Free Means Free — No Catch
When most platforms say “free,” they mean a trial period, a feature-limited version, or a bait-and-switch that requires a credit card. ElectionChamp’s free tier is genuinely free: up to 20 voters, every feature included, no credit card required, no time limit, and no feature restrictions.
If your election has 20 or fewer voters, you’ll never pay a cent. And you’ll get the same security, ballot design, notification tools, and audit trail that paying customers get.
What’s Included in the Free Tier
|
Feature |
Free Tier (≤20 voters) |
Paid Tier (21+ voters) |
|
Voting methods |
All — Plurality, Ranked Choice, STV, Nominations, Motions, Surveys |
Same |
|
Ballot questions |
Unlimited |
Same |
|
Candidate photos & bios |
Yes |
Same |
|
Random ballot order |
Yes |
Same |
|
Allow Abstain |
Yes |
Same |
|
Email notifications |
Yes |
Same |
|
SMS notifications |
Yes |
Same |
|
Manual Keys (offline voting) |
Yes |
Same |
|
Real-time dashboard |
Yes |
Same |
|
Audit trail |
Yes |
Same |
|
Results CSV download |
Yes |
Same |
|
One-click results email |
Yes |
Same |
|
AI-Assisted Ballot |
Yes |
Same |
|
Voter support |
Free email support for voters |
Same |
|
Admin support |
Free email support |
Same |
|
Security |
AES-256 encryption, unique 16-digit keys, anonymous ballots |
Same |
Notice the pattern: the “Paid Tier” column is identical to the “Free Tier” column for every feature. The only difference is the number of voters.
Who Uses the Free Tier
- Small nonprofit boards: 5-15 directors electing officers, voting on resolutions, or approving budgets
- Club leadership: Book clubs, hobby groups, social clubs, and community organizations electing leaders
- Committees: Any committee within a larger organization — finance committee, nominating committee, advisory board — with under 20 members
- Small HOAs: Townhome communities or small condo associations with under 20 units
- Church committees: Deacon boards, elder boards, worship committees, search committees
- School committees: Department faculty votes, small student organization elections, honor society selections
- Startup boards: Early-stage company board votes with 3-7 directors
Free Tier Comparison Across Platforms
|
Platform |
Free Option |
What’s Limited |
Credit Card Required? |
|
ElectionChamp |
Yes — up to 20 voters |
Nothing — all features included |
No |
|
ElectionBuddy |
Limited free tier |
Significant feature restrictions on free plan |
Varies |
|
OpaVote |
Limited free option |
Restricted to certain election types |
No |
|
Simply Voting |
No free tier |
N/A — minimum pricing applies |
Yes |
|
eBallot |
No free tier |
Enterprise pricing only |
Yes |
|
Election Runner |
Limited free option |
Feature and branding restrictions |
Varies |
When You’ll Outgrow the Free Tier (and What It Costs)
If your organization grows beyond 20 voters, upgrading is seamless and affordable:
- 21-200 voters: $10 total. That’s it. All features still included.
- 201-500 voters: $10 + $0.05 per voter beyond 200. A 300-voter election costs $15.
- The pricing is per-election, not per-month. You pay only when you vote.
Getting Started: Your First Free Election in 10 Minutes
- Go to electionchamp.com — no account creation required to start
- Name your election (“Board Officer Election 2026”)
- Set your voting window (start and end dates)
- Build your ballot: Add questions, candidates, photos
- Add your voters: Enter email addresses manually for a small group
- Launch: Voters receive their ballot links immediately
Total time: about 10-15 minutes. Total cost: $0.
Try It Before You Need It
One of the best uses of the free tier is testing the platform before a high-stakes election. Run a quick vote on something low-stakes — “Where should we hold the holiday party?” or “Which logo design do you prefer?” — to familiarize yourself and your voters with the system. When it’s time for your board election, everyone already knows how it works.
Ready to modernize your organizational voting? Start for free at ElectionChamp.com — secure, anonymous, and mobile-friendly voting for every organization.