Quick Overview
- 1#1: IdeaScale - Crowdsourcing platform for collecting, prioritizing, and implementing ideas from employees, customers, and communities.
- 2#2: Brightidea - Enterprise innovation management software for idea submission, evaluation, collaboration, and execution.
- 3#3: HYPE Innovation - Scalable platform for managing ideas, innovation challenges, and portfolios across large organizations.
- 4#4: Qmarkets - Gamified crowdsourcing and ideation tool for engaging stakeholders in innovation campaigns.
- 5#5: Planview IdeaPlace - Crowdsourced idea management solution integrated with strategic planning and portfolio tools.
- 6#6: Ideanote - User-friendly idea management platform with suggestion voting, workflows, and AI insights.
- 7#7: Viima - Flexible and easy-to-use idea management system for teams to submit, discuss, and track ideas.
- 8#8: ITONICS - Integrated innovation OS for ideation, trend scouting, and strategic portfolio management.
- 9#9: Miro - Visual collaborative whiteboard for real-time brainstorming, mind mapping, and idea visualization.
- 10#10: MURAL - Digital workspace for remote teams to facilitate ideation sessions and collaborative planning.
We prioritized tools based on functional depth (criteria, collaboration, scalability), user experience, reliability, and value, ensuring the list reflects the most effective solutions for modern ideation workflows.
Comparison Table
In dynamic work environments, robust ideation management software is critical for channeling ideas into actionable solutions. This comparison table breaks down top tools including IdeaScale, Brightidea, HYPE Innovation, Qmarkets, and Planview IdeaPlace, equipping readers to assess features, usability, and scalability.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IdeaScale Crowdsourcing platform for collecting, prioritizing, and implementing ideas from employees, customers, and communities. | specialized | 9.4/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 2 | Brightidea Enterprise innovation management software for idea submission, evaluation, collaboration, and execution. | enterprise | 9.1/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 3 | HYPE Innovation Scalable platform for managing ideas, innovation challenges, and portfolios across large organizations. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 4 | Qmarkets Gamified crowdsourcing and ideation tool for engaging stakeholders in innovation campaigns. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 5 | Planview IdeaPlace Crowdsourced idea management solution integrated with strategic planning and portfolio tools. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.7/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 6 | Ideanote User-friendly idea management platform with suggestion voting, workflows, and AI insights. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 7 | Viima Flexible and easy-to-use idea management system for teams to submit, discuss, and track ideas. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 8 | ITONICS Integrated innovation OS for ideation, trend scouting, and strategic portfolio management. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 7.5/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 9 | Miro Visual collaborative whiteboard for real-time brainstorming, mind mapping, and idea visualization. | creative_suite | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 10 | MURAL Digital workspace for remote teams to facilitate ideation sessions and collaborative planning. | creative_suite | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.4/10 | 7.7/10 |
Crowdsourcing platform for collecting, prioritizing, and implementing ideas from employees, customers, and communities.
Enterprise innovation management software for idea submission, evaluation, collaboration, and execution.
Scalable platform for managing ideas, innovation challenges, and portfolios across large organizations.
Gamified crowdsourcing and ideation tool for engaging stakeholders in innovation campaigns.
Crowdsourced idea management solution integrated with strategic planning and portfolio tools.
User-friendly idea management platform with suggestion voting, workflows, and AI insights.
Flexible and easy-to-use idea management system for teams to submit, discuss, and track ideas.
Integrated innovation OS for ideation, trend scouting, and strategic portfolio management.
Visual collaborative whiteboard for real-time brainstorming, mind mapping, and idea visualization.
Digital workspace for remote teams to facilitate ideation sessions and collaborative planning.
IdeaScale
specializedCrowdsourcing platform for collecting, prioritizing, and implementing ideas from employees, customers, and communities.
Campaign-based ideation with leaderboards and voting that turns passive participants into active innovators
IdeaScale is a comprehensive ideation management platform designed for crowdsourcing ideas from employees, customers, or communities through customizable campaigns. It facilitates collaboration via voting, commenting, and discussion features, while providing tools for idea evaluation, prioritization, and implementation with workflows and analytics. Ideal for organizations seeking to drive innovation at scale, it integrates with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and offers AI-powered insights for smarter decision-making.
Pros
- Robust crowdsourcing and gamification to boost engagement
- Advanced analytics and reporting for data-driven decisions
- Seamless integrations and scalable for enterprise use
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for small teams
- Admin setup has a moderate learning curve
- Customization often requires support for complex needs
Best For
Enterprises and large organizations aiming to crowdsource and manage innovation from diverse communities.
Pricing
Starts at around $5,000/year for basic community plans; enterprise pricing is custom and scales with users/features.
Brightidea
enterpriseEnterprise innovation management software for idea submission, evaluation, collaboration, and execution.
AI-powered Spigit AI for automated idea scoring, trend analysis, and predictive insights to accelerate evaluation
Brightidea is a leading enterprise-grade ideation management platform that enables organizations to crowdsource, evaluate, and implement innovative ideas from employees, customers, and partners. It supports structured innovation campaigns, collaborative evaluation workflows, and portfolio management to drive ideas from concept to execution. With AI-powered insights and robust analytics, it helps track innovation ROI and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.
Pros
- Highly scalable for large enterprises with unlimited campaigns
- Advanced AI and analytics for idea prioritization and ROI tracking
- Seamless integration with CRM, project management, and collaboration tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve for setup and customization
- Enterprise pricing can be prohibitive for SMBs
- Interface feels dated compared to modern SaaS tools
Best For
Large organizations and enterprises seeking a comprehensive platform for managing end-to-end innovation pipelines at scale.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing, typically starting at $50,000+ annually for enterprise deployments based on users, campaigns, and modules.
HYPE Innovation
enterpriseScalable platform for managing ideas, innovation challenges, and portfolios across large organizations.
AI-powered idea scoring and predictive trend analytics for rapid, data-driven evaluation
HYPE Innovation is an enterprise-grade platform for innovation management, specializing in ideation through structured campaigns, crowdsourcing, and collaboration tools. It facilitates idea capture, evaluation with AI-driven scoring, expert judging, and progression into portfolios and roadmaps. The software integrates seamlessly with tools like Microsoft Teams and offers analytics for trend detection and decision-making.
Pros
- Comprehensive end-to-end innovation lifecycle management
- Advanced AI analytics and idea evaluation tools
- Scalable for large enterprises with strong integrations
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-expert users
- Enterprise pricing lacks transparency
- Setup and customization require dedicated resources
Best For
Large organizations and enterprises needing scalable, AI-enhanced ideation and portfolio management across global teams.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing, typically starting at $50,000+ annually based on users, features, and deployment scale.
Qmarkets
specializedGamified crowdsourcing and ideation tool for engaging stakeholders in innovation campaigns.
Wisdom of Crowds methodology with AI-enhanced idea scoring and prediction markets
Qmarkets is a robust ideation management platform that leverages crowdsourcing to capture and cultivate ideas from employees, customers, and partners. It supports the full innovation lifecycle, from launching targeted campaigns and idea submission to evaluation, prioritization, and development using gamification, voting, and AI-driven insights. The software excels in enterprise environments, providing analytics and collaboration tools to turn collective input into strategic outcomes.
Pros
- Powerful crowdsourcing and gamification for high engagement
- Advanced analytics and AI for idea evaluation
- Highly customizable campaigns and integrations
Cons
- Enterprise-focused pricing limits accessibility for SMBs
- Steeper learning curve for complex setups
- Limited out-of-box templates for quick starts
Best For
Large enterprises and organizations seeking scalable crowdsourced innovation from diverse stakeholders.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing, typically starting at $10,000+ annually based on users and features; quote required.
Planview IdeaPlace
enterpriseCrowdsourced idea management solution integrated with strategic planning and portfolio tools.
AI-powered idea scoring and predictive analytics that automatically rank concepts based on success potential
Planview IdeaPlace is an enterprise-grade ideation management platform that enables organizations to crowdsource, evaluate, and prioritize ideas from employees, customers, and partners. It supports structured innovation campaigns, collaboration tools like voting and commenting, and advanced analytics to identify high-potential concepts. Integrated with Planview's portfolio management suite, it facilitates the transition of ideas into actionable projects and roadmaps.
Pros
- Robust crowdsourcing and gamification to drive high employee engagement
- Advanced AI-driven analytics for idea evaluation and prioritization
- Seamless integration with Planview PPM for full innovation lifecycle management
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex setup for smaller teams
- Enterprise pricing lacks transparency and can be costly
- User interface feels somewhat dated compared to modern SaaS tools
Best For
Large enterprises with distributed workforces seeking scalable, strategic innovation management tied to portfolio execution.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing via quote; typically starts at $50-100/user/month for annual subscriptions, scaling with users and features.
Ideanote
specializedUser-friendly idea management platform with suggestion voting, workflows, and AI insights.
Fully branded, multi-portal system for targeted idea collection from employees, customers, and partners
Ideanote is a robust ideation management platform that enables organizations to collect, evaluate, prioritize, and implement ideas from employees, customers, and partners through customizable portals. It features voting systems, AI-powered analysis, roadmapping tools, and analytics to streamline the innovation process. The software supports gamification, workflows, and integrations to foster collaborative idea generation and execution.
Pros
- Highly customizable idea portals for different audiences
- Strong AI tools for idea evaluation and suggestions
- Comprehensive analytics and roadmapping capabilities
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with users and features
- Advanced customization requires some learning
- Free plan has limitations on portals and storage
Best For
Mid-sized enterprises seeking to crowdsource and manage ideas from internal teams and external stakeholders.
Pricing
Free plan available; paid tiers start at $39/user/month (billed annually) for Starter, $79/user/month for Pro, and custom Enterprise pricing.
Viima
specializedFlexible and easy-to-use idea management system for teams to submit, discuss, and track ideas.
Gamification elements like leaderboards, badges, and points that make idea submission fun and competitive
Viima is a user-friendly ideation management platform that enables organizations to collect, discuss, and prioritize ideas from employees and customers through customizable idea boards. It supports features like voting, commenting, gamification with leaderboards and badges, and progress tracking to foster collaboration and innovation. The tool integrates with popular apps like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Jira, making it easy to embed into existing workflows.
Pros
- Highly intuitive interface with minimal setup required
- Effective gamification boosts user engagement and participation
- Generous free plan suitable for small teams
Cons
- Limited advanced analytics compared to enterprise competitors
- Fewer native integrations than some top alternatives
- Customization options can feel basic for complex needs
Best For
Small to mid-sized teams seeking an affordable, engaging platform for employee-driven ideation without a steep learning curve.
Pricing
Free for up to 10 users; Pro at €5/user/month (billed annually); Enterprise custom pricing.
ITONICS
enterpriseIntegrated innovation OS for ideation, trend scouting, and strategic portfolio management.
Seamless linkage of ideation module with strategic radars for trend-aligned idea development
ITONICS is a comprehensive Innovation OS platform that supports ideation management by enabling crowdsourced idea collection, collaborative evaluation, and prioritization through customizable workflows. It integrates ideation seamlessly with trend scouting, technology radars, and portfolio management for a holistic innovation process. AI-driven analytics help assess idea potential, fostering innovation from submission to execution.
Pros
- Powerful integration of ideation with trend intelligence and portfolio tools
- AI-powered idea evaluation and analytics for better decision-making
- Highly customizable workflows and collaboration features
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to extensive enterprise features
- Enterprise pricing lacks transparency and suits larger budgets only
- Overly complex for teams needing simple ideation tools
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprises requiring an integrated platform for ideation within broader innovation management.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing starting from several thousand euros annually, based on users and modules.
Miro
creative_suiteVisual collaborative whiteboard for real-time brainstorming, mind mapping, and idea visualization.
Infinite canvas for boundless, scalable visual ideation without spatial constraints
Miro is an online visual collaboration platform featuring an infinite digital whiteboard ideal for ideation, brainstorming, and team workshops. It provides tools like sticky notes, mind maps, voting, timers, and pre-built templates to capture, organize, and develop ideas collaboratively in real-time. Users can embed media, integrate with tools like Jira and Slack, and facilitate structured ideation sessions remotely.
Pros
- Infinite canvas enables unrestricted visual ideation and scaling of ideas
- Extensive library of ideation templates and facilitation tools like voting and timers
- Strong real-time collaboration with presence indicators and commenting
Cons
- Boards can become cluttered and hard to navigate on complex projects
- Free plan has limitations on board size and exports
- Advanced features like private teams require higher-priced plans
Best For
Remote teams and facilitators conducting visual brainstorming and design thinking workshops.
Pricing
Free plan; Starter at $8/user/month; Business at $16/user/month; Enterprise custom pricing.
MURAL
creative_suiteDigital workspace for remote teams to facilitate ideation sessions and collaborative planning.
AI-powered sticky note clustering that automatically groups and summarizes ideas
MURAL is a visual collaboration platform designed for remote teams to brainstorm, ideate, and conduct workshops on an infinite digital canvas using sticky notes, diagrams, and templates. It supports real-time collaboration with features like voting, timers, and facilitation tools to structure ideation sessions effectively. As an ideation management tool, it excels in capturing, organizing, and prioritizing ideas through visual means, making it suitable for design thinking, retrospectives, and agile planning.
Pros
- Rich library of ideation templates and facilitation tools
- Seamless real-time collaboration with voting and timers
- Strong integrations with tools like Slack, Zoom, and Jira
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for smaller teams or advanced features
- Performance may lag on very large or complex boards
- Free plan has significant limitations on collaborators and storage
Best For
Remote teams and facilitators running structured brainstorming workshops and design sprints.
Pricing
Free plan available; Starter at $9/user/month (annual), Business at $17/user/month, Enterprise custom.
Conclusion
The top ideation management tools, led by IdeaScale, demonstrate the power of fostering innovation across diverse audiences and streamlining execution. IdeaScale stands out for its comprehensive crowdsourcing capabilities, while Brightidea and HYPE Innovation offer robust enterprise-focused solutions, each with unique strengths. Together, these tools highlight the range of ways teams can drive meaningful change, with IdeaScale emerging as the top choice.
Take the first step toward elevated innovation—try IdeaScale today to harness collective creativity, from employee feedback to community ideas, and turn concepts into actionable results.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison