I ran real giveaways and rated the 10 best WordPress contest plugins

When I started my SEO agency, the noise in the industry was deafening.

Every company spread the same message: “Join our email list!” Prospects were drowning in newsletters they never asked for and building a list seemed impossible.

I had to stand out and show that we were different.

We didn’t want to smother inboxes with sales pitches. That’s when I turned to contests and giveaways to primarily provide value and not just grab email addresses.

But here’s the problem: most competition plugins either crashed my website, looked unprofessional, or were so complicated that I gave up halfway through setup.

I spent six months testing every major giveaway and contest plugin to find tools that actually work. This guide will show you exactly which plugins deliver real results without any technical issues.

Key insights

• I’ll show you how a giveaway plugin makes creating viral giveaways so easy that it takes less than 10 minutes to set up
• I’m discussing a form builder that’s perfect when participants need to upload photos, videos, or files
• Discover which plugin turns boring registration forms into addictive spin-to-win games that people actually want to play
• I tested contest plugins to see what worked for video contests, photo contests, and email list building
• I’ll show you completely free options that offer features that premium plugins charge for

How I test competitive plugins

Hello, I’m Alvin from IsItWP.

Instead of just installing plugins and reading documentation, I ran real giveaways to test them.

My Beats by Dre contest attracted 847 entries and showed me which plugins stayed fast in traffic, which had confusing setups, and which actually converted visitors into subscribers.

Here’s how I evaluate each plugin exactly:

• Setup speed: I time everything from plugin activation to the start of the first live competition. If a simple giveaway takes more than 15 minutes, that’s a red flag.
• Input methods: I test email signups, social media promotions, referral systems and bonus entry opportunities. The best plugins offer multiple ways to get started without making things complicated.
• Fraud protection: I submit duplicate entries, use temporary emails, and try to game the system. Good plugins automatically catch spam attempts.
• Performance Impact: I measure load times before and after installing each plugin. Competitive tools shouldn’t slow down your entire website.
• Real competition scenarios: I run real competitions with real entries. The theory is nice, but I need to see how plugins handle 500+ entries and thousands of page views.
• Mobile responsiveness: Each competition is tested on iPhone and Android. If the signup form doesn’t work on mobile, it’s useless.

Tools I use:

• Analytics tools to track conversion rates
• The free IsItWP speed checker and GTmetrix for performance testing
• Several top WordPress themes for compatibility checks
• Real email services like Mailchimp for integration testing

The best WordPress competition plugins in comparison

I tested various WordPress competition solutions and selected the 10 best plugins plus 3 bonus tools. Some excel at viral sharing, others dominate email list building, and a few run specific contests like video or photo contests.

The right plugin depends on your exact goal. For example, growing your email list requires different functionality than increasing social media followers.

Below you will find detailed reviews showing exactly what works, what doesn’t, and which plugin suits your specific needs.

You will also find a simple comparison table here that will make it easier for you to make a quick decision.

Plugin name	Evaluation	Best for	Key Features	Free version	Starting price
🥇RafflePress	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Easy Viral Giveaways	– Drag and drop builder – Viral sharing mechanics -Pre-designed templates -Fraud protection	✅	$299 one-time
🥈WPForms	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Competition entry forms	-2,000+ form templates -Support for uploading files -Conditional logic -forms of conversation	✅	$49.50/year
🥉OptinMonster	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Spin to win competitions	– Gamified spin wheel -Exit intent trigger -A/B testing integrated -Advanced targeting	❌	$84/year
4. Video Contest Plugin	⭐⭐⭐⭐	YouTube/Video Contests	-YouTube integration -Voting systems -9 fraud protection levels -BuddyPress support	❌	$39 one-time
5. Image/Video Contest Generator	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Mixed media competitions	-Image and video support -Multiple competition types -Social sharing integrated -Statistics dashboard	❌	$10 one time
6. Photo competition	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Photo competitions	-Photo specific features -Voting mechanisms -Email notifications – GDPR compliance	❌	$39 one-time
7. Shine	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Multiplatform competitions	-30+ platform integrations – Instant winning campaigns -Advanced analytics -Ranking competitions	✅	$10/month
8. KingSumo	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Easy Viral Giveaways	-One-time payment option -Viral sharing integrated -Facebook pixel tracking -Unlimited freebies	✅	$49 lifetime
9. Easy giveaways	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Budget conscious users	-Fully featured free version -Social sharing rewards -Email confirmation -Google CAPTCHA	✅	$49.99/year
10. Wishing Pond	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Marketing integration	-Full marketing suite -Landing page builder -Email automation -Line management	❌	$49/month

Additionally, you can use the table of contents below to see all the tools at a glance. You can also click any link to jump to this section.

With that out of the way, let’s dive in.

1. Raffle Press ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best for: Simple viral giveaways

Raffle Press I solved my biggest competitive problem: technical complexity.

Most giveaway plugins require developer knowledge or hours of YouTube tutorials. With RafflePress you can create professional giveaways in under 10 minutes without touching the code.

Why is RafflePress the best contest plugin overall?

RafflePress impresses because it combines performance with simplicity. The drag-and-drop builder works exactly as you would expect from the best WordPress plugins. You choose a template, customize the input actions, and publish.

The pre-built templates automatically take care of specific goals. Do you want to grow your email list? There is a template. Do you need more Facebook followers? Different template.

The best part? Each template is already configured with the correct input actions.

What impressed me the most was the viral sharing feature. Participants receive bonus entries by referring friends via unique links.

I’ve seen this single feature with triple contest entries without spending a dollar on advertising because it’s basically automated word-of-mouth marketing built into every giveaway.

The fraud protection actually works.

RafflePress automatically detects duplicate entries, fake email addresses and suspicious behavior. I tested it by trying to cheat my own competition. The system warned me within seconds.

Additionally, it integrates with every major email marketing service. New entries flow directly to your Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or ActiveCampaign lists without the need for manual CSV uploads.

My experience with RafflePress

Remember when I mentioned that I ran a successful Beats by Dre contest? Yes, I created it on RafflePress.

I set up RafflePress to build my email list before announcing IsItWP’s new free tools, like the Uptime Checker and Domain Name Generator.

The giveaway took exactly 8 minutes to set up. I selected the Grow Your Email List template, customized the pricing description, added the logo, and connected Mailchimp. The form was active before my next drinking break.

I then configured bonus entries for sharing on social networks, following on Instagram and visiting the tool pages.

Additionally, each promotion offered participants additional chances to win, motivating them to complete multiple steps.

The results exceeded any previous competition I have run. I collected 847 email subscribers in 14 days. Viral sharing generated 68% of all posts, meaning my audience did the marketing for them.

What really caught my attention was that the mobile experience worked flawlessly. 61% of entries came from phones, and I didn’t receive a single support ticket due to incorrect forms or confusing layouts.

Features:

• Responsive giveaway templates and
• Competition Eligibility Rule Generator Template
• Lightweight and lightning fast to improve site speed, SEO and conversions
• Competition automation with start and end times
• Social media, email, marketing and CRM integrations
• Dedicated landing page for the competition
• Viral share/recommend a friend
• Easy customizations with the drag-and-drop contest builder
• 1-click entry and social media entry options
• Fraud protection and GDPR compliant

For more information on features and pricing tiers, check out the full RafflePress review.

Prices: Free version available; Pro starts at $299 one-time

If this sounds like the right tool for you, check out RafflePress’ coupon page for more offers.

Start here with RafflePress

2. WPForms ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best for: Contest entry forms

WPForms is perfect if you need more than just simple email entries. This form builder allows file uploads, making it easy to create photo contests, essay submissions, and creative competitions.

WPForms handles these scenarios better than any other plugin on this list.

Why is WPForms great for contest forms?

WPForms dominates content-based competitions due to its file upload capabilities. Entrants can submit files such as PDFs, photos, videos, or other file types directly from your contest form.

I’ve used this for photography contests, design contests, and even PDF recipe submissions.

The 2,000+ form templates include multiple competition-specific layouts. I never start from scratch.

The Photo Contest Entry template already includes file upload fields, contact information, and checkboxes for accepting terms and conditions. Adjustment takes minutes, not hours.

What sets WPForms apart is the conditional logic that actually makes sense.

You can view different questions based on previous answers. For example, if someone selects “Professional Photographer” as a category, additional portfolio questions will automatically appear.

Beginner photographers never see these fields.

The conversation forms feature improved my completion rates by 40%. Instead of displaying a wall of 15 panels, questions are asked one after the other, like a friendly chat.

This works particularly well on mobile devices, where traditional shapes seem overwhelming.

Additionally, WPForms connects to any email service and marketing automation tool. New listings automatically sync to your email marketing platform without the need for manual exports.

My experience with WPForms

As mentioned, I created a photography contest for a local photography store using WPForms. They wanted customers to submit their best nature photos for a chance to win $500 worth of camera equipment.

The setup took 12 minutes.

I used the photo contest template and adjusted the file upload settings to only accept images under 5MB. Then conditional fields were added that asked professional photographers different questions than amateur photographers.

The form included automatic email notifications. When someone submitted a post, they immediately received a confirmation email.

The store owner received notifications with entries attached, allowing her to review submissions without logging into WordPress.

The results exceeded expectations. They received 284 photo submissions within 21 days. Conditional logic kept the forms short, which is why the completion rate reached 87%.

Most forms of competition I have seen have struggled to reach 60%.

The file upload feature handled everything smoothly. No broken submissions, corrupted files, or tech support issues. At the end, participants were able to easily upload high-resolution photos.

Features

• Over 2,000 templates and a visual drag-and-drop builder
• Smart form fields to retrieve important user information
• Dynamically change form fields based on user response
• Allow users to upload files
• Integrated spam and captcha protection
• Seamless integrations with all popular email services

For more information, see the full WPForms review.

Still not sure about WPForms? You can also compare WPForms vs Gravity Forms or check out Formidable Forms vs WPForms if you need to choose between form builders.

Prices: Free version available; Pro starts at $49.50/year

Check out the WPForms coupon page for more offers.

Get started with WPForms here

3. OptinMonster ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best for: Gamified spin-to-win competitions

OptinMonster has changed the way I think about competitive engagement.

Traditional registration forms feel like work. Spin the Wheel competitions are fun. This psychological difference turns casual visitors into eager participants.

Why is OptinMonster perfect for engagement?

OptinMonster specializes in fun competitions that grab attention immediately.

The Spin to Win Wheel pops up at just the right moment, providing instant gratification rather than forcing people to wait for the results of the competition.

Probability controls allow you to decide how often each prize is awarded.

You can set the wheel to win a 10% discount on 50% of spins, free shipping on 30%, a bigger discount on 15%, and your grand prize on 5%. This balances generosity with budget conservation.

What impressed me most was the targeting system. You can show different contests to different visitors based on their behavior.

Someone who views your pricing page five times clearly has purchase intent. So you see a competition where there is a bigger prize. Blog readers receive different messages.

Exit-intent technology saved abandoned visitors.

When someone moves their mouse toward the close button, the spin wheel popup appears with the message “Wait! Spin to win before you get started!” I’ve seen this capture 12-15% of abandoned visitors who would have left for good.

In addition, A/B testing runs automatically.

You create two different spin-the-wheel designs or price offers and OptinMonster shows the winner to more people. My clients typically see a 20-30% improvement after optimization through A/B testing.

My experience with OptinMonster

I started a Christmas spin-to-win competition for an online store. They wanted to boost holiday sales while building their email list.

The setup took 18 minutes. I customized the wheel with their brand and holiday colors, configured five price segments with different probabilities, and set targeting rules to show the contest only to first-time visitors on product pages.

The wheel required an email address before it would spin.

Once someone enters their email address and rotates, OptinMonster will automatically send them a coupon code that matches their price, with no manual execution required.

The results surprised even me. Over the Christmas weekend, they collected 892 email addresses. The conversion rate reached 8.3%, meaning 8 out of 100 visitors who saw the wheel actually entered.

Sales increased because winners used their discount codes immediately. The average order value remained stable, meaning they weren’t just attracting bargain hunters.

Features:

• Minimal setup
• Targeting rules to control who sees your competition
• Exit-intent contests to win back abandoned visitors
• Email integrations with services like Constant Contact and Mailchimp
• Test campaigns and adjust them in real time
• Seamless integration with Google Analytics

Read the full OptinMonster review for complete feature breakdowns. Compare OptinMonster to Thrive Leads when evaluating alternative tools.

Prices: Starting at $84/year

Check out the OptinMonster coupon page for more offers.

Get started with OptinMonster here

4. Video Contest WordPress Plugin ⭐⭐⭐⭐

CodeCanyon | Best for: YouTube/video contests

The WordPress Video Contest plugin manages video contests that other plugins cannot achieve.

If participants need to submit YouTube videos, TikTok links, or Vimeo content, this plugin is specifically designed for that purpose.

Why choose the WordPress video contests plugin?

The WordPress video contest plugin focuses solely on video submission and voting.

YouTube integration allows participants to submit videos directly from their channels without having to upload files to your server. This saves a huge amount of hosting space and bandwidth.

The voting system gives you full control over how the winners are selected.

You can enable public voting where visitors select their favorites, jury voting where you select jurors, or a combination of both methods.

The 9 layers of fraud protection automatically detect election manipulation, duplicate accounts and suspicious activity.

Comment moderation keeps competitions professional. You can review and approve comments before they appear publicly. This prevents spam and inappropriate content from damaging your brand reputation.

Additionally, the BuddyPress integration creates a community around your contests. Participants can interact with each other, follow participants, and build engagement beyond just submitting videos.

My experience

I set up the Video Contest WordPress plugin for a fitness trainer website that is running a transformation challenge. Participants submitted pre/post training videos showing their progress over 90 days.

The setup took 25 minutes because video contests require more configuration than simple email giveaways. I configured YouTube API connections, set voting rules, and customized the submission form.

The plugin processed 47 video submissions without any technical issues. The public vote resulted in more than 3,200 votes within three weeks. The engagement metrics significantly exceeded their previous photo-only competitions.

Features:

• 100% responsive designs
• Easy to use admin panel
• Organize unlimited competitions together
• Full control over the competition rules and elements

Prices: $39 one-time payment

Get started with the WordPress video contest plugin here

5. Image/Video Contest Generator ⭐⭐⭐⭐

CodeCanyon | Suitable for: Mixed media competitions

The Image/Video Contest Generator solves a specific problem: running multiple contest types via a plugin.

Some clients need photo contests one month and video contests the next. This competition plugin does both without having to install separate tools.

Why use Contest Generator?

The Image/Video Contest Generator is characterized by its flexibility.

You can create trivia contests, trivia games, photo contests, and video submissions – all from the same interface. The different types of competition mean you are not tied to one format.

The social sharing buttons automatically integrate with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Participants share their posts with one click, driving organic social traffic without paid advertising.

Each release brings new potential participants to your competition.

What impressed me was the statistics dashboard. You’ll see exactly which contests are performing best, which post types are getting the most engagement, and where your traffic is coming from.

This data will help you improve future contests based on real numbers rather than guesswork.

The customizable templates instantly fit your brand. You customize colors, fonts, and button styles without touching CSS. The visual editor displays changes in real time as you adjust them.

My experience

I used the Image/Video Contest Generator for a marketing agency that wanted to test different contest formats before committing to an expensive plugin.

They held a photo contest in January, a quiz in February, and a video contest in March.

Setup for the first competition took 20 minutes. Then the next competitions took less than 10 minutes because I already understood the interface.

The ability to duplicate and modify previous competitions saved a lot of time.

The stats showed that their photo contest generated 40% more engagement than a video, which helped them focus their strategy on visual content contests going forward.

Features:

• Unlimited competitions with unlimited questions
• Custom blur effect for images
• Dynamically change points according to the time it takes to answer
• Customizable templates
• Integrates with Facebook
• Track which contests are popular

Prices: $10 one-time payment

Start here with the Image/Video Contest Generator

6. Photo competition ⭐⭐⭐⭐

CodeCanyon | Best for: Photography competitions

Photo Contest specializes in one thing and does it exceptionally well: photo contests.

If you need advanced photo submission features, voting systems, and gallery displays, this plugin offers better results than general competition tools.

Why does a photo competition work?

Photo Contest is designed specifically for photo contests, meaning every feature serves exactly that purpose.

The photo submission system processes high-resolution images without crashing your server or causing upload timeouts. I tested it with professional 12MB photos that uploaded smoothly.

The voting mechanisms give you several options.

For example, public voting allows your audience to choose the winners, jury voting allows you or select jurors to control, or you can combine the two to receive different prizes.

This flexibility applies to both amateur competitions and professional competitions.

Email notifications automatically keep everyone updated. Participants will receive confirmation when they submit photos, updates when voting begins, and winners announced.

On the other hand, you get admin notifications for each submission without having to manually check your dashboard.

Plus, the BuddyPress Compatibility creates photographer communities. Participants can follow each other, comment on posts, and build ongoing engagement beyond your individual contest.

My experience

I used the photography contest for a travel blogger who was running a “Best Sunset Photo” contest. She wanted to showcase professional-quality submissions in an attractive gallery that matched her website design.

The setup took 22 minutes, including gallery customization and voting rules configuration. The plugin’s performance tests showed that it was able to process 89 photo submissions with a total size of 780 MB without slowing down the website.

The automatic email notifications eliminated their biggest problem: manually tracking submissions. While the GDPR compliance features protected them legally as European photographers took part in their competition.

Features:

• Full control over the competition rules and elements
• 100% responsive designs
• Easy to use admin panel
• Run unlimited competitions at the same time
• Email notifications for you and your user

Prices: $39 one-time payment

Start the photo competition here

7. Shine ⭐⭐⭐⭐

SaaS platform | Best for: Advanced multi-platform competitions

Shine handles competitions on over 30 platforms simultaneously.

If you need a contest to collect email addresses, Instagram followers, YouTube subscribers, Twitter retweets, and TikTok engagement all at once, Gleam’s depth of integration surpasses any pure WordPress plugin.

Why use Gleam?

Gleam’s platform integrations are second to none.

This giveaway plugin connects to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, Discord and dozens of other services.

This means participants take actions across multiple platforms and Gleam automatically verifies everything via API connections.

Different types of contests include traditional giveaways, instant win campaigns, friend promotions, and ranked contests.

This variety means you are not limited to one competitive format for your overall marketing strategy.

What sets Gleam apart is the instant win feature.

Instead of waiting for a drawing date, participants will find out immediately whether they have won. This instant gratification results in higher participation rates than traditional “walk in and wait” competitions.

The advanced analytics dashboard tracks all key metrics: entry sources, viral coefficient, conversion rates and social reach.

You can see exactly which platforms are attracting the most valuable participants and adjust your marketing accordingly.

My experience

I used Gleam for a software company that was launching a new WordPress plugin. They wanted maximum reach on all their social channels at the same time.

The setup took 35 minutes because connecting 8 different platforms requires more configuration than simple email contests. The learning curve was steeper than RafflePress, but the multiplatform performance justified the extra time.

The contest collected 1,847 entries across email, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Viral sharing generated 42% of all posts.

Most importantly, the analytics showed that Instagram generated the highest quality leads based on product purchases.

Features

• Competition templates
• 10 ways to enter your competition
• 1-click entry
• Integrated viral sharing
• Filter invalid entries

Prices: Free plugin available; Pro starts at $10/month

Start here with Gleam

8. KingSumo ⭐⭐⭐⭐

AppSumo | Best for: Simple viral giveaways

KingSumo eliminates the biggest pain point of competitive plugins: recurring subscription costs.

You pay once and run unlimited freebies forever. This pricing model makes competitive marketing affordable for financially struggling businesses and solopreneurs who value every dollar.

Why does KingSumo work for beginners?

KingSumo’s simplicity is its strength.

The interface shows you exactly three steps: add your prize, select participation promotions and publish. There’s no overwhelming dashboard with 47 settings you’ll never use.

This focus allows you to build quickly, even if you’ve never competed before.

The viral sharing mechanics work automatically. Each participant receives a unique referral link. If they share it and friends enter via their link, they will receive bonus entries.

I have seen this feature generate 3-5 additional entries per original participant without any manual work.

Facebook pixel tracking can be integrated seamlessly. You can later retarget everyone who participated in your contest with ads, turning participants into customers through strategic follow-up campaigns.

Scheduling features allow you to plan contests in advance. Set start and end dates and KingSumo will do everything automatically. Your contest starts at midnight without you having to stay up to click a button.

My experience

I set up KingSumo for a website for a freelance designer who wanted to build his email list before launching a course. They had no technical skills and a tiny budget.

The setup took 11 minutes. Thanks to the simple interface, they were able to customize everything themselves without having to ask me for help. This independence saved them money and taught them the basics of competitive marketing.

The contest garnered 384 email subscribers within 14 days. Viral sharing generated 61% of entries, proving that word of mouth works even with small audiences.

The one-time payment made it possible to significantly reduce the cost per subscriber.

The only point of criticism was the lack of name recording. KingSumo collects emails but not first names, which limits email personalization options.

Features:

• Easy setup
• Unlimited giveaways
• Mobile friendly
• Optimized for viral sharing
• 24/7 customer support
• Unlimited giveaways
• Free plugin updates

Prices: Free basic version; The Lifetime plan costs $49

Get started with KingSumo here

9. Simple giveaways ⭐⭐⭐⭐

WordPress.org | Best for: budget-conscious users

Simple giveaways proves that you don’t have to spend money to run effective contests.

The free version offers solid giveaway features that work for bloggers, small businesses, and anyone testing competitive marketing before committing to paid tools.

Why Simple Small Business Giveaways?

Simple Giveaways focuses on the core features of the contest without overwhelming beginners.

First of all, the social sharing feature rewards participants with bonus entries when they share on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. This built-in viral mechanism helps small audiences grow organically.

The email verification system automatically protects against fake entries. Each entrant must confirm their email address before entries are counted.

This keeps your list clean and improves email delivery rates. Fake emails never make it into your marketing campaigns.

Google CAPTCHA integration effectively blocks spam bots. I tested it by attempting automated input and the CAPTCHA protection caught everything. Without manual moderation, your competition remains fair.

The special landing page option ensures distraction-free competition experiences.

Visitors land on a page focused solely on your giveaway, which improves conversion rates compared to embedding forms into busy blog posts.

My experience

I used Simple Giveaways for a nonprofit with no marketing budget. They needed to build an email list and build trust for their annual fundraiser, but couldn’t afford premium tools.

The setup took 14 minutes with the free version. I configured social sharing actions, enabled email verification, and added Google CAPTCHA. The landing page was put online without any modification to the code.

Their contest collected 217 verified email subscribers within 10 days. Social sharing generated 38% of entries, proving that viral mechanics also work with free WordPress plugins.

With a zero dollar investment, every subscriber was a pure profit.

The limitations of the free version became apparent when advanced features such as conditional input actions and detailed analysis were requested. At this point, the Pro version unlocked everything they needed.

Features:

• Mobile responsive
• Dedicated landing page
• Optimized for speed
• Recommendation sharing and verified actions
• Social logins and email verification
• Functionality for multiple prices

Prices: Free version available; Pro costs $49.99/year

Start here with simple giveaways

10. Wishing pond ⭐⭐⭐⭐

SaaS platform | Best for: Marketing integration

Wishing pond combines competitions with complete marketing automation.

If you need giveaways, landing pages, email campaigns, and lead nurturing all working together in one system, Wishpond’s integrated approach eliminates the need for plugin juggling.

Why Wishpond?

Wishpond’s marketing suite integration sets it apart from standalone competitive plugins. Your giveaway entries will automatically flow into email campaigns, landing page A/B tests and lead scoring systems.

This connected workflow means participants become customers through automated nurturing sequences.

The landing page builder creates professional competition pages without coding. You get templates specifically designed for giveaways with proven layouts that convert visitors into participants.

The drag-and-drop editor makes customization easy, even if design isn’t your forte.

Email campaigns are managed on the same platform. When someone enters your contest, they will immediately receive a welcome email and then participate in a drip campaign that you configure.

This automation turns one-time subscribers into long-term subscribers.

The lead management dashboard shows exactly which contests are generating the highest quality leads based on repeat purchases. You can accurately track the ROI of the contest instead of just counting entries and hoping for the best.

My experience

I implemented Wishpond for an eCommerce store that sells outdoor gear. They wanted contests that flow directly into their email marketing funnel, without manual exports and imports between systems.

The setup took 40 minutes because I configured the contest, the landing page and three automated email sequences at the same time. The integrated approach required more initial setup effort but eliminated ongoing manual work.

There were 892 entries for the summer camping competition. The automated email sequence converted 14% of participants into first-time customers within 30 days.

The marketing automation features justified the higher price with measurable increases in sales.

The platform is best suited for businesses that already use multiple marketing tools. If you just need contests without email automation or landing pages, simpler plugins like RafflePress offer better value for money.

Features:

• Full marketing suite integration
• Landing page builder with templates
• Email automation workflows
• Lead scoring and management
• Contest and giveaway tools
• A/B testing features

Prices: Starting at $49/month

Start here with Wishpond

That’s it! You now have my list of the best giveaway and contest plugins. Next, let’s look at some options that just didn’t make my list.

Bonus 1: RaffleCopter

RaffleCopter offers a fast embed-based contest solution that works on any website, not just WordPress. The free plan includes simple freebies with limited entries.

Paid plans unlock unlimited competitions, advanced integrations, and priority support. Choose this option if you need contests on multiple platforms outside of WordPress.

Bonus 2: Woorise

Woorise specializes in landing page contests with beautiful templates and form builders. The platform also manages surveys, quizzes and payment collection in addition to traditional giveaways.

It is best suited for businesses that want standalone competitive landing pages that don’t require WordPress at all.

Bonus 3: Lottery for WooCommerce

Lottery for WooCommerce hosts lottery-like contests in which customers purchase tickets for a chance to win. The plugin automatically generates tickets, selects winners and creates free orders for winners.

It’s perfect for WooCommerce stores that want paid lottery mechanisms instead of free entry gifts.

Now that you have a list of the best tools and bonus options to choose from, I know it can be overwhelming. To make the selection process easier for you, here’s how to choose the right giveaway plugin.

How to choose the right competition plugin for your needs

Choosing the right plugin depends on your specific goal, not which tool offers the most features.

Customize your main goal:

Are you growing your email list?

• Raffle Press And WPForms dominate this category with seamless email service integration and proven viral sharing mechanisms.

Do you need social media followers?

• Shine And KingSumo Verify social actions via API connections. You confirm that participants have actually been followed, liked or shared before making entries.

Do you want instant engagement?

• OptinMonsterThe playful spin wheel provides instant gratification not possible with traditional “walk in and wait” competitions.

Do you run content contests?

• Video contest plugin And Photo competition Handle file submissions that simple email forms struggle with.

Consider your budget:

• There are free options. Simple giveaways delivers solid features for free. The limitations only matter when you go beyond the basic freebies.
• Raffle PressKingSumo and Image/video contest generator Offer one-time payments that work for budget-conscious businesses.
• Subscriptions make sense if you frequently run contests. WPForms or OptinMonster Offer better ROI than one-time tools when launching monthly giveaways.

Rate the technical comfort:

• Beginners should start with Rafflepress, KingSumoor Simple giveaways. All offer simple interfaces without overwhelming options.
• Advanced users benefit from this WPForms Balance between performance and usability. The drag-and-drop builder works intuitively without requiring any developer knowledge.
• Advanced marketers can benefit from this ShineWishpond’s multi-platform capabilities or full integration of Wishpond’s marketing suite.

The right giveaways and contests plugin should meet your current needs, not theoretical future needs. Start simple and then upgrade as certain features become essential rather than optional.

If something is unclear, check out the frequently asked questions below.

FAQs: Best WordPress Contest and Giveaway Plugins

Final Verdict: Should I Use Competitive Plugins?

Contests changed the way I built my agency’s email list. Instead of begging for subscriptions with generic lead magnets, I provided real value through giveaways. People actually wanted to participate, share and engage.

The right plugin makes this strategy accessible to everyone.

You don’t need a developer or a huge budget. RafflePress costs less than a month for paid ads but provides sustainable list growth through viral mechanisms.

The most important thing is: Just start. Choose a plugin based on your main goal. Run a small test competition for 7-14 days.

Measure the results honestly. Did the posts convert into engaged subscribers? Did social shares bring qualified traffic?

Most companies rethink their content strategy and never launch it. The perfect price, flawless design, and complicated eligibility requirements don’t matter if you never start.

A simple “enter your email to win” contest launched today will outperform the elaborate campaign you’re planning next month.

Your audience is already out there. They’re just waiting for a reason to connect with your brand. Contests give them that reason while respecting their inbox and time.

Resource Center

Competitive plugins get attention, but supporting tools turn that attention into business growth. These resources will help you build a complete conversion system that goes beyond just collecting listings.

• The 9 best email marketing services in comparison – Contest entries mean nothing without nurturing those subscribers. This guide will show you which email platforms integrate seamlessly with competitive plugins and actually send emails to inboxes instead of spam folders.
• Best WordPress Plugins for Lead Generation – Contests work best as part of a broader lead capture strategy. Combine giveaways with exit-intent popups, slide-ins, and inline forms for maximum email list growth across your site.
• How to reduce bounce rate on your WordPress site – Contests help retain visitors for longer. Learn additional tactics to reduce bounces, increase session time, and convert casual users into active participants who actually care about your content.
• Best WordPress social media plugins – Sharing viral contests depends on easy social integration. These plugins make sharing effortless, accurately track social engagement, and help you take advantage of the traffic contests generated across all platforms.
• The best WordPress popup plugins in comparison – Promote your contests site-wide with targeted popups that appear at the right moment. Exit-intent technology saves abandoned visitors by showing competitive offers before they leave for good.

These tools work together to create a complete growth system. Contests grab attention, email marketing nurtures relationships, automation handles repetitive tasks, and popups maximize visibility.

Build your stack piece by piece based on your company’s current needs.