The 12 Best Giveaway and Contest Tools in 2026
A giveaway that should take an afternoon can eat a week once you're stitching together entry forms, social checks and a winner picker by hand. SweepWidget is the best giveaway and contest tool for most teams in 2026: its free plan runs unlimited entries and campaigns, and paid plans add 120+ entry methods from $29/mo. It isn't the right pick for everyone, though. Gleam suits teams that want pop-ups and galleries too, ViralSweep suits US brands that need legal help with a big prize, and RafflePress suits WordPress sites that would rather pay once. We compared 12 tools on price, free plans and who each one actually suits.
Best giveaway and contest tools at a glance
| # | Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Free Plan or Trial | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SweepWidget | Brands running one giveaway across many social platforms | $29/mo (Pro) | Free plan with unlimited entries and campaigns | The broadest published platform support with 120+ entry methods on 30+ social platforms and 65+ API integrations |
| 2 | Gleam | Teams that want contests, pop-ups, rewards and UGC galleries from one vendor | $29/mo (Hobby, Competitions app only) | Free plan | Fraud detection and verified actions listed on the free plan |
| 3 | ViralSweep | US brands whose prize value needs legal help | $49/mo (Starter) | 7-day trial, no free plan | A legal team that handles official rules, state registration and bonding |
| 4 | ShortStack | Teams that run quizzes, instant win and sweepstakes from one builder | $290/yr (Launch, about $24/mo billed annually) | Free plan (500 views/mo) | Quizzes on every plan and instant win from the Scale plan |
| 5 | Blitz Rocket | Brands that want giveaways, referral and affiliate programs in one platform | $19/mo (Beginner, 1 active campaign) | 14-day trial, no free plan | Built-in AI fraud detection and referral tools on every plan |
| 6 | Woorise | Small teams that want giveaways next to forms, quizzes and surveys | €20/mo (Starter) | Free plan (200 entries/mo) | One builder for giveaways and everyday lead-capture forms |
| 7 | RafflePress | WordPress sites that want to pay once and keep entries on their own server | $299 one-time (1 site) | Free Lite plugin | No monthly bill, and entries stored in your own WordPress database |
| 8 | Giveaway Ninja | Shopify stores that want purchases to earn entries | $49/mo (Starter, 500 entrants) | Free plan (50 entrants/mo) | Entries per dollar spent with product targeting and multipliers |
| 9 | UpViral | Marketers building referral and leaderboard campaigns | $99/mo (Starter, 10,000 leads) | 14-day trial for $1 | Leaderboards, anti-fraud and white-label on every plan |
| 10 | Easypromos | Brands running many promotion formats, like games and photo contests | $29/mo (Basic, 6 apps) | Build and test free, pay to activate | Up to 58 promotion apps on the White Label plan |
| 11 | KingSumo | Bloggers who want the cheapest viral giveaway widget | $49 one-time (Lifetime, via AppSumo) | Free plan with unlimited giveaways | Unlimited giveaways free, with bonus entries for sharing |
| 12 | Viral Loops | Startups and newsletters building referral programs and prelaunch waitlists | $49/mo (Start-up, 1,000 participants) | 14-day trial, no free plan | Ready-made referral, milestone and leaderboard giveaway templates |
Prices checked on each vendor's own pricing page or Shopify App Store listing on October 15, 2026, monthly billing unless stated.
No credit card required.
What should you look for in a giveaway and contest tool?
- Verified entries. A "follow us" button that awards the entry on click inflates your count. Check which actions the tool actually verifies.
- The pricing meter. Some tools charge a flat fee with unlimited entries; others cap entrants, leads or participants and lock the ones above the cap.
- Fraud controls on the plan you'll use. Anti-cheating tools, VPN blocking and per-IP limits keep your winner list defensible. See which plan each one sits on.
- Where it runs. Hosted, WordPress-only and Shopify-only tools solve different problems.
- Legal help. In the US, big prizes can need state registration and bonding. Most tools leave that to you.
The 12 best giveaway and contest tools in 2026
1. SweepWidget
SweepWidget has the broadest published platform support of the tools we checked: 120+ entry methods across 30+ social platforms, 38 email platforms and 65+ API integrations, per SweepWidget's pricing page and features page. For comparison, Blitz Rocket lists 13 email platforms, RafflePress 15+ integrations and UpViral 30+. Its Shopify App Store listing shows unlimited entries and campaigns even on the free plan, and Pro adds anti-cheating tools, VPN blocking and per-IP entry limits. Leaderboards, referral rewards, instant coupons and entries per $1 spent on Shopify and WooCommerce arrive on Business. The honest gaps: removing SweepWidget branding takes Premium ($119/mo), and its Shopify App Store rating (4.0 from 13 reviews) trails its G2 score of 4.8 from 20.
Best for: Brands running one giveaway across many social platforms.
Pricing: Free; Pro $29/mo; Business $59/mo; Premium $119/mo; Enterprise $249/mo. Annual billing saves 17%.
Free plan: Unlimited entries and campaigns; you can view and download 10 entrants' emails.
Bottom line: The widest entry-method coverage per dollar on this list.
2. Gleam
Gleam sells four apps: Competitions, Rewards, Captures (pop-ups) and Galleries (customer photos and posts). Its free Competitions plan lists Advanced Fraud Detection and Verified Action on Gleam's Shopify App Store listing, which makes it strong for small, low-budget giveaways. The price climbs higher up: removing "Powered by Gleam" and custom CSS need Business ($179/mo), and the leaderboard embed sits on Premium ($499/mo). Gleam rates 4.2 from 27 reviews on G2.
Best for: Teams that want contests plus pop-ups, rewards and galleries from one vendor.
Pricing (Competitions): Free; Hobby $29/mo; Pro $59/mo; Business $179/mo; Premium $499/mo. Yearly billing on the Shopify listing saves 34% to 40%.
Free plan: Yes, with unlimited campaigns.
Bottom line: The best free plan here for fraud checks, and pricey for branding-free contests. SweepWidget vs Gleam →
3. ViralSweep
ViralSweep treats a prize promotion as a legal event. Its legal team prepares official rules and handles state registration and bonding; the price for that service isn't published. Its Purchases app awards entries per order on Shopify, BigCommerce and WooCommerce, capped at 100 orders on Starter and 1,000 on Business. White label and custom CSS need Business ($199/mo), and geo-targeting needs Premium ($399/mo). It's rated 4.5 from 149 reviews on the Shopify App Store.
Best for: US ecommerce brands whose prize value creates legal exposure.
Pricing: Starter $49/mo; Business $199/mo; Premium $399/mo; Elite $999/mo; Enterprise quoted. Annual billing brings these to $41, $166, $333 and $833 a month.
Free trial: 7 days, no free plan.
Bottom line: Worth it for the legal help, expensive for just a widget. SweepWidget vs ViralSweep →
4. ShortStack
ShortStack runs sweepstakes, quizzes and pop-ups from one drag-and-drop builder, and its free plan covers 500 views a month and 200 stored entries, per ShortStack's pricing page. Public voting contests start on Launch, refer-a-friend and photo contests on Build, and instant win plus its fraud filter and reCAPTCHA on Scale (about $99/mo billed annually). Full white-label waits for Max. Reviewers mention a learning curve once you go beyond the templates.
Best for: Teams that run several campaign formats a year.
Pricing: Free; billed annually, Launch $290/yr, Build $590/yr, Scale $1,190/yr and Max $1,990/yr (about $24, $49, $99 and $166 a month). Month-to-month billing costs more.
Free plan: Yes, 500 views a month and 200 stored entries.
Bottom line: The most campaign formats here, with fraud tools on the Scale plan. SweepWidget vs ShortStack →
5. Blitz Rocket
Blitz Rocket, formerly VYPER, bundles giveaways, referral programs and affiliate programs, with AI fraud detection built into every plan. Its pricing page shows every plan unlocks the same features and differs on volume: Beginner ($19/mo) and Starter ($49/mo) allow 1 active campaign, and unlimited campaigns start on Pro ($99/mo). Beginner includes no AI verification credits. It's rated 4.6 from 16 reviews on G2, still listed under VYPER, and we couldn't find a Shopify App Store listing (checked October 15, 2026).
Best for: Brands that want giveaways, referral and affiliate programs in one platform.
Pricing: Beginner $19/mo; Starter $49/mo; Pro $99/mo; Enterprise $199/mo. Yearly billing is available.
Free trial: 14 days on every plan, no free plan.
Bottom line: Strong for referral growth, limited to one campaign until $99/mo. SweepWidget vs Blitz Rocket →
6. Woorise
Woorise puts giveaways next to forms, quizzes, surveys and landing pages, so the same tool keeps working between contests. It charges by entries per month: 200 on Free, 2,000 on Starter and 4,000 on Pro, per Woorise's pricing page. Removing Woorise branding needs Pro, and photo contests with voting and custom domains need Business. Prices are in euros.
Best for: Small teams that run giveaways occasionally and lead-gen forms constantly.
Pricing: Free; Starter €20/mo; Pro €34/mo; Business €69/mo; Enterprise quoted. Annual billing saves 20%.
Free plan: Yes, 200 entries a month, plus a 14-day trial.
Bottom line: A good all-rounder if your entry volume stays modest. SweepWidget vs Woorise →
7. RafflePress
RafflePress is a WordPress plugin, so giveaways run on your domain and entries land in your own database. It sells one-time licenses with lifetime updates: $299 for 1 site or $349 for unlimited sites, per RafflePress's pricing page. It has 30+ entry actions and 15+ email and CRM integrations, and a free RafflePress Lite plugin is on WordPress.org. It only works on self-hosted WordPress.
Best for: WordPress sites that want to pay once.
Pricing: $299 one-time (1 site); $349 one-time (unlimited sites).
Free plan: Free Lite plugin, plus a 14-day money-back guarantee on paid licenses.
Bottom line: The cheapest paid option over two years or more, on WordPress only. SweepWidget vs RafflePress →
8. Giveaway Ninja
Giveaway Ninja is Shopify-native and built around entries per dollar spent, with product targeting, multipliers and refund-aware order tracking. It meters entrants per month, from 50 on Free to 5,000 on Premium; entrants above your cap stay in the giveaway but are hidden from draws and exports until you upgrade, per Giveaway Ninja's pricing page. It's rated 5.0 from 87 reviews on the Shopify App Store, the highest Shopify rating among the tools we checked.
Best for: Shopify stores that want the giveaway to drive orders.
Pricing: Free; Starter $49/mo; Pro $99/mo; Premium $199/mo; Ultimate $499/mo; Enterprise from $999/mo. Annual billing saves 20%.
Free plan: Yes, 50 entrants a month, plus a 7-day trial on paid plans.
Bottom line: The strongest purchase-based model, on Shopify only. SweepWidget vs Giveaway Ninja →
9. UpViral
UpViral focuses on referral contests and sweepstakes, with smart leaderboards, anti-fraud and white-label included on every plan, per UpViral's pricing page. Plans are priced by leads: 10,000 on Starter, 25,000 on Business and 100,000 on Premium. Zapier, API access and location restrictions start on Business. At $99/mo, its entry plan suits teams with an established list rather than a first giveaway.
Best for: Marketers building referral-driven waitlists and contests.
Pricing: Starter $99/mo; Business $149/mo; Premium $399/mo. Annual billing brings these to $79, $119 and $319 a month.
Free trial: 14 days for $1, no free plan.
Bottom line: Rich referral tools, at a price that suits established lists. SweepWidget vs UpViral →
10. Easypromos
Easypromos prices by how many promotion apps you need: 6 on Basic, 9 on Basic PRO, 52 on Premium and 58 on White Label, per Easypromos' pricing page. Basic covers Instagram and Facebook comment giveaways up to 5,000 comments; photo and video contests and games need Premium ($199/mo). You can build and test promotions free, and pay when you activate one. Prices exclude VAT.
Best for: Brands that want many promotion formats, like games and photo contests.
Pricing: Basic $29/mo; Basic PRO $49/mo; Premium $199/mo; White Label $399/mo; Corporate quoted. Annual plans cost 10 times the monthly price.
Free plan: Build and test for free; payment starts at activation.
Bottom line: The widest range of promotion formats, once you reach Premium. SweepWidget vs Easypromos →
11. KingSumo
KingSumo is the simplest tool here: its free plan runs unlimited giveaways with bonus entries for sharing, embeds on any site and sends reminder emails, per KingSumo's pricing page. The $49 Lifetime plan, sold on AppSumo, adds custom branding, advanced integrations and conversion tracking. Its pricing page doesn't list fraud controls or email verification, so check those before a large giveaway.
Best for: Bloggers and creators who want a free viral giveaway widget.
Pricing: Free; Lifetime $49 one-time (via AppSumo).
Free plan: Yes, unlimited giveaways.
Bottom line: The cheapest way to run a basic viral giveaway. SweepWidget vs KingSumo →
12. Viral Loops
Viral Loops is a template-based referral platform with giveaway, leaderboard giveaway, milestone referral, prelaunch waitlist and newsletter referral templates, plus a Shopify referral integration. It prices by participants: 1,000 on Start-up, 5,000 on Plus, 10,000 on Growing and 25,000 on Power, per Viral Loops' pricing page. Milestone referrals, reCAPTCHA protection and full API access start on Plus ($139/mo), and removing Viral Loops branding needs Growing ($229/mo). EMERGE Commerce bought Viral Loops from Wishpond in March 2026.
Best for: Startups and newsletters building referral programs and prelaunch waitlists.
Pricing: Start-up $49/mo; Plus $139/mo; Growing $229/mo; Power $399/mo; Enterprise quoted. Annual billing brings these to $35, $99, $159 and $279 a month.
Free trial: 14 days of the Growing plan for up to 10 participants, no free plan.
Bottom line: Purpose-built referral templates, with participant caps to plan around. SweepWidget vs Viral Loops →
What happened to Rafflecopter?
Rafflecopter closed on October 1, 2025, after 15 years, according to Gleam's Rafflecopter FAQ. If you still have old Rafflecopter giveaways embedded, they need a new home. We list the closest replacements in our best Rafflecopter alternatives.
How do you choose the right giveaway and contest tool?
- Your first giveaway: SweepWidget's free plan, or KingSumo if you only need a basic widget.
- Contests plus pop-ups and galleries from one vendor: Gleam.
- A big US prize that needs registration or bonding: ViralSweep.
- Quizzes, instant win and sweepstakes in one builder: ShortStack.
- Referral growth or a prelaunch waitlist: Viral Loops, Blitz Rocket or UpViral.
- Shopify purchases that earn entries: Giveaway Ninja, or SweepWidget's Business plan on Shopify and WooCommerce.
- WordPress, paid once: RafflePress.
- Giveaways next to forms and surveys: Woorise.
How we evaluated these tools
We compared the 12 tools on five criteria:
- Entry methods and verification. How many actions, and which are checked.
- Pricing model. Flat fee, capped entrants or leads, or one-time payment.
- Fraud controls and which plan they sit on.
- Platform fit. Hosted, WordPress-only or Shopify-only.
- Review record on G2, Capterra and the Shopify App Store.
Prices, plan limits and ratings were read from each vendor's own pricing page, Shopify App Store listing, G2 or Capterra on October 15, 2026.
What's the best giveaway and contest tool overall?
For most teams, SweepWidget is the pick: unlimited entries on every plan, 120+ entry methods, and leaderboards and purchase entries from $59/mo. Choose ViralSweep if your prize needs legal help, Gleam if you want pop-ups and galleries too, and Giveaway Ninja if the giveaway lives inside a Shopify checkout.
Ready to run your first giveaway?
Build a campaign on SweepWidget's free plan in minutes, and upgrade when you want every entrant's email.
Still weighing your options?
See more comparison information here:
SweepWidget head-to-head comparisons
See how SweepWidget compares with each tool in detail:
More giveaway guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the best giveaway and contest tool in 2026?
SweepWidget is the best giveaway and contest tool for most teams in 2026. Its free plan includes unlimited campaigns and entries, and paid plans start at $29/month, adding 120+ entry methods across 20+ social platforms on the Pro plan and 30+ social platforms on the Business plan and above. ViralSweep is the better pick for big US prizes that need legal help, and Gleam for teams that also want pop-ups and galleries.
Which giveaway tools have a free plan?
SweepWidget, Gleam, ShortStack, Woorise, Giveaway Ninja and KingSumo all offer free plans, and RafflePress has a free Lite plugin for WordPress. ViralSweep, Blitz Rocket, UpViral and Viral Loops offer trials instead, and Easypromos lets you build and test promotions free before paying to activate one.
Is Rafflecopter still available?
No. Rafflecopter closed on October 1, 2025, after 15 years, according to Gleam's FAQ on the shutdown. Brands with old Rafflecopter giveaways can move to an active tool such as SweepWidget or others.
How much does a giveaway tool cost?
Most giveaway tools on this list start free or between $19 and $49 a month. Prices rise to $99 to $499 a month for higher entry limits, white-label branding and API access. SweepWidget is the only one that offers the unlimited entries and unlimited campaigns in their free plan. RafflePress and KingSumo are exceptions, charging once: $299 and $49 respectively.
Which giveaway tool is best for Shopify?
Giveaway Ninja is built for Shopify stores that want purchases to earn entries, and it has the highest Shopify App Store rating among the tools we checked (5.0 from 87 reviews). SweepWidget also has a Shopify app and awards entries per $1 spent from its Business plan ($59/mo), and ViralSweep's Purchases app works with Shopify too.
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