TapVoter vs Election Buddy
ElectionBuddy is free for up to 20 voters, then charges per election: $29 up to 350 voters, $99 up to 1,000, and from $299 up to 100,000. TapVoter is free for up to 10,000 voters per election, with unlimited elections.
Every ElectionBuddy figure on this page comes from their own site and was last checked on 24 July 2026. Prices shown are for their ElectionVote product — MeetingVote is priced separately. Sources are linked below.
The cost adds up per election
ElectionBuddy charges per election rather than by subscription, so the cost scales with how often you vote. A 1,000-voter election is $99 on their Premium tier; ten of them across a year is $990. On TapVoter the same ten elections are free, for up to 10,000 voters each.
Pricing Comparison
See how much you save with TapVoter
| Number of Voters | TapVoterFree Forever | Election Buddy |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | $0 | $0 (Free) |
| 50 | $0 | $29 |
| 100 | $0 | $29 |
| 350 | $0 | $29 |
| 500 | $0 | $99 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $99 |
| 5,000 | $0 | $299+ |
| 10,000 | $0 | $299+ |
Detailed Feature Comparison
Pricing
| Feature | TapVoter | Election Buddy |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Free for up to 10,000 voters, unlimited elections | Free for up to 20 voters |
| Published price — 350 voters | $0 | $29 per election (Plus) |
| Published price — 1,000 voters | $0 | $99 per election (Premium) |
| Published price — above 1,000 voters | $0, up to 10,000 voters | From $299, up to 100,000 (Professional) |
| Billing model | No charge for elections | Pay per use, per election |
| Volume discount | Not applicable — already free | Offered for 4+ elections a year and K-12 |
Voting Methods
| Feature | TapVoter | Election Buddy |
|---|---|---|
| Ranked choice / preferential | Ranked Choice (IRV), included free | Preferential ballot and STV |
| Approval voting | Included free | Listed as a supported method |
| STAR voting | Included free | Not statedNot named in their public documentation |
| Cumulative / Borda / scored | Not available | Cumulative, Borda count and scored voting |
| Weighted voting | Not available | From the Plus tier |
| Write-in candidates | Pro perk (Direct, Approval, Multi-Winner) | Included from the free tier |
Ballot Secrecy & Auditability
| Feature | TapVoter | Election Buddy |
|---|---|---|
| Anonymous / secret ballot | Optional anonymous ballot mode | States choices cannot be linked to the voter |
| Results hidden until close | Results visible to the organiser only until close | States results can be hidden until the end |
| Audit trail | Public log of every ballot by receipt code | States ballots and results are observable and auditable |
| Independent oversight | Self-service; no third-party service | Neutral third party staffed by accountants |
Reach & Platform
| Feature | TapVoter | Election Buddy |
|---|---|---|
| Languages | 30 languages, including RTL | States more than 40 languages |
| Two-factor authentication | Voter keys only | From the Premium tier |
| Paper and mailed ballots | Online only | Mailed and printed ballots, Professional tier |
| API access | Not available | Professional tier |
| Published encryption spec | HTTPS/TLS | Not statedNo encryption spec published |
| Published accessibility conformance | Not statedResponsive design; no published conformance statement | Not statedNo conformance statement published |
Support
| Feature | TapVoter | Election Buddy |
|---|---|---|
| Support channel | Free email support | Email from Plus; priority from Premium; phone from Professional |
| Payment terms for large orders | Not applicable — already free | POs and ACH/wire accepted over $5,000 |
Why Choose TapVoter?
- 100% free forever - no payment tiers or limits
- Up to 10,000 voters per election
- No credit card ever required
- Simple setup in under 5 minutes
- 30 languages included at no extra cost
Consider Election Buddy If You Need:
- •Complex voting methods (STV, cumulative, preferential)
- •A neutral third party to help resolve a contested result
- •Independent review and recount of ballots
- •More than 40 ballot languages, or two-factor voter authentication
- •API access for custom integrations
- •Paper ballot and mail-in voting options
Plus: polls, quizzes, and surveys included
ElectionBuddy sells two products — ElectionVote for elections and MeetingVote for motions at meetings — each priced separately. TapVoter also includes free quick polls, auto-scored quizzes, and multi-question surveys with branching logic, in the same platform. One Pro subscription ($4.99/mo or $49/yr) unlocks advanced features across all four products.
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ElectionBuddy: common questions
How much does ElectionBuddy cost?
ElectionBuddy’s election product, ElectionVote, has four published tiers charged per use: Free at $0 for up to 20 voters, Plus at $29 for up to 350 voters, Premium at $99 for up to 1,000 voters, and Professional from $299 for up to 100,000 voters. Their separate MeetingVote product is priced differently, starting at $197. Volume discounts are offered for four or more elections a year and for K-12 student elections.
Is ElectionBuddy free?
ElectionBuddy has a free tier for elections with up to 20 voters, which includes candidate bios and photos, email notices, write-ins and 30-day access to results. Above 20 voters it becomes a paid product starting at $29. TapVoter is free for up to 10,000 voters per election, with unlimited elections.
Is ElectionBuddy anonymous?
Yes. ElectionBuddy states that all voting choices are confidential and cannot be linked to the voter, and that results can be hidden until the election ends for further anonymity. TapVoter also offers an anonymous ballot mode, and adds a public transparency log listing every ballot by receipt code so a voter can confirm their own was recorded. Note that on TapVoter, voter exports omit voting times so the ballot log cannot be joined against them, though an administrator can still see roughly when each person voted in the admin interface.
Does ElectionBuddy support ranked choice voting?
Yes. ElectionBuddy names preferential ballot and STV (single transferable vote) among its supported methods, alongside first past the post, cumulative, Borda count, scored voting, rating scale and approval. TapVoter includes five methods free: Single Choice, Ranked Choice (instant runoff), STAR, Approval and Multi-Winner.
What is the best free alternative to ElectionBuddy?
TapVoter runs elections free for up to 10,000 voters with five voting methods, 30 languages, anonymous ballots and a public audit log, with no per-election fee. ElectionBuddy is the stronger fit if you need a wider range of tabulation methods, more than 40 ballot languages, mailed and printed paper ballots, or third-party accountant oversight of a contested result — none of which TapVoter offers.
Sources and last check
ElectionBuddy's pricing and features on this page were read directly from their own website on 24 July 2026. Where ElectionBuddy does not publish something, this page says so rather than estimating. Prices change — check the source before making a purchasing decision.
- MeetingVote is priced separately from ElectionVote.
- Volume discounts are offered for 4 or more elections a year, and for K-12 student elections.
- Purchase orders and ACH/wire are accepted on payments over $5,000.
TapVoter is not affiliated with or endorsed by ElectionBuddy. Product names are the trademarks of their respective owners.