Running a promotional competition used to mean spreadsheets, manual draws, and hoping the audience believed the result was fair. Today, purpose-built competition platforms handle everything — from entry collection to the live draw reveal. But which platform is right for your South African business?
What to Look for in a Competition Platform
Before comparing options, here's what matters for a South African context:
CPA Section 36 compliance tools. Any platform you use should support the free entry requirement and help you produce the documentation needed for compliance.
Rand pricing. USD-priced platforms become expensive and unpredictable with exchange rate fluctuations. Look for ZAR pricing with no currency risk.
Local payment methods. Can you pay by EFT or local card? International cards often fail on foreign platforms.
Live draw capability. South African event culture values the public reveal. A platform that lets you project the live wheel spin creates an unforgettable moment.
Data sovereignty. With POPIA in effect, you should know where your participant data is stored and whether it's processed outside South Africa.
Platform Comparison
Spinly
Built specifically for the South African market. Spinly offers a branded live spin wheel, QR code entry, projector mode for events, and cryptographic fairness proof. Pricing is in ZAR per competition rather than a monthly subscription.
Best for: Event companies, marketing agencies, retailers running in-store promotions, brands that want a premium live experience.
Standout features:
- Live projector mode with animated spin wheel
- Cryptographic draw proof (auditable randomness)
- QR code entry — attendees scan and enter in seconds
- Per-competition pricing (pay only when you run)
- POPIA-friendly data handling
Pricing: R0 (free, with badge) / R299 / R699 per competition
Generic Online Form Tools
Tools like Typeform, JotForm, or Google Forms are often pressed into service for competition entry collection. They work for collecting entries but offer nothing for draw management, live reveals, or compliance documentation.
Gaps: No random draw, no live reveal, no CPA compliance tools, no winner notification automation.
Global Competition Platforms
Several US and UK-based platforms (Gleam, Woobox, Rafflecopter) offer competition functionality. These are well-built but designed for global markets, not South African requirements.
Gaps: USD pricing (currency risk), no ZAR billing, limited live draw functionality, no CPA Section 36 awareness, data stored outside SA (POPIA considerations).
Custom Built
Some larger brands build their own competition infrastructure. This gives maximum control but requires ongoing maintenance, security work, and compliance oversight.
Gaps: High upfront cost, long lead time, internal resource burden, compliance risk if T&Cs or draw mechanics aren't properly implemented.
The Live Draw Advantage
Here's something the global platforms don't understand: South African audiences love the reveal.
Whether it's a year-end function, a trade show, or an in-store promotion, the moment the wheel spins and a winner is chosen live — in front of everyone — creates trust and excitement that a "winner notified by email" announcement simply can't match.
Spinly's projector mode is designed for exactly this:
- Full-screen branded experience on any display
- Real-time entry counter as people scan the QR code
- Animated spin wheel draw in front of the audience
- Winner name revealed with celebration animation
- Cryptographic proof that the result was fair
POPIA and Data Handling
The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) requires businesses to handle participant data responsibly. Key obligations for competition operators:
- Purpose limitation — only collect data you actually need
- Informed consent — participants must know how their data will be used
- Data security — entrant data must be protected from unauthorized access
- Retention limits — data should not be kept longer than necessary
- Cross-border transfer — transferring data outside SA requires adequate protection
When using a competition platform, confirm where entrant data is stored and processed. Spinly stores all data within the platform's secure infrastructure with appropriate access controls.
Choosing the Right Platform
| Need | Best Option | |------|-------------| | Live event with spin wheel reveal | Spinly | | Simple online giveaway | Gleam / Woobox | | Basic entry collection only | Google Forms (+ manual draw) | | Complex mechanic, large budget | Custom build |
For most South African businesses running branded promotional competitions — whether at events, in-store, or online — a purpose-built platform like Spinly offers the right balance of capability, compliance support, and local pricing.
Compare for yourself. Start your first competition free — no credit card required.