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OpenWater Awards 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…

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 ShortStack — at a glance

FeatureOpenWater AwardsShortStack
Rating4.6 / 54.4 / 5
Reviews44136
Starting priceContact for pricing$79 /Month
Free trial Yes Yes
Free version No No
Best forIndividuals, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryContest SoftwareContest Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
APIAvailable
Support modesBusiness Hours, OnlineOnline
CertificationsGDPR
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between OpenWater Awards and ShortStack

  • Pricing: ShortStack starts at $79 /Month. OpenWater Awards pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Target audience: OpenWater Awards is built for Individuals and Medium Business, while ShortStack targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: OpenWater Awards scores higher with a 4.6-star average.
  • Deployment: OpenWater Awards supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; ShortStack supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

OpenWater Awards vs ShortStack — find the better fit before you commit.

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
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert
ShortStack - Contest Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

OpenWater Awards

Best for

Individuals, Medium Business, Small Business

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. ShortStack tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business 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

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 $79 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

Not Available

9.1/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.6

(44)

Best Company Size

1-50 employees51-500 employees
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

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Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

How do OpenWater Awards and ShortStack Compare on Features?

Total Features

10 Features

11 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare OpenWater Awards 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
      • $79 , Billed Yearly

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      Pricing information not available

      ShortStack pricing

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • 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

      Modes of support

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

      API Support

      • Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

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

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🇺🇸 US

      OpenWater Awards User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      52

      3

      1

      0

      1

      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

      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.

      • 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

      List of Customers

      Customers

      ABC

      ABC

      SQA

      SQA

      Peabody Awards

      Peabody Awards

      No Customers information available.

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Templates and Toolkits

      7 Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Videos

      No videos available.

      video-0

      1 Videos

      Top Alternatives to OpenWater Awards and ShortStack in 2026

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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 ShortStack?
      OpenWater Awards edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do OpenWater Awards and ShortStack offer a free trial?
      Yes, both OpenWater Awards and ShortStack offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of OpenWater Awards vs ShortStack?
      OpenWater Awards starts at Contact for pricing. ShortStack starts at $79 /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 ShortStack?
      Top alternatives to ShortStack include Judgify, Make My Contest, Atipso, VYPER, EasyPromos.

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