Submittable hums when it could sing - a mostly good software that could have more intuitive design
Updated December 27, 2023

Submittable hums when it could sing - a mostly good software that could have more intuitive design

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Submittable

We run many scholarship and prize applications. Submittable allows us to collect responses all in one place to be reviewed. At any given time we're managing 10+ applications and this platform helps to make sure that we don't drop any entries or make over sighted mistakes. It's nice to allow users to upload documents here instead of copying into an email as sometimes used to happen.

Pros

  • keeping things in one place
  • allowing for multiple projects at once
  • downloading submissions option
  • user friendly interface for our clients

Cons

  • un-intuitive layout for backend users like me
  • hard to set up automated replies
  • unable to turn off status read or not which freaks our clients out
  • Hard to get to the actual submission
  • time savings
  • streamline process
  • improved applicant response / but complaints about excess emails from Submittable
  • increased OUR volume of questions about how to use Submittable
It's less great for rolling applications because there's no way to hide old submissions. I work by project not by all submissions total and I feel that Submittable is built for looking at all submissions at once. I run into issues where I don't find the platform intuitive- it's hard to figure out how to set response templates. I click on the project when I want to go to look at submissions but it takes me to the project description. I do this every day which is so frustrating after months and months of using it that it's still not intuitive.
It's nice that I can download submissions and store them elsewhere to be read- this supports a truly blind reading process. The annoying thing has been that Submittable sends grant applicants emails which they then complain about to us.
I can't think of other services I've reviewed in-depth like Submittable. We like Submittable. We're consistently happy with the results and have felt no need to explore alternative options especially with so many of our users being already familiar with the interface. We've tried to streamline our functions in one CRM for the most part but I don't see a need for us to dump Submittable too.

Do you think Submittable delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Submittable's feature set?

Yes

Did Submittable live up to sales and marketing promises?

I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process

Did implementation of Submittable go as expected?

I wasn't involved with the implementation phase

Would you buy Submittable again?

Yes

It's great for programs like us that use it for scholarships, writing contests. I think it would be great for use in arts submissions. I'm not sure how it would look for job applications etc. It's great for specific time period applications. It's less great for rolling applications because there's no way to hide old submissions. I work by project not by all submissions total and I feel that Submittable is built for looking at all submissions at once.

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