Trusted by 500+ organisations running awards programmes worldwide:
Half your judges haven‘t logged in yet
You assembled a brilliant panel. Two weeks before the deadline, four of them haven‘t opened a single entry.
With Zealous, a live progress dashboard shows exactly who‘s behind. Automated reminders nudge them before you have to. No awkward follow-up emails from you.
Every judge scores differently without shared criteria
One judge scores on gut feeling. Another invents their own rubric.
Define criteria for each round and set score ranges that reflect your priorities. Give innovation a score out of 20, presentation out of 10. Every judge works from the same framework, so your results hold up to scrutiny.
Read our guide on designing entry forms that keep judges coming back.
Zealous supports clarity for entrants, judges, and admins alike. When systems are clear, people can focus on creativity rather than logistics. That reliability has allowed the work to grow without becoming unsustainable.
Judy Holm, Founder and Director
The Global Climate Design Awards
Entries arrive as photos, videos, PDFs, and 3D models
Your programme spans architecture, film, and written work. Entrants need to submit portfolios, showreels, and documents in the same category.
Zealous handles files up to 4GB with lossless image compression, so judges see exactly what was uploaded. No quality loss, no format restrictions, no storage caps.
See how organisers handle diverse entry types with our managing entries tour.
It’s been a pleasure to work with Zealous. The system is easy to use and intuitive for participants, judges and administrators. The dashboard allowed me to quickly manage the entire process.
Paola Lucente, Director
Procreate Project
Your programme grew and now nothing scales
First year: one category, five judges, 200 entries. Now you‘re running regional categories across multiple disciplines with different panels for each. Rebuilding the programme from scratch every cycle is draining your team.
Clone your entire programme for the next edition. Categories, criteria and form fields. All carried over. Adjust what‘s changed, leave the rest. Run unlimited programmes on a single subscription.
Our awards lifecycle planning guide walks you through scaling year on year.
Your credibility depends on fair, defensible results
When a winner is announced, people ask questions. Was the judging independent? Could a judge have recognised a colleague‘s entry? Anonymous judging mode hides personal details automatically. Conflict management flags potential issues before scoring begins. Your results stand up because the process was clean from the start.
Anonymous review mode hides entrant details from judges automatically, so scores reflect the work rather than the reputation behind it. Full scoring records mean you can show exactly how the panel reached its decision if anyone asks.
Data security matters as much as process integrity. See our security overview.
I found your judging process a pleasure, it was very easy to follow. I judge many awards and some are difficult to navigate and clunky.
Vanessa Brady OBE, Founder & CEO
The Society of British & International Interior Design
Five ways to evaluate entries, configured to your programme
Mix and match evaluation methods across rounds. Different stages often need different approaches.
What a great way of shining light on and developing emerging talent! I feel privileged to have had access to the work of an amazing array of artists.
Peter Higgin, Co-Founder
Punchdrunk
Reclaim your weekends
Stop spending unnecessary time on admin, instead start spending it on what made you passionate about awards in the first place – celebrating great work and building your reputation.
Why organisations move their awards programmes to Zealous
Launch your next awards programme this week
Join 500+ organisations already running recognition programmes on Zealous.
- Cancel anytime. Monthly billing, no annual lock-ins, no guilt trips.
- 20 free entries to test every feature before committing.
- Launch in under 48 hours with ready-made awards templates.
Your awards programme, stage by stage
Before launch
- Set up your branded programme page with logo, colours, and category details
- Define entry form fields and adjust them later if needed
- Configure criteria and score ranges for each judging round
- Create bespoke trackable links for marketing campaigns
- Test everything with your first 20 free entries
Entries open
- Accept multi-format submissions including video up to 4GB and 3D models
- Collect entry fees through Stripe with promo codes and early-bird rates
- Monitor incoming entries and revenue on your real-time dashboard
- Issue late-comer links for invited entrants who miss the deadline
Judging rounds
- Assign judges by expertise or category for each round
- Track judge progress live and send automated reminders
- Enable anonymous judging to hide entrant details from the panel
- Judges review on any device and resume exactly where they left off
- Download PDF judging packs for offline review when needed
Results and legacy
- Announce shortlists and winners on separate dates with staged results
- Generate winner galleries automatically from submission content
- Export data for board reports, press releases, or internal analysis
- Archive this edition so it builds your programme‘s public reputation
- Clone the programme for next year and adjust what‘s changed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is awards management software?
It‘s a platform that handles the full lifecycle of a recognition programme: collecting entries, managing judges, scoring against defined criteria, and publishing results. Instead of juggling email, spreadsheets, and file-sharing tools, everything lives in one place. Zealous covers submissions, multi-round judging, payments, and result announcements.
Can we run multiple categories with different judges for each?
Yes. Assign judges by category or expertise for each round. A judge reviewing architecture entries won‘t see the writing category unless you want them to. You can run unlimited programmes on a single subscription, so separate awards series don‘t cost extra either.
How does multi-round judging work on Zealous?
Set up as many rounds as your programme needs: screening, longlisting, shortlisting, finals. Each round can have its own judges, criteria, and score ranges. Entries progress through rounds without manual transfers. Our guide on running awards programmes covers this in detail.
What file types and sizes can entrants submit?
Entrants can upload images, video up to 4GB, audio, documents, and 3D models. They can also embed content from Vimeo, YouTube, and SoundCloud. Images use lossless compression, so judges see exactly what was uploaded. There are no storage restrictions or limits on files per entry.
Can judges review entries on their phone or tablet?
Yes. Zealous is fully responsive and works on any device. Judges can start on a laptop and continue on a tablet. For visual-heavy categories like photography or design, we recommend desktop for the larger screen. Judges resume exactly where they left off.
How do we keep judging anonymous and fair?
Anonymous judging mode hides entrant names and personal details automatically. Judges see only the submitted work and your defined criteria. Judges can skip entries they have a conflict of interest with. These features work together to protect the credibility of your results.
Can we announce shortlists and winners at different times?
Yes. Staged result announcements let you control exactly which rounds publish and when. Reveal the shortlist on your website this week and announce winners at the ceremony next month. Winner galleries are generated automatically from the submission content.
How does pricing work for awards programmes?
Pricing is based on submission volume, not the number of programmes or judges. All plans include unlimited programmes and unlimited support. Monthly billing with no lock-ins, or save 33% on an annual plan (starting April 2026). Commission applies to paid submissions through Stripe. See pricing for full details.
Can we collect entry fees and offer early-bird pricing?
Yes. Stripe integration lets you collect fees directly to your account. Set up promo codes for sponsors or partners, volume discounts for multiple entries, and early-bird rates. Commission is charged on paid submissions. Free entries incur no fee.
How quickly can we get help if something goes wrong?
Unlimited support is included on every plan at no extra cost. Live chat is available during UK business hours. Before you launch, Zealous offers a free pre-launch review to catch issues early for Pro plan members. Most organisers are up and running within 48 hours. Explore all features to see what‘s included.
Can we reuse our setup for next year‘s programme?
Yes. Clone your entire programme for the next edition, including categories, form fields, and criteria. Adjust what‘s changed, keep the rest. Past editions accumulate into a public archive that builds your programme‘s reputation over time. Read our entry management tips for more on running repeat programmes smoothly.
