7 Best Rafflecopter Alternatives To Run Giveaways In 2025

Rafflecopter is shutting down, explore the best tools to keep running viral giveaways.

Rafflecopter Alternatives For Giveaways in 2025

• Rafflecopter will shut down on October 1, 2025 after 15 years
• Users need to export their data before the end of September
• Leading alternatives include Gleam, ShortStack, and KingSumo
• Gleam provides stronger features, customisation, and compliance tools
• Switching to Gleam helps keep campaigns running without disruption

After more than a decade powering giveaways, Rafflecopter is shutting down on October 1, 2025.

No new signups are being accepted, and existing users must export their data before the end of September.

While no explanation has been given for the closure, it creates an opportunity for creators and businesses to explore modern giveaway platforms that offer stronger integrations, more entry types, and better user experience.

This guide reviews the best Rafflecopter alternatives available today and highlights which platform is the most practical upgrade.

Shutdown announcement from Rafflecopter showing October 1, 2025 as the closure date

When moving away from Rafflecopter, your next tool should feel like a step forward rather than sideways. At a minimum, look for:

  • Flexible entry methods: More than email signups, ideally verified social actions, referrals, and integrations.
  • Customisable design and branding: Campaigns should reflect your brand identity, not look generic.
  • Easy embeds or hosted landing pages: The flexibility to run contests on your site or via a standalone page.
  • Verified entries and anti-fraud protection: Safeguards against fake accounts and spam.
  • Integrations with your email or marketing tools: Automatic syncing with services like Klaviyo, Shopify, or Mailchimp.
  • Reliable support and onboarding: Especially important for anyone migrating live campaigns.

The table below shows how Rafflecopter’s core features compare with Gleam’s broader functionality:

Feature Rafflecopter Gleam
Entry types Limited 30+ verified action types
Referral tracking Basic Viral sharing + leaderboards
Hosted landing pages No Yes
Widget embed Yes Yes
Custom design Minimal Customisable
Email integrations Basic Mailchimp only 40+ (Klaviyo, Shopify, etc.)
Analytics Basic exports Real-time performance data
Fraud detection No Yes

Rafflecopter worked well for simple giveaways, but it struggled with verification, fraud prevention, and integrations. Gleam covers these areas and provides a more flexible foundation for long-term growth.

Here are the leading options for replacing Rafflecopter, each suited to different goals, budgets, and campaign types.

Best for: Creators, ecommerce, agencies & SaaS brands
Free plan: Yes
Paid from: $19/month

Gleam is a feature-rich giveaway platform that supports deep customisation, verified actions, fraud protection, and advanced integrations. It’s trusted by brands like Logitech, Twitch, and Shopify stores worldwide.

Key advantages include:

  • 30+ verified action types with direct integrations for popular social, email, and ecommerce platforms
  • Instant email capture and syncing with major ESPs
  • Hosted landing pages alongside widget embeds
  • Detailed analytics and reporting for optimisation

For users leaving Rafflecopter, Gleam is straightforward to set up and scales from simple list-building contests to multi-step brand campaigns.

Pricing overview of Gleam's four core apps: Competitions, Rewards, Captures, and Galleries

Best for: Agencies & advanced users
Free plan: No
Paid from: $39/month

ShortStack has long been a flexible contest platform. It uses drag-and-drop campaign builders and landing page tools, with support for quizzes, photo contests, and form-based promotions.

For agencies, ShortStack’s white-label and client management options stand out. It also enables unique formats like voting competitions and instant win games. The trade-off is a steeper learning curve compared to simpler tools like SweepWidget or KingSumo.

ShortStack pricing tiers from Startup to Elite with entry limits and features listed

Best for: Bloggers, small ecommerce stores
Free plan: Yes
Paid from: $29/month

SweepWidget offers a familiar layout for former Rafflecopter users, with multiple entry methods, viral referral mechanics, and support for 100+ languages. It includes leaderboard functionality and basic fraud protection.

It’s an affordable entry point for smaller teams, though its design feels dated and it lacks the integrations and depth offered by platforms like Gleam or ShortStack.

SweepWidget pricing comparison showing Pro, Business, Premium, and Enterprise plans with features

Best for: One-off giveaways
Free plan: No
Paid: $49 lifetime

KingSumo is built for simplicity. Its focus is on fast email list growth through referral-based contest entry. At a one-time lifetime price, it’s an affordable option for solopreneurs who only need a basic tool.

Strengths:

  • Viral referral mechanics to reward sharing
  • Quick setup for first-time users
  • No recurring paid plans

Limitations:

  • Minimal design flexibility
  • Limited integrations
  • No advanced analytics

It’s best for small, one-off campaigns. Anyone planning regular or large-scale promotions will quickly run into its limits.

KingSumo pricing table comparing Free and Lifetime Plan with feature checklist and $49 single payment

Best for: Brands running complex campaigns
Free plan: No
Paid from: $49/month

ViralSweep offers multiple campaign formats, including sweepstakes, photo contests, and instant win games. It’s designed for teams with advanced marketing needs and larger budgets.

Pros:

  • Strong ecommerce and CRM integrations
  • Support for viral giveaways and referral sharing
  • A/B testing and premium add-ons

Cons:

  • Steeper learning curve
  • Higher starting price
  • Interface is less intuitive than newer tools

It’s a solid option for brands running complex activations but may feel heavy for smaller teams.

ViralSweep pricing plans showing Starter, Business, Premium, Elite, and Enterprise options with features

Best for: Facebook contests & polls
Free plan: Yes
Paid from: $37/month

Woobox is best known for its social media tools, especially Facebook giveaways, quizzes, and photo contests. It provides ready-to-use templates and built-in winner selection.

Highlights:

  • Facebook-specific promotion tools
  • Polls and instant win formats
  • Simple setup with some pre built templates

The trade-off is fewer integrations and limited customisation compared to more advanced platforms. It’s reliable for occasional social media campaigns but not as versatile as tools like Gleam.

Woobox pricing table comparing Free, Basic, Standard, Advanced, and Power plans with features

Best for: Interactive content like quizzes
Free plan: No
Paid from: $14/month

Outgrow isn’t a traditional giveaway platform, but it shines for interactive content campaigns. It helps marketers capture leads with quizzes, calculators, chatbots, and surveys.

Key features:

  • Drag-and-drop builder for interactive content
  • Hosted landing pages or embeds via a WordPress plugin
  • Built-in analytics for tracking lead generation

Outgrow is less suited to sweepstakes or viral giveaways but can be valuable if your strategy leans toward content-driven engagement. Pricing rises quickly as campaigns scale, and setup takes more time than simpler tools.

Outgrow pricing plans showing Freelancer, Freelancer Pro, Essentials, and Business tiers with features

Platform Free Plan Verified Actions Viral Sharing Email Sync Custom Design Entry Widget
Gleam
ShortStack
SweepWidget Limited
KingSumo Limited
ViralSweep
Woobox Limited
Outgrow

The table shows that every tool has a place, but Gleam combines the broadest feature set with verified actions, customisation, and advanced fraud protection.

Gleam provides one of the most comprehensive upgrade paths for Rafflecopter users:

  • Hosted landing pages or widget embeds
  • Rich entry types, including social media actions
  • Fraud protection and verified contest entry
  • Email and CRM integrations to grow your email list
  • Support for setup and migration

For bloggers, startups, and established brands, Gleam offers a balance of usability and depth. Templates and drag-and-drop tools simplify design, while paid plans add analytics and loyalty-style features.

  view template

A strong giveaway tool should do more than handle basic entries. Look for:

  • Viral giveaways that expand reach
  • Photo contests that showcase community content
  • Flexible customisation for branding
  • Hosted landing pages or WordPress plugin embeds
  • A clear path from free plan to paid plans with advanced features

These are the areas where Rafflecopter fell short and where modern platforms, especially Gleam, provide measurable improvements.

Example of a Gleam competition setup showing viral sharing, contest entry actions, newsletter subscription, and photo contest options

If your Rafflecopter campaigns are ending, you don’t need to start over. Gleam offers migration support, verified entry types, and advanced analytics to help creators and brands keep growing without disruption.

Is Rafflecopter Shutting Down?

Yes, Rafflecopter has announced it will shut down on October 1, 2025. Users have until September 30, 2025 to export campaign data. Rafflecopter users can continue running giveaways without disruption by moving to Gleam’s Competitions App. Click to see how it works.

What Are The Best Alternatives to Rafflecopter?

With Rafflecopter shutting down, Gleam is the best alternative to continue running giveaways. Its Competitions App provides more entry methods, integrations, and analytics. Click to see why Gleam is the right choice.

What Is The Best App For Giveaways?

The best giveaway app depends on your goals. Gleam, RafflePress, and ViralSweep each offer powerful tools for contests and lead gen. Click to compare features and choose the one that fits your business.

Are Free Giveaway Tools Worth Using?

Free giveaway tools like Gleam’s Starter Plan can be great for testing small campaigns or building an audience without a big budget. Click to explore what you can do with a free plan.