Software: KingSumo

Category: Giveaway & Viral Contest Software

Primary Use: Running viral giveaways and referral-based contests

Developer: AppSumo (Sumerian LLC)

Starting Price: From approximately $49/month (pricing may vary)

Free Trial/Plan: Limited free plan available

Platform: Web-based (cloud), WordPress plugin available

Official Website: kingsumo.com

KingSumo is a cloud-based giveaway and contest platform designed to help businesses grow email lists through viral promotions. The software enables users to create sweepstakes campaigns where participants can earn additional entries by referring others.

What Is KingSumo?

KingSumo is a giveaway management platform focused on referral-based growth campaigns. It was developed by AppSumo and is commonly used to run viral contests that encourage participants to share campaigns with their networks.

The platform allows businesses to create hosted giveaway pages or embed contests on websites. Each participant receives a unique referral link, and additional entries are awarded when new users sign up through that link.

KingSumo operates entirely in the cloud and integrates with email marketing platforms to sync captured leads.

Who Uses KingSumo?

Common User Groups

KingSumo is used by:

  • Bloggers
  • Ecommerce brands
  • Digital marketers
  • Online course creators
  • SaaS companies
  • Small businesses

The platform is typically used by businesses seeking to grow email lists quickly through promotional campaigns.

Typical Use Cases

Email list growth

Businesses run giveaways to attract new subscribers.

Product launch promotions

Brands generate buzz before or during product releases.

Audience engagement campaigns

Content creators increase social sharing and brand awareness.

Lead generation contests

Companies collect leads in exchange for prize incentives.

Referral-driven marketing

Participants earn extra entries by referring others.

Core Features

Giveaway Campaign Builder

What it does:

KingSumo allows users to create and manage giveaway campaigns.

How users typically use it:

Users define the prize, entry rules, and campaign duration.

Key capabilities:

  • Custom giveaway setup
  • Hosted contest pages
  • Embeddable contest forms
  • Entry rule configuration
  • Campaign scheduling

The builder is designed for quick campaign deployment.

Referral Tracking

What it does:

The platform tracks referrals generated by participants.

How users typically use it:

Each entrant receives a unique referral link to share.

Key capabilities:

  • Unique referral link generation
  • Automatic referral tracking
  • Bonus entry allocation
  • Fraud detection controls
  • Leaderboard functionality

Referral tracking supports viral campaign growth.

Entry & Incentive Management

What it does:

KingSumo allows flexible entry methods.

How users typically use it:

Users configure how participants earn entries.

Key capabilities:

  • Email signup entry
  • Social sharing incentives
  • Bonus entries for referrals
  • Entry validation
  • Random winner selection

Entry management supports structured sweepstakes workflows.

Email Marketing Integrations

What it does:

KingSumo syncs collected leads with email platforms.

How users typically use it:

Captured emails are automatically added to marketing lists.

Key capabilities:

  • Mailchimp integration
  • AWeber integration
  • ConvertKit integration
  • ActiveCampaign integration
  • Zapier connectivity

Integration ensures seamless follow-up campaigns.

Analytics & Reporting

What it does:

The platform provides performance tracking dashboards.

How users typically use it:

Marketers review referral performance and conversion metrics.

Key capabilities:

  • Total entries tracking
  • Referral performance data
  • Campaign growth charts
  • Participant export options
  • Conversion analytics

Analytics help evaluate giveaway effectiveness.

WordPress Plugin

What it does:

KingSumo offers a WordPress plugin for direct website integration.

How users typically use it:

Website owners embed giveaways into WordPress sites.

Key capabilities:

  • WordPress integration
  • Embedded forms
  • Custom page placement
  • Theme compatibility

This supports on-site campaign hosting.

Integrations and Compatibility

Email Marketing Integrations

KingSumo integrates with:

  • Mailchimp
  • AWeber
  • ConvertKit
  • ActiveCampaign

These integrations automate subscriber management.

Automation Integrations

The platform connects with:

  • Zapier
  • Custom tools via API (higher tiers)

Platform Availability

  • Web-based SaaS platform
  • WordPress plugin available
  • Hosted contest pages
  • No desktop installation required

Pricing Structure

(Pricing may change — verify on the official site.)

KingSumo offers tiered subscription plans.

Free Plan — $0

Includes:

  • Limited giveaway campaigns
  • Basic referral tracking
  • Limited integrations
  • KingSumo branding

Pro Plan — from approximately $49/month

Includes:

  • Unlimited giveaways
  • Referral tracking
  • Email integrations
  • Branding removal
  • Advanced entry options

Enterprise Plan — custom pricing

Includes:

  • Higher participant limits
  • Advanced customization
  • Priority support
  • Custom integrations

Billing Options

  • Monthly subscriptions
  • Lifetime deals occasionally available via AppSumo
  • Pricing varies based on features and campaign limits

Advantages and Limitations

Notable Advantages

  • Simple giveaway setup
  • Referral-based viral growth
  • Email marketing integrations
  • WordPress plugin available
  • Free entry-level plan

Potential Limitations

  • Limited advanced customization
  • Primarily focused on giveaways (not full referral programs)
  • Feature restrictions on free plan
  • Traffic and entry limits may apply

Alternatives to KingSumo

Several platforms provide similar giveaway and referral marketing tools.

Gleam

Offers contest and sweepstakes management.

UpViral

Provides viral referral campaigns and waitlists.

KickoffLabs

Supports referral-driven pre-launch campaigns.

Rafflecopter

Provides basic sweepstakes functionality.

These platforms support similar contest-based lead generation workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does KingSumo do?

KingSumo is a giveaway platform that helps businesses grow email lists through referral-based contests.

Is KingSumo cloud-based?

Yes. It operates as a web-based SaaS platform.

Does KingSumo offer a free plan?

Yes. A limited free plan is available.

Can KingSumo integrate with email marketing tools?

Yes. It integrates with platforms such as Mailchimp and ConvertKit.

Who typically uses KingSumo?

Bloggers, ecommerce brands, and marketers commonly use the platform.

Key Takeaways

KingSumo is a cloud-based giveaway and referral contest platform designed to increase email subscribers through viral sharing. The software includes campaign builders, referral tracking, email integrations, and analytics tools. A free plan is available, with paid plans expanding campaign limits and customization features.