Are you looking to grow your business and boost engagement on social media? Running contests is one of the most effective ways to increase brand awareness, generate leads, and build your following.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘re comparing the 10 best social media contest tools and apps for 2023.
How To Choose The Best Social Media Contest Platform
With so many options to choose from, it can be tricky to determine which contest software is the right fit for your business. Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating contest builders:
Features – Make sure the tool has all the features you need to run your ideal contests. This includes entry options (email signup, social sharing, etc.), custom branding, analytics, lead generation capabilities, and more.
Ease of use – You want an intuitive interface that makes it simple to set up and manage contests, even if you don‘t have a technical background. Look for drag and drop builders and pre-made templates.
Cost – Contest tools range from free versions to enterprise-level plans costing over $1000 per month. Set a realistic budget and look for a tool that provides maximum value within that range.
Support – It‘s frustrating when you have questions and can‘t get the help you need. Prioritize tools with multiple support channels like live chat, phone, email, and robust self-serve resources.
Audience size – Certain tools place limits on the number of entries at particular pricing tiers. Make sure any constraints accommodate your goals for reach.
Integrations – If you want to connect your contest platform with other marketing tools like email services, analytics programs, or your website, verify the solution offers the integrations you need.
Got all that? Great! Now let‘s dive into the top 10 social media contest tools available this year.
1. SweepWidget – Best Overall Contest Tool
SweepWidget is our choice as the best overall social media contest software. This versatile platform makes it easy to run referral contests, giveaways, leaderboards, instant win contests, and more to boost engagement across every major network.
Key Features
- 90+ entry methods across 30+ social platforms
- Drag and drop contest builder
- Custom branding and design options
- Detailed real-time analytics
- Entry management and winner selection tools
- Native, embeddable, and hosted contest pages
- Extensive API and 3rd party integrations
Whether your goal is to grow your email list, increase social media followers, generate UGC, host a link-in-bio contest for Instagram, or all of the above, SweepWidget delivers. It‘s the ideal blend of power and simplicity.
And with unlimited contests and entries available at just $29/month, it brings tremendous value.
2. ViralKit – Most Entry Options
If you want maximum flexibility when setting entry requirements, ViralKit can‘t be beaten. Thanks to an industry-leading 250+ entry methods spanning 60+ platforms, this innovative tool allows unparalleled customization.
ViralKit makes contest creation fast and frustration-free with smart features like an AI-powered builder and 500+ premade templates.
And robust lead gen tools, anti-fraud technology, actionable analytics, stylish custom branding, and ample CRM integrations provide everything you need to run ultra-successful contests.
For versatility in a beautifully designed package, ViralKit is a superb choice. And affordable pricing starts under $30/month.
3. Outgrow – Best for Interactive Content
While Outgrow offers excellent contest capabilities, it extends far beyond giveaways. This multi-talented platform allows you to create all types of interactive content like quizzes, assessments, surveys, calculators, and more to captivate audiences while capturing leads.
Key Benefits
- Launch contests alongside other lead gen content
- 1000+ pre-made templates
- Drag and drop editor
- Detailed analytics insights
- Connect to marketing automation platforms
- Generous free plan available
For content marketers seeking a customizable hub to engage visitors in numerous ways while growing their list, Outgrow is a fantastic choice. And with plans starting at $0, it‘s budget-friendly too.
4. Shortstack – Most Comprehensive Features
In your search for the ultimate social promotion toolkit stuffed with every feature under the sun, look no further than Shortstack. This supercharged platform equips enterprise-level brands and agencies to craft stunning, results-driven contests fueled by incredibly robust capabilities.
With Shortstack, you gain access to:
- 30+ sleek templates
- Easy drag and drop builder
- Dynamic landing page editor
- Comprehensive analytics
- Multi-channel promotion options
- Complete lead capture functionalities
- Anti-fraud controls
- White label branding
A premium tool built for premium performance, Shortstack leaves no feature wish unfulfilled. If budget isn‘t a concern and you demand the very best contest-running solution, this powerhouse platform should top your list.
5. Wishpond – Great for Agencies
Boasting an array of lead generation tools beyond its excellent contest builder, Wishpond provides exceptional value for digital marketing agencies managing accounts for multiple brands.
Key Perks
- Runs unlimited contests and promotions
- 100+ creative templates
- Drag and drop editor
- Custom landing page creator
- Built-in email marketing
- Lead scoring and analytics
- Multi-user collaboration features
Between robust analytics, handy lead management capabilities, and an easy-to-use dashboard supporting multi-account access, Wishpond allows teams and freelancers to elevate client campaigns while optimizing their own efficiency.
And with flexible pricing as low as $49 per month, this mighty platform brings big value.
6. Vyper – Best for Referral Contests
Vyper stands out as the best referral-focused social contest builder available today. But it powers way more than just giveaways. You can also create viral leaderboards, social ambassador programs, customer loyalty programs, and other creative initiatives sure to excite audiences.
Notable Features
- Campaigns encourage shares, referrals, and engagement
- Flexible rewards system
- Real-time progress tracking
- Complete analytics suite
- Tools prevent fraud
- API connections with web apps
For ecommerce brands aiming to run creative referral-centric campaigns that feel more interactive than simple contests, Vyper simply can‘t be beat. The customizable platform empowers all types of businesses to build buzz and loyalty across channels.
Pricing starts at $149 per month.
7. Rafflecopter – Easiest To Get Started
Renowned as the web’s first giveaway app, Rafflecopter remains a wildly popular choice over a decade later—and with good reason. This intuitive tool allows complete beginners to launch stylish, professional contests in mere minutes with little effort.
Key Advantages
- Extremely easy to use
- Quick setup process
- Mobile responsive form builder
- Customizable design
- Handy WordPress integration
- Terrific support resources
For solopreneurs craving a fuss-free way to grow their brand, list, and following through giveaways without investing tons of time or money learning a complex platform, Rafflecopter hits the spot. And pricing starts at an affordable $13 per month.
8. Gleam – Great for Custom Contests
Gleam sets itself apart by supplying digital marketers the tools to craft uniquely tailored contests matching their exact needs—then verify user actions to prevent fake entries.
Why Choose Gleam
- Build fully customized contests
- Control how entries are verified
- Repeatable social entry options
- Anti-fraud technology
-Analytics for optimization - Generous free plan available
For uncompromising quality and fraud protection when running social media contests totally configured to your specialized requirements, Gleam is a fantastic solution.
Gleam also integrates seamlessly with WordPress, making it a breeze to manage contests directly on your website. With plans starting at $0 per month, it provides immense value.
9. Woobox – Best Facebook Contests
If you hope to launch promotions designed to engage specifically Facebook users or leverage Facebook features, Woobox warrants your consideration. Though multi-network capabilities exist, custom Facebook contest creation stands as this tool‘s specialty.
Why It‘s Great For Facebook
- Templates for Facebook-first contests
- Polls, quizzes, sweepstakes, etc
- Easy page integration
- Message customization
- Dedicated analytics
- Facebook-centric features
For running clever Facebook contests sure to captivate fans while keeping them on platform, Woobox is tough to top. And with capable free plans available, you can test it out at no cost.
10. Woorise – Best Lead Generation
Offering exceptional lead gen capabilities, Woorise empowers small business owners to launch targeted social media contests converting visitors into high-quality contacts. With tools to create landing pages, surveys, quizzes and more alongside well-designed giveaways, it‘s a stellar lead capturing machine.
Why It‘s A Lead Gen Icon
- Create opt-in forms and landing pages
- Build quizzes and surveys
- 100+ templates
- Easy customization
- Connects with email services
- Generous free plan
For savvy digital marketers focused on nurturing contacts into loyal customers, Woorise supplies the goods. And with plans starting at $0 per month, it brings big value.
Find Your Best Social Media Contest Tool
We hope this guide and recommendations for the top 10 social media contest builders and apps helps you discover the perfect platform to achieve your business goals.
Just remember—the right solution depends entirely on your specific needs.
For example, if you‘re an ecommerce site wanting to incentivize customer referrals, Vyper with its dedicated referral marketing tools is likely the best fit.
Or say you’re a content-focused website hoping to grow your email list—a lead-gen focused app like Wishpond makes more sense than a basic Facebook contest builder.
We highly recommend trying out multiple free trials to determine which platform best addresses your target outcomes around boosting followers, engagement, leads, sales or anything else you hope contests can deliver.
The good news is that most of the social media contest tools listed above offer unlimited free trials or forever free plans, making testing painless.
So give one, two or 10 options a spin, run some contests, and track the awesome results. What are you waiting for? Your perfect platform awaits!
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