Side by side
Accolade vs Zealous
Both stand on awards management software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APIWeb
Choose Accolade if you organise awards and need nominations, judging, sponsor activity, guests, and ceremony tasks coordinated in one place. Summit and Occasions provide plans for conferences and weddings. Consider the authentication limitation if two-factor authentication is required for your organisation.
Visit Accolade
Free plan Web
Zealous brings submission intake, judging workflows, and payment processing together for programs of different kinds. The Free plan is limited to one program and 20 submissions; paid submission allowances are annual.
Visit ZealousThe facts
| Accolade | Zealous | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Web | Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Summit: £129 a month | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 6 | 5 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | accolade.live | zealous.co |
| On awards management software | #1 of 25 | #4 of 25 |
Accolade: what it does well
- Blind judging includes weighted scoring and conflict checks.
- Sponsor tools cover proposals, invoices, and payment tracking.
- Guest management includes RSVPs, dietary needs, and table assignments.
- Ceremony tools support AV cues, winner reveals, and check-in.
- Enterprise and Agency plans include API access.
What to know first
- Two-factor authentication is unavailable on every plan.
- The free plan is limited to one event and 50 guests.
- Accolade says it does not hold SOC 2, ISO 27001, or Cyber Essentials Plus certifications.
Zealous: what it does well
- Supports anonymous judging and multiple evaluation rounds
- Accepts individual files up to 4GB
- Free plan includes 20 submissions and one program
- All plans include unlimited support
What to know first
- Free plan limited to one program
- Paid submission allowances reset on the subscription anniversary
- Live chat is available during UK business hours
Alternatives to Accolade Alternatives to Zealous The whole list