Gleam vs ShortStack: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Gleam and ShortStack side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, ShortStack leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Gleam
Grow your audience with contests, rewards, and email capture
Best for you if:
- • You want free plan available for running unlimited competitions
ShortStack
Build engaging campaigns and contests without code
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Gleam | ShortStack |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $10/mo, billed monthly Hobby plan | Free plan |
Category | Lead Generation Marketing | Lead Generation No-Code |
Rating | 4.2/5 G2 4.2 27 reviews | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 84 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Overage fees for exceeding views/entries |
Choose Gleam or ShortStack?
Choose Gleam if
- You want free plan available for running unlimited competitions
- You want verified actions ensure genuine engagement rather than fake entries
Choose ShortStack if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want free forever plan available with no credit card required
- You want extensive contest types from sweepstakes to instant win games
In-Depth Analysis
Gleam
Grow your audience with contests, rewards, and email capture
This pricing structure is best for small to medium-sized businesses and marketers looking for a comprehensive suite without per-campaign charges.
Strengths
- Pro: Free plan available for running unlimited competitions
- Pro: Verified actions ensure genuine engagement rather than fake entries
- Pro: Average competition drives 1.2 actions per impression
- Pro: No per-campaign charges, run unlimited campaigns on any plan
Weaknesses
- Con: Free plan limits data collection and customization options
- Con: Full suite (Competitions + Rewards + Gallery + Capture) requires a paid plan
- Con: Advanced features like custom CSS require higher-tier plans
Key features
ShortStack
Build engaging campaigns and contests without code
ShortStack's pricing is fair, offering a good progression of features for the cost.
Watch out
Overage fees for exceeding views/entries
Strengths
- Pro: Free forever plan available with no credit card required
- Pro: Extensive contest types from sweepstakes to instant win games
- Pro: Built-in fraud protection blocks bots and duplicate entries
- Pro: White-label option removes all ShortStack branding
- Pro: Templates speed up campaign creation significantly
Weaknesses
- Con: Free plan limited to 500 monthly campaign views
- Con: Advanced features like fraud tools locked to higher-tier plans
- Con: Campaign view limits can be restrictive for viral campaigns
- Con: No native email marketing-relies on integrations for follow-up
- Con: Learning curve for complex multi-step campaign logic
Key features
Plans and prices: Gleam vs ShortStack
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gleam |
| gleam.io/pricing read Nov 2, 2026 |
| ShortStack | No plan prices on file | shortstack.com/pricing read Oct 20, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Gleam pricing and ShortStack pricing.
Key Takeaways
Gleam
- Choose if you want grow your audience with contests, rewards, and email capture
ShortStack
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 4.2/5
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, ShortStack leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- ShortStack has the higher user rating (4.2/5 from 27 reviews for Gleam, 4.5/5 from 84 reviews for ShortStack).
- Gleam starts at $10/mo, billed monthly; ShortStack has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only ShortStack has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Gleam and ShortStack compare in 2026?
On the data below, ShortStack leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. ShortStack has the higher user rating (4.2/5 from 27 reviews for Gleam, 4.5/5 from 84 reviews for ShortStack). Gleam starts at $10/mo, billed monthly; ShortStack has no public paid plan price on file. Only ShortStack has a free plan.
What are Gleam and ShortStack used for?
Gleam: Grow your audience with contests, rewards, and email capture. ShortStack: Build engaging campaigns and contests without code.
What does Gleam cost vs ShortStack?
Gleam's cheapest paid plan is Hobby at $10/mo, billed monthly. ShortStack has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 2, 2026.
What's the main difference between Gleam and ShortStack?
Gleam's main strength: free plan available for running unlimited competitions. ShortStack's main strength: free forever plan available with no credit card required.