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OpenWater vs SmarterSelect

Updated January 15, 2026

OpenWater vs SmarterSelect: Which is best for you?

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1 million+ businesses helped
2 million+ verified software reviews
Starting Price
$5,100.00

per year

$2,000.00

per year

Free Trial
Free Version
Screenshots
and Demo
Product Screenshot
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Product Screenshot
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Top Rated
  Features
Scoring
4.47
SSL Security
4.42
Judging Management
4.40
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Recommendations
4.57
Customizable Questions
4.46
Applicant Tracking
4.41
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Integrations
Salesforce Sales Cloud
Salesforce Sales Cloud
NetForum Enterprise
NetForum Enterprise
authorize.net
authorize.net
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Zapier
Zapier
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Pros / Cons
  • It allows us to receive applications, build the job board, send emails, organize participant information, and even lets us pull reports that we use for metrics/data needs.
  • The Guidebook app is too difficult for attendees to download to their phones and log in to.
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  • SmarterSelect allowed our company to move from countless emails to a streamlined grant application process that allows for far greater efficiencies for both the grant applicant and grant reviewer.
  • We had major issues with code breaking when we copied over the applications last year that then created many other problems for our users.
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Ease-of-Use
Highest performing feature
in the comparison
4.2/ 5
4.1/ 5
Value for Money
4.3/ 5
Highest performing feature
in the comparison
4.5/ 5
Customer Support
Highest performing feature
in the comparison
4.9/ 5
4.5/ 5
Functionality
4.2/ 5
4.2/ 5
Support Options
Email/Help Desk
FAQs/Forum
Knowledge Base
Phone Support
24/7 (Live Rep)
Chat
Email/Help Desk
FAQs/Forum
Knowledge Base
Phone Support
24/7 (Live Rep)
Chat
Training Options
In Person
Live Online
Webinars
Documentation
Videos
In Person
Live Online
Webinars
Documentation
Videos
FrontRunners
N/A
N/A
Advisor
  Recommendations
N/A
N/A
Ideal Customer Size
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Deployment Options
Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based
Desktop - Mac
Desktop - Windows
Desktop - Linux
Desktop - Chromebook
On-Premise - Windows
On-Premise - Linux
Mobile - Android
Mobile - iPhone
Mobile - iPad
Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based
Desktop - Mac
Desktop - Windows
Desktop - Linux
Desktop - Chromebook
On-Premise - Windows
On-Premise - Linux
Mobile - Android
Mobile - iPhone
Mobile - iPad