ElectionChamp
Pricing Shouldn’t Be a Mystery
If you’ve spent time comparing online voting platforms, you’ve probably noticed that many vendors make it surprisingly difficult to understand what you’ll actually pay. Pricing pages are vague, require a ‘contact us’ form, or bury per-voter fees in fine print. This guide cuts through the ambiguity with a transparent, side-by-side comparison based on publicly available pricing as of 2026.
We’ve done the math so you don’t have to.
Pricing Model Overview
Before comparing specific numbers, it’s important to understand the different pricing models platforms use:
| Pricing Model | How It Works | Watch Out For |
| Pay-per-election | One-time fee each time you run an election | Best for most organizations — you only pay when you vote |
| Monthly subscription | Fixed monthly fee whether you run elections or not | You pay during months you’re not voting — wasteful for 1-4 elections/year |
| Annual subscription | Fixed annual fee with usage limits | Lower per-month cost but requires annual commitment |
| Per-voter recurring | Ongoing fee based on organization size | Costs accumulate even between elections |
| Tiered features | Basic features cheap, advanced features locked behind premium tiers | Essential features like SMS or ballot anonymity may cost extra |
Head-to-Head Pricing Comparison
Here’s what each platform charges for elections at common organization sizes. All prices are based on publicly available pricing as of early 2026. Contact each vendor directly for the most current rates.
Small Election: 20 Voters
| Platform | Price | Features Included | Notes |
| ElectionChamp | Free | All features — Plurality, Ranked Choice, STV, Nominations, SMS, Email, Manual Keys, audit trail | No credit card required |
| ElectionBuddy | ~$35-55 | Basic features included; some advanced features require higher tiers | Pricing varies by plan tier |
| Simply Voting | ~$100+ | Most features included | Minimum pricing applies |
| OpaVote | Free (limited) | Basic voting methods | Limited to certain election types |
| eBallot | Contact for quote | Enterprise-focused | Not typically cost-effective for small elections |
| Election Runner | ~$20-50 | Core features | Simple pricing structure |
Mid-Size Election: 200 Voters
| Platform | Price | Per-Voter Cost | All Features? |
| ElectionChamp | $10 | $0.05 | Yes — every feature on every plan |
| ElectionBuddy | ~$100-250 | $0.50-1.25 | Depends on plan tier |
| Simply Voting | ~$250-400 | $1.25-2.00 | Most features included |
| OpaVote | ~$30-80 | $0.15-0.40 | Core methods included |
| eBallot | Contact for quote | Varies | Enterprise features |
| Election Runner | ~$50-125 | $0.25-0.63 | Core features |
Large Election: 1,000 Voters
| Platform | Price | Per-Voter Cost | All Features? |
| ElectionChamp | $50 | $0.05 | Yes — all features included |
| ElectionBuddy | ~$300-600 | $0.30-0.60 | Varies by tier |
| Simply Voting | ~$500-1,000 | $0.50-1.00 | Most features |
| OpaVote | ~$100-200 | $0.10-0.20 | Core methods |
| eBallot | Contact for quote | Varies | Enterprise |
| Election Runner | ~$150-300 | $0.15-0.30 | Core features |
Very Large Election: 5,000 Voters
| Platform | Price | Per-Voter Cost |
| ElectionChamp | $250 | $0.05 |
| ElectionBuddy | ~$1,000-2,500 | $0.20-0.50 |
| Simply Voting | ~$2,000-4,000 | $0.40-0.80 |
| OpaVote | ~$300-600 | $0.06-0.12 |
| eBallot | Contact for quote | Varies |
Hidden Costs to Watch For
- SMS notifications: Some platforms charge extra for text message delivery. ElectionChamp includes SMS at no additional cost.
- Advanced voting methods: Ranked Choice, STV, and weighted voting are premium features on some platforms. ElectionChamp includes all methods on every plan.
- Custom branding: Logo upload, custom emails, and white-labeling may cost extra elsewhere. ElectionChamp includes branding on every plan.
- Support fees: Some platforms charge for phone or priority support. ElectionChamp includes free email support for both administrators and voters.
- Results export: Downloading CSV results or audit trails may require a premium plan on some platforms. ElectionChamp includes all exports.
The Subscription Trap
Some platforms offer low per-election prices but require a monthly or annual subscription. For organizations that run 1-4 elections per year, this means paying for 8-11 months of idle time. The math often makes subscriptions more expensive than pay-per-election pricing:
| Scenario | Subscription ($50/month) | Pay-Per-Election (ElectionChamp) | Difference |
| 1 election/year (200 voters) | $600/year | $10/year | $590 saved |
| 2 elections/year (200 voters) | $600/year | $20/year | $580 saved |
| 4 elections/year (200 voters) | $600/year | $40/year | $560 saved |
| Monthly elections (200 voters) | $600/year | $120/year | $480 saved |
What Matters Beyond Price
Price is important, but the cheapest platform isn’t always the best value. Consider:
- Feature completeness: Are essential features (SMS, ranked choice, audit trail) included or extra?
- Voter experience: How many steps does voting take? Is it mobile-optimized? Is an app download required?
- Security architecture: Is ballot anonymity architectural or policy-based? Are voter keys truly unique and single-use?
- Support quality: Can voters get help directly, or must everything go through the administrator?
- Setup time: Can you launch an election in 30 minutes, or does it take days?
Why ElectionChamp Offers the Best Value
- Lowest price at every size: Free for 20 voters, $10 for 200, $0.05/voter at scale — no competitor matches this across the board
- No subscriptions: Pay only when you run an election. Zero cost between elections.
- All features included: Every voting method, SMS + email notifications, audit trails, candidate profiles, random order, abstain options — all on every plan
- Free support: Email support for administrators AND voters, included with every election
Ready to modernize your organizational voting? Start for free at ElectionChamp.com — secure, anonymous, and mobile-friendly voting for every organization.
