Title: Run Contests, Raffles, and Giveaways with ContestsWP
Author: mdedev
Published: <strong>July 10, 2016</strong>
Last modified: January 21, 2026

---

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# Run Contests, Raffles, and Giveaways with ContestsWP

 By [mdedev](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mdedev/)

[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/contest-code-checker.zip)

 * [Details](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/contest-code-checker/#description)
 * [Reviews](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/contest-code-checker/#reviews)
 *  [Installation](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/contest-code-checker/#installation)
 * [Development](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/contest-code-checker/#developers)

 [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contest-code-checker/)

## Description

[ContestsWP](https://www.contestswp.com/) was developed so that you can easily build,
launch, and operate contests and giveaways on your WordPress site. Whether you are
running a promotion for a few dozen or a few hundred thousand contestants, ContestsWP
is an effective and simple plugin which seamlessly integrates with your existing
installation and plugins.

Launched in 2017, ContestsWP is currently used by hundreds of site owners and developers.
Below are some examples of how ContestsWP is currently deployed:

ABC Autos is an up and coming car dealership in Detroit, MI. Upon visiting the dealerships
website, a user is encouraged to sign up for the dealerships monthly newsletter 
via the user facing ContestsWP form (ContestsWP Pro can integrate with Mailchimp)
and enter their monthly drawing for free oil changes for one year. The user simply
enters their name and email address. Once per month, it takes the dealership just
a few seconds to randomly pick the winner using the ContestsWP plugin. Since deploying
ContestsWP, ABC Autos has seen a 300% increase in newsletter sign ups and has dramatically
reduced the staff time needed to run the giveaway.

DEF Store in the Netherlands wants to increase their online sales. In order to do
this they send out an email to their mailing list saying that for every online order
they make they will get a code to check for a prize. The customer can then use the
code on a ContestsWP form to see what they have won.

The free version has the following features:

 * Front-end contest form that can be easily customized
 * Admin area to manage contest codes with the ability to import codes
 * Admin area to view and export contestants

#### Additional Features in the 󠀁[Premium Version](https://www.contestswp.com/)󠁿

 * Set up and run multiple contests
 * Add custom fields to user-facing form
 * Only show additional fields for winner contest codes
 * CAPTCHA support
 * Mailchimp integration
 * Personal support from the developer
 * Run contests of any size with as many contestants as you want
 * And much much more
 * More info at [https://www.contestswp.com](https://www.contestswp.com)

## Screenshots

 * [[
 * Contest submission form
 * [[
 * Contestants admin listing
 * [[
 * Contest code admin listing
 * [[
 * Contest code admin import area
 * [[
 * ContestsWP settings area

## Installation

 1. Upload the `contest-code-checker` folder to the `/wp-content/plugins/` directory
 2. Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
 3. Add and/or import your contest codes via the admin area
 4. Set the general options like winning and losing text and date ranges for when the
    contest is active
 5. Add the short code [contest_code_checker] to any page or post

## FAQ

### Why can’t this plugin do X?

Good question, maybe I didn’t think about having this feature or didn’t feel anyone
would use it. Contact me at mikede@mde-dev.com and
 I will see if I can get it added
for you.

### Is there a GitHub Repository?

Yes, that is where the main development is done – https://github.com/SwimOrDieSoftware/
WordpressContestCodePlugin

## Reviews

![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c7868e29081e700edf912a9b381718e6cf46f266af3f710a7710accd02689c9d?
s=60&d=retro&r=g)

### 󠀁[works perfect simple in use](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/works-perfect-simple-in-use/)󠁿

 [.](https://profiles.wordpress.org/lutjebroeker/) January 10, 2025

Easy to use, works flawlessly.

![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7e6627479e79e8ca8b7bd7690876b6e77c7390373c653799c89807e2c36b296e?
s=60&d=retro&r=g)

### 󠀁[Simply does what it says](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/simply-does-what-it-says-5/)󠁿

 [glynch](https://profiles.wordpress.org/glynch/) November 11, 2020

I am very happy with this plugin. It is simple but is exactly what I need to run
an online sweepstakes. I required some support from Mike and he was very prompt 
in responding.

![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/427347495178fc29106bc4c74d5e84f73dc6aa29abce49c0928d84d0a7b8a17c?
s=60&d=retro&r=g)

### 󠀁[Perfect plugin, and great support!](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/perfect-plugin-and-great-support-6/)󠁿

 [mortensh](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mortensh/) May 28, 2019

Highly recommended, easy to set up and did the work! The developer is also very 
helpful with special customization and other queries 🙂

![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/90aeb73461cd7a8770e1fb28dab9d7e33a928c42e687336c8210053c6e162411?
s=60&d=retro&r=g)

### 󠀁[Amazing Plugin!](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/amazing-plugin-929/)󠁿

 [ofisko](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ofisko/) February 28, 2018

I have been looking so long for such a plugin. All these social media linking contest
plugin are trash. This plugin is easy and great! My company organized a raffel with
about 5000 participants. The function to upload a code list including prizes and
prize description made the set up so easy.

![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e2ad2ebcfba35c68e8d6d02f35f5430550fc5b0dfbe98acc1b3b3a5b968cdf50?
s=60&d=retro&r=g)

### 󠀁[Great Plugin!](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/great-plugin-16183/)󠁿

 [thedesignbank](https://profiles.wordpress.org/thedesignbank/) December 13, 2017

Brilliant plugin, plus the plugin developer is really helpful in assisting with 
any queries you may have.

![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/70a97adeb189e916e8a9afc9704e73e841f4d26dbf7137601062dfa46224d974?
s=60&d=retro&r=g)

### 󠀁[Love it!](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/love-it-1522/)󠁿

 [ryanstjohnau](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ryanstjohnau/) January 13, 2017

A great plugin, easy to use and maintain. I’m surprised there is very little in 
the way of plugins to run competitions such as this – definitely worth checking 
it out

 [ Read all 6 reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contest-code-checker/reviews/)

## Contributors & Developers

“Run Contests, Raffles, and Giveaways with ContestsWP” is open source software. 
The following people have contributed to this plugin.

Contributors

 *   [ mdedev ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mdedev/)
 *   [ Freemius ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/freemius/)

[Translate “Run Contests, Raffles, and Giveaways with ContestsWP” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/contest-code-checker)

### Interested in development?

[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/contest-code-checker/),
check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/contest-code-checker/),
or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/contest-code-checker/)
by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/contest-code-checker/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).

## Changelog

#### 2.1.1

 * Updated the freemius library
 * Fixed a security vulnerability around exports notified by patchstack. Security
   issues were reported in free version and checked premium version to make sure
   the issue was resolved there as well

#### 2.0.7

 * Updated the freemius library

#### 2.0.6

 * Updated the freemius library

#### 2.0.5

 * Fixed contest code sorting in the admin area
 * Updated the freemius library and updated the tested to 6.7.x

#### 2.0.0

 * Fixed an XSS reported by Colin Xu

#### 1.9.9

 * Updated the freemius library and updated the tested to 6.5.3

#### 1.9.8

 * Updated the freemius library and updated the tested to

#### 1.9.7

 * Updated the freemius library we use for license activations

#### 1.9.6

 * Set a static date format for start and end dates. As people were running into
   date format issues.

#### 1.9.0

 * Stylized the form a little bit so they look better by default
 * Changed the submit button from “submit prize” to just “submit”

#### 1.7.8

 * Fixed a problem with imported contest codes having extra serialized data in them
   and it only showing up during the selection of generic prizes
 * Changed the contest code admin page to order by the contest code by default

#### 1.6.1

 * Added the option to not save invalid contest codes

#### 1.5.3

 * Fixed a bug where javascript validation was not done when the “pop-up” option
   was selected.

#### 1.5.2

 * Sync with premium version number.
 * Added Freemius integration
 * Cleaned up the admin settings page to make it easier
 * Added checklist to prepare plugin for use

#### 1.1.9

 * Fixed an issue in the uninstall script that was accidently deleting all posts,
   sorry about that.
 * Renamed admin menu from “Contest Code Checker” to “ContestsWP” to be consistent

#### 1.1.8

 * Replaced the old import library with a newer Excel parsing library that is faster
   and has less bugs.

#### 1.1.7

 * Updated the pot file for translations
 * Made some changes to the contestant export to try and speed it up for larger 
   contests

#### 1.1.6

 * Fixed an issue where the contestant’s first name wasn’t recorded when using a
   non-AJAX form
 * Added the submission date to the contestant’s grid and export

#### 1.1.5

 * Added the ability to hide the first name, last name and email fields

#### 1.1.4

 * Fixed php short-code openings that don’t work with some PHP configurations

#### 1.1.3

 * Implemented boolval if the function does not exist which only happens in old 
   versions of PHP

#### 1.1.2

 * Another small fix for older PHP versions dealing with the empty function

#### 1.1.1

 * Small fix for older PHP versions where the empty function can’t be a recipient
   of a functions return value

#### 1.1.0

 * Improved the export all functionality so it is quicker

#### 1.0.9

 * Made it so deleting and exporting of a large set of contest codes (30,000+) worked

#### 1.0.8

 * Fixed a bug where if you entered a code that did not have a prize you would get
   a message saying the code was already used when it wasn’t
 * Set the execution time limit for deleting and exporting of contest codes to be
   unlimited to allow for large number of contest codes

#### 1.0.7

 * Set the execution time limit for import files to be unlimited to allow for large
   contest codes to be imported

#### 1.0.6

 * Made it so even anonymous users can use the ajax calls

#### 1.0.5

 * Set email to winners to be text/html instead of a plain-text email

#### 1.0.4

 * Included the generic prize information in the email to winners

#### 1.0.3

 * Small label changes on the front-end form
 * Added ability to export contest codes
 * Added the ability to delete all contest codes
 * Added the option to show a message if the code is invalid, if nothing is specified
   the losing message will be displayed
 * Added the option to show a message if the code is already used, if nothing is
   specified the losing message will be displayed
 * Added the ability to specify the pop-up width and height in pixels
 * Split the contestant’s name into two fields first and last

#### 1.0.2

 * Added the ability to create generic prize information that could be associated
   with multiple prizes
 * Fixed a problem where the “has this code been used” form field was not properly
   checked on the admin side
 * Added the option to have the prize information show as a modal instead of on 
   the page

#### 1.0.1

 * Added options and functionality to email winners with their prize information

#### 1.0.0

 * Initial release

## Meta

 *  Version **2.1.1**
 *  Last updated **2 months ago**
 *  Active installations **100+**
 *  WordPress version ** 5.2 or higher **
 *  Tested up to **6.9.0**
 *  Language
 * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/contest-code-checker/)
 * Tags
 * [contests](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/contests/)[giveaways](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/giveaways/)
   [sweepstakes](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/sweepstakes/)
 *  [Advanced View](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/contest-code-checker/advanced/)

## Ratings

 5 out of 5 stars.

 *  [  6 5-star reviews     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contest-code-checker/reviews/?filter=5)
 *  [  0 4-star reviews     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contest-code-checker/reviews/?filter=4)
 *  [  0 3-star reviews     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contest-code-checker/reviews/?filter=3)
 *  [  0 2-star reviews     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contest-code-checker/reviews/?filter=2)
 *  [  0 1-star reviews     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contest-code-checker/reviews/?filter=1)

[Add my review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contest-code-checker/reviews/#new-post)

[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contest-code-checker/reviews/)

## Contributors

 *   [ mdedev ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mdedev/)
 *   [ Freemius ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/freemius/)

## Support

Got something to say? Need help?

 [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contest-code-checker/)