TapVoter vs Helios Voting
Helios Voting is a respected open-source system with end-to-end verifiability. It can be self-hosted, and a hosted instance also runs at vote.heliosvoting.org. TapVoter is a hosted platform, free, ready in 5 minutes.
Helios is free to download and publishes no pricing for its hosted instance. The difference is scope: TapVoter hosts everything for you with 30 languages and 5 voting methods, while Helios is cryptography-first and, if you self-host, you supply the infrastructure.
Free Software vs. Free Platform
Helios is free to download, but self-hosting means you supply and pay for your own infrastructure, and handle server setup (Django, PostgreSQL, etc.), and manage ongoing maintenance and security patches. TapVoter is truly free - hosted, managed, and maintained for you at zero cost. No servers, no DevOps, no headaches.
Total Cost of Ownership
Free software is not free when you factor in hosting and maintenance
| Aspect | TapVoterFree Forever | Helios Voting |
|---|---|---|
| Software licence | $0 (hosted service) | $0 — open source |
| Hosted option | Yes, managed by TapVoter | vote.heliosvoting.org publishes no pricing |
| Self-hosting | Not offered | Yes — you supply and pay for infrastructure |
| Infrastructure cost | None to you | Depends on your hosting; not published |
| Support | Free email support | No support channel published |
Detailed Feature Comparison
Cost & Hosting
| Feature | TapVoter | Helios Voting |
|---|---|---|
| Software licence | Free hosted service | Free and open source |
| Hosted option | Yes, managed by TapVoter | A hosted instance runs at vote.heliosvoting.org; no pricing published |
| Self-hosting | Not offered | Yes — you supply and pay for infrastructure |
| Published support channel | Free email support | Not statedNot stated in their public documentation |
Verifiability
| Feature | TapVoter | Helios Voting |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end verifiability | Not offered | The project's core purpose — open-source cryptographic verification |
| Open source | Closed source | Source published at github.com/benadida/helios-server |
| Public transparency log | Every ballot listed by receipt code | Ballot tracking centre |
| Anonymous ballots | Ballot record carries no voter identifier | Ballot secrecy is the system's design goal |
Practicalities
| Feature | TapVoter | Helios Voting |
|---|---|---|
| Voting methods named publicly | Five: single choice, ranked choice, STAR, approval, multi-winner | Not statedNot stated in their public documentation |
| Languages | 30 languages, including RTL | Not statedNot stated in their public documentation |
| Published accessibility conformance | Not statedResponsive design; no published conformance statement | Not statedNot stated in their public documentation |
| Custom branding | Colours, logo and interface labels | Not statedNot stated in their public documentation |
| Setup | Hosted — nothing to install | Self-hosting requires running your own server stack |
Key Differences at a Glance
TapVoter setup time
Helios setup time (technical)
Languages in TapVoter
Language in Helios (English)
TapVoter maintenance needed
Helios maintenance (you manage)
Why Choose TapVoter?
- Zero setup - hosted and managed for you at no cost
- No technical knowledge required - anyone can use it
- 30 languages for international organizations
- 5 voting methods: Direct, IRV, STAR, Approval, Multi-Winner
- No hosting bills, no server management, no patches
- Free email support from a real team
Consider Helios Voting If You Need:
- •End-to-end verifiable elections with cryptographic proofs
- •Academic research on voting systems and cryptography
- •Full control over the source code and deployment
- •An organizational mandate for open-source software
- •Developer resources to maintain a self-hosted system
Plus: polls, quizzes, and surveys included
Alongside elections, TapVoter also includes free quick polls, auto-scored quizzes, and multi-question surveys with branching logic — all in the same platform. One Pro subscription ($4.99/mo or $49/yr) unlocks advanced features across all 4 products.
Skip the Server Setup. Start Voting in 5 Minutes.
TapVoter gives you everything you need for secure elections - hosted, managed, and free. No servers, no code, no hassle.
Sources and last check
Helios Voting's pricing and features on this page were read directly from their own website on 24 July 2026. Where Helios Voting does not publish something, this page says so rather than estimating. Prices change — check the source before making a purchasing decision.
- Helios is open source and self-hostable (github.com/benadida/helios-server).
- The hosted service at vote.heliosvoting.org states no cost, fee or paid tier.
- Self-hosting cost depends entirely on your own infrastructure. We do not estimate it.
TapVoter is not affiliated with or endorsed by Helios Voting. Product names are the trademarks of their respective owners.
Common questions
How much does TapVoter cost compared to Helios Voting?
TapVoter is free for elections: no per-voter charge, no per-election fee and no credit card. One election can have up to 10,000 voters, and there is no cap on how many elections you run. Optional Pro features for polls, quizzes and surveys are $4.99 a month or $49 a year.
Which voting methods does TapVoter support?
TapVoter supports five methods, all free: Single Choice, Ranked Choice (instant runoff), STAR, Approval and Multi-Winner. Results are tabulated automatically and can be exported to CSV.
Can voters cast anonymous ballots on TapVoter?
Yes. TapVoter issues each voter a unique 9-character key, so duplicate voting is prevented while an anonymous ballot mode keeps the vote itself unlinked to the voter. Every election also produces a public transparency log listing each ballot by receipt code, so a voter can confirm their own ballot was recorded and not voided.