Head-to-head · Online Voting Software
ElectionBuddy vs VoteHost Elections
ElectionBuddy leads on 0 checks, VoteHost Elections on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreElectionBuddy · 9.2/10
- Free planboth
ElectionBuddy scores higher on our rubric for online voting software: 9.2 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #5.
On voter authentication, ElectionBuddy gives you 2fa where VoteHost Elections offers Basic.
ElectionBuddy is the better fit for feature-rich elections with flexible pricing. VoteHost Elections is the better fit for self-hosted elections with strong audit exports.
- ElectionBuddy fits best
Feature-rich elections with flexible pricing
- VoteHost Elections fits best
Self-hosted elections with strong audit exports
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Side by side
| Feature | ElectionBuddy 9.2/10 Visit ↗ | VoteHost Elections 8.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.2 | 8.7 |
| Ranking | #2 in Online Voting Software | #5 in Online Voting Software |
| Best for | Feature-rich elections with flexible pricing | Self-hosted elections with strong audit exports |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free |
| Starting price | $27/yr | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud | Self-hosted, Cloud |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Linux |
| Support | Email, Phone, Live chat, Docs | Community, Docs |
| Integrations | 4 integrations | 7 integrations |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market |
| Features ElectionBuddy 2/2 · VoteHost Elections 2/2 | ||
| Anonymous ballots | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audit trail | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Voter authentication | 2fa | Basic |
| Ballot types | Ranked_choice | Ranked_choice |
| Voter limit | 350 voters | Not checked yet |
| Election limit | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Result export | Csv | Csv |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | ElectionBuddy is a cloud-based platform for organizational elections, polls, and meeting votes. It is designed for associations, nonprofits, schools, unions, governments, companies, and other member-based organizations that need to create… Read the review → |
VoteHost Elections is a self-hosted, open-source voting platform for organizations running board elections, member votes, referendums, and similar ballots. Administrators manage elections and voter rosters through a web interface, while… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
ElectionBuddy — where it wins
- Supports ranked, cumulative, preferential, STV, approval, and scored voting
- Offers anonymous ballots, auditability, reports, and CSV data export
- Covers email, SMS, mail, web notices, API access, and webhooks
Where it doesn't
- Advanced API access and webhooks are limited to Professional plans
- SMS notice is an add-on on ElectionVote Plus
- Pay-per-election and pay-per-meeting pricing can vary by use case
VoteHost Elections — where it wins
- Secret ballots separate voter identity from submitted ballots
- Supports IRV, STV, weighted voting, quorum tracking, and write-ins
- Exports CSV, XLSX, PDF, and anonymized JSON audit packages
Where it doesn't
- Voter authentication is limited to single-use email magic links
- Requires Linux-based self-hosted deployment and administration
- Platform integrations focus on hosting, networking, and email delivery
- ElectionBuddy9.2/10 · Free plan
A flexible voting platform with broad ballot methods and pay-per-use plans.
Visit ElectionBuddyFull verdict → - VoteHost Elections8.7/10 · Free plan
A flexible election platform with strong ballot secrecy and audit exports.
Visit VoteHostFull verdict →
ElectionBuddy vs VoteHost Elections: questions
Which is better for online voting software, ElectionBuddy or VoteHost Elections?
ElectionBuddy scores higher on our rubric for online voting software: 9.2 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #5.
How do ElectionBuddy and VoteHost Elections compare?
All 3 checks we put side by side come out level: neither leads on any.
Do ElectionBuddy and VoteHost Elections have a free plan?
ElectionBuddy: Yes. VoteHost Elections: Yes.
More comparisons
- Simply Voting vs ElectionBuddy
- Simply Voting vs VoteHost Elections
- ElectionBuddy vs Belenios
- ElectionBuddy vs BigPulse
- ElectionBuddy vs POLYAS
- ElectionBuddy vs Voteer
- ElectionBuddy vs TapVoter
- Belenios vs VoteHost Elections
All online voting software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
Last updated · How we research and update