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Jan 28, 2025

Top 10 Evalato alternatives for awards management

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Wishing to explore some Evalato alternatives as part of your search for the best awards management software out there? While we are confident in Evalato’s features and usability, we understand the need to research different solutions. So, to make your job easier, we’ve prepared a selection of the top Evalato alternatives out there. We’ll explore some of their key features and how they compare with what Evalato can do for your awards program. Read on!    

The top solution for organizing awards 

Before we explore the top Evalato alternatives out there, let’s take a quick look at Evalato’s main benefits for awards program organizers. 

  • The industry’s fastest launch 
  • Seamless registration and applicant experience 
  • A customizable evaluation process for any voting scenario
  • Top-notch features to showcase results and winners 
  • Data export and analytics to help you grow 

… and a lot more. 

In addition to benefits and features, Evalato makes the awards software selection process incredibly easy thanks to: 

  • Complete transparency on pricing 
  • A comprehensive publicly available list of features 
  • The option to test the software for free, no credit card required
  • A free demo for those requiring more information 

So, let’s see how the competition stacks up. 

The best Evalato alternatives 

Arranged in no particular order, the following solutions could be alternatives to Evalato, helping you organize an awards program. 

1. SmarterSelect 

SmarterSelect is an Evalato alternative that helps users collect applications, pass them on to evaluators and subsequently determine award winners.

Standout features 

  • Program templates 

We at Evalato completely agree that templates are a major time-saver when it comes to program setup which is why we have developed a carefully curated selection of preconfigured customizable templates based on the most common use cases.  

  • Score voting with custom criteria 

Score voting is one of the most versatile voting types when it comes to awards, which is why Evalato offers it as well, alongside 5 other voting types. 

Notable drawbacks  

  • No unlimited judges and admin seats with every plan 

By contrast, Evalato gives you the option to invite as many judges as you need and have as many admin seats as you need, including for the awards management software’s most cost-effective plan. 

  • Not enough information on some features  

One issue that we came across when researching SmarterSelect as an Evalato alternative is the lack of information on their website on whether they offer a lot of features and functionailties that are essential for awards management. At Evalato, all the details are readily available and you can test them out for free, or book a free demo with an Evalato representative. 

2. Submit.com 

The next entry on our list of Evalato alternatives is a submission management platform that caters to organizers of grants and scholarships but can also be used as awards software. 

Standout features 

  • Unlimited forms and fields with every plan 

This adds a level of customization to enable program growth, which is why we at Evalato also offer unlimited forms and fields, regardless of which of our pricing plans you opt for. 

  • Drag-and-drop form builder 

This feature significantly enhances usability and makes it super easy to create and customize your application forms. We at Evalato have taken this to the next level, with our form builder featuring multiple customization options such as defining data access, adding a tooltip to make filling out the form easier for applicants, and adding limitations on text, number of files uploaded by applicants, etc. 

Notable drawbacks 

  • No unlimited support with every plan 

We at Evalato believe that every plan, regardless of the pricing tier, deserves our five-star customer support treatment, so we are available 24/7 via chat and email. 

  • No free testing 

Giving you the option to test the Evalato awards management software all you want, for free, is one of our core principles so that you can see for yourself exactly what you will be paying for, and make sure that our solution really fits your needs to a tee. 

3. SurveyMonkey Apply 

Apply is SurveyMonkey’s platform for collecting and reviewing applications, be it for grants, scholarships, and awards, with the last use case making it one of the Evalato alternatives out there. 

Standout features 

  • Webpage builder 

Having the option to create a dedicated page for your awards program is essential, especially in the cases where you don’t want the program featured on your organization’s website for one reason or another. Evalato knows that too which is why we offer this as an option along with an embeddable registration form for those who prefer to feature their awards program on their own website. 

  • Vanity domain 

Having a webpage enhanced with a vanity domain (e.g. mediawards.evalato.com) gives your program and brand a marketing boost, and you can also find it in Evalato’s branding features along with a custom domain name, which is currently unavailable at SurveyMonkey Apply. 

Notable drawbacks 

  • No video hosting and playback 

The lack of this feature is limiting for some types of awards programs where videos can enhance or completely represent an entry. Evalato’s video hosting feature meanwhile enables users to give their applicants the option to upload videos in any of a range of formats in HD, without worrying about the size limit. 

  • No Zapier integration 

Zapier enables users to connect their favorite apps, giving an extra boost to the awards software they use, which is why this is one of the integrations that Evalato offers to customers, helping them to supercharge their awards programs. 

4. WizeHive Zengine 

Wizehive Zengine specializes in grant and scholarship management, as well as volunteering experiences, catering to government institutions, nonprofits, higher ed organizations, etc. That said, thanks to its submission and evaluation features, it could also be an Evalato alternative. 

Standout features 

  • Custom domain 

A custom domain lends extra credibility and branding power to your awards program, making sure that applicants, reviewers, and other website visitors associate the program with your organization. That is why Evalato offers a custom domain in addition to its vanity domain option.    

  • Unlimited file upload 

This is a great feature to have for applications where more information and supporting materials are required. While it might not be necessary for all programs and applications, in some cases, it is absolutely essential, which is why Evalato has it as well. 

Notable drawbacks 

  • Not all currencies supported 

By contrast, Evalato gives users the option to charge application fees in any currency they want, to maximize the impact and revenue from their awards programs. 

  • Not 24/7 support with every plan 

Unlike Wizehive Zengine, Evalato offers 24/7 support to customers, regrading of their pricing plan, ensuring that they get assistance when they need it. . 

5. Judgify 

Our list of Evalato alternatives continues with Judgify — an awards management system that lets users set competitions, contests, awards, etc. 

Standout features 

  • Enhanced category structure 

Not every awards program is the same and in some cases, a more complex structure is required to accommodate a bevy of categories that need to be sorted. That’s why Evalato also offers an enhanced category structure with 3 levels of grouping and subgrouping.  

  • Video hosting & playback 

As noted above, video hosting and playback could be essential to some types of awards programs, which is why this is a staple feature for software focused on awards, such as Evalato. 

Notable drawbacks 

  • No one-click program clone 

While this is not a must-have feature for the first edition of your program, it makes upcoming editions a breeze, copying the bulk of settings, and with just a few minor tweaks, you’re good to go. This is why we offer it at Evalato where one of our main goals is to make things as easy for users as can be.  

  • Lack of voting types variety 

While Judgify features score voting, the software lacks other essential evaluation types, such as simple review (a popular public voting choice), or ranked voting types which cater to competitions with multiple winners. By contrast, Evalato supports as many as 6 voting types, which can accommodate any voting requirements. 

6. OpenWater 

OpenWater can help you manage grants, scholarships, abstracts, as well as awards, thanks to its submission and evaluation features which make it a possible Evalato alternative to explore. 

Standout features 

  • Special codes and promo offers 

Those are essential for boosting your program’s marketing efforts which is why Evalato also features special offers and promo codes, all designed to help you sell more. 

  • Public voting 

Public voting is an efficient way to scale up your program and engage your community, making it an essential awards management software feature. Evalato’s public voting options stand out with a next-gen portal, easily accessible with a social login. 

Read more: Public voting done right — the step-by-step guide

Notable drawbacks

  • No ranked voting  

OpenWater’s voting options do not include ranked voting types such as single transferable vote (STV) and positional voting, both present in Evalato, not only providing more variety but also catering to use cases where organizers want their evaluators to rank preferences.   

  • No embeddable winner lists 

Evalato’s embeddable winner lists further elevate the platform’s uninterrupted user experience, enabling you to showcase results, shortlists, indices, and winners, while keeping users on your website. 

See how Evalato compares with OpenWater 

7. Award Force 

Our list of Evalato alternatives continues with Award Force which can help you manage awards, contests, etc. thanks to features such as registration and submission options, along with several judging modes, and integrations. 

Standout features 

  • Google Analytics integration 

Google Analytics remains one of the most efficient ways to track conversions for your awards program, making it a staple in any awards software. Naturally, Evalato features it as well, along with Meta Pixel integration to help you monitor ​​page visitors, collect ecommerce data, track goals and events, and generate reports. 

  • Free pre-launch & renewal checks  

While not a feature per se, extra support with pre-launch and renewal checks for free give customers peace of mind that everything with their program is as right as rain. Evalato does that too, regardless of the pricing plan. 

Notable drawbacks 

  • No embeddable registration form

While offering registration options, Award Force lacks an embeddable registration form, which is an efficient way to provide an uninterrupted user experience and boost conversions. 

  • No score normalization 

Score normalization is the perfect compliment to score voting, eliminating any unintentional bias from the evaluation process. Evalato has introduced this feature which helps boost the fairness and reputation of awards programs. 

8. Submittable 

Submittable is another potential alternative to Evalato. While focused primarily on grant and CSR programs, rather than awards, it has some features that can help you manage awards programs as well. 

Standout features 

  • Unlimited evaluation rounds with every plan 

Having the option for unlimited rounds ensures that even the most complex of voting scenarios are accommodated. Both Submittable and Evalato ensure that you can add as many evaluation rounds as you need, regardless of your pricing plan.  

  • Simple review voting 

While score voting offers a more comprehensive evaluation experience, simple review voting is just perfect for certain types of awards programs that require simplicity, especially in the case of public voting. Both Submittable and Evalato support this voting type.  

Notable drawbacks 

  • No awards for visualizing winners 

Recognizing winners is one of the most important phases of an awards program and certainly the most anticipated one. That’s why Evalato offers customizable winner lists which give you a lot more variety and options in showcasing results and winners — both on a dedicated page and your website. 

  • No custom email 

Unlike Submittable, Evalato gives you the option to use your own email as the “sender email address”. This helps build trust in your program and additionally boosts your ma

9. Award Stage  

Our list of alternatives to Evalato awards management software continues with Award Stage, which also offers functionalities that cater to awards organizers, entrants, and judges. 

Standout features 

  • Video hosting and playback 

Video hosting and playback are essential for certain types of awards and competitions, which is why they are a neat awards software feature, and also part of Evalato’s catalog of functionalities. 

  • Charge application fees 

This is an absolute awards management staple, helping awards managers lift their program ROI, so both Awards Stage and Evalato support this functionality. Evalato further enhances this option with promo codes and discounts. 

Notable drawbacks 

  • No 24/7 support with every plan 

Having support to rely on is essential for every software customer, which is why Evalato offers non-stop five-star email and chat support to all its users. 

  • Undisclosed file upload limits  

While Awards Stage does offer video hosting and playback, it remains unclear whether it imposes limitations on file uploads. With Evalato, users of the Pro plan and higher enjoy no file upload limits. 

10. Reviewr 

Last but not least, Reviewr is another viable alternative to Evalato, which offers awards organizers a way to collect, manage, and review submissions. 

Standout features 

  • Intercom integration

Integrations with platforms like Intercom give applicants an easy way to communicate with awards organizers directly, boosting the effectiveness of the program. 

  • Public and score voting 

Score voting as well as public voting are evaluation staples, which is why Evalato offers them, along with multiple other voting options.

Notable drawbacks 

  • No Google Analytics integration 

The lack of Google Analytics makes it more difficult for awards organizers to track conversions and measure the effectiveness of their awards programs. 

  • Undisclosed prices 

Unlike Evalato, Reviewr seems to be missing some essential information about its pricing plans, making it a bit more difficult for users to make purchasing decisions. 

Interested in a comparison featuring even more awards software solutions? We have just the thing

Why Evalato remains the best awards management software alternative  

While it is always good to have alternatives, especially during the decision-making process, Evalato easily outperforms most solutions thanks to: 

  • Outstanding ease-of-use for awards managers — the Evalato awards software is intuitive yet customizable to deliver a stellar user experience. 
  • Smooth five-star experience for applicants — from the get-go, applicants can expect smooth sailing through registration, submission, and learning the results. 
  • Evaluation that accommodates any scenario and keeps judges happy — Evalato’s multiple voting types and sleek judging and public voting portals make sure that you have just the right voting process, completely worry-free for your evaluators, be it an expert jury or public voters.  
  • Unique features designed with awards managers in mind — Evalato is packed with features unavailable elsewhere, including preset customizable templates for fast program launch, embeddable registration form, and winner lists for an uninterrupted applicant experience, and score normalization which elevates the objectivity and reputation of your awards. 
  • Unbeatable return on investment — Evalato’s customers save 40 hours per month on average and additionally report a 58% rise in entries along with three times faster judging.  
  • Easily available information to help you make a decision — with an informative and easy-to-navigate website, prospective and current Evalato customers have all the details they need, including prices and a list of features, right at their fingertips to make an informed decision. 

Interested in seeing what Evalato can do for you? Test it for free or book a call with a customer success manager. 

*Disclaimer: This article is based on information publicly available as of May 2024. Note that the information present on the comparison page may change after its publication, and we bear no responsibility for the changes. Read our full disclaimer here

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