5 Best Call for Entry (CaFÉ) Alternatives in 2026

Meta description:

CaFÉ (CallForEntry.org) is a widely used platform for managing juried calls and submissions, particularly among public art programs, municipalities, and institutional arts organizations.

That said, not every gallery or organization runs calls the same way. Some organizers look for alternatives based on how payments are handled, how fees scale over time, and how much control they have over their submission workflow.

In this article, I will compare 5 CaFÉ alternatives (EntryThingy, ArtCall, Submittable, ZAPP, and ShowSubmit) specifically from the perspective of galleries and call organizers.

We break down how each platform handles payments, pricing, and call management, and where each option works best depending on the type of juried calls you run.

Whether you manage a single annual exhibition or multiple recurring programs, this guide is designed to help you choose the platform that fits your operational needs.

If you're an artist looking to apply to art calls, this comparison can also help you understand how different platforms work. Browse active calls for entry on EntryThingy.

Comparison Table: CaFÉ Alternatives at a Glance

Platform	Best For	Payment Model	Pricing	Direct Payments
EntryThingy	Recurring juried calls, galleries wanting control	Direct to organizer's PayPal	$3 per submission (token-based)	Yes
ArtCall	Occasional/seasonal calls	Direct to organizer's Stripe	Starting at $79 per call (tiered)	Yes
Submittable	Complex multi-stage programs, grants	Platform-processed, delayed payout	Custom pricing + transaction fees	No
ZAPP	Large art fairs, festivals, exhibitor management	Platform-processed, monthly payout	$500-$1,500 setup + per-application fees	No
ShowSubmit	Small one-off exhibitions	Per-show billing	Per show + per artist	Varies

TL;DR: 5 Best CaFÉ Alternatives (Quick Overview)

1. EntryThingy: Best for galleries running recurring juried calls that want direct payments, consistent pricing, strong artist reach, and a high-quality call environment.

2. ArtCall: Best for organizers running occasional or seasonal calls who prefer pay-per-call pricing and flexible jury tools.

3. Submittable: Best for nonprofits and institutions managing complex, multi-stage applications across grants, residencies, or programs beyond art calls.

4. ZAPPlication: Best for large art fairs and festivals that need exhibitor management, booth logistics, and high-volume application workflows.

5. ShowSubmit: Best for small or one-off exhibitions that need a simple, all-in-one submission and jury setup.

Why Some Galleries and Organizers Look Beyond CaFÉ

CaFÉ is commonly used to manage juried calls and submissions, especially within public art programs and institutional settings. For many organizations, it offers a familiar and established workflow.

However, some art galleries and organizations look for alternatives when their needs around payments, budgeting, and call management differ.

One key consideration is how payments are handled. With CaFÉ, artist entry fees are processed by the platform first. Platform and processing fees are applied, and funds are released to organizers later on a payout schedule.

As shown in the pricing breakdown above, CaFÉ’s cost structure can also include:

• a one-time onboarding fee,
• per-call fees,
• per-application fees,
• annual renewal fees,
• and payment processing fees.

For organizations running multiple calls per year or recurring exhibitions, these layers add complexity to both payment flow and financial planning.

Limited visibility into payout timing, combined with multiple fee types, can make it harder to manage calls efficiently at scale.

Because of this, some galleries and call organizers look for platforms that:

• send entry fees directly to their own accounts,
• avoid payout delays,
• and offer simpler, more predictable pricing.

This is where alternatives like EntryThingy, ArtCall, Submittable, ZAPP, and ShowSubmit come into consideration. For a detailed feature comparison, see our EntryThingy vs CaFÉ comparison page.

1. EntryThingy: Best for Direct Payments, Predictable Pricing and a Simpler Workflow

EntryThingy is built specifically for juried art calls, exhibitions, and gallery submissions.

It’s used by more than 2,500 galleries and 160,000+ artists, and the platform recently released an updated version based on feedback from both organizers and artists.

Why organizers choose EntryThingy over CaFÉ

1. Direct payments.

Entry fees go straight to the organizer’s PayPal account. EntryThingy doesn’t hold funds or delay payouts.

2. Simple, predictable pricing.

1 submission = 1 token ($3). No onboarding fees, renewals, or per-call charges. (See full pricing)

3. Built-in call promotion.

EntryThingy provides access to a large, active artist network (160,000+ artists across email, Instagram, and Facebook), giving galleries comparable reach and visibility to CaFÉ when marketing their calls.

4. Higher-quality call environment.

EntryThingy actively works with artists to surface strong, legitimate calls and reduce low-quality or misleading listings.

As a result, galleries benefit from being associated with a platform known for credible, well-curated opportunities, rather than competing for attention alongside questionable calls.

EntryThingy is best for

• Galleries running recurring juried calls
• Organizations that want immediate access to entry fees
• Teams that value predictable costs and strong call visibility
• Galleries that want to be associated with high-quality, trusted calls

Migrating from CaFÉ or another vendor? We'll transfer your data for free.

2. ArtCall: Best for Occasional or Mid-Sized Juried Calls

ArtCall is a submission and jury management platform used by galleries, exhibitions, festivals, and art competitions.

It offers built-in jurying tools, customizable call pages, and a demo environment that lets organizers test the platform before launching a live call.

Why organizers choose it over CaFÉ

• Direct payments: Entry fees are paid directly to the organizer’s Stripe account, without being held by the platform.
• No onboarding or renewal fees: Unlike CaFÉ, ArtCall does not charge setup or annual subscription fees.
• Per-call pricing model: Costs are tied to individual calls rather than ongoing platform usage.

Good fit for

• Galleries running occasional or seasonal juried calls
• Organizers who want direct Stripe payouts
• Programs that prefer paying per call instead of committing annually
• Teams that don’t run many recurring exhibitions per year

3. Submittable: Best for Complex Programs and Multi-Stage Reviews

Submittable is a general-purpose application management platform used by nonprofits, foundations, universities, and institutions running grants, fellowships, residencies, and large-scale review programs.

It’s not built exclusively for art calls, but it’s often considered when organizations need more advanced workflow controls.

Why organizers choose it over CaFÉ

• Advanced review workflows: Supports multi-stage reviews, reviewer assignments, scoring, internal notes, and automated decision stages.

• Strong administrative controls: Includes reporting, fraud prevention, financial tracking, and full lifecycle oversight across programs.

• Institution-ready tooling: Designed for organizations managing grants, awards, and applications beyond visual art submissions.

Like CaFÉ, Submittable processes payments through the platform rather than sending entry fees directly to the organizer, which means payouts are not instant, and financial control is more centralized.

Good fit for

• Nonprofits and institutions running grants, residencies, or fellowships
• Organizations that need multi-stage review and internal collaboration
• Programs managing multiple application types, not just juried art calls
• Teams that prioritize process control and reporting over simple fee collection

4. ZAPPlication: Best for Large Art Fairs and Festival-Scale Submissions

ZAPPlication (often just called ZAPP) is a submission and exhibitor management platform designed for large art fairs, festivals, and multi-vendor events.

Its feature set goes beyond simple juried calls to include booth management, exhibitor logistics, and high-volume adjudication workflows.

Why organizers choose it over CaFÉ

• Event-centric tools: ZAPP is built for large fairs and festivals with exhibitors, including booth assignments, floor plans, and on-site logistics (features outside the scope of CaFÉ).

• Custom event configuration: Organizers can tailor exhibitor and participant workflows with more granularity than traditional gallery call systems.

• Better review flows: Jurying in high-volume scenarios (hundreds or thousands of applicants) is more scalable with ZAPP’s interface and backend tools compared to platforms built around small-to-mid-sized calls.

Good fit for

• Large art fairs, festivals, and exhibitor-heavy events
• Programs that need booth, vendor, and logistics management
• Organizations running high-volume or multi-stage adjudication
• Teams that prioritize event operational features alongside jury tools

5. ShowSubmit: Best for Small, One-Off Juried Shows

ShowSubmit is a submission platform designed for galleries and arts organizations that want a straightforward way to run juried exhibitions without complex setup.

It includes core tools like custom entry forms, jury panels, automated emails, and online galleries.

Why organizers choose it over CaFÉ

• Simpler setup: ShowSubmit is easier to configure than CaFÉ, making it accessible for smaller teams and first-time organizers.

• Per-show pricing: Costs are charged per show rather than through annual subscriptions or long-term contracts.

• Built-in jury tools: Everything needed to collect submissions and manage jury reviews is included out of the box.

Good fit for

• Galleries running small or one-off juried exhibitions
• Organizers who want a basic, all-in-one submission setup
• Teams that prioritize ease of use over pricing scalability
• Programs that don’t run frequent or recurring calls

Which Art Call Platform Is Most Cost-Effective?

When comparing CaFÉ alternatives, the biggest difference isn’t the exact dollar amount. It’s how predictable the pricing model is.

Some platforms layer multiple costs over time (onboarding fees, per-call charges, renewals, processing fees), which can make expenses harder to forecast, especially for recurring programs.

Others reduce complexity by limiting how many pricing variables organizers need to manage.

• EntryThingy uses a submission-based model that removes onboarding fees, renewals, and per-call charges, giving organizers consistent expectations across recurring programs.

• ArtCall charges per call, which can work well for occasional programs.

• Submittable and ZAPP use platform- or event-based pricing that varies by volume and configuration.

• ShowSubmit charges per show and per artist, which can scale quickly as submission numbers grow.

For galleries running recurring or multi-call juried programs, fewer pricing variables usually mean easier budgeting and less administrative overhead.

Start Using EntryThingy as a CaFÉ Alternative

EntryThingy is designed for galleries and arts organizations that want direct control over entry fees and predictable platform costs.

Payments go straight to the organizer’s PayPal account, without intermediary holds, payout delays, or revenue sharing.

The platform uses a simple token-based pricing model with no onboarding fees, no annual renewals, and no per-call charges, making it easy to manage costs across both single and recurring juried calls.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the best alternative to CaFÉ for art galleries?

EntryThingy is the best CaFÉ alternative for galleries that want direct payments, predictable pricing, and strong artist reach. Unlike CaFÉ, entry fees go straight to your PayPal account with no payout delays, and pricing is simple: $3 per submission with no onboarding fees or renewals.

How does EntryThingy differ from CaFÉ?

The main differences are: (1) EntryThingy sends payments directly to your account instead of holding funds, (2) simpler pricing with no onboarding fees, renewals, or per-call charges, (3) comparable artist reach through 160,000+ active artists, and (4) a higher-quality call environment that actively filters out questionable listings.

Which platform offers direct payments to organizers?

EntryThingy and ArtCall both offer direct payments. EntryThingy routes fees to your PayPal account, while ArtCall uses Stripe. CaFÉ, Submittable, and ZAPP process payments through their platforms and remit funds on a payout schedule.

Is CaFÉ worth the cost for small galleries?

For small galleries or those running occasional calls, CaFÉ's pricing structure (onboarding fee + per-call fees + per-application fees + renewals) can add up quickly. Platforms like EntryThingy or ArtCall may offer better value with simpler, more predictable pricing models.

What is the most cost-effective call for entry platform?

EntryThingy offers the most predictable pricing at $3 per submission with no hidden fees, making it cost-effective for galleries running recurring calls. ArtCall works well for occasional calls with pay-per-call pricing. The "best" option depends on your call frequency and payment preferences.

Can I migrate my data from CaFÉ to EntryThingy?

Yes, EntryThingy offers free data migration from CaFÉ and other platforms. The team will transfer your existing data to help you switch without losing historical information.

Which platform is best for large art fairs?

ZAPP (ZAPPlication) is specifically designed for large art fairs and festivals with features like booth management, floor plans, exhibitor logistics, and high-volume application processing that go beyond standard gallery calls.

Do all platforms charge payment processing fees?

Most platforms charge payment processing fees (typically 2.9-3.25% + $0.30 per transaction). EntryThingy's direct payment model means you only pay standard PayPal processing fees directly to PayPal, with no additional platform markup.