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OpenWater Awards vs GiveLab vs ShortStack Comparison

Last updated:

OpenWater Awards

4.6(44 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Individuals
  • Medium Business

OpenWater Awards’ easy-to-use platform executes it flawlessly, with features like simple and clean design, integrated floor plan/show map that can be customized in minutes, built-in back-up and redundancy, rewards and re…

GiveLab

1.8(5 reviews)

Starting at $8.33 /Month

  • Individuals
  • Large Enterprises

GiveLab provides contest software, tools, and consulting to people who need help growing a mailing list, offering incentives, and running promotional campaigns. As a full service solution, GiveLab takes care of the whole…

ShortStack

4.4(136 reviews)

Starting at $79 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

ShortStack is the perfect all-in-one platform for any user looking to achieve success with online contests. Create custom landing page campaigns, sweepstakes, quizzes, hashtag and comment-to-enter social media promotions…

OpenWater Awards leads on user satisfaction with a 4.6-star rating across 44 reviews.

OpenWater Awards vs GiveLab vs ShortStack — at a glance

FeatureOpenWater AwardsGiveLabShortStack
Rating4.6 / 51.8 / 54.4 / 5
Reviews445136
Starting priceContact for pricing$8.33 /Month$79 /Month
Free trial Yes No Yes
Free version No No No
Best forIndividuals, Medium Business, Small BusinessIndividuals, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryContest SoftwareContest SoftwareContest Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
APIAvailable
Support modesBusiness Hours, OnlineOnlineOnline
CertificationsGDPR
Data residencyUSUSUS

Key differences between OpenWater Awards and GiveLab

  • Pricing: GiveLab starts at $8.33 /Month. OpenWater Awards pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Free trial: OpenWater Awards offers a free trial; GiveLab does not.
  • User satisfaction: OpenWater Awards scores higher with a 4.6-star average.
  • Deployment: OpenWater Awards supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; GiveLab supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Compare OpenWater Awards vs GiveLab vs ShortStack — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Contest Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

OpenWater Awards - Contest Software
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GiveLab - Contest Software
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ShortStack - Contest Software
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Talk to an expert

Free PDF comparison

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

OpenWater Awards

Best for

Individuals, Medium Business, Small Business

GiveLab

Best for small businesses needing full-service contest and email list growth support.

Choose if
  • You want an end-to-end solution handling design, graphics, and drawing selection.
  • Your team prefers a simple, streamlined setup with low complexity.
  • You need help running promotional contests and incentive-based marketing campaigns.
Consider alternatives if
  • You require highly customizable contest software with advanced features.
  • You need robust analytics and detailed reporting capabilities.

ShortStack

Best for creating customizable online contests and social media promotions without coding.

Choose if
  • You need an all-in-one platform for contests, landing pages, and email campaigns.
  • Your team values strong customer support and an intuitive WYSIWYG contest builder.
  • You want to engage customers via social media promotions with flexible customization.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your enterprise requires extensive app integrations and complex custom workflows.
  • You need a contest tool with zero learning curve and ultra-simple setup.

OpenWater Awards typically suits Individuals and Medium Business. GiveLab tends to fit Individuals and Large Enterprises better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

OpenWater Awards’ easy-to-use platform executes it flawlessly, with features like simple and clean design, integrated floor plan/show map that can be customized in minutes, built-in back-up ... Read More about OpenWater Awards

GiveLab provides contest software, tools, and consulting to people who need help growing a mailing list, offering incentives, and running promotional campaigns. As a full service solution, ... Read More about GiveLab

ShortStack is the perfect all-in-one platform for any user looking to achieve success with online contests. Create custom landing page campaigns, sweepstakes, quizzes, hashtag and ... Read More about ShortStack

Entry Level Pricing

  • Not Available
  • Starts from $8.33 , Billed Yearly
  • Starts from $79 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available
  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

Not Available

8.3/10

9.1/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.6

(44)

1.8

(5)

Best Company Size

Small BusinessMedium Business
1-50 employees51-500 employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

OpenWater Awards has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

No software demo available

GiveLab has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

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Step 1 of 4

How big is your team?

We tailor recommendations to companies your size.

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How do OpenWater Awards, GiveLab and ShortStack Compare on Features?

Total Features

10 Features

6 Features

11 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare OpenWater Awards, GiveLab and ShortStack on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

        Starting From

        • Not Available
        • $8.33 , Billed Yearly
        • $79 , Billed Yearly

        Pricing Plans

        • Not Available
        • Free

          • Unlimited Giveaways

          • Unlimited Participants

          • Up to 5 Winners

          Show more +

        • Premium

          • Includes features of Free plan, plus

          • Up to 25 Winners

          • Up to 3 Duplicate Steps

          Show more +

        • Business

          • Includes features of Premium plan, plus

          • Unlimited Winners

          • Unlimited Entry Steps

          Show more +

        • Browse all pricing plans

        Pricing Page

        Pricing information not available

        GiveLab pricing
        ShortStack pricing

        Other Details

        Organization Types supported

        • Individuals
        • Small Business
        • Medium Business
        • Large Enterprises
        • Individuals
        • Small Business
        • Medium Business
        • Large Enterprises
        • Individuals
        • Small Business
        • Medium Business
        • Large Enterprises

        Platforms Supported

        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Installed - Mac
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Windows
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Installed - Mac
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Windows
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Installed - Mac
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Windows

        Modes of support

        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online

        API Support

        • Available
        • Not Available
        • Not Available
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing

        Security & Compliance

        Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

        HIPAA

        ✗ No
        ✗ No
        ✗ No

        GDPR

        ✓ Yes

        Data Residency

        🇺🇸 US
        🇺🇸 US
        🇺🇸 US

        OpenWater Awards vs GiveLab User Reviews & Rating Comparison

        User Ratings

        Rating Distribution

        52

        3

        1

        0

        1

        0

        0

        0

        0

        5

        58

        19

        4

        1

        0

        Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

        Buyer sentiment

        Buyer sentiment is very strong across 57 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

        What buyers like

        • Easy customization to tailor programs to specific needs.
        • Intuitive and user-friendly interface.
        • Excellent customer support and responsiveness.

        Common complaints

        • Initial UI learning curve for some users.
        • Limited webpage customization options.
        • UI can be overwhelming for newcomers.

        Buyer sentiment

        Overall buyer sentiment is negative, with users expressing dissatisfaction and low ratings.

        What buyers like

        • Comprehensive service coverage
        • Ease of use in managing contests
        • Support for multiple customer types

        Common complaints

        • Low product satisfaction
        • Lack of clear pricing and feature details

        Buyer sentiment

        Users generally praise ShortStack for its ease of use, customization flexibility, and strong customer support, though some note a learning curve and limited advanced integrations.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • Customization options
        • Customer support

        Common complaints

        • Learning curve
        • Limited integrations

        Pros and Cons

        • User-friendly design simplifies contest management.

        • Customizable features cater to various needs.

        • Integrated social media tools enhance visibility.

        • Limited advanced features may restrict complex contests.

        • Not all contest types may be supported.

        • Full-service approach handling design, graphics, and drawing selection

        • Simplifies the entire promotional contest process

        • Supports multiple customer types including individuals and enterprises

        • Very low user rating (1.8 out of 5) indicating dissatisfaction

        • Limited public information on pricing and features

        • Intuitive WYSIWYG interface simplifying contest creation

        • Wide customization options for social contests and landing pages

        • Excellent and responsive customer support

        • Learning curve for mastering full feature set

        • Limited marketplace apps and connectors restricting advanced customization

        Positive Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        Negative Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        List of Customers

        Customers

        ABC

        ABC

        SQA

        SQA

        Peabody Awards

        Peabody Awards

        No Customers information available.

        No Customers information available.

        Media and Screenshots

        Screenshots

        Templates and Toolkits

        7 Screenshots

        No screenshots available.

        No screenshots available.

        Videos

        No videos available.

        No videos available.

        video-0

        1 Videos

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        Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

        Frequently asked questions

        Which is better, OpenWater Awards or GiveLab?
        OpenWater Awards edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs 1.8). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
        Do OpenWater Awards and GiveLab offer a free trial?
        OpenWater Awards offers a free trial. GiveLab does not.
        What is the starting price of OpenWater Awards vs GiveLab?
        OpenWater Awards starts at Contact for pricing. GiveLab starts at $8.33 /Month.
        What are the top alternatives to OpenWater Awards?
        Top alternatives to OpenWater Awards include Judgify, Make My Contest, Atipso, VYPER, EasyPromos.
        What are the top alternatives to GiveLab?
        Top alternatives to GiveLab include Gleam, Rafflecopter, Make My Contest, VYPER, EasyPromos.

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