If you relied on Rafflecopter for online giveaways, contest entries, or raffle drawings, you already know: the platform shut down in October 2025. Whether you ran social media sweepstakes, nonprofit fundraiser raffles, or simple random drawings, you need a Rafflecopter alternative that works for your specific use case. This guide reviews the 8 best replacements available in 2026 so you can find the right fit without wasting time on tools that do not match your needs.
What Was Rafflecopter and Why Did It Shut Down?
Rafflecopter launched in 2011 as one of the first embeddable giveaway widgets for blogs and websites. It let brands and bloggers create contests where participants could earn entries by following social media accounts, sharing posts, visiting URLs, or completing other actions. At its peak, Rafflecopter powered millions of giveaways and became synonymous with online sweepstakes.
The platform ceased operations in October 2025. While Rafflecopter did not publish a detailed post-mortem, the shutdown was likely driven by several factors: increasing competition from more feature-rich tools like Gleam and SweepWidget, constant changes to social media APIs that broke entry verification, the decline of blog-based giveaways in favor of platform-native contests on Instagram and TikTok, and the broader shift toward specialized raffle and fundraising software.
The shutdown left thousands of users without access to their giveaway data, entry lists, or active contests. If you are one of those users, the good news is that several strong alternatives exist — many of which have surpassed what Rafflecopter offered.
What to Look for in a Rafflecopter Replacement
Before jumping to a new platform, it is worth thinking about what you actually used Rafflecopter for. Different alternatives excel in different areas, and picking the wrong one means repeating the migration process later. Here are the key factors to evaluate:
- Primary use case — Social media giveaways? In-person event raffles? Nonprofit fundraisers? Online ticket sales? Each requires a different tool.
- Entry methods — Do you need social media entry verification (follow, like, share)? Or are you collecting email addresses and selling raffle tickets?
- Pricing model — Some tools charge monthly subscriptions, others charge per event or per entry. Nonprofits may find free options.
- Winner selection — Do you need a simple random draw, or a full presentation experience for live events?
- Integrations — Email marketing, payment processing, CRM connections, and embeddable widgets may all matter depending on your workflow.
- Data ownership — After the Rafflecopter shutdown, data portability matters more than ever. Make sure you can export your entries and winner lists.
If you need help understanding the broader raffle drawing tool landscape, we have a detailed comparison covering the full range of options.
The 8 Best Rafflecopter Alternatives for 2026
1. rafflr
If you used Rafflecopter to run raffle drawings at fundraising events, galas, or charity dinners, rafflr is the purpose-built replacement you have been looking for. While Rafflecopter was primarily an online giveaway widget, many organizations repurposed it for live event drawings — a use case it was never designed for. Rafflr was built from the ground up for exactly this scenario.
Rafflr specializes in reverse raffles with a full-screen presenter mode that displays on projectors and large screens. The audience watches as numbers are eliminated one by one, building suspense until the final winner is revealed. It is a fundamentally different experience from picking a random name out of a list.
Key features: Full-screen presenter mode for live events, reverse raffle format with dramatic elimination, works on any device with a browser, supports 1 to 999 tickets, customizable colors and branding, no app downloads required for attendees.
Pricing: $77 per event (single use) or $97/year (unlimited events). All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Purpose-built for live raffle events
- Presenter mode works on any screen
- No per-ticket or per-attendee fees
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Not designed for social media giveaways
- No built-in online ticket sales
- Focused on reverse raffle format
Watch a free demo to see the presenter mode in action.
2. RallyUp
RallyUp is a full-featured online fundraising platform that includes raffles, auctions, crowdfunding, and peer-to-peer campaigns. If your Rafflecopter use was primarily about online raffle ticket sales with payment processing, RallyUp is one of the most capable replacements.
The platform handles ticket sales, automatic winner selection, and donor management in one place. It integrates with major payment processors and offers customizable raffle pages that can be embedded on your website or shared via link.
Key features: Online ticket sales with payment processing, automatic random winner selection, donor management and CRM tools, customizable campaign pages, mobile-responsive design.
Pricing: Platform fee of 5-8% on transactions plus payment processing fees. No monthly subscription required.
- All-in-one fundraising platform
- Built-in payment processing
- No upfront costs
- Strong donor management tools
- Transaction fees add up on large events
- No presenter mode for live events
- Can be complex for simple raffles
See rafflr in Action
Watch a 2-minute demo of how easy it is to create and run a reverse raffle with rafflr
3. Zeffy
Zeffy stands out in the Rafflecopter alternative space for one reason: it is completely free for nonprofits. No platform fees, no transaction fees, no monthly charges. The platform is funded by optional donor tips rather than fees charged to organizations.
Zeffy offers online raffle functionality alongside ticketing, donations, and peer-to-peer fundraising. The raffle tools are straightforward — create a raffle, set ticket prices, and let Zeffy handle payment processing and winner selection.
Key features: 100% free for nonprofits, online raffle ticket sales, integrated payment processing, tax receipt generation, donor management.
Pricing: Free for nonprofits. Funded by optional donor tips.
- Truly free — no hidden fees
- Built specifically for nonprofits
- Automatic tax receipts
- Simple setup process
- Only available to registered nonprofits
- Limited customization options
- No social media giveaway features
- No live event presentation tools
4. Gleam
If you are looking for the most direct Rafflecopter replacement — an embeddable widget that runs social media giveaways with multiple entry methods — Gleam is it. The platform offers a nearly identical core experience to Rafflecopter but with more entry options, better analytics, and active development.
Gleam's Competitions product lets you create giveaways where users earn entries by completing actions: following on social media, visiting a page, subscribing to a newsletter, answering questions, and more. The widget embeds on any website and handles entry verification, random winner selection, and fraud detection.
Key features: 30+ entry methods including social media actions, embeddable widget for any website, fraud detection and entry verification, analytics and reporting, integrations with major email marketing platforms.
Pricing: Free plan available with limited features. Paid plans start at $10/month. Full-featured Business plan at $97/month.
- Most similar to Rafflecopter's core product
- Extensive entry method options
- Active development and support
- Free plan available
- Full features require expensive plan
- Learning curve for advanced features
- Not designed for live events or ticket sales
5. SweepWidget
SweepWidget is a powerful giveaway platform that competes directly with Gleam and picks up where Rafflecopter left off. It offers over 90 entry methods, making it the most flexible option for marketers who want to drive specific user actions through contest incentives.
The platform supports social media giveaways, leaderboard contests, instant win campaigns, and milestone-based promotions. Its embeddable widget is lightweight and customizable, with support for viral sharing mechanics that Rafflecopter never offered.
Key features: 90+ entry methods, viral share tracking, leaderboard contests, instant win campaigns, API access, white-label options.
Pricing: Free plan with limited features. Paid plans from $29/month to $99/month.
- Most entry methods of any platform
- Viral sharing mechanics
- Competitive pricing for features offered
- Instant win and leaderboard modes
- Interface can feel overwhelming
- Free plan is very limited
- No raffle ticket sales or live event tools
6. KingSumo
KingSumo takes a focused approach: it runs giveaways specifically optimized for growing your email list. Where Rafflecopter tried to do everything, KingSumo does one thing well. Participants enter by providing their email address and earn bonus entries by sharing the giveaway with friends, creating a viral loop.
The platform was created by the team behind AppSumo and is designed for entrepreneurs, content creators, and small businesses that want to grow their audience through giveaways.
Key features: Viral sharing mechanics with bonus entries, email list growth focus, WordPress plugin available, simple setup process, lifetime deal pricing model.
Pricing: One-time purchase of $49 (lifetime access). Occasionally available through AppSumo deals.
- One-time payment, no recurring fees
- Built-in viral sharing mechanics
- Very simple to set up and use
- WordPress integration available
- Limited entry methods (email + sharing only)
- No social media entry verification
- Basic design customization
- No raffle or fundraising features
7. BetterWorld
BetterWorld offers free online raffle tools as part of its broader fundraising platform. It is a solid choice for schools, PTAs, sports teams, and small nonprofits that need basic online raffle functionality without paying platform fees.
The raffle tool handles ticket sales, automatic drawings, and winner notifications. It is not as feature-rich as RallyUp or Zeffy, but its simplicity is a strength for organizations that just need to sell raffle tickets online and pick a winner.
Key features: Free online raffle creation, ticket sales with payment processing, automatic winner selection, mobile-friendly design, basic customization.
Pricing: Free with optional donor tips. Payment processing fees apply.
- Free to use
- Very simple setup
- Good for schools and small orgs
- Includes other fundraising tools
- Limited customization
- Basic reporting
- No live event or presentation tools
- Smaller user community
8. RandomPicker
RandomPicker is the most lightweight option on this list. If all you need is to paste in a list of names or numbers and pick a random winner, RandomPicker does exactly that with no account required for basic draws.
The platform also offers more advanced features like multi-round drawings, weighted entries, and verifiable randomness certificates. It is not a full giveaway platform like Rafflecopter was, but for organizations that just need a fair, transparent random selection tool, it gets the job done.
Key features: Simple random name/number picker, multi-round drawings, weighted entry support, randomness certificates for transparency, no account needed for basic use.
Pricing: Free for basic draws. Premium plans from $19 for additional features and larger draws.
- Simplest tool on the list
- No account needed for basic use
- Randomness certificates for transparency
- Supports weighted entries
- No entry collection or giveaway features
- No social media integration
- No ticket sales or payment processing
- Basic interface design
Quick Comparison Table
Here is how these Rafflecopter alternatives stack up across the features that matter most:
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Social Giveaways | Live Events | Ticket Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rafflr | In-person raffle events | $77/event | No | Yes | No |
| RallyUp | Online fundraising raffles | 5-8% fees | No | No | Yes |
| Zeffy | Nonprofit raffles | Free | No | No | Yes |
| Gleam | Social media giveaways | Free / $10/mo | Yes | No | No |
| SweepWidget | Contest campaigns | Free / $29/mo | Yes | No | No |
| KingSumo | Email list growth | $49 one-time | Limited | No | No |
| BetterWorld | Simple online raffles | Free | No | No | Yes |
| RandomPicker | Quick random draws | Free / $19 | No | No | No |
For a deeper dive into how raffle software compares across more dimensions, see our full best raffle software for 2026 guide.
Which Rafflecopter Alternative Is Right for You?
The best Rafflecopter replacement depends entirely on what you were using Rafflecopter for. Here is a quick decision guide:
You ran social media giveaways to grow followers and engagement. Go with Gleam or SweepWidget. Both offer the embeddable widget experience Rafflecopter was known for, with more entry methods and better analytics. Gleam is the more polished option; SweepWidget offers more flexibility at a lower price point.
You sold raffle tickets online for fundraisers. Choose RallyUp if you want a full fundraising suite with payment processing, or Zeffy if you are a nonprofit that wants to avoid platform fees entirely. Both handle the ticket-to-winner pipeline that Rafflecopter never did well.
You ran raffle drawings at live events. This is where rafflr stands out. Rafflecopter was never designed for in-person events, but many organizations used it anyway because there was nothing better. Rafflr was built specifically for this use case, with a presenter mode that turns your raffle drawing into an engaging, suspenseful experience for the audience. If you are organizing galas, charity dinners, school fundraisers, or any event where tickets are drawn in front of a crowd, this is the tool to use. See how it compares to other options in our comparison hub.
You just needed a random winner picker. RandomPicker handles this with minimal friction. Paste in your list, pick a winner, done.
You ran giveaways to build your email list. KingSumo is the focused tool for this. Its viral sharing mechanics and one-time pricing make it the most cost-effective option for list building.
You are a school, PTA, or small organization on a tight budget. Start with BetterWorld for online raffles or Zeffy if you have nonprofit status. Both are free and get the job done for basic raffle needs.
Moving Forward After the Rafflecopter Shutdown
The Rafflecopter shutdown was a reminder that relying on a single platform carries risk. As you evaluate alternatives, consider a few lessons from the experience:
- Export your data regularly. Whatever platform you choose, download your entry lists, winner records, and contact information on a regular basis. Do not assume the platform will always be there.
- Use the right tool for the job. Rafflecopter tried to be everything to everyone. The alternatives listed here are more specialized, which means they do their specific thing better. Match the tool to your actual use case.
- Test before committing. Most of these platforms offer free tiers or demos. Try them out with a small campaign before running your next big event.
The raffle and giveaway software space has matured significantly since Rafflecopter launched in 2011. Whether you need a raffle app for events or a social media contest builder, there is a purpose-built tool waiting for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Rafflecopter shut down?
Rafflecopter ceased operations in October 2025. The company did not issue a detailed public statement, but the shutdown appeared to be driven by increased competition in the giveaway space, changing social media APIs that made entry verification harder, and the broader shift toward more specialized raffle and contest tools.
Can I still access my old Rafflecopter data?
No. Since Rafflecopter's servers went offline in October 2025, user accounts, giveaway data, and entry lists are no longer accessible. If you did not export your data before the shutdown, it is unfortunately lost. This is a good reminder to always maintain local backups of contest entries and winner lists.
What is the closest replacement for Rafflecopter?
For social media giveaways (Rafflecopter's core feature), Gleam and SweepWidget are the closest replacements. For in-person raffle events and fundraisers, rafflr offers a more specialized solution with its presenter mode and reverse raffle format. For nonprofit raffles, Zeffy and BetterWorld offer free platforms.
Are there any free Rafflecopter alternatives?
Yes. Zeffy is completely free for nonprofits with no platform fees. BetterWorld also offers a free tier for simple raffles. SweepWidget and Gleam both have limited free plans for basic giveaways. For random drawing specifically, RandomPicker offers a free tier for small draws.
Which Rafflecopter alternative is best for fundraising events?
For in-person fundraising events like galas, dinners, and charity nights, rafflr is the best option. It specializes in reverse raffles with a full-screen presenter mode designed for live events. For online-only fundraising raffles, RallyUp is a strong choice with built-in payment processing and donor management.
Want an even broader comparison? Our complete list of 14 Rafflecopter alternatives for 2026 covers every viable platform on the market, categorized by use case.