The data and analysis in this article were created from publicly available information on Submittable’s website, live chat, help centre, and other resources, as well as independent software review sites and client reviews.
Why are organisations looking for an alternative awards-hosting platform?
When it comes to choosing the right software to help you to save time and reduce juggling multiple documents, PDFs and spreadsheets, it can be tough to know which one may fit your needs best. There are many options on the market, each with unique features and benefits.
If you’re looking into signing up with Submittable or maybe you’re already using them, here are some reasons why you may want to try Zealous as an alternative to Submittable.
Submittable and Zealous both feature an easy-to-use online application process, streamlined workflows & scoring and collaboration tools for your judges. They make accepting, judging, and assigning winners to awards, contests, scholarships, grants and other opportunities more cost-effective and efficient.
So, while at first glance the two companies may appear similar, there are significant differences.
Here’s everything you need to know about the two.
Comparing Zealous to Submittable
| Features | Zealous | Submittable |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription option | ||
| Live chat support for all plans | ||
| Launch immediately | ||
| Anonymous reviewing | ||
| Annual Fee | $432 | $10,000 |
| Public Voting | ||
| Embed videos on all packages | ||
| Maximum file size upload limit | 4 GB | 400 MB |
| Entry fee charge | £0.20 + 2.2% (Max £5 cap) | $0.99 + 5% (No cap) |
| Advanced reporting tools on all plans | ||
| Administrators can edit applications | ||
| Automatically calculate scores | ||
| Issue refunds within the platform | ||
| Automated Emails to Judges & Applicants |
Review Platform Scores
| Review Sites | Zealous | Submittable |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service (Capterra) | 5 | 4.6 |
| Value for money (Capterra) | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| Support (Source Forge) | 5 | 5 |
| Overall (Source Forge) | 4.9 | 4.3 |
| Features (Source Forge) | 4.7 | 4.3 |
| Design (Source Forge) | 4.3 | 4.3 |
| Overall (G2) | 4.7 | 4.4 |
Why Choose Zealous Over Submittable?
Distinguished by its competitive pricing, intuitive design, and customisable workflows, Zealous is not just an alternative; it’s an upgrade for any organisation’s awards and contest management needs.
Here are 5 reasons why you may wish to choose Zealous over Submittable.
Image: Zealous Awards Software Judging Dashboard
1. With Zealous You Can Launch Your Awards And Contests Immediately!
Zealous recognises that mandatory onboarding periods and pre-launch checks (waiting for your awards management provider to check your project set-up) can delay launching your project. This can disadvantage organisations seeking to launch and gather as many applications as possible before the deadline.
Zealous knows that things don’t always go as planned; sometimes getting sign-off to use the right software from your internal stakeholders might get delayed, putting you behind your launch schedule. Zealous’ intuitive platform means it’s easy to catch up by drafting your own opportunity without having to rely on and pay extra to get someone else to do it for you.
While Zealous does offer a comprehensive onboarding process, it is entirely optional, meaning you can launch your project immediately, with no other external factors stopping you.
In contrast, Submittable requires mandatory onboarding to use their software.
2. Zealous Makes Time For You
As a smaller company (compared to Submittable), Zealous can dedicate time and resources to cater to organisations of all sizes, small, medium or large, providing real human support to you, your applicants, and your judges.
They offer instant live chat for users who prefer speaking to a person and a help centre full of video tutorials & articles for those who prefer watching and reading.
All of this contributes to Zealous’s 5-star customer support rating across all major review platforms.
3. Zealous Offers an Affordable Pricing Structure
Zealous introduces a cancel-any-time monthly pricing model designed with the financial realities of individuals, organisations, and charities alike. Not every project runs for a year and it’s for this reason Zealous does not force you to take out an annual subscription.
With monthly subscriptions starting at £39 in the UK and $48 in the US, Zealous ensures affordability without compromising on features. These monthly package options allow you to only use the software when you need to, with no annual tie-ins and the option to cancel at any time!
This approach also allows organisations to invest more time into gathering and judging entries rather than overextending their budget unnecessarily on software costs.
Submittable’s pricing, includes fees as high as $10,000 a year, whereas Zealous offers annual fees starting from as little as $432.
Zealous has the best prices and allows monthly subscriptions. The customer service is unparalleled!
Daphne Schmon, Founder, Breaking Through The Lens
Zealous review on G2
4. Zealous Offer Functions Designed To Save Time
Submittable users reference complexity over the platform’s user-friendliness, leading projects to take longer to set up and launch.
A friendly user interface can increase motivation for applicants to easily complete their entries as they enjoy a clear journey with the ability to track their progress. Judges also appreciate the simplicity of the scoring process, with the visual design clearly signposting how to score each entry.
An overly complex platform can cause you to spend a lot of time trying to understand each step in order to move forwards.
I don’t like how the settings are difficult to locate and changing anything on the site takes forever. Whenever I fix something, I can never do it again or show my coworkers because it is so convoluted.
Ana C
Submittable review on G2
A lack of customisation options means you have less control over the project you are running which also slows you down. Submittable no longer permits administrators to edit an applicant’s entry on their behalf.
Having been a customer for several years, they recently took away the ability for the ‘owner’ to amend things within the application.
Jefrey C
Submittable review on G2
I still had to do so much manually, especially correspondence. Creating exports for download wasn’t as seamless of a user experience as I would have liked.
Verified User in Higher Education
Submittable review on Capterra
Zealous offers a single platform that enables everything to be in one pace, including downloading reports and the ability to correspond with judges.
Zealous also offers the ability for administrators to edit entries, saving time by eliminating the need to ask applicants to make edits. This feature allows administrators to remove personal details or any sensitive information that may have been included by mistake, for data protection. It ensures that all the entries are shown in a correct and consistent format, allowing for judging to be conducted in a fair way, alongside facilitating the option for anonymous judging.
Because the platform is user-friendly (both front and back end), we became very confident using it very quickly – meaning there was more time to focus on building the best possible call-out.
Verified User in Non-Profit Organisation Management
Zealous review on G2
Simplified version of judging on Zealous.
5. Zealous Makes Life Easier For Administrators
Zealous redefines the ease of managing awards and contests. From collecting entries and accepting payments to assigning automated emails to judges to score candidates. Every step is streamlined. You can be confident knowing your project will run smoothly as everything you need is all in one place.
Zealous was built with ease of use in mind for administrators who find it tiring trying to keep on top of everything, often checking if the payment on a payment system reflects what the applicant has sent on an email (with attachments or online forms), presenting multiple files as a PowerPoint Presentation for the judges to score the entries and then recording scores on Excel sheets and contacting internal stakeholders through manual emails.
With built-in shareable real time reports and an ability to issue refunds directly in the platform, Zealous listens to its users to see the most requested additional features and releases regular new updates to satisfy the evolving needs of your projects.
Administrators can save valuable time from the drafting stage to the final selection, with some reporting a significant increase in entries thanks to the platform’s efficiency. It’s this efficiency that enables candidates to easily complete entries, reducing their need to ask questions or abandon application forms altogether.
Zealous has thought of everything to make contests less about administrative hassle and more about reducing stress and saving you time.
Simplified version of building a form on Zealous.
Had a massive uptake in entries. Five-star service on a five-star platform. Would highly recommend.
Simon Campbell, Director, Rugby Photographer of the Year Award
Zealous review on Capterra
Conclusion
In a marketplace filled with options, Zealous not only positions itself as an alternative to Submittable but stands out for its commitment to improving the awards and contest management experience.
With its blend of user-centric design, customisation options, competitive pricing, and a focus on community engagement, Zealous is more than just a platform; it’s a partner in your success.
Click here to set up your next open call with Zealous in minutes and start collecting entries for free!
