OpenWater vs Submit.com

OpenWater9.0Visit Submit.com6.9Visit

Higher score OpenWater #1 in Application Management Software 9.0/10 Pricing on request ✓ 6 of 6 features Visit OpenWater

vs

Submit.com #8 in Application Management Software 6.9/10 From €5,995/yr ✓ 6 of 6 features Visit Submit.com

• OpenWater fits best

  Organizations running complex multi-program applications

• Submit.com fits best

  Large submission programs needing automation

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Side by side

Feature	OpenWater 9.0/10 Visit ↗	Submit.com 6.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	6.9
Ranking	#1 in Application Management Software	#8 in Application Management Software
Best for	Organizations running complex multi-program applications	Large submission programs needing automation
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	Not published	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Email, Live chat, Docs, Tickets	Email, Phone, Live chat
Compliance	SSO/SAML	SOC 2, GDPR, SSO/SAML, 2FA
Integrations	65+ integrations	9 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features OpenWater 6/6 · Submit.com 6/6
Scoring and rubrics	✓	✓
Reviewer collaboration	✓	✓
Applicant portal	✓	✓
Workflow automation	✓	✓
Reporting and analytics	✓	✓
Payment collection	✓	✓
Specs
Supported programs	Not published	Grants
Our review
Pros	Supports grants, scholarships, awards, fellowships, and abstract management Combines multi-round reviews, scoring, workflows, reporting, and fund tracking Offers REST API access plus CRM, AMS, payment, and directory integrations	Conditional forms, eligibility screening, and branded applicant portals Reviewer scoring, rubrics, comparisons, and blind review Automation for routing, reminders, decisions, payments, and reporting
Cons	Pricing requires contacting sales Broad configuration may be more than a single-program team needs AI features are available without further detail on their specific functions	Starter is limited to 1,000 applicants and one program There is no free plan Pro and Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales
Our verdict	OpenWater is a web-based application and review management platform for associations, foundations, higher education institutions, and other organizations managing structured programs. It brings application forms, applicant portals,… Read the review →	Submit.com is a no-code application and submission management platform for governments, universities, foundations, nonprofits, and other organizations. It is designed for programs that need to manage applications from intake through… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• OpenWater — where it wins

  • Supports grants, scholarships, awards, fellowships, and abstract management
  • Combines multi-round reviews, scoring, workflows, reporting, and fund tracking
  • Offers REST API access plus CRM, AMS, payment, and directory integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contacting sales
  • Broad configuration may be more than a single-program team needs
  • AI features are available without further detail on their specific functions

• Submit.com — where it wins

  • Conditional forms, eligibility screening, and branded applicant portals
  • Reviewer scoring, rubrics, comparisons, and blind review
  • Automation for routing, reminders, decisions, payments, and reporting

  Where it doesn't

  • Starter is limited to 1,000 applicants and one program
  • There is no free plan
  • Pro and Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales

• OpenWater9.0/10 · Pricing on request

  A broad platform for managing complex applications, reviews, workflows, funding, and reporting.

  Visit OpenWaterFull verdict →
• Submit.com6.9/10 · From €5,995/yr

  A structured platform for automating complex application and review programs.

  Visit Submit.comFull verdict →