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ShortStack vs OpenWater Awards Comparison

Last updated:

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

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…

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

ShortStack vs OpenWater Awards — at a glance

FeatureShortStackOpenWater Awards
Rating4.4 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews13644
Starting price$79 /MonthContact for pricing
Free trial Yes Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessIndividuals, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryContest SoftwareContest Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
APIAvailable
Support modesOnlineBusiness Hours, Online
CertificationsGDPR
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between ShortStack and OpenWater Awards

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

ShortStack vs OpenWater Awards — 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.

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

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

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

Best for

Individuals, Medium Business, Small Business

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

Description

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

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

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $79 , Billed Yearly
  • Not Available

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.1/10

Not Available

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

Need a second opinion?

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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 ShortStack and OpenWater Awards Compare on Features?

Total Features

11 Features

10 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare ShortStack and OpenWater Awards 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

      • $79 , Billed Yearly
      • Not Available

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      ShortStack pricing

      Pricing information not available

      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

      • Not Available
      • 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

      ShortStack User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      58

      19

      4

      1

      0

      52

      3

      1

      0

      1

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      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

      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.

      Pros and Cons

      • 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

      • 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.

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      List of Customers

      Customers

      No Customers information available.

      ABC

      ABC

      SQA

      SQA

      Peabody Awards

      Peabody Awards

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Templates and Toolkits

      7 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      No videos available.

      Top Alternatives to ShortStack and OpenWater Awards 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, ShortStack or OpenWater Awards?
      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 ShortStack and OpenWater Awards offer a free trial?
      Yes, both ShortStack and OpenWater Awards offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of ShortStack vs OpenWater Awards?
      ShortStack starts at $79 /Month. OpenWater Awards starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to ShortStack?
      Top alternatives to ShortStack include Judgify, Make My Contest, Atipso, VYPER, EasyPromos.
      What are the top alternatives to OpenWater Awards?
      Top alternatives to OpenWater Awards include Judgify, Make My Contest, Atipso, VYPER, EasyPromos.

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