Zealous

Zealous is a web-based submissions and judging platform for organizations running awards, open calls, grants, residencies, fairs or commissions. It is best suited to programs with varied creative entries and structured panel review. Its media capacity and judging controls are strong; annual submission caps and commission on paid entries are the main trade-offs.

Overview

Zealous brings entry collection and evaluation together for organizations across creative and other sectors, including foundations, corporations and agencies. Its range of program types makes it a practical fit for teams managing more than a conventional awards process. For a simple intake form with little judging to coordinate, much of its workflow depth may be unnecessary.

Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Battersea, London, the platform runs on the web. Zealous says it stores data on Google Cloud in the UK with an EU twin data center, encrypts stored data and uses TLS 1.2 in transit. It states that it is GDPR compliant and has signed EU Standard Contractual Clauses with US data-processing suppliers. Core data is backed up multiple times daily in separate locations, and the company reports 99.98% uptime.

Key features

Submissions and judging

Entrants can submit images, video, 3D models, audio, documents and embedded media, with individual files up to 4GB. That breadth is useful when a program needs to assess substantial creative work rather than only text or small attachments. Embedded content from services including Vimeo, YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify, Sketchfab and Slideshare can also be used.

Organizers can set scoring criteria, run anonymous judging, manage multiple evaluation rounds and see judge progress in real time. These controls suit panels that need a consistent process and visibility into outstanding reviews. Starter allows one scoring round; Pro adds unlimited rounds, multiple-criteria scoring and public voting. Workflow automation and winner publishing are also supported.

Payments and support

Entry payments are processed through Stripe and go directly to the organizer’s account. Zealous charges commission on paid submissions and none on free submissions, so its transaction cost matters most to programs charging entrants; Enterprise is the exception, with no commission. All plans include unlimited support, with live chat during UK business hours. Enterprise plans can include a dedicated account manager.

Pricing

Zealous is freemium, with paid pricing starting from £26/mo. The Free plan costs nothing, requires no credit card and includes one program and 20 submissions. It is a sensible way to run a small call, but the single-program and entry caps limit its use for organizations running several programs or expecting larger volumes.

Starter has custom pricing, billed monthly, with annual billing offered at a 33% discount. It allows one program and up to 300 submissions, one scoring round, and charges 2.2% + 20p commission on entry fees, capped at £2. It suits a modest program that can work within one round, but gives up the expanded evaluation tools in Pro.

Pro also has custom pricing, billed monthly with annual billing offered at a 33% discount. Its allowance rises to 10,000 submissions and it adds unlimited scoring rounds, multiple-criteria scoring, public voting and a one-hour onboarding session. It fits larger or more involved panels, though paid entry fees still incur 2.2% + 20p commission, capped at £2.

Scale has custom pricing on the same monthly or discounted annual terms and allows up to 10,000 submissions. It includes custom automated emails, Zapier integration and webhooks, making it the relevant step up for teams connecting workflows or tailoring communications. It retains the same 2.2% + 20p commission, capped at £2.

Paid-plan submission allowances are counted across the year and reset on the subscription anniversary, so the cap is an annual budget rather than a monthly allowance. Enterprise uses custom pricing for larger annual submission numbers and adds an application uptime SLA, procurement support, non-standard contract terms and the option of a dedicated account manager. Its lack of entry-fee commission may matter to high-volume paid programs. A free trial is available.

Platforms

Zealous runs on the web.

Who it's for

Zealous is a strong match for organizations handling creative submissions that need anonymous review, scoring criteria or several judging rounds. Free works for a single small program; Pro and Scale are better aligned with heavier annual volumes or more demanding workflows. Teams with many programs, very high submission volumes or a need to avoid commissions should consider whether Enterprise’s custom package fits. It is less compelling for lightweight calls that do not need panel coordination.

Pros and cons

Pros: 4GB file limits and support for many media types suit substantial creative entries.

Pros: Anonymous judging, progress tracking and tiered scoring options give organizers useful control over panel review.

Pros: The free plan supports one program and 20 entries without a credit card, and unlimited support applies across plans.

Cons: Paid plans have annual submission ceilings, which can constrain programs with unpredictable entry volumes.

Cons: Commission applies to paid submissions on Starter, Pro and Scale, reducing the appeal for programs that charge entrants.

Cons: Free is restricted to one program and 20 submissions, while Starter is limited to one scoring round.

Alternatives

For a wider comparison, browse Awards Management Software.

Choose Accolade if its free allowance of one event, 50 guests, one seat, 50 nominations and three judges better matches a small event than Zealous’s 20-entry, one-program free plan.

Judgify is worth considering for mobile access or a free plan with up to 100 submissions per event, five categories and one private judging round; its listed Basic plan allows files up to 5 MB, far less than Zealous’s 4GB per file.

Awards Flow is a paid alternative with a Starter plan covering 500 applications, 600 users and 20 judges; choose it if those stated allowances fit your program better.

AwardStage offers a listed Standard price of $2,835 a year for up to 249 submissions, with multiple forms; it may suit buyers who prefer an annual price and need no more than that entry volume.

Evessio is another paid option, with a Starter plan that includes existing branded themes and Evessio content types.

AwardKit lists $1,995 a year for unlimited programs, entries, judges, audience voters and team members, with zero commission and no per-seat fees. It is a relevant alternative for organizations prioritizing uncapped usage and avoiding entry-fee commissions.

AwardScience offers a free trial with 50 applications per year, 1 GB storage, five AI credits and 200 automation runs; compare it if those allowances align with the program’s needs.

Evalato charges €2,500 for Grow 50, active for up to 365 days, with up to 50 entries and a 20MB maximum file size. It may suit a buyer seeking a per-program fee and a smaller entry allowance.

Verdict

Choose Zealous for creative programs that need substantial media submissions and a structured, trackable judging process, especially when anonymous review or multiple rounds matter. Its free plan makes a small single program accessible, while Pro and Scale provide room to grow. Look elsewhere if paid-entry commission, annual caps or a one-program free tier conflict with the way you run calls.