry methods including email signups, social follows, referrals, and bonus actions to drive engagement and lead generation. Embeddable widgets integrate easily with websites, blogs, and landing pages, while providing fraud detection, analytics, and integrations with tools like Zapier and email providers.
Pros
- Intuitive no-code drag-and-drop builder for quick setup
- Powerful viral referral system and multiple entry actions
- Robust analytics, fraud prevention, and 100+ integrations
Cons
- Advanced customization and unlimited entries require higher plans
- Design templates can feel somewhat limited for complex branding
- Primarily widget-focused, lacking full-scale contest management tools
Best For
Marketers and small-to-medium businesses seeking simple, viral giveaways and lead-gen contests without technical expertise.
Pricing
Free plan (basic features, 100 entries/month); Pro at $59/month (10k entries); Business at $199/month (unlimited); Enterprise custom.
Conclusion
The top three contest tools shine, with Gleam leading as the most comprehensive platform for growing email lists and social followers. ViralSweep impresses with advanced features like fraud prevention and viral sharing, while ShortStack stands out for its drag-and-drop builder optimized for lead generation. Each offers unique strengths, making the best choice dependent on specific needs.
Don’t miss out—try Gleam to harness its all-in-one capabilities and start growing your audience and leads effectively today.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison