Best Shopify Giveaway Apps

published on 03 November 2024

Looking to boost engagement and sales on your Shopify store? Giveaway apps can help. Here's a quick rundown of the top 5 options:

  1. ViralSweep: All-in-one giveaway platform
  2. SweepWidget: User-friendly with 30+ giveaway types
  3. Gleam: Social media contest powerhouse
  4. Social Boost: Instagram-focused giveaway tool
  5. Giveaway Ninja: Basic, budget-friendly option

Quick Comparison:

App Key Feature Free Plan? Starting Price
ViralSweep Complete management 7-day trial $49/month
SweepWidget 60+ entry methods Yes $29/month
Gleam Social media focus Limited $97/month
Social Boost Instagram contests Up to 50 users $49.95/month
Giveaway Ninja Simple setup No $29/month

Choose based on your goals, budget, and needed features. Most offer free trials or plans to test before committing.

Why Giveaways Are a Big Deal for Online Stores

Giveaways aren't just fun - they're a powerful marketing tool. Here's why:

  • They get your brand in front of new eyes
  • They make your social media buzz with activity
  • They help you build a killer email list
  • They drive traffic to your site
  • They create excitement for new products

Shopify Giveaway Apps: Your Secret Weapon

These apps are like having a giveaway expert on your team. They help you:

  • Set up contests in a snap
  • Pick winners fairly (no drama!)
  • Work with your other marketing tools
  • See how well your giveaway is doing

With these apps, you can focus on creating awesome prizes and connecting with your customers.

Real-Life Success Story

Take Erin Condren, an online stationery store. They used an Instagram giveaway to show off their new Wonder Woman products. The result? More people talking about their brand and checking out their stuff.

Why Giveaway Apps Are Worth It

What They Do Why It Matters
Save time No more manual entry tracking
Reach more people Your giveaway can go viral
Learn about customers Get info to improve your marketing
Stay legal Follow the rules without the headache
See what works Use data to make your next giveaway even better

Here's a mind-blowing fact: a well-run giveaway can convert about 34% of participants. That's way better than most ads!

As we dive into the best Shopify giveaway apps, remember: the right app can turn window shoppers into loyal fans. Whether you want to sell more, grow your social media, or just get people excited about your store, there's an app that can help your Shopify business crush it.

1. ViralSweep: Complete Giveaway Management

ViralSweep

ViralSweep is a powerhouse for Shopify store owners who want to run killer giveaway campaigns. It's an all-in-one platform that makes running promotions easy, whether you're into sweepstakes, contests, or anything in between.

Key Features

  • Create different types of campaigns (sweepstakes, contests, instant wins)
  • Connect with over 30 social platforms
  • Design eye-catching entry forms
  • Track entries and analyze results with built-in charts
  • Encourage sales by offering entries based on customer spending

Pricing

ViralSweep keeps it simple with unlimited entries and promotions on all paid plans:

Plan Monthly Annual (per month)
Starter $49 $41
Business $199 $166
Premium $399 $333
Elite $999 $833

They offer a 7-day free trial, so you can test it out before committing.

Real Results

ViralSweep isn't just talk. Derin Oyekan, Co-Founder of JewelScent, said:

"We've seen ROI's of over 1000% from revenue generated directly from our ViralSweep managed giveaways."

That's some serious impact for e-commerce businesses.

Super Easy to Use

You can set up and launch a promotion in minutes. Sherdeep Singh, CEO of Parts Avatar, loves how easy it is:

"ViralSweep has surpassed our expectations with their results. The intuitive platform is super easy to use. A definite recommend to everyone."

Boost Engagement and Sales

ViralSweep helps Shopify stores increase engagement and drive sales by:

  • Offering bonus entries for social actions
  • Displaying customer submissions in galleries with voting options
  • Collecting opt-ins to grow your email list
  • Running promotions where spending equals entries

Plays Well with Others

ViralSweep integrates with popular tools like:

  • Mailchimp and Klaviyo for email marketing
  • Facebook and Instagram for social media
  • Zapier for automation
  • And more: Aweber, Drip

This means your giveaway fits right into your existing marketing setup.

Is It Right for You?

Go for ViralSweep if you want:

  • A complete giveaway solution with multiple campaign types
  • Easy setup and management
  • Strong social media integration
  • Detailed analytics
  • Flexible pricing options

Just keep in mind that some users find the customization options a bit limited. But for most Shopify store owners, ViralSweep hits the sweet spot between features and ease of use.

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2. SweepWidget: Easy-to-Use Contest Platform

SweepWidget

SweepWidget is a go-to tool for Shopify store owners who want to run giveaways and boost their social media presence. It's packed with features but still easy to use.

Here's what makes SweepWidget stand out:

  • It offers 30+ giveaway types and 60+ entry methods
  • You can set up contests quickly using AI-generated prompts
  • It has strong anti-cheating tools to keep things fair

SweepWidget lets you make your giveaways look professional. You can use templates, add your own images and logos, and even customize fonts and colors.

Want to connect your giveaway to your other marketing tools? No problem. SweepWidget works with 30+ social media platforms and integrates with Google Analytics, MailChimp, and more.

Here's a quick look at their pricing:

Plan Monthly Price What You Get
Basic Free The essentials
Pro $29 No limits on campaigns or entries
Business $59 Leaderboards and instant prizes
Premium $119 Your own branding
Enterprise $249 API access and dedicated support

You can save money by paying annually.

Users say SweepWidget helps them grow their social media reach. One happy customer in the fashion industry said:

"We were very happy with SweepWidget. We previously used an email-only entry form for giveaways, but wanted a tool that would help boost our social media followers by allowing entries via social shares."

SweepWidget might be right for you if you want:

  • An easy-to-use platform with lots of features
  • Plenty of customization options
  • Strong protection against cheating
  • Flexible pricing, including a free option

Just keep in mind that while SweepWidget offers a lot, it's not the cheapest option out there. But for many Shopify store owners, the features and ease of use make it worth the price.

3. Gleam: Social Media Contest Tools

Gleam

Gleam is a go-to platform for Shopify store owners who want to run killer social media contests and giveaways. This Australian company has been in the game since 2013, offering a ton of tools to get customers excited, grab leads, and drive traffic to your store.

What Can Gleam Do?

Gleam's got a lot going on:

  • It handles all sorts of contests: instant wins, referrals, photo and video contests, raffles, you name it.
  • You can let people enter through over 100 different ways, like signing up for emails or doing stuff on social media.
  • You can make your contests look and feel like your brand, with custom designs and multiple languages.
  • It's got this cool "Viral Share" thing that gets people to invite their friends and family.

How Much Does It Cost?

Gleam's not the cheapest option out there, but you get what you pay for:

Plan Monthly Price What You Get
Pro $79 All the Pro stuff
Business $299 Fancy features, team management
Premium $749 The whole shebang

These prices are for yearly plans. Monthly rates? A bit higher.

Does It Actually Work?

While Gleam doesn't show off specific case studies, lots of users say it's been great for their business. One big win? It can add contest sign-ups straight to your Shopify email list.

Is It Easy to Use?

Gleam's got templates to help you get started fast. But heads up: some folks say there's a lot to take in at first. It's packed with features, which is great, but it might take a minute to figure out.

Here's what one happy user said on the Shopify App Store:

"Support was extremely helpful. They responded everyday to our emails. And they even went above and beyond it helping to configure our gallery plan. Overall great app. Gives your company the chance to make something go viral. Definitely recommend!"

How Does It Work with Shopify?

Pretty smoothly, actually. You can:

  • Run contests right from your Shopify store
  • Get more people to your site through contests
  • Add contest emails to your Shopify list

The Good and The Bad

What's awesome:

  • Tons of contest types
  • Works great with social media
  • You can make it look like your brand
  • Speaks multiple languages

What's not so great:

  • It's pricier than some other options
  • Can be a lot to learn at first
  • No leaderboard feature
  • Can't do actions after someone enters

Should You Use Gleam?

Gleam's a solid choice if you want a contest tool that can do it all and you don't mind paying for quality. It's great if you:

  • Want to mix up your contest types
  • Need to reach people who speak different languages
  • Love social media
  • Are cool with spending more for a powerful tool

But if you're watching your budget or want something simpler, you might want to look at other options. The key is finding a tool that fits what you need and what you know how to use.

4. Social Boost: Instagram Contest Manager

Social Boost

Social Boost helps Shopify store owners grow their Instagram following, boost engagement, and drive sales through contests and giveaways.

Key Features

Social Boost offers:

  • Multiple campaign types (giveaways, contests, sweepstakes, post-purchase, instant win)
  • Instagram-focused tools
  • Customizable templates
  • Anti-cheat mechanisms
  • Mobile-friendly design

Pricing

Social Boost's pricing plans:

Plan Monthly Price Users Features
Free $0 Up to 50 All features, unlimited campaigns
Basic $49.95 500 All features, unlimited campaigns
Growth $99 2,000 All features, unlimited campaigns
Pro $179 5,000 All features, unlimited campaigns

Paid plans let you remove footer credits.

Real Results

Noma Collective, a digital nomad community, used Social Boost and saw:

  • Followers grow from 3,800 to nearly 10,000
  • 51% increase in website traffic
  • 500 new leads
  • 130% boost in conversion rate

How It Works

Setting up a campaign is easy:

  1. Pick a campaign type
  2. Choose a template or customize
  3. Set entry methods
  4. Launch and monitor

Integration and Support

Social Boost works with:

  • Email platforms (MailChimp, Klaviyo)
  • Social media (Facebook, Instagram)
  • Review platforms (Judge.me)

Their support team usually replies within 8 hours, often under an hour.

User Experience

Marie Claire from Yoga Addicts says:

"Social Boost has been a game-changer for my yoga product store. It's really boosted our Instagram engagement and sales."

Is It Right for You?

Social Boost might be a good fit if you want to:

  • Grow your Instagram following
  • Run different types of contests easily
  • Use anti-cheat features
  • Have flexible pricing options

But if you're on a tight budget or need advanced features like leaderboards, you might want to look at other options.

5. Giveaway Ninja: Basic Contest Tools

Giveaway Ninja

Giveaway Ninja is a no-frills app for Shopify store owners who want to run contests and giveaways. It's got the basics covered, helping you boost engagement, grow your email list, and drive sales through purchase-based promos.

What's in the Box?

  • Set up giveaways fast
  • Host contests on your own branded pages
  • Reward customers based on how much they spend
  • Let people enter by following, referring friends, and more
  • Get user-generated content with photo galleries and voting

How Much Will It Cost You?

Giveaway Ninja's pricing is pretty flexible:

Plan Monthly Price Users What You Get
Free $0 Up to 50 The basics
Basic $29 Up to 500 All entry actions, Analytics
Growth $49 Up to 1,000 Email validation, reCaptcha
Pro $99 Up to 2,000 Everything
Enterprise $199 Unlimited Tracking pixel

Does It Actually Work?

While there aren't specific case studies, users are saying good things:

  • More engaged customers
  • Bigger email lists
  • More social media followers
  • Better conversion rates

Here's what one user had to say:

"Amazing App! Lots of features and tools, plus it looks great. It's got all the integrations you might need and the customer support is top-notch." - SkizoDraws, Canada

How Well Does It Play With Others?

Giveaway Ninja works well with:

  • Email marketing: ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp, Klaviyo
  • E-commerce: Shopify
  • Automation: Zapier

Users love how easy it is to use. The Portable Tap Floor™ Store from the US said:

"It does exactly what we need. We've run several successful giveaways and we'll keep using this app."

Is Giveaway Ninja Your Cup of Tea?

You might like Giveaway Ninja if you want:

  • A budget-friendly option (there's even a free plan)
  • Basic contest tools that are easy to use
  • Good integration with Shopify and email marketing tools
  • Great customer support

But if you need fancy stuff like leaderboards or complex campaigns, you might want to check out some of the other options we've talked about.

App Features and Pricing Comparison

Picking the right Shopify giveaway app can make or break your marketing efforts. Let's dive into what the top players offer:

Feature Showdown

Feature ViralSweep SweepWidget Gleam Social Boost Giveaway Ninja
Campaign Types Sweepstakes, Contests, Instant Win, Refer-a-Friend 30+ Giveaway Types Competitions, Rewards, Galleries Giveaways, Contests, Instant Win Raffles, Sweepstakes
Entry Methods 20+ 90+ 40+ Multiple Basic
Social Media Integration Facebook, Instagram 30+ Platforms Extensive Instagram-focused Limited
Customization High Extensive High Moderate Basic
Analytics Advanced Basic In-depth Detailed Basic

Show Me the Money

App Free Plan Basic Plan Pro Plan Business Plan
ViralSweep 7-day trial $49/mo $199/mo $399/mo
SweepWidget Yes $29/mo $59/mo $119/mo
Gleam Limited $97/mo (all apps) $397/mo (all apps) $997/mo (all apps)
Social Boost Up to 50 users $49.95/mo $99/mo $179/mo
Giveaway Ninja No $29/mo $49/mo $99/mo

What Sets Them Apart?

Entry Methods and Social Integration

SweepWidget is the heavyweight champ here. With 90+ entry methods and 30+ social platform integrations, it's like the Swiss Army knife of giveaway apps.

ViralSweep's CEO, Giancarlo Massaro, puts it this way:

"Our platform is designed to help businesses not just run giveaways, but to gather valuable customer insights that can drive long-term growth."

Customization and Branding

Gleam is the chameleon of the bunch. Want your giveaway to match your brand's look? Gleam's got you covered with custom CSS and HTML options.

Analytics and Reporting

ViralSweep and Gleam are the data nerds of the group. They offer advanced analytics tools that'll make your inner marketer jump for joy. Gleam even plays nice with Google Analytics for extra insight.

Ease of Use

If you're not tech-savvy, Giveaway Ninja and Social Boost might be your new best friends. They keep things simple and straightforward.

Marie Claire from Yoga Addicts raves about Social Boost:

"Social Boost has been a game-changer for my yoga product store. It's really boosted our Instagram engagement and sales."

Pricing Flexibility

SweepWidget offers a free plan, perfect for dipping your toes in the giveaway waters. On the flip side, ViralSweep's paid plans include unlimited entries and promotions, which could save you cash if you're running big campaigns.

Choosing the right app boils down to your needs, budget, and tech skills. Think about your marketing goals and pick the app that aligns best with your vision. Happy giveaway-ing!

How to Pick the Right Giveaway App

Choosing a giveaway app for your Shopify store? Here's how to nail it:

Define Your Goals

What's your endgame? Growing your email list? Boosting social media buzz? Pumping up sales? Your goals will steer your app choice.

Mind Your Budget

Giveaway apps come in all price ranges. Here's a quick look:

App Free Plan? Starting Price
SweepWidget Yes $29/month
ViralSweep 7-day trial $49/month
Social Boost Up to 50 users $49.95/month
Giveaway Ninja No $29/month

Feature Check

Look for apps that pack a punch:

  • Multiple campaign types (sweepstakes, contests, instant wins)
  • Social media hooks
  • Your brand, your way
  • Numbers that tell the story

User-Friendly?

Not a tech whiz? No sweat. Apps like Giveaway Ninja and Social Boost keep it simple.

Plays Well with Others?

Make sure your app gets along with your other tools. ViralSweep, for example, high-fives over 30 social platforms and email tools like Mailchimp and Klaviyo.

Take It for a Spin

Free trials are your friend. SweepWidget's got a free plan, and ViralSweep offers a 7-day test drive. Nothing beats hands-on experience.

Think Big

Planning massive campaigns down the road? An app like ViralSweep, with unlimited entries and promos on all paid plans, might be your ticket.

Pick wisely, and watch your giveaways take off!

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