Hopin is an event management software that allows users to create and host in-person events or online events. In recent years, the demand for virtual and hybrid events has increased, and Hopin is an option many event organizers consider.
Hopin is a primarily virtual event management platform with functionality like live streaming, real-time engagement, and interactive features. If your company is prioritizing in-person events, however, Hopin might not be the best fit.
A prominent drawback to Hopin is that event organizers do not own their guest contact info outright, which means if your team uses Hopin, all of your attendee data is owned - and used - by Hopin. Hopin can do whatever they want with this data, potentially posing significant challenges to your company’s data privacy policies.
Signing up for and logging into an event should be simple and easy for attendees. However, Hopin’s attendee engagement experience is a hassle. To attend an event powered by Hopin, attendees must create a Hopin account - including 2-step verification. This functionality can hurt event registrations and hinder the overall event experience.
Hopin only comes with four out-of-the-box event templates, requiring extra configuration to ensure branding, formatting, and color consistency. This can make it difficult to scale events with Hopin because event organizers have to rely heavily on designers and developers.
Hopin has hard registration caps and levies additional charges if your event nets over 100 registrations. Other SaaS event management platforms, like Splash, will never punish you for having more people register and attend your event.
Choosing the right event management software is crucial for event organizers because it impacts the event experience, the perception of your brand, and revenue. The right event management software that fits your business’s needs can streamline the whole process for you, your team, and your attendees.
As a top-tier event marketing solution, Splash helps organizers easily create and execute beautifully on-brand and repeatable events. With Splash, customers are typically up and running in only a few hours, and virtual events through Splash are fully managed using its native streaming solution, unlike Hopin.
Related: Learn More About Splash Customers
Accelevents is an event management platform for virtual, hybrid, and in-person events. It offers various features to help create and manage successful events, like integration capabilities, in-person check-in options, real-time dashboards, and event registration pages.
Although Aceelevents does have functionality that supports virtual events, webinars, and in-person events, some users mention the difficulty of using and customizing the event experience and lag time during live streaming.
Accelevents pricing is also only available on request.
Fairs is a virtual event platform that allows organizations to host online conferences, trade shows, and job fairs. An interesting feature is that vFairs has 3D virtual venues for online events. It provides interactive features, including virtual booths, webinars, and chat functionalities, to simulate the experience of physical events. VFairs is one event management platform leaning heavily into virtual experiences and gamification.
As a result, some users mentioned that the attendee experience was confusing when figuring out where to go for the sessions. Some also note how long it can take to make simple changes on your event page in vFairs.
Bizzabo is an event management platform that helps event organizers create, manage, and promote events. It offers various functionalities like event registration, ticketing, CRM integrations, guest management, email and event marketing, and integration capabilities.
Although Bizzabo might work as an event management solution for some, it has limitations in event page editing and lacks automation in areas like email follow-up. With only five templates available, Bizzabo would work best for teams with dedicated resources with CSS and HTML expertise. Others note that customization options for website design and Bizzabo’s mobile app are lacking.
Bizzabo’s pricing starts around $15k, but plan on paying even more if you need add-ons such as integrations or registration credits or if you want to unlock virtual events.
Whova is an event management solution that supports both virtual and hybrid events. Features like event reminder notifications, integration into Salesforce and other CRM tools, and event check-in make Whova an OK option for event organizers.
However, users may find Whova’s customization capabilities limited compared to more flexible event management platforms, and users report that the mobile app can be challenging to navigate. Their pricing is only accessible upon request.
Cvent is a common name you'll see when researching event management software. It is best used in large and complex in-person event experiences, like conferences.
Although this event management platform does include features like a ticketing system, event registration, and integrations, Cvent has some drawbacks, like pricing complexity and event pages that are less customizable than other Eventbrite alternatives. Some businesses find it so difficult to use that onsite support from Cvent is occasionally needed - which comes with additional costs.
Cvent's pricing is substantially higher than Eventbrite, making it only a suitable choice for large businesses running complex events and conferences. Although Cvent's core license may look reasonably priced at first glance, obtaining essential add-ons like integrations, advanced badge printing, and event check-in options costs extra.
Hubilo is an event management platform supporting virtual and hybrid events, with functionality including real-time analytics for tracking participant engagement.
Hubilo users have commented on a few downsides, including limited options from pre-made templates and issues with its email manager. Hubilo offers a custom pricing model based on specific event needs.
Airmeet is a virtual event management platform primarily focused on webinars and online events. It has functionality around virtual summits and B2B marketing events and touts a unique virtual engagement platform.
Although Airmeet has some interesting offerings for creating event experiences, some users complain about how complicated it can be to use, unresolved technical glitches, and mentioned some issues with video and audio reliability during their virtual events.
It’s important to mention that Airmeet does not support in-person events, so only consider this option if you focus solely on online events. Airmeet offers various plans, and pricing is only available if you book a demo.
If your event team is stretched thin regarding budget and needs the absolute barebones of functionality, Microsoft Teams and Zoom are two options – albeit far from desirable. While these video conferencing tools are often used for live-streaming virtual events, they fall short in branding customization, registration ease, and event engagement tools, resulting in a less optimal organizer and attendee experience.
The type of event will dictate what requirements event organizers need in the software. While certain basic features like registration and payment processing might be standard across all event types, the emphasis on other features like interactivity, integrations, networking tools, exhibitor management, or streaming quality can vary based on whether you're organizing a trade show, summit, or webinar.
Many Hopin alternatives have similar pricing strategies, usually consisting of a base price. Where most will get you, though, is with extra costs for attendees and features event organizers need for their events.
A strong support team and robust customer service are crucial if you want successful events. Customer support can help you preemptively address potential issues and provide timely solutions, helping guarantee event success. When your events go smoothly and delight your attendees, trust and confidence in your brand also increase – often leading to more revenue for your organization.
Depending on your type of event, event organizers might require different features from their event software. Here are some examples of more advanced features:
Badge Printing: This tool enables the creation and printing of identification badges for event attendees, exhibitors, speakers, and staff. Badges often display essential information, such as the attendee's name, company, and role, and are used for easy identification, networking, and access control during the event.
CRM Integration: By integrating event management software with a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, organizers can seamlessly sync attendee data, track interactions, and manage relationships, both pre-and post-event. This integration ensures efficient communication and follow-ups and aids in lead nurturing and sales processes.
Expo Functionalities: These are tools specifically designed for an event's exhibition or trade show components. They can include features like floor plan mapping, booth allocation and booking, exhibitor profiles, lead capture mechanisms, and appointment scheduling between exhibitors and attendees.
Event Registration: This tool facilitates the process where attendees can sign up or buy tickets to the event. It handles capturing attendee details, processing payments (if applicable), and sending confirmations or tickets. Often, this tool also includes features for setting up different ticket types, discounts, and promotional codes.
Related: A Simple Way to Sell Tickets and Stay on Brand
Event App: An event app is a mobile application tailored for events; it offers features like schedules, speaker profiles, venue maps, and networking tools. Attendees can customize their agendas, engage in live polls, and access all event-related information, enhancing the overall attendee experience.
Hopin is one of many virtual event management software options, but it has limitations. It's not a great fit for organizers who need more than just a virtual event tool. Hopin’s attendee registration functionality raises questions and concerns over data ownership. Folks report hassles and friction in registering for a Hopin-powered event and limited customization for branding.
Each Hopin alternative has its strengths and potential drawbacks. However, Splash stands out as a top choice. When selecting an event management tool, organizers should consider the type of event, pricing strategy, customer support, and the range of advanced features offered to ensure they get what they need to run a successful events program.
