Best of the Best

What are the 7 Best UpViral Alternatives

What are the 7 Best UpViral Alternatives

Aug 8, 2025

TLDR;

  • QueueForm: Best overall alternative combining viral waitlists, gamified widgets (spin-the-wheel, scratch cards), built-in email marketing, and no-code ease—ideal for startups, SaaS, and e-commerce.

  • Viral Loops: Offers premium, battle-tested referral campaign templates with easy integrations for startups seeking proven viral strategies.

  • KickoffLabs: Robust for multi-channel viral contests with fraud prevention and bonus engagement actions—great for growth marketers.

  • Prefinery: Developer-friendly, API-first waitlist platform for staged beta launches and advanced integrations—perfect for SaaS founders.

  • Gleam: Highly flexible with 100+ entry methods; complex setup best for businesses needing advanced campaign options.

  • KingSumo: Budget-friendly with unlimited giveaways and social incentives, suited for creators and bloggers.

  • ShortStack: Advanced landing page and contest builder with deep customization for agencies and brands.

  • Summary: For viral waitlists plus gamification and email marketing in one, QueueForm is the top UpViral alternative in 2025.

If you’ve been looking for a way to run viral giveaways, referral campaigns, and waitlists, you’ve probably heard of UpViral.

While UpViral is a solid platform, it’s not the only player in the game — and depending on your needs (pricing, features, design, integrations), there may be better options in 2025.


1. QueueForm — Best Overall UpViral Alternative

QueueForm

QueueForm isn’t just a giveaway tool — it’s a complete viral marketing and waitlist platform built for startups, creators, and e-commerce brands.

Where UpViral focuses mainly on contests and giveaways, QueueForm goes further by combining referral-driven waitlists, viral widgets like spin-the-wheel and scratch cards, and built-in email marketing in one platform.

Key Features:

  • Viral waitlists with live leaderboard rankings

  • Milestone rewards and random winner giveaways

  • Gamified widgets (spin-the-wheel, scratch cards)

  • Embeddable forms for landing pages & emails

  • Native email automation — no extra tools required

  • Simple no-code builder like Typeform

Why Choose QueueForm Over UpViral?

  • More flexibility — works for pre-launch waitlists, ongoing referral programs, and contests

  • Built-in email marketing — no need to integrate another tool

  • Widgets designed for e-commerce — boost engagement beyond a single campaign

✅ Perfect for: Startups, SaaS, e-commerce stores, and creators


2.Viral Loops — Premium Referral Campaign Templates

Viral Loops is a sleek platform for referral marketing with ready-to-use templates inspired by companies like Dropbox, Airbnb, and Robinhood.

It offers embeddable campaigns for websites and no-code tools, plus integrations with Webflow, Shopify, and WordPress.

🔑 Key Features:

  • Plug-and-play viral templates

  • Custom rewards and referral tiers

  • Email notifications for referrals and milestones

  • Analytics dashboard for tracking growth

  • Integrates with no-code builders and CMS platforms

✅ Perfect for: Startups looking for battle-tested viral templates


3. KickoffLabs — Contests & Giveaways With Depth

KickoffLabs is a robust platform for running viral giveaways, leaderboards, and referral contests with detailed conversion tracking.

It offers advanced anti-fraud measures and bonus actions to boost engagement.

🔑 Key Features:

  • Referral contests with leaderboards

  • Instant reward delivery

  • Exit-intent popups & embeddable forms

  • Fraud prevention tools

  • Bonus entry actions to increase social engagement

✅ Perfect for: Growth marketers running multi-channel campaigns


4. Prefinery — Developer-Friendly Beta Launches

Prefinery is a referral-driven waitlist platform built for technical teams. It excels at managing staged rollouts, private betas, and custom integrations.

🔑 Key Features:

  • API-first with deep integration options

  • Custom onboarding workflows

  • Automated user segmentation

  • Referral tracking & fraud prevention

  • Email automation built in

✅ Perfect for: SaaS founders running controlled beta launches


5. Gleam — The Contest Powerhouse

Gleam is one of the most flexible contest platforms available, with over 100 different entry actions across social media, e-commerce, and content platforms.

While powerful, it’s more complex to set up than most tools on this list.

🔑 Key Features:

  • 100+ entry methods (social follows, purchases, content uploads)

  • Highly customizable campaign layouts

  • Integrates with Shopify, YouTube, Facebook, and more

  • Built-in fraud detection

✅ Perfect for: Businesses that need maximum flexibility in campaigns


6. KingSumo — Budget-Friendly Growth Giveaways

KingSumo is a low-cost giveaway platform made by AppSumo. It’s great for creators who want to grow their audience without a steep learning curve.

🔑 Key Features:

  • Affordable lifetime deal available

  • Unlimited giveaways

  • Social share incentives

  • Email integration with major ESPs

✅ Perfect for: Bloggers and creators on a budget


  1. ShortStack — Advanced Campaign Builder

ShortStack is a marketing platform that goes beyond contests, offering full landing page and form-building capabilities.

🔑 Key Features:

  • Drag-and-drop page builder

  • Photo/video contest support

  • Entry form customization

  • Detailed analytics & segmentation

✅ Perfect for: Agencies and brands that want deep customization


Final Thoughts

UpViral is a strong tool, but the landscape in 2025 is full of more versatile and better-priced options.

If you want a tool that:

  • Runs viral waitlists like Robinhood

  • Supports gamified campaigns like spin-the-wheel

  • Handles your email marketing without extra software

…then QueueForm is the #1 UpViral alternative to try in 2025.


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Ready to Turn Your Forms Into Growth Machines?

Build bigger waitlists, reduce acquisition costs, and create viral growth loops that run on autopilot.

Ready to Turn Your Forms Into Growth Machines?

Build bigger waitlists, reduce acquisition costs, and create viral growth loops that run on autopilot.

tiles background

Ready to Turn Your Forms Into Growth Machines?

Build bigger waitlists, reduce acquisition costs, and create viral growth loops that run on autopilot.

tiles background

Ready to Turn Your Forms Into Growth Machines?

Build bigger waitlists, reduce acquisition costs, and create viral growth loops that run on autopilot.