MakeContest vs Scratch-it: which platform should you choose for your contest?
Scratch-it focuses exclusively on virtual scratch cards for email conversion. It's a unique and effective mechanic in its own register, but different from the classic prize draw offered by MakeContest. Here's the comparison.
What Scratch-it offers
Scratch-it offers an instant-win mechanic in the form of a virtual scratch card: the participant enters their email, scratches the card, and immediately finds out if they've won. This instant-result mechanic is effective for email conversion, as it offers immediate gratification rather than waiting until the end of the contest.
What MakeContest offers
MakeContest works on the delayed prize-draw principle: participants sign up throughout the contest's duration, then one or more winners are randomly selected, in a cryptographically secure way, on the closing date. This is the most common mechanic for a contest with a prize to win.
Direct comparison
| Criteria | Scratch-it | MakeContest |
|---|---|---|
| Game mechanic | Scratch card, instant result | Delayed draw at closing |
| Reveal moment | Instant for each participant | After the contest ends, for randomly drawn winners |
| Pricing model | Monthly subscription | Free, 19 dollars once to export |
| Typical use case | Email conversion with instant gratification | Classic contest with one or more prizes |
| Card required at sign-up | Often yes | No |
The differences that actually matter
If your goal is an instant-gratification mechanic (each participant knows right away if they've won), Scratch-it has the specific expertise for this scratch-card mechanic. But for the vast majority of contests, where one or more prizes are drawn among all participants at the end of the campaign, MakeContest matches this format directly, for free.
When Scratch-it might be the better choice
If you specifically want an instant-win mechanic with immediate gratification rather than a delayed draw, Scratch-it is built for that. For a classic contest with a draw at closing, MakeContest is directly suited.
In summary
Scratch-it and MakeContest offer two different mechanics: instant win for one, delayed draw for the other. If it's a classic contest you want to run, MakeContest does it for free, with a one-time 19-dollar payment when you export your leads.
Ready to try it? Create your free account on makecontest.io and publish your first contest in under 3 minutes, no credit card, no commitment.
Frequently asked questions
Does Scratch-it offer a prize draw like MakeContest?
No, Scratch-it focuses solely on the virtual scratch card mechanic, where the result is determined at the moment of scratching, not through a delayed draw among all participants.
What's the difference between a scratch card and a classic prize draw?
With a scratch card, each participant knows their result immediately. With a classic prize draw like MakeContest's, the winner(s) are chosen after the contest closes, among all entrants.
Is Scratch-it free like MakeContest?
Scratch-it works on a monthly subscription model. MakeContest is free to create and publish a contest, with a one-time 19-dollar payment only when you export your leads.