Helios Voting
Helios Voting: A focused open-source choice for approval elections needing voter-verifiable audits. Ranked #25 of 31 in Online Voting Software by our editors (6.7/10); pricing: Open source; best for self-hosted approval elections.
At a glance
- Editor score6.7 / 10
- PricingOpen source
- Best forSelf-hosted approval elections
- Paid fromFree
- Voter authenticationBasic
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- End-to-end encrypted ballots with ballot tracking numbers
- Trustee-based encrypted tallying supports shared decryption control
- Public audit information and audited ballot verification improve transparency
Where it doesn't
- Voter authentication is basic
- Verified ballot support is limited to approval voting
- Export and integration coverage is limited
Our verdict on Helios Voting
Helios Voting is an open-source online election system for clubs, associations, student groups, unions, and other communities. It supports web use and self-hosting, with administrators able to define eligible voter lists, set election start and end times, and control when results are released. Its hosted public instance offers a way to run elections without managing the server, while the published server code supports organizations that want to host the system themselves.
The strongest part of Helios Voting is its verification model. Ballots are encrypted in the voter’s browser, and each ballot receives a tracking number. The system supports public election audit information, audited ballot verification, and encrypted tallying with trustee decryption. This combination gives election administrators tools for controlling access and timing while preserving anonymous ballots and an audit trail. CSV voter-list download also supports a straightforward eligibility workflow, although voter authentication itself is basic.
Helios Voting is a good fit when an organization values open-source control, approval voting, encrypted ballots, and publicly auditable elections more than broad ecosystem coverage. It is less suitable for teams that need multiple ballot types, advanced authentication, or extensive exports and integrations. Organizations choosing it should be comfortable with its focused election model and decide whether a hosted public instance or self-hosting better matches their operational needs.
Your product? Our editors can test Helios Voting in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Helios Voting pricing
Helios Voting fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Voter authentication | Basic |
| Ballot types | Approval |
| Anonymous ballots | Yes |
| Audit trail | Yes |
| Voter limit | Not verified |
| Election limit | Not verified |
| Result export | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Open source |
| Website | heliosvoting.org |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Helios Voting
- Simply VotingA strong fit for organizations running verified elections with ranked-choice ballots.9.4
- ElectionBuddyA flexible voting platform with broad ballot methods and pay-per-use plans.9.2
- BeleniosA free, self-hostable voting system with strong verification and a technical focus.9.0
See all Helios Voting alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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