Part of promoting your apps is entering (and winning !) contests. Although it’s always better to get the #1 spot, submitting your app to awards will give you several benefits like exposure, feedback and credibility. Which is always good for your app marketing !
Here is a list that I’ve gathered. There aren’t many awards with no submission fee, and no mandatory booth at an exhibition. This list will be updated as new awards come up so drop a line in the comments if you know of any good one.
Best App Ever Awards by 148apps.com
iPhone & Android apps – Submissions before the end of each year
The awards were started in 2008, and here is what 148apps says about it : “The Best App Ever Awards were created to celebrate the best mobile apps and games available, as chosen by our readers. Our goal is to help gather together the very favorite apps of the real users, not just the best-selling ones”.
It has many categories, so many that I didn’t feel like counting them. It goes from Infant Apps to Cooking Apps, and now includes games.
AppCircus competition
All App Stores – Submissions all year round
AppCircus defines itself as “the global showcase of innovative apps“. It has several partners (including Mobile Monday), and have over 50 live events worldwide where developers pitch their apps. I actually discovered them at this year’s Mobile World Congress for the Mobile Premier Awards (with not even one technical problem during the event, which doesn’t happen much in my experience). Winning your local event might give you a chance to pitch at this Mobile Premier Awards next year, so check out the Agenda !
Appsfire App Star Awards
iOS apps – Contest starting in May
The App Star Awards enters its third edition this year. It is “a contest to highlight and reward new and upcoming iOS apps”. Appsfire, the App discovery app (also the maker of the AppBooster sdk, which I will soon talk about), is partnering up with several major blogs (148apps, Techcrunch, TheNextWeb) for this award, which should bring really good exposure to the winning apps.
Apple Design Awards
iOS apps – Contest starting in May
Apple has its own awards, which aims at identifying the most well-designed, state of the art and innovative apps. Every iOS developer can submit an app, and has to explain why it should be selected. If you think your app fits the criterias, don’t hesitate !
Appsters Awards, in association with AppsWorld
All platforms -
These are new awards launched at the occasion of the AppsWorld Exhibition in London that takes place in October. The Appsters are “a showbiz party occasion for apps industry high flyers and sharp shooters to celebrate being at the top of one of the fastest growing tech sectors on the planet”. Sounds pretty fancy, but you have nothing to loose so if you’re confident in your app you can submit it in one or several of the 12 categories. Amongst those categories: Startup App, Most Innovative App, Best Consumer App, Best Payment App, etc. If you’re interested in attending the AppsWorld even, you can also request a Free Exhibition Registration.
Swiss - Swiss App Awards
(Only for Swiss companies)
All Platforms
The idea of these awards is to stimulate the swiss app industry by celebrating the best apps and giving them attention. The apps are rated by a jury from 1 to 10 on three criterias : design, functionality and usability. There are seven categories, some of them being swiss-oriented like “Best Watch App” or “Best Bank App”. Nothing mentioned about chocolate, though 
If you know of any other good awards or contests, drop a comment and I’ll add them to the list.
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