Last updated: March 2026. Data verified against public sources.
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Submissions should be experienced, not processed.
That’s why Zealous built a platform that treats every entry as creative work worth seeing properly. After 14 years serving over 500 organisations and 180,000 creators, we’ve proven that visual presentation transforms judging across every sector—from arts councils to law firms, tech companies to local councils.
Judgify takes a different approach, focusing on accessible pricing and simple setup for organisations running occasional awards or contests. Both platforms handle the full awards cycle, but they’re built on fundamentally different ideas about what makes judging work well.
This comparison helps you choose between Judgify’s budget-friendly per-event model and Zealous’s visual-first subscription approach. We’ll cover real costs, file handling differences, judging experiences, and which platform suits different programme types.
Quick Comparison
| What Matters | Judgify | Zealous | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Presentation | Form-based interface | Gallery-first viewing, lossless compression | Zealous for creative work |
| Max File Size | 5MB (free), 50MB (Pro), 250MB (Enterprise) | 4GB per file, unlimited files | Zealous for video/portfolio |
| Judging Features | Scoring rounds, public voting (Pro+) | Gallery view, live slideshow, criteria scoring | Depends on programme needs |
| Entry Counting | Per event (100 free, 500 Pro) | Pooled across all programmes | Zealous for multi-programme |
| Multiple Programmes | Pay per event or $2,399/year unlimited | One subscription, unlimited programmes | Zealous for value |
| Contract Terms | Per-event or annual | Monthly (no contract) or annual (-33%) | Zealous for flexibility |
| Languages | Multilingual support | English only currently | Judgify for international |
| Starting Price | Free (100 entries), $699/event Pro | Free (20 entries), £39/month Starter | Judgify for one-offs |
| VAT | USD pricing (verify VAT handling) | All prices include VAT | Check total cost |
| API/Integrations | Check current offerings | Webhooks (Enterprise), Zapier (Pro+) | Verify requirements |
| Support | Self-serve (free), varies by tier | Email and live chat all tiers | Zealous for responsiveness |
The Fundamental Difference
Zealous was built for programmes where seeing and experiencing submissions drives decisions. Judgify focuses on accessible pricing for simple awards ceremonies.
What Zealous Does Differently
Gallery-First Judging That Changes How Panels Work
Zealous puts the work front and centre. Judges see submissions in a gallery layout that lets visual work speak for itself. The live slideshow mode transforms panel discussions—project entries on a big screen while judges debate. One arts council reported their judges requested to return the following year after experiencing the platform.
The platform includes auto-save across devices, submission preview before sending, and an applicant portal for drafts and edits. One organisation saw 22% more submissions after switching to Zealous because creators could save progress and return later.
File Handling Built for Creative Work
Zealous accepts files up to 4GB each with no limits on quantity per submission. Video portfolios, high-resolution photography, 3D models, audio compositions all upload at full quality. Lossless compression reduces storage footprint without affecting what judges see or hear.
Judgify’s limits: 5MB on free, 50MB on Pro ($699/event), 250MB on Enterprise. A three-minute HD video exceeds 250MB. On Zealous, file size never forces creative compromise.
One Subscription, Unlimited Programmes
Zealous pools entries across all your programmes under one subscription. Spring award (200 entries), summer residency (50 entries), autumn prize (100 entries)? That’s 350 entries total—Pro tier at £119/month or £79/month annual.
Judgify charges per event. Those same three programmes cost $2,097 in Pro fees ($699 each) plus VAT. Their Pro Unlimited tier ($2,399/year) removes per-event fees but caps each event at 500 submissions.
Monthly Flexibility Without Lock-In
Pay monthly with no contract. Seasonal programmes pause between cycles. Testing a new award? Start free (20 submissions), upgrade when ready to launch, downgrade after winners announced.
Annual billing saves 33% for year-round programmes. The free testing tier lets organisations build complete programmes, test with colleagues, and pay only when going live.
Creator Network and Values Alignment
180,000+ creators already use Zealous. New programmes tap into this applicant pool from day one. The platform’s reputation in creative communities drives quality applications.
Lossless compression cuts carbon footprint by reducing storage needs without compromising quality. Details matter when your programme represents your organisation’s values.
Trade-offs worth knowing
Zealous operates in English only. Judgify offers multilingual support. Judgify includes public voting rounds and Z-score normalisation for statistical scoring—features Zealous doesn’t match. Paid entries incur commission (2.2% + 20p, capped at £2). Free-entry programmes pay no commission.
Zealous isn’t trying to be the biggest awards platform. It’s built for programmes where experiencing submissions visually matters more than statistical models, where supporting creators throughout their journey beats processing maximum volume, and where judges want to see work properly rather than score spreadsheets.
What Judgify Does Well
Free Tier for Small Competitions
Judgify’s free tier: 100 submissions per event, 5MB files, five categories, one judging round. Enough for student competitions or community awards without spending anything.
Multilingual Interface Support
Judgify offers multilingual support. Essential for EU-wide programmes or countries with multiple official languages. Zealous currently operates in English only.
Statistical Scoring Features
Z-score normalisation accounts for judge scoring biases. Public voting rounds (Pro tier+) enable community participation. For programmes prioritising statistical rigour, these tools matter.
Judgify pricing scales fast: Pro at $699/event (500 submissions), Pro Unlimited at $2,399/year (unlimited events, 500 submissions each).
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Questions Worth Asking of Any Platform
Entry counting methodology changes everything. Platforms counting per programme separately can triple costs for multi-programme organisations.
VAT adds 20% to UK costs. Get written confirmation whether quotes include or exclude tax.
File limits hide in pricing tiers. That affordable tier might restrict files to 50MB when you need video portfolios.
Contract flexibility matters. Monthly payments cost more per month but save money for seasonal programmes.
Test the judge interface. Can they compare submissions side by side? View videos smoothly? Present to panels?
Check support responsiveness. Email Tuesday afternoon and Saturday morning. Response quality during deadline week matters more than feature lists.
Real Cost Examples
Small seasonal programme (50 entries)
- Judgify: $699/event (Pro tier) + VAT if applicable (as of March 2026)
- Zealous: £39/month × 3 months = £117 total inc VAT (as of April 2026)
Judgify requires Pro tier for more than 5 categories. Zealous monthly billing suits seasonal programmes.
Medium multi-programme (600 entries)
- Judgify: $2,399/year (Pro Unlimited) + VAT if applicable (as of March 2026)
- Zealous: Pro 1000 tier annual = £174/month × 12 = £2,088/year inc VAT (as of April 2026)
Judgify Pro Unlimited allows unlimited events but caps each at 500 entries. Zealous pools all entries.
Large year-round programme (2000 entries)
- Judgify: Enterprise tier (custom pricing) – verify with Judgify
- Zealous: Scale 2500 tier annual = £255/month × 12 = £3,060/year inc VAT (as of April 2026)
For paid entries, add Zealous commission: 2.2% + 20p per entry, capped £2. Free entries have no commission.
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When Zealous Makes More Sense
Creative and Visual Programmes
Film competitions, photography awards, design prizes, architecture competitions, portfolio applications. The 4GB file limit accepts work at full quality. Gallery layout lets judges see work properly.
Live slideshow mode projects entries during panel discussions. Judges focus on work, not browser tabs or downloads.
Multi-Programme Organisations
Universities with departmental awards, arts councils managing multiple streams, companies with regional competitions. Pooled entries make scaling affordable.
Pro 2500 tier (£255/month annual) handles: poetry prize (500 entries), photography award (800), emerging artist grant (700), community fund (500). Judgify charges $2,796 plus VAT for the same.
Seasonal or Intermittent Programmes
Festivals, summer schools, annual conferences. Monthly billing—pay for three months, not twelve. Build programmes in advance using free tier, upgrade when opening submissions.
Free-Entry Programmes
Grants, scholarships, bursaries. Zero commission on free entries. Only cost: platform subscription. Predictable budgeting for grant applications.
Organisations Prioritising Sustainability
Lossless compression reduces server storage and carbon footprint. UK-based data storage, GDPR compliance by design. Values alignment matters.
Teams Needing Responsive Support
Email and live chat support on every tier, including free. Submission deadline crisis? Support prevents meltdown.
When Judgify Makes Sense
Simple One-Off Competitions
Single employee award or community contest? Judgify’s $699 Pro tier (500 submissions) might beat monthly subscription costs.
Programmes Needing Statistical Scoring
Academic peer review, standardised testing. Z-score normalisation ensures fair scoring across judges with different baselines.
International Programmes Requiring Multiple Languages
EU-wide programmes, multilingual regions. Judgify’s language support becomes essential.
Public Voting as Primary Selection
People’s choice awards, community-driven selection. Judgify includes public voting on Pro tier+.
Other Platforms Worth Considering
Award Force
Enterprise-focused platform with advanced workflow automation and white-label options. Pricing starts around $7,000/year.
Suited for: Large corporations needing complex multi-stage review processes
Submittable
General-purpose submission platform popular in publishing and grants. Charges submitters $5-10 per entry plus platform fees.
Suited for: Literary magazines and publishers comfortable passing costs to applicants
WildApricot
Membership management platform with basic awards functionality. Bundles events, membership, and simple competitions.
Suited for: Professional associations already using WildApricot for membership
Making Your Decision
Judgify suits occasional simple competitions where low entry cost matters most. Free tier and per-event pricing reduce commitment. Multilingual support and statistical scoring address specific needs.
Zealous fits programmes where experiencing submissions drives better decisions. Visual interface, 4GB files, gallery judging create different review experience. Unlimited programmes per subscription, monthly flexibility—built for organisations viewing awards as more than admin tasks.
Ready to see the difference? Build your programme in Zealous free. Test with colleagues. Pay only when launching publicly. Twenty submissions show exactly how visual-first judging changes the conversation.
You guessed it..
Zealous makes creative judging visual
But we’re not alone in the space. here are others you may wish to consider (even if we would prefer you choose us!).
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Judgify cost compared to Zealous?
Judgify: Free (100 submissions, 5MB), Pro $699/event (500 submissions, 50MB), Pro Unlimited $2,399/year (unlimited events, 500 each). Excludes VAT.
Zealous: £39/month (75 submissions), £119/month (300 submissions). Annual: £26/month, £79/month. Unlimited programmes, pooled entries. Includes VAT.
Single 200-entry competition: Judgify $699+VAT. Zealous £59/month Starter—£177 for three months or £468 annually. Multiple programmes: Zealous pools entries, Judgify charges per event.
Which platform handles video and large files better?
Zealous: 4GB per file, unlimited files per submission. Full-quality video, photography, audio. Lossless compression maintains quality.
Judgify: 5MB (free), 50MB (Pro), 250MB (Enterprise). Three-minute HD video exceeds 250MB.
Video work, animation reels, portfolios—Zealous’s file handling wins clearly.
Can I switch from Judgify to Zealous mid-programme?
Don’t. Complete current programme on Judgify, move future programmes to Zealous.
Build next programme in Zealous’s free tier while current runs on Judgify. Launch immediately when ready.
Zealous imports applicant data via CSV. Files transfer manually. Plan switches between programmes.
Which is better for creative awards and art prizes?
Zealous believes submissions should be experienced, not processed. Gallery interface, 4GB files, live slideshow mode—built for creative work. Judges see portfolios properly, videos play smoothly, discussions focus on work.
Judgify’s forms and 50MB limit (Pro) restrict creative submissions. Statistical tools suit academic review, not creative panels.
What are the hidden costs I should watch for?
Judgify: VAT adds 20%, per-event fees multiply, file limits force upgrades, onboarding costs extra.
Zealous: Commission on paid entries (2.2% + 20p, capped £2). Free programmes pay nothing. Prices include VAT. No setup fees.
Both may charge custom integrations. Confirm current pricing.
Which platform offers better value for universities running multiple awards?
Universities run cross-department programmes. Zealous pools entries.
Architecture (200), research (150), student (100), alumni (50) = 500 entries.
Judgify: $2,796 ($699×4) + VAT, or $2,399/year Pro Unlimited Zealous: £119/month or £948/year including VAT
Zealous saves £1,500/year. 4GB files beat Judgify’s 50MB—essential for portfolios.
How do the judging experiences actually differ?
Zealous: Gallery view, visual comparison, natural navigation. Slideshow for panels. Experience work.
Judgify: Forms, structured scoring, Z-score normalisation, public voting. Statistical analysis.
Choose based on programme needs: visual review or statistical rigour.
What should I ask during platform demos?
See judge experience: video viewing, portfolio comparison, panel presentation.
Ask edge cases: post-deadline updates, individual extensions, conflict handling.
Test support: response guarantees, hours, deadline week availability.
Calculate your costs: VAT, commission, multiple programmes. Specific numbers only.
Is Judgify or Zealous better for public voting competitions?
Judgify: Public voting Pro tier+ ($699/event), fraud detection. Built for people’s choice.
Zealous: Public voting Pro/Enterprise tiers, fraud protection. Visual presentation engages voters.
Pure public voting: Judgify’s pricing might win. Mixed judging: compare other factors.
Which platform should I choose for a new awards programme?
Zealous: Free testing, monthly billing, 180,000+ creator network drives applications.
Judgify: Free tier limits (five categories, one round, 5MB) force upgrades. $699 Pro requires commitment.
New programmes benefit from Zealous’s test-first approach. Visual interface, 4GB files help stand out. Unless needing multilingual support or zero budget, Zealous provides stronger foundation.
