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Software · head to head

edX vs Hopin

edX logo

edX

Software

Online courses from the world's top universities

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hopin logo

Hopin

Software

Virtual and hybrid events at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Hopin has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: edX individual course costs not displayed; pricing requires enrollment to view; Hopin platform complexity with feature breadth that results in no single feature being particularly strong compared to specialized competitors
  • They diverge on capability: edX covers Video lectures, Hopin covers Virtual stages.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which edX and Hopin actually diverge.

Attributes where edX and Hopin differ
AttributeedXHopin
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
Founded20122019

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in edX

  • Video lectures
  • Interactive exercises
  • Discussion forums
  • Certificates
  • MicroMasters
  • Professional certificates
  • Degrees
  • Mobile learning

Only in Hopin

  • Virtual stages
  • Networking sessions
  • Expo areas
  • Breakout rooms
  • Live streaming
  • Stripe
  • HubSpot
  • Salesforce

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

edX

  • Learners seeking university-level credentials from elite institutions (MIT, Harvard, Cambridge)not Hopin
  • Career changers pursuing MicroMasters or professional certificatesnot Hopin
  • Individuals in regions with limited access to higher educationnot Hopin

Hopin

  • Event planningnot edX
  • Ticket salesnot edX
  • Attendee managementnot edX
  • Virtual eventsnot edX
  • Event marketingnot edX

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

edX

  • Individual course costs not displayed; pricing requires enrollment to view

Hopin

  • Platform complexity with feature breadth that results in no single feature being particularly strong compared to specialized competitors
  • Hard registration caps with additional charges if events exceed 100 registrations
  • Post-acquisition delays with slow account activation taking up to 45 days and slow responses to onboarding questions
  • High pricing particularly problematic for organizations running occasional or simple webinars
  • No Facebook or YouTube live streaming integration and limited caption support for accessibility

Pricing, plan by plan

edX

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the edX review.

Hopin

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Hopin review.

Which should you pick?

Choose edX if

  • You need video lectures.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want interactive exercises.
edX review

Choose Hopin if

  • You need virtual stages.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want networking sessions.
Hopin review

Questions people ask

Is edX or Hopin better?
Neither clearly leads. edX starts at On request and Hopin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, edX or Hopin?
Hopin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for edX and Free for Hopin.
Does edX or Hopin run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Hopin for free?
Yes. Hopin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. edX starts at On request.
What is edX best used for?
edX is most often used for learners seeking university-level credentials from elite institutions (mit, harvard, cambridge), career changers pursuing micromasters or professional certificates, individuals in regions with limited access to higher education. Of those, learners seeking university-level credentials from elite institutions (mit, harvard, cambridge) and career changers pursuing micromasters or professional certificates are not what Hopin is typically brought in for.
What can edX do that Hopin cannot?
edX covers Video lectures, Interactive exercises, Discussion forums, Certificates. Hopin covers Virtual stages, Networking sessions, Expo areas, Breakout rooms. Both handle Web support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hopin: What is Hopin's pricing?

Hopin (now RingCentral Events) starts at approximately $99 per organizer per month (billed annually) for the Events Pro plan, with higher tiers at $199 and $299 per month adding onsite capabilities and advanced integrations. A free plan is available with limited features.

Source
Hopin: What features does Hopin include?

Hopin provides registration, live streaming, networking tools (1:1 video matchmaking, breakout rooms), virtual reception and expo areas, real-time analytics and reporting, and integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and Pardot.

Source
Hopin: Can Hopin live stream to Facebook or YouTube?

No. Hopin does not offer native options to live stream video conferencing directly to Facebook or YouTube. This requires manual setup or third-party solutions.

Source
Hopin: Does Hopin provide automated captions during events?

Hopin does not offer built-in caption support across all features, which is a limitation for accessibility and engagement during live sessions.

Source
Hopin: Who acquired Hopin?

RingCentral acquired Hopin in late 2023. The platform is now sold as RingCentral Events with ongoing support and updates managed by RingCentral.

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