A Better Alternative to SlideRoom
Everything you need to run creative submissions — without the complexity of an institutional application system.
Everything you need to run creative submissions — without the complexity of an institutional application system.
SlideRoom is a well-known submissions and portfolio platform, especially in academic and institutional settings.
Dapple is built differently — specifically for creative organisations that want simpler workflows, fairer pricing, and a better experience for both submitters and reviewers.
If you're running open calls for writing, art, film, design, or creative work, Dapple gives you everything you need — without the institutional overhead.
SlideRoom was designed to handle formal application processes: admissions, portfolio reviews, and institution-led selection workflows. It's powerful, but dense, complex and it looks like it's 20 years old…which it is.
Dapple is a modern, sleek alternative, designed specifically for creative organisations from day one — magazines, journals, prizes, awards, exhibitions, festivals, and independent programmes that care deeply about how creators experience the process.
The Applicant Journey
Creatives today want a beautiful, easy-to-use process. It shouldn't feel like a complex, stuffy application platform.
SlideRoom supports complex portfolios well, but many creative submitters find the experience closer to a formal application than a creative submission.
Dapple keeps the focus where it belongs: on the creative work.
Workflows
Creative industries often have varied, changing workflows. Dapple provides a simplistic way to create multiple, flexible workflows.
SlideRoom supports complex portfolios well, but many creative organisations find the experience hard to programme and clunky to operate. Dapple's structure is visual and easy to set up and edit.
Reviews
SlideRoom's review process is complex and difficult for reviewers to navigate.
Dapple's powerful review and juried panel feature regularly gets plaudits from the panel members themselves on it's ease of use and simplicity.
Pricing
SlideRoom's pricing is often structured around institutional budgets, with a combination of higher platform fees and per-application costs that can quickly add up. Dapple offers:
You shouldn't have to choose between covering your costs and being fair to your applicants. SlideRoom can charge a high amount per applicant (and even more if there are large files). Dapple doesn't charge a fee per applicant.
Reports and Analytics
Dapple gives you built-in visibility into how your programme is actually running:
It's designed to help you improve your process — not just report on it after the fact.
| Cost | Dapple | SlideRoom |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fees | Start from $35/m | $2,600/year + Submission fees |
| Industry discounts available | ||
| Application fee | no | up to $15 per applicant |
| Large file size charge | no | up to $3 per applicant |
| Unlimited paid submissions | ||
| Transaction fees | 3.5% + $0.65 | 3.9% |
| Monthly subscription option on all plans |
| Feature | Dapple | SlideRoom |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited form fields | ||
| Advanced permissions | ||
| Administrators can edit applications | ||
| Visual kanban boards | ||
| Advanced judge features | ||
| Common Room App Integration | ||
| All file types | ||
| Submission & creator tags | ||
| Project hub | ||
| Listings Page | ||
| Hide fields from review | ||
| Message scheduling | ||
| 1:1 messaging | ||
| Advanced bulk messaging | ||
| Form versioning | ||
| Reference request | ||
| Multi-team & org | ||
| Image display | ||
| Customised rounds on all plans | ||
| Immediate launch | ||
| Live chat support for all plans | ||
| Bulk assign | ||
| Audit history | ||
| Demo mode | ||
| Form conditional logic |
We know you're busy, but we'd love to save you time. Schedule a demo with our sales team and see how Dapple can help.
Book a demo