Quick Overview
- 1#1: Submittable - Submittable streamlines the collection, review, and management of submissions for grants, awards, publications, and creative calls.
- 2#2: SlideRoom - SlideRoom enables organizations to collect, organize, and evaluate creative portfolios and submissions for admissions, awards, and programs.
- 3#3: Award Force - Award Force provides a comprehensive platform for managing awards programs, including entries, judging, and winner announcements.
- 4#4: OpenWater - OpenWater offers an all-in-one solution for applications, nominations, grants, and awards with built-in judging and reporting.
- 5#5: FilmFreeway - FilmFreeway is a submission platform connecting filmmakers with festivals, contests, and markets worldwide.
- 6#6: Acceptd - Acceptd manages audition, portfolio, and prescreen submissions for performing and visual arts programs.
- 7#7: Judgify - Judgify automates awards and contest management with online entry forms, judging workflows, and analytics.
- 8#8: Entrythingy - Entrythingy handles online entries and judging for arts competitions, festivals, and exhibitions.
- 9#9: Evalato - Evalato is an awards management platform for collecting entries, scoring submissions, and engaging participants.
- 10#10: SurveyMonkey Apply - SurveyMonkey Apply manages grant, scholarship, and award applications with review tools and reporting features.
Tools were selected based on feature depth, usability, performance reliability, and holistic value, balancing robust functionality with accessibility to cater to both small teams and large institutions.
Comparison Table
Navigating submissions management software? This comparison table breaks down top tools like Submittable, SlideRoom, Award Force, OpenWater, FilmFreeway, and more, highlighting their key features, workflows, and tailored use cases to help you find the best fit for your needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Submittable Submittable streamlines the collection, review, and management of submissions for grants, awards, publications, and creative calls. | enterprise | 9.6/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.4/10 |
| 2 | SlideRoom SlideRoom enables organizations to collect, organize, and evaluate creative portfolios and submissions for admissions, awards, and programs. | creative_suite | 8.9/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 3 | Award Force Award Force provides a comprehensive platform for managing awards programs, including entries, judging, and winner announcements. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 4 | OpenWater OpenWater offers an all-in-one solution for applications, nominations, grants, and awards with built-in judging and reporting. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 5 | FilmFreeway FilmFreeway is a submission platform connecting filmmakers with festivals, contests, and markets worldwide. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 6 | Acceptd Acceptd manages audition, portfolio, and prescreen submissions for performing and visual arts programs. | creative_suite | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 7 | Judgify Judgify automates awards and contest management with online entry forms, judging workflows, and analytics. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 8 | Entrythingy Entrythingy handles online entries and judging for arts competitions, festivals, and exhibitions. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 9 | Evalato Evalato is an awards management platform for collecting entries, scoring submissions, and engaging participants. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 10 | SurveyMonkey Apply SurveyMonkey Apply manages grant, scholarship, and award applications with review tools and reporting features. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 |
Submittable streamlines the collection, review, and management of submissions for grants, awards, publications, and creative calls.
SlideRoom enables organizations to collect, organize, and evaluate creative portfolios and submissions for admissions, awards, and programs.
Award Force provides a comprehensive platform for managing awards programs, including entries, judging, and winner announcements.
OpenWater offers an all-in-one solution for applications, nominations, grants, and awards with built-in judging and reporting.
FilmFreeway is a submission platform connecting filmmakers with festivals, contests, and markets worldwide.
Acceptd manages audition, portfolio, and prescreen submissions for performing and visual arts programs.
Judgify automates awards and contest management with online entry forms, judging workflows, and analytics.
Entrythingy handles online entries and judging for arts competitions, festivals, and exhibitions.
Evalato is an awards management platform for collecting entries, scoring submissions, and engaging participants.
SurveyMonkey Apply manages grant, scholarship, and award applications with review tools and reporting features.
Submittable
enterpriseSubmittable streamlines the collection, review, and management of submissions for grants, awards, publications, and creative calls.
Sophisticated team review boards with custom scoring matrices, blind review options, and metadata tagging for efficient, fair evaluations.
Submittable is a leading submissions management platform that enables organizations to efficiently collect, review, and manage applications for grants, awards, literary publications, film festivals, and more. It provides customizable forms, automated workflows, and robust collaboration tools to streamline the entire submission process from intake to decision-making. With features like blind reviewing, metadata organization, detailed analytics, and integrations with payment processors and email services, Submittable scales seamlessly for teams of all sizes.
Pros
- Highly customizable forms and multi-stage workflows for tailored submission processes
- Advanced collaboration tools including blind reviews, scoring rubrics, and real-time commenting
- Comprehensive reporting, analytics, and integrations with tools like Zapier, Slack, and payment gateways
Cons
- Higher-tier plans required for advanced features like unlimited reviewers or custom branding
- Steep learning curve for complex workflow setups initially
- Pricing can be costly for very small organizations or low-volume users
Best For
Mid-to-large organizations and teams handling high-volume submissions for grants, awards, publications, or creative contests.
Pricing
Starts at $99/month (Starter plan, annually billed) for basic features; Standard at $249/month, with Premium and Enterprise custom pricing based on volume and needs.
SlideRoom
creative_suiteSlideRoom enables organizations to collect, organize, and evaluate creative portfolios and submissions for admissions, awards, and programs.
Advanced portfolio viewer with side-by-side comparisons, annotations, and optimized media playback for precise reviewer feedback.
SlideRoom is a specialized submissions management platform tailored for creative and portfolio-based applications, enabling organizations to collect, organize, and review multimedia submissions like images, videos, and documents. It offers customizable forms, collaborative review tools, scoring rubrics, and workflow automation to streamline high-volume application processes. Widely adopted by universities, arts organizations, and grant programs, it supports blind reviews and integrations with student information systems for efficient decision-making.
Pros
- Superior multimedia handling for high-res images, videos, and 360-degree views
- Flexible review workflows with rubrics, annotations, and collaboration tools
- Scalable for high-volume submissions with blind review and reporting features
Cons
- Custom pricing lacks transparency and can be costly for smaller organizations
- Interface feels dated with a moderate learning curve for complex setups
- Limited self-service options and no free tier for testing
Best For
Art schools, universities, galleries, and grant programs managing creative portfolio submissions at scale.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing based on submission volume and features; typically starts at $5,000+/year for mid-sized organizations—contact sales for quotes.
Award Force
enterpriseAward Force provides a comprehensive platform for managing awards programs, including entries, judging, and winner announcements.
Multi-stage judging workflow with real-time scoring, judge collaboration, and automated shortlisting
Award Force is a comprehensive cloud-based platform designed for managing awards programs, handling everything from customizable submission forms to judging, voting, and winner announcements. It supports unlimited entries, multi-language and multi-currency capabilities, and features participant portals for real-time updates. With robust automation, reporting, and integrations, it's built to scale for global awards initiatives across industries like nonprofits, associations, and corporations.
Pros
- Highly customizable submission forms with drag-and-drop builder
- Advanced multi-stage judging and real-time collaboration tools
- Excellent scalability and global compliance (GDPR, accessibility)
Cons
- Custom pricing can be expensive for small-scale programs
- Steeper learning curve for complex configurations
- Limited out-of-box templates for niche industries
Best For
Mid-to-large organizations running high-volume, multi-stage awards programs that need professional-grade submission and judging management.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing starting around $1,000/month for mid-tier plans, scaling with program size, entries, and features; free demo available.
OpenWater
enterpriseOpenWater offers an all-in-one solution for applications, nominations, grants, and awards with built-in judging and reporting.
Universal submission builder that adapts to any program type without coding
OpenWater by Submittable is a versatile submissions management platform designed for organizations handling awards, grants, scholarships, fellowships, and nominations. It streamlines the entire process from customizable application forms and automated workflows to collaborative blind reviews, scoring, and reporting. Ideal for non-profits, associations, and corporations, it supports unlimited submission types with integrations for CRM and payment systems.
Pros
- Highly customizable forms and workflows for any submission type
- Robust collaboration tools including blind review and advanced scoring
- Comprehensive reporting, analytics, and CRM integrations
Cons
- Initial setup and configuration can have a learning curve
- Pricing scales with volume, potentially expensive for small orgs
- Limited advanced customization without higher-tier support
Best For
Mid-sized non-profits, associations, and grant-making organizations managing high-volume, complex submission processes.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing starting around $3,000/year for base plans; scales with submissions (typically $0.50-$2 per submission) plus add-ons for premium features.
FilmFreeway
specializedFilmFreeway is a submission platform connecting filmmakers with festivals, contests, and markets worldwide.
Massive integrated marketplace connecting filmmakers to over 12,000 festivals, enabling seamless discovery and one-click submissions.
FilmFreeway is a comprehensive platform primarily designed for filmmakers to discover and submit projects to film festivals, contests, and screeners worldwide. For organizers, it serves as submissions management software, enabling the collection, organization, judging, and awarding of entries through customizable forms, secure online screeners, and analytics dashboards. It streamlines the entire festival lifecycle from promotion to payouts, connecting a vast network of over 12,000 festivals and 1 million filmmakers.
Pros
- Extensive global network of festivals and filmmakers for high submission volume
- Robust tools including secure streaming, multi-judge scoring, and automated awards
- Integrated payment processing with low fees and detailed analytics
Cons
- Interface can feel cluttered and overwhelming for beginners
- Premium features required for full functionality, increasing costs for larger events
- Customer support response times can be slow during peak seasons
Best For
Film festival organizers and independent filmmakers who need a large-scale, all-in-one platform for managing high volumes of international submissions.
Pricing
Free plan for basic use; Premium plans start at $198/year (Festival) up to $998/year (Enterprise) for unlimited judges, custom domains, and advanced reporting.
Acceptd
creative_suiteAcceptd manages audition, portfolio, and prescreen submissions for performing and visual arts programs.
Integrated media prescreening with collaborative review tools, including timestamped annotations and side-by-side video comparison
Acceptd is a specialized submissions management platform tailored for arts, performing arts, and creative programs, enabling applicants to submit portfolios, videos, audio, and other media through a centralized portal. It streamlines the review process for administrators and faculty with tools for scoring, annotations, collaboration, and scheduling auditions or interviews. The software also provides analytics, reporting, and integration with payment systems to manage the entire admissions cycle efficiently.
Pros
- Superior media handling for videos, audio, and portfolios with synced playback and annotations
- Customizable application forms and multi-stage review workflows
- Comprehensive reporting and analytics for admissions decisions
Cons
- Higher pricing tiers may not suit small organizations or low-volume users
- Initial setup and customization can require significant time
- Limited native integrations with non-arts-specific CRM or SIS systems
Best For
Performing arts schools, conservatories, and creative programs handling high volumes of multimedia submissions.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing starting at ~$1,200/year per program, with tiers based on applicant volume and features (volume discounts available).
Judgify
specializedJudgify automates awards and contest management with online entry forms, judging workflows, and analytics.
Advanced blind judging panels with customizable scoring rubrics and real-time collaboration
Judgify is a dedicated submissions management platform tailored for contests, awards, grants, and competitions. It enables organizers to collect entries via customizable forms, assemble judging panels, facilitate blind reviews and scoring, and automate winner notifications. The tool also supports entry fees through integrated payments and provides reporting for streamlined event management.
Pros
- Robust judging tools with blind review and multi-stage workflows
- Customizable submission forms and payment integration
- Strong participant communication and automated notifications
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly for high-volume events
- Limited native integrations with third-party tools
- Learning curve for advanced judging configurations
Best For
Organizers of mid-to-large contests, awards, or grant programs needing comprehensive judging capabilities.
Pricing
Starter at $49/month (500 submissions), Pro at $99/month (unlimited), Enterprise custom pricing.
Entrythingy
specializedEntrythingy handles online entries and judging for arts competitions, festivals, and exhibitions.
Collaborative blind judging dashboard with customizable scorecards and real-time feedback
Entrythingy is a specialized submissions management platform tailored for competitions, awards, film festivals, and grant programs. It enables organizers to build customizable entry forms, securely collect multimedia submissions including large files and videos, and streamline the review process with blind judging, multiple rounds, and collaborative scorecards. The tool also offers payment integration, automated notifications, and comprehensive reporting to manage events efficiently from start to finish.
Pros
- Robust judging tools with blind review and multi-round support
- Handles large media files and diverse submission types seamlessly
- Strong customization for entry forms and automated workflows
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly for high-volume events
- Limited native integrations with third-party tools
- Steeper learning curve for advanced reporting features
Best For
Mid-sized event organizers in creative industries like film festivals, awards, and design competitions needing specialized submission handling.
Pricing
Free for up to 50 entries/year; Pro plans from $49/month (1,000 entries) to $299+/month for unlimited entries and enterprise features.
Evalato
enterpriseEvalato is an awards management platform for collecting entries, scoring submissions, and engaging participants.
AI-powered judging assistance and advanced blind review workflows for fair, efficient evaluation
Evalato is an all-in-one submissions management platform tailored for awards, contests, grants, and applications. It enables organizers to build custom entry forms, collect multimedia submissions, manage judging workflows with blind review options, and handle payments seamlessly. The software also provides reporting dashboards, automated notifications, and a branded entrant portal to streamline the entire submission lifecycle.
Pros
- Highly customizable no-code form builder with multimedia support
- Robust judging tools including blind judging and collaborative scoring
- Excellent automation for communications and workflows
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for small-scale or infrequent events
- Limited native integrations compared to larger competitors
- Advanced customization may require some learning
Best For
Mid-sized organizations and agencies managing annual awards programs, creative contests, or grant applications that need end-to-end submission handling.
Pricing
Starts at €99/month (Starter), €299/month (Pro), €599/month (Premium), with custom Enterprise plans.
SurveyMonkey Apply
enterpriseSurveyMonkey Apply manages grant, scholarship, and award applications with review tools and reporting features.
Blind review capabilities with automated scoring rubrics for unbiased, efficient evaluations
SurveyMonkey Apply is a robust submissions management platform tailored for handling complex application processes like grants, scholarships, awards, and job applications. It allows organizations to create customizable forms, collect and organize submissions, and enable collaborative review with automated workflows, scoring rubrics, and blind review options. The tool provides analytics, reporting, and integrations to streamline decision-making and ensure compliance.
Pros
- Highly customizable forms with conditional logic
- Powerful collaborative review and scoring tools
- Automated workflows and notifications for efficiency
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for small organizations
- Limited advanced customization without enterprise plans
- Reporting could be more flexible for complex needs
Best For
Non-profits, grantmakers, educational institutions, and award programs managing high-volume, multi-stage application reviews.
Pricing
Starts at ~$100/user/month for basic plans; scales to custom enterprise pricing (often $5,000+ annually) based on submissions and features.
Conclusion
After reviewing the top 10 submissions management tools, Submittable emerges as the clear leader, excelling in streamlining collection, review, and management across grants, awards, and creative calls. Close behind, SlideRoom stands out for organizing creative portfolios, while Award Force impresses with its comprehensive platform for managing contests and announcements—each offering unique strengths to fit specific needs.
Ready to simplify your submission process? Submittable, the top-ranked tool, combines power and simplicity to handle everything from grants to creative calls—start exploring its features today and take your management workflows to the next level.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
Referenced in the comparison table and product reviews above.