Voting Contests on Brakto let you create online competitions where audiences vote on entries — such as photos, videos, designs, or any content. Competitors are matched head-to-head in a single elimination bracket, and the audience decides who advances each round until a winner is crowned.
• Pet photo contests (cutest dog, best cat)
• Baby photo contests
• Company talent shows & employee awards
• School art or fundraising competitions
• Church & community events
• Brand engagement & social media campaigns
• Fan voting for music, sports, or entertainment
• Design competitions & creative showcases
Free to start: Create voting contests on the free Essentials plan — 1 contest per month, up to 128 competitors. No credit card required.
Follow these steps to go from zero to a live, shareable voting contest in under 5 minutes.
Visit brakto.com/create-voting-contest or click “Create Contest” from the Events directory. You must be signed in.
Fill out the contest creation form:
Contest Name
Give your contest a clear, catchy name (e.g., “Cutest Pet Photo 2026”).
Description (optional)
Add context — rules, prizes, or what the contest is about.
Bracket Size
Choose 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 competitors. This determines the bracket size and number of rounds.
Brand Color
Pick a custom accent color for your contest. This color appears on the leaderboard, bracket, and embedded widgets.
Set up how voting works for your contest:
Voting Deadline
Set when voting closes. Leave blank for no deadline (you'll close it manually).
Voting Restriction
Open (Anyone) — no login required, great for maximum reach.
Registered Users Only — voters must have a Brakto account, prevents spam.
Max Votes Per User (optional)
Limit how many matchups a user can vote on. Leave blank for unlimited voting.
Add each competitor with a name and photo. You need at least 2 competitors, up to the bracket size you chose.
Upload a photo: Click the upload area to browse your device, or drag and drop an image file.
Paste a URL: Switch to the URL tab and paste an image link if the photo is already online.
Optional description: Add a short bio or description for each competitor.
Tip: Use clear, high-quality photos for the best voter experience. Square or portrait photos work best.
Click “Create Contest”. Your contest is instantly published with a single elimination bracket generated automatically. You'll be taken to the live leaderboard where you can share the contest link.
Result: Voters can immediately start voting on first-round matchups.
These settings control how your voting contest behaves. They are configured during creation and can be adjusted from the admin panel.
| Setting | Who Can Vote | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Open | Anyone with the link. No login needed. | Maximum reach — social media, public events |
| Registered Users | Only users with a Brakto account. | Spam prevention — corporate, school, community |
Duplicate voting is prevented automatically. Open contests use IP-based deduplication; registered contests use account-based deduplication.
| Setting | When Voters See Counts |
|---|---|
| Live | Vote counts are visible in real-time while voting is open |
| After Close | Counts hidden until the voting window closes or the matchup is finalized |
| Never | Vote counts are only visible to the organizer in the admin panel |
Limits the total number of matchups a single user can vote on across the entire contest. This is useful for creating scarcity and making each vote count more.
Blank/Unlimited: Voters can vote on every matchup — recommended for most contests.
Set a limit: E.g., “10 votes” means each voter must choose which matchups matter most to them.
Each matchup can have its own voting window (open and close times). You can set windows per-round or for all matches at once from the admin panel.
Auto-finalize: When enabled (default), matchups are automatically finalized when their voting window closes. The competitor with more votes advances.
Each competitor in your contest has a name, an optional description, and a photo. Photos are displayed prominently on the bracket and leaderboard, so quality matters.
| Bracket | Competitors | Rounds | First Round Matchups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Up to 4 | 2 rounds | 2 matchups |
| 8 | Up to 8 | 3 rounds | 4 matchups |
| 16 | Up to 16 | 4 rounds | 8 matchups |
| 32 | Up to 32 | 5 rounds | 16 matchups |
| 64 | Up to 64 | 6 rounds | 32 matchups |
If you add fewer competitors than the bracket size, remaining spots receive byes (auto-advance to the next round).
After creating your contest, go to your contest page and click the Admin tab. The Voting Admin Panel gives you full control over the contest.
The top of the admin panel shows real-time stats:
Total Votes
All votes cast across all matchups
Finalized
Matchups with locked-in winners
Active
Matchups currently accepting votes
Tied
Matchups with equal votes for both sides
Set Voting Window
Choose an open and close date/time. Applies to all un-finalized matchups at once. Control exactly when voting is allowed.
Auto-Finalize Expired
Finds all matchups where the voting window has passed and finalizes them — the competitor with more votes advances automatically.
Close All Voting
Immediately closes voting on every active matchup and auto-finalizes results. Use this to end the contest. This action cannot be undone.
Each matchup card in the admin panel shows the two competitors, their vote counts, a visual percentage bar, and the following actions:
Finalize: Lock in the winner based on current votes. The winner advances to the next round.
Break Tie: If votes are equal, you choose which competitor advances. Two buttons appear: one for each side.
How advancement works: When a matchup is finalized, the winner is automatically placed in the next round's bracket slot. Once both slots in a later-round matchup are filled, that matchup becomes available for voting.
The voting leaderboard is a public page that updates every 15 seconds. Share the link with your audience to drive engagement. It has four tabs:
All competitors ranked by total votes received. Shows rank badges (crown, medal), avatars, vote counts, vote share percentage, matches played, and win rate.
Every matchup sorted by total votes (most popular first). Shows round label, competitor names with avatars, vote distribution bars, and status badges (Open, Final).
The most active voters ranked by number of votes cast. Shows up to 20 top voters with avatars and vote counts.
Engagement metrics including votes by round (bar chart), most competitive matchups (closest margins), average votes per voter, average votes per matchup, participation rate, and rounds complete.
Summary stats are displayed at the top of every tab: Total Votes, Matches Voted, Teams Voted On, and Unique Voters.
Drive voter turnout by sharing your contest across channels and embedding it directly on your website.
The leaderboard page includes share buttons for:
Add an interactive voting leaderboard directly to your own website using an iframe embed code:
Click the “Embed” button on the leaderboard page.
Copy the generated <iframe> code.
Paste the code into your website's HTML where you want the widget to appear.
The embed uses your contest's brand color to match your site. It shows rankings, match votes, stats, and a “Powered by Brakto” badge.
Here's the typical flow of a voting contest from creation to completion:
Create
Set up the contest with name, competitors, photos, and voting rules. The contest is published immediately with a single elimination bracket.
Round 1 Voting
Share the link. Voters browse first-round matchups and cast votes. The leaderboard updates in real-time (every 15 seconds).
Finalize Round 1
When voting closes (automatically via deadline, or manually by you), matchups are finalized. Winners advance to Round 2. Break any ties if needed.
Later Rounds
Repeat the voting-and-finalize cycle for each round. The bracket narrows: Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Finals. Announce round results on social media to build excitement.
Finals & Winner
The last matchup determines the champion. Finalize the final matchup and announce the winner. The full leaderboard and analytics remain available.
Instead of opening all rounds at once, set voting windows so each round opens after the previous one closes. This builds anticipation and keeps your audience coming back. Use the admin panel to set per-round voting windows.
Choose from 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 competitors per contest. If you add fewer than the bracket size, remaining spots get automatic byes.
Yes! Voting contests are included on the free Essentials plan (1 contest per month, up to 128 competitors). Pro and Ultimate plans offer more.
It depends on your Voting Restriction setting. With "Open," anyone with the link can vote — no account needed. With "Registered Users," voters must sign in to a Brakto account.
Open contests use IP-based deduplication (one vote per IP per matchup). Registered contests use account-based deduplication (one vote per user per matchup).
Yes, voters can change their vote on a matchup as long as voting is still open. Their most recent vote counts.
If a matchup has equal votes when finalized, it's marked as "Tied." You (the organizer) decide the winner using the "Break Tie" buttons in the admin panel.
Yes! Click "Embed" on the leaderboard page to get an iframe code. The embedded widget uses your brand color and shows rankings, match results, and stats.
The initial competitors are added during creation. You can update competitor photos from the contest admin page.
Competitors are placed in a single elimination bracket. First-round matchups are created automatically. When a matchup is finalized, the winner advances to the next round until a champion is decided.
Yes! From the admin panel, use "Set Voting Window" to apply a schedule to all matchups, or manage voting windows per round to stagger your contest.
Your brand color appears as the accent color on the leaderboard, bracket display, and embedded widget. It helps match the contest to your branding.
The leaderboard polls for new data every 15 seconds, so vote counts are always up to date.
Voting Contests on Brakto let you create online competitions where audiences vote on entries — such as photos, videos, designs, or any content. Competitors are matched head-to-head in a single elimination bracket, and the audience decides who advances each round until a winner is crowned.
• Pet photo contests (cutest dog, best cat)
• Baby photo contests
• Company talent shows & employee awards
• School art or fundraising competitions
• Church & community events
• Brand engagement & social media campaigns
• Fan voting for music, sports, or entertainment
• Design competitions & creative showcases
Free to start: Create voting contests on the free Essentials plan — 1 contest per month, up to 128 competitors. No credit card required.
Follow these steps to go from zero to a live, shareable voting contest in under 5 minutes.
Visit brakto.com/create-voting-contest or click “Create Contest” from the Events directory. You must be signed in.
Fill out the contest creation form:
Contest Name
Give your contest a clear, catchy name (e.g., “Cutest Pet Photo 2026”).
Description (optional)
Add context — rules, prizes, or what the contest is about.
Bracket Size
Choose 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 competitors. This determines the bracket size and number of rounds.
Brand Color
Pick a custom accent color for your contest. This color appears on the leaderboard, bracket, and embedded widgets.
Set up how voting works for your contest:
Voting Deadline
Set when voting closes. Leave blank for no deadline (you'll close it manually).
Voting Restriction
Open (Anyone) — no login required, great for maximum reach.
Registered Users Only — voters must have a Brakto account, prevents spam.
Max Votes Per User (optional)
Limit how many matchups a user can vote on. Leave blank for unlimited voting.
Add each competitor with a name and photo. You need at least 2 competitors, up to the bracket size you chose.
Upload a photo: Click the upload area to browse your device, or drag and drop an image file.
Paste a URL: Switch to the URL tab and paste an image link if the photo is already online.
Optional description: Add a short bio or description for each competitor.
Tip: Use clear, high-quality photos for the best voter experience. Square or portrait photos work best.
Click “Create Contest”. Your contest is instantly published with a single elimination bracket generated automatically. You'll be taken to the live leaderboard where you can share the contest link.
Result: Voters can immediately start voting on first-round matchups.
These settings control how your voting contest behaves. They are configured during creation and can be adjusted from the admin panel.
| Setting | Who Can Vote | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Open | Anyone with the link. No login needed. | Maximum reach — social media, public events |
| Registered Users | Only users with a Brakto account. | Spam prevention — corporate, school, community |
Duplicate voting is prevented automatically. Open contests use IP-based deduplication; registered contests use account-based deduplication.
| Setting | When Voters See Counts |
|---|---|
| Live | Vote counts are visible in real-time while voting is open |
| After Close | Counts hidden until the voting window closes or the matchup is finalized |
| Never | Vote counts are only visible to the organizer in the admin panel |
Limits the total number of matchups a single user can vote on across the entire contest. This is useful for creating scarcity and making each vote count more.
Blank/Unlimited: Voters can vote on every matchup — recommended for most contests.
Set a limit: E.g., “10 votes” means each voter must choose which matchups matter most to them.
Each matchup can have its own voting window (open and close times). You can set windows per-round or for all matches at once from the admin panel.
Auto-finalize: When enabled (default), matchups are automatically finalized when their voting window closes. The competitor with more votes advances.
Each competitor in your contest has a name, an optional description, and a photo. Photos are displayed prominently on the bracket and leaderboard, so quality matters.
| Bracket | Competitors | Rounds | First Round Matchups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Up to 4 | 2 rounds | 2 matchups |
| 8 | Up to 8 | 3 rounds | 4 matchups |
| 16 | Up to 16 | 4 rounds | 8 matchups |
| 32 | Up to 32 | 5 rounds | 16 matchups |
| 64 | Up to 64 | 6 rounds | 32 matchups |
If you add fewer competitors than the bracket size, remaining spots receive byes (auto-advance to the next round).
After creating your contest, go to your contest page and click the Admin tab. The Voting Admin Panel gives you full control over the contest.
The top of the admin panel shows real-time stats:
Total Votes
All votes cast across all matchups
Finalized
Matchups with locked-in winners
Active
Matchups currently accepting votes
Tied
Matchups with equal votes for both sides
Set Voting Window
Choose an open and close date/time. Applies to all un-finalized matchups at once. Control exactly when voting is allowed.
Auto-Finalize Expired
Finds all matchups where the voting window has passed and finalizes them — the competitor with more votes advances automatically.
Close All Voting
Immediately closes voting on every active matchup and auto-finalizes results. Use this to end the contest. This action cannot be undone.
Each matchup card in the admin panel shows the two competitors, their vote counts, a visual percentage bar, and the following actions:
Finalize: Lock in the winner based on current votes. The winner advances to the next round.
Break Tie: If votes are equal, you choose which competitor advances. Two buttons appear: one for each side.
How advancement works: When a matchup is finalized, the winner is automatically placed in the next round's bracket slot. Once both slots in a later-round matchup are filled, that matchup becomes available for voting.
The voting leaderboard is a public page that updates every 15 seconds. Share the link with your audience to drive engagement. It has four tabs:
All competitors ranked by total votes received. Shows rank badges (crown, medal), avatars, vote counts, vote share percentage, matches played, and win rate.
Every matchup sorted by total votes (most popular first). Shows round label, competitor names with avatars, vote distribution bars, and status badges (Open, Final).
The most active voters ranked by number of votes cast. Shows up to 20 top voters with avatars and vote counts.
Engagement metrics including votes by round (bar chart), most competitive matchups (closest margins), average votes per voter, average votes per matchup, participation rate, and rounds complete.
Summary stats are displayed at the top of every tab: Total Votes, Matches Voted, Teams Voted On, and Unique Voters.
Drive voter turnout by sharing your contest across channels and embedding it directly on your website.
The leaderboard page includes share buttons for:
Add an interactive voting leaderboard directly to your own website using an iframe embed code:
Click the “Embed” button on the leaderboard page.
Copy the generated <iframe> code.
Paste the code into your website's HTML where you want the widget to appear.
The embed uses your contest's brand color to match your site. It shows rankings, match votes, stats, and a “Powered by Brakto” badge.
Here's the typical flow of a voting contest from creation to completion:
Create
Set up the contest with name, competitors, photos, and voting rules. The contest is published immediately with a single elimination bracket.
Round 1 Voting
Share the link. Voters browse first-round matchups and cast votes. The leaderboard updates in real-time (every 15 seconds).
Finalize Round 1
When voting closes (automatically via deadline, or manually by you), matchups are finalized. Winners advance to Round 2. Break any ties if needed.
Later Rounds
Repeat the voting-and-finalize cycle for each round. The bracket narrows: Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Finals. Announce round results on social media to build excitement.
Finals & Winner
The last matchup determines the champion. Finalize the final matchup and announce the winner. The full leaderboard and analytics remain available.
Instead of opening all rounds at once, set voting windows so each round opens after the previous one closes. This builds anticipation and keeps your audience coming back. Use the admin panel to set per-round voting windows.
Choose from 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 competitors per contest. If you add fewer than the bracket size, remaining spots get automatic byes.
Yes! Voting contests are included on the free Essentials plan (1 contest per month, up to 128 competitors). Pro and Ultimate plans offer more.
It depends on your Voting Restriction setting. With "Open," anyone with the link can vote — no account needed. With "Registered Users," voters must sign in to a Brakto account.
Open contests use IP-based deduplication (one vote per IP per matchup). Registered contests use account-based deduplication (one vote per user per matchup).
Yes, voters can change their vote on a matchup as long as voting is still open. Their most recent vote counts.
If a matchup has equal votes when finalized, it's marked as "Tied." You (the organizer) decide the winner using the "Break Tie" buttons in the admin panel.
Yes! Click "Embed" on the leaderboard page to get an iframe code. The embedded widget uses your brand color and shows rankings, match results, and stats.
The initial competitors are added during creation. You can update competitor photos from the contest admin page.
Competitors are placed in a single elimination bracket. First-round matchups are created automatically. When a matchup is finalized, the winner advances to the next round until a champion is decided.
Yes! From the admin panel, use "Set Voting Window" to apply a schedule to all matchups, or manage voting windows per round to stagger your contest.
Your brand color appears as the accent color on the leaderboard, bracket display, and embedded widget. It helps match the contest to your branding.
The leaderboard polls for new data every 15 seconds, so vote counts are always up to date.