# ShortStack Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Is ShortStack the right Contest solution for you? Explore 156 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/154791/ShortStack/reviews --- ShortStack 4.4 (156) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated March 13th, 2026 # Reviews of ShortStack Ease of use 4.0 Customer Service 4.5 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews AR Ashley R Director of Digital OperationsMedia Production, 201 - 500 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “They are fun and interactive giving you fun instant win contesting for your websites.“ November 18, 2024 AB Alandria B Consumer Marketing ManagerMarketing and Advertising, 501 - 1,000 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “it took some time to get adjusted and there were not many tools refer to without contacting Support.“ September 11, 2025 CF Crystal F UX Web DeveloperE-Learning, 1,001 - 5,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Started with a kickoff call, and all support questions were answered quickly and correctly!“ June 2, 2025 AB Alandria B Consumer Marketing ManagerMarketing and Advertising, 501 - 1,000 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “Also, the free version is very limiting.“ September 11, 2025 AB Alandria B Consumer Marketing ManagerMarketing and Advertising, 501 - 1,000 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “It did what I needed it to do but there was a substantial amount of time learning the platform and setting up the campaign.“ September 11, 2025 LM Lauren M Director of EngagementNon-Profit Organization Management, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “Some of the functions are not as user friendly as I would like them to be.“ November 13, 2024 TH Tim H Production DirectorMedia Production, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “I emailed to ask about a project we had and they responded immediately that while they didn't have a template for what we wanted, there was a way to do it and they would help. And they definitely did.“ November 11, 2024 Andrea K Executive Director CEOCivic & Social Organization, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “The interface for creating your campaigns is clunky and not intuitive.“ January 30, 2024 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 156 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Andrea K. Executive Director CEO Civic & Social Organization Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Shortstack lets us customize for nontypical contests" January 30, 2024 4.0 The learning curve for a basic campaign wasn't too bad, and their online chat help is quick, friendly, and excellent (thanks, \[sensitive content hidden\]). They have a collection of how-to videos, but lack much in DIY troubleshooting, so I did a lot of online chats in the beginning! I was able to get extra help with a more complex campaign from the \[sensitive content hidden\], and use that as a template for others. I'm sure I'm an outlier in how I am using it, but maybe that will change. So far, it's working. Pros The customizability really appealed, as I wanted to collect entries for large annual contests that submit photos, videos, or essays. Cons The interface for creating your campaigns is clunky and not intuitive. It's ok if you already have experience with web design (I use WordPress) or coding, but not easy enough for beginners. Review Source AR Ashley R. Director of Digital Operations Media Production Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Build your very own interactive instant win contests." November 18, 2024 4.0 Its been good. Easy to replicate the forms once you have them in place. One can easily get lost if you are not understanding the "stack" of how it works in the designer. The support staff have been great on helping navigate any issues. Overall, happy with using this service and will continue to do so. Pros Easy to use, fun and engaging contests that allow you to capture details of your clients as needed. They are fun and interactive giving you fun instant win contesting for your websites. Cons It can be cumbersome having to manually mange instant win prizing, ensuring it goes smooth. It would be better if the system had a way to "set and forget" the prizing vs. having to always adjust chances of winning. It does lack some automation entities that we are working around (example, entry exports, winner exports) Switched from [Woobox](https://www.capterra.com/p/178937/Woobox/) Your instant win models are more engaging. We had to build our own "skins" for WooBox that was problematic at times. Review Source LT Lisa T. Director Ecommerce Consumer Goods Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Service went downhill quickly" November 12, 2024 3.0 It started out well. Customer service was super helpful, available through chat and I had things up and running with minimal fuss. Then the customer service went downhill (at least in the US) and things got buggy and not I am looking for a replacement. Not worth $99/month. Pros thought it would be a simple way to get contests up with no coding. Cons it's not simple. Things don't work, the widgets are slow to load, UX is painful. Anything you might want to do requires an upgrade when it's already $99/month Review Source Response from ShortStack November 13, 2024 Hi Lisa! We're so sorry to hear that you had a bad experience. We are dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service and continuously exploring ways to enhance the user experience of our product. If you'd like to schedule a one-on-one call, we'd be happy to walk you through anything you're struggling with. (Schedule a call here: https://www.shortstack.com/contact) CF Crystal F. UX Web Developer E-Learning Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great for Online Campaigns!" June 2, 2025 5.0 Excellent from beginning to end. Started with a kickoff call, and all support questions were answered quickly and correctly! Pros We have had success with the spin-to-win, driving engagement in app and sales on our ecommerce site. We used the spinning wheel for users to win prizes. We also used the Instagram and Facebook post tools to do an additional drawing for customers. We were extremely pleased with the post engagement. Their support was top notch and we plan to use them again in the future. Cons Some of the user interface is difficult to navigate when building pages. Once we got it down, it was no problem. Alternatives considered [Klaviyo](https://www.capterra.com/p/156699/Klaviyo/) Reason for choosing ShortStack Had better prize distribution and timing for the contest. Review Source SD Shelby D. Digital Marketing Specialist Real Estate Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "A Great Experience from Start to Finish" September 8, 2025 5.0 Overall, my experience with has been great. From the helpful walkthrough and support in getting my first page set up, to the value we’ve gotten from using it since — it’s been a really positive experience. Pros I like the different templates provides — they’re flexible, and offer a wide variety to choose from. Cons The only downside to is that the image formatting can be a little tricky to get just right. Alternatives considered [Gleam Apps](https://www.capterra.com/p/199369/Gleam-Apps/) Reason for choosing ShortStack 's pricing was way more reasonable! Review Source NR Nicole R. Marketing Manager Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Overall Good Product" September 8, 2025 4.0 My overall experience was good. was recommended to me by someone in my industry and I am overall satisfied. Pros Quick to set up and launch a contest. Metrics and submissions can be reviewed easily. It made things run smoothly. Cons Hard to know when your subscription is unpausing. I do not need the platform all of the time but I don't want to lose my account. Alternatives considered [Facebook Apps and Tabs](https://www.capterra.com/p/160208/Facebook-Apps-and-Tabs/) Reason for choosing ShortStack Recommendation from a colleague who had used it. Review Source RS Rachael S. sr marketing manager Insurance Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Shortstack Review" November 11, 2024 4.0 It has been helpful for us to launch our new giveaway program this year and has allowed us to have better visibility on the campaign. Pros Ease of setting up campaigns and customization options. Cons Helpdesk articles seem to be outdated from before changes were made to the platform. Alternatives considered [Woobox](https://www.capterra.com/p/178937/Woobox/) Reason for choosing ShortStack Ease of use with the platform, better out of the box features. Review Source BM Bria M. CRM Asst Marketing Manager Apparel & Fashion Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Jewelry Brand Loving Shortstack" April 15, 2025 5.0 I would say overall I've loved using it especially with the ever growing giveaway scene on Instagram we're able to collect so much data all in one place. Pros I really like that you can customize the page for your customers when they enter giveaways. It makes it very true to the brand and colorful. Cons It's not as user friendly for coworkers whoever not as tech savy. A lot of trial and error. Switched from [DojoMojo](https://www.capterra.com/p/210574/DojoMojo/) We made the switch because of pricing and customization. The cost of Dojomojo didn't compare to what services were offered from . Review Source Response from ShortStack April 16, 2025 Bria! Thank you so much for your amazing review. We love that you're loving ShortStack! TH Tim H. Production Director Media Production Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Exceptional Product, Great Product Team and Support." November 11, 2024 5.0 My experience with has been exception from the start. I emailed to ask about a project we had and they responded immediately that while they didn't have a template for what we wanted, there was a way to do it and they would help. And they definitely did. They were there for me every step, and the outcome was excellent. Pros Great templates ready to go. Powerful. Flexible. Cons Can be a bit tricky to use if you are looking for a lot of customization. Switched from [Wishpond](https://www.capterra.com/p/145745/Wishpond/) They were difficult to use. Options were limited. Support was terrible. Review Source HM Hannah M. Marketing coordinator Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great competition host" September 8, 2025 5.0 Great, really easy to use and always looks great on our website. I think for the price it's really affordable. Pros It's really easy to build competitions and they look great embedded on our website. Ive been using short stack for years and I really recommend. I also love how easy it is to download the entrants Cons I wish there were more refined templates available and Ive found some of the widgets difficult to use. Review Source LM Lauren M. Director of Engagement Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "ShortStack has been great for what I've needed it for!" November 13, 2024 5.0 Pros It's a great interactive tool that engages our audiences. I use it for specific programs and it works well for me. Cons Some of the functions are not as user friendly as I would like them to be. Review Source CH Candice H. Digital Content Designer Apparel & Fashion Used the software for: 2+ years ### "You'll fall in love with ShortStack" April 24, 2019 5.0 I've been using for at least eight years. I've used ShortStack on my own as a blogger, and with four different companies I've worked for. I've had to write proposals on why I need the platform and it's always immediately approved. Beyond the platform - one of my favorite things about ShortStack is their customer service. I come up with crazy ideas and whenever I need help I can just chat or email them and I get an almost immediate response thoroughly explaining how to solve my problem. Special shout out to the support staff whom I've been working with for years and always manages to exceed my expectations. Pros is the most customizable platform you'll ever use. From contests to landing pages to interactive quizzes - you name it - it can be built within the platform. There are even features you didn't know you needed - like autoresponder emails and entry hosting - even pop ups! Cons I have a really hard time trying to come up with a con for . The one thing I can think of is if you are on a lower level subscription - you will have their 'ShortStack' branding at the bottom of your campaign. It's not a big deal, but if you are working for a very corporate company - you'll want to pay more so their branding isn't on your campaigns. Review Source Response from ShortStack April 25, 2019 Wow, Candice! We're absolutely blushing. Thanks for this fabulous review! JH Jennifer H. Marketing Analyst Semiconductors Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Easy to use, customizable look and to needs, with a few additions it could do everything you need!" October 26, 2018 4.0 Ability to embed a contest on our webpage, collect submissions efficiently, and close the contest seamlessly hiding some text (e.g., submission form) and displaying other text (e.g., "contest closed" text). Pros Ease of use. Fresh looking designs. Customizable to needs (voting/no voting). Widgit editing functionality (move content blocks). Visibility features (to be creating something without showing it, and timing features to swap out what is displaying). Cons A few rough spots to be improved upon. Entry form -- Default has First and Last name boxes beside each other, couldn't seem to make any other entry boxes beside each other. Text formatting – can’t have two lines with different font sizes without a space between lines. Gallery Widget – Doesn’t work in all browsers (looks bad in Chrome?). It stacks the images, instead of laying them side by side. Displaying Entries - more options for the layout of these would be preferable. Particularly what entrant info displays - and in each entries info, ability to add fields if we want to put certain info on each entry when displaying them (info that wasn't in submission form). Also - love the timing feature, but pretty sure one didn't work the way it should have. I had set to show something on a date and hide something on a date and it only did one of the two things. Couldn't figure out why the other wouldn't have worked. Email confirmation - only sends once per email address. I wish you could override this (we allowed multiple entries, would prefer they got an email for each one and it could reference one of the submission boxes like "photo caption". E.g., "Thank you, we received your entry "SEM image of microchip". Review Source Response from ShortStack October 30, 2018 Hey Jennifer! Thanks so much for your review and your detailed feedback! We really appreciate it. We're always working toward making the ShortStack platform better, so learning what features our users are looking for is always so helpful. In the future, if you ever need help troubleshooting a feature, our support team is eager to jump in. Just email us at theteam@shortstacklab.com. Thanks again for this great review! SH Sarah-Louise H. Marketing Manager Food Production Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Helpful software for competition management" July 6, 2020 4.0 Our web agency find it easy to integrate into the website. Gallery option works well to allow people to see other entries. Easy way to gather enties together in one place. We had issues embedding into Facebook and now direct people to a link within the post copy. Load time was an issue when we added too many videos for one competition. Hard to identify what platform winners came from to contact them. Pros Ability to vote for winners and easily collate the results. Cons Unable to tell what platform the competition entries have come from in order to know how to contact the winners. Reason for choosing ShortStack Voting mechanic worked well. Agency recommended . Review Source Response from ShortStack July 13, 2020 Hi Sarah-Louise! Thank you for this fabulous review! If you're looking to see whether the entry came from Twitter or Instagram (in a feed) you can see that info in the Entries Manager. Each entry's thumbnail will display a small icon from either Instagram or Twitter. Or, if you drill down on an entry by clicking "View Details" you'll see that information in the field called "Source". If you have more questions, please reach out to our support team at theteam@shortstacklab.com. Thanks again! KO Kate O. Senior Graphic Designer Business Supplies and Equipment Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Stacks up to the hype" July 24, 2018 4.0 We have been using platform to create promotional competitions for seasonal campaigns which in turn has increased our sales during these times. Overall it’s a great tool and allows businesses like ours to not pay more for pricey developers we can do this ourselves for minimal cost but great results. Pros Ease of use, If you have some coding experience and can learn quickly this platform can be easy to implement once you get the hang of it. I could also adapt to suit my needs by adding unique code. Any questions I had were quickly and expertly answered by the support team. The framework of the design was easy to work with and design our own backgrounds and elements for also which made the end result presentation much more professional looking. Cons It can take a while to get the hang of the platform particularly if you are using sporadically. It would also be good to have the platform save all your data inputted without deleting if you don’t have monthly subscription - this would work better for us for seasonal campaigns as we only use 2 or 3 months but have to pay for 12 to make sure our data not deleted. The data tools also could be more refined ie it would be good to know which people clicked on which element within the design I don’t think this is possible atm from what I have seen. Review Source Response from ShortStack July 27, 2018 Thanks so much for your thoughtful review! I wanted to let you know about our option to pause your account. You can pause an account for up to 90 days, during which time, you won't be charged the monthly subscription fee. It's a way to keep the data in your account without having to pay for the full 12 months. I hope that helps you out! If you have any more questions, we can be reached at theteam@shortstacklab.com. VR Verified Reviewer Principal Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The best way to quickly build and execute digital campaigns & landing pages!" May 10, 2018 5.0 Pros The easy to use campaign builder is so flexible, we have yet to run into anything we can't do with it! Cons I'm not sure I can come up with anything negative to say about . I've been a user for a long time now, and haven't looked back. Review Source Response from ShortStack June 28, 2018 Thanks for your kind words! MD Mandy D. Account Manager Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Great little tool for your toolbox" June 23, 2020 5.0 Great experience. My first hour of training when I signed up went fast and was full of info but I got it. Then I did have to reach out for help through chat and finally figured it out. They were very professional and helpful. Pros I have a client that submits multiple job requests to me almost daily. We needed to create a form so they would be able to fill out all the pertinent info that i need to know in order to do their job requests. After much research, I found this product and it does what I need it to do (mostly) Cons There is a learning curve, and you cannot reach customer support by phone. But they definitely respond quickly by chat and are very helpful. But you as the user need to figure things out. One thing that I would like to see improved is the option to have the submitter be able to add more than one image at a time. Reason for choosing ShortStack had all the features I needed. Review Source Response from ShortStack July 13, 2020 Thanks for the great review, Mandy! We're adding multi-image uploads to the platform very soon! BW Bryan W. Social Media Civic & Social Organization Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Good solution " April 5, 2022 5.0 Elegant and capable product Pros Good support on line and from executives Cons There is a learning curve which had to be navigated Review Source Response from ShortStack April 6, 2022 Thank you Bryan for your review. To help new users navigate and learn our platform we have several resources available with youtube videos, help docs, blog articles, and support staff. Our most in-depth resource is ShortStack University which can be found here: https://www.shortstack.com/ssu/. LJ Lily J. Social Media & Reputation Manager Real Estate Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Used it for years" April 24, 2019 4.0 An easy, affordable solution. Pros Easy WYSIWYG designer. I use mostly for simple splash pages, some social contests. Have not explored the full functionality for a while, but I know there is lots more. Cons Not really loving the new design, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. Everyone grumbles about change. Review Source Response from ShortStack April 25, 2019 Thanks for this great review, Lily! If you need any help navigating the platform, we're always happy to help. Just send an email to theteam@shortstacklab.com. Thanks again! CW Connor W. eCommerce Director Construction Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Superior Network Review" April 25, 2019 4.0 We have been able to provide additional services with , providing our customers a more rewarding and enticing experience. Pros provides an easy-to-use interface that allows many different functions that help us communicate with our customers. Everything we have needed ShortStack to do has been met with satisfaction. Cons The design tool layout/screen is a little confusing and not as easy to use. Perhaps it could be made to be a little more simple and more clear. Review Source Response from ShortStack May 3, 2019 Wow, Connor! Thanks so much for this great review. I'm so glad ShortStack has been able to allow you to expand your services. If you ever need help using the platform, make sure you check out our Resources Page (https://www.shortstack.com/resources/) and call on Support (theteam@shortstacklab.com) to help you with whatever you need. Thanks again! VR Verified Reviewer eCommerce Manager Retail Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A Must-Have for Social Marketing" July 17, 2018 5.0 Pros We've been using Short Stack for years. We're able to set up contests in minutes. Contest entries are easy to review and track. Plus we love all the customization options. Cons Wish there was more templates to choose from. Review Source Response from ShortStack July 30, 2018 Thanks so much! We're always adding more templates, so make sure to keep checking the template library. Thanks again for your fabulous feedback! AM Abner M. Social Media Manager Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Love this product!" June 29, 2020 5.0 I loved it so far! There is a learning curve but overall its pretty good. Pros It gets updated every time I use it, so it keeps getting better. Cons Instagram post-filters is a nightmare, sometimes I just want to select certain posts to display during my campaign and not have them update dynamically on the lP Reason for choosing ShortStack At the time, price, and features. Now its more money but we are locked into the 30 dollar plan. Now it's too expensive and not worth it in my opinion unless used for serious things. Review Source Response from ShortStack July 13, 2020 Hi Abner! Thanks for this great review. For your Instagram posts, you can use the Approval feature in the Entries Manager to control which posts are seen in your live campaign. Reach out to us at theteam@shortstacklab.com for more info. Thank again! VR Verified Reviewer Communications Manager Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Agency Use" July 23, 2018 4.0 Pros Easy to use with options for a lot of customization Cons Changed the policy about the Facebook tabs, now I can't use this function for most of my campaigns. Review Source Response from ShortStack July 27, 2018 Thanks so much for your feedback! We love that you're enjoying the ease of use and customization options in ShortStack. The new Facebook policy (that requires 2,000 Fans on a Page to publish to it) has been tough for some of our users, but we have a workaround. Check out this video that will show you what to do instead: https://youtu.be/HzU88tJncA4 Hannah T. Marketing Coordinator Utilities Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Good contest designer " December 19, 2018 4.0 Internal and external contests, custom landing pages, newsletter sign ups. good social media integration Pros The ease of making contests, user friendly coding. Cons slow response from customer service sometimes. They don't catch all the little mistakes. Review Source GB George B. Marketing Manager Retail Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Perfect" March 2, 2020 5.0 Pros I love how easy it is to customize our landing pages and then publish them. I also love the hashtag aggregator Cons The only issue is that it took my team a little bit to learn all the customization options Review Source Response from ShortStack March 6, 2020 Wow! Thank you so much for this 10/10 review! ## Send me user reviews about this product ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. Talk to a Capterra advisor for free and get results within 15 minutes.