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Software · head to head

Hopin vs Planning Pod

Hopin logo

Hopin

Software

Virtual and hybrid events at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Planning Pod logo

Planning Pod

Software

Event planning software that works

From
$59/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Hopin has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Hopin platform complexity with feature breadth that results in no single feature being particularly strong compared to specialized competitors; Planning Pod subscription pricing is metered by concurrent event volume rather than seats: the vendor states "Subscription pricing is based on the number of events your venue manages at any given time" and that "most single-location venues land between $199 and $319 per month."
  • They diverge on capability: Hopin covers Virtual stages, Planning Pod covers Lead management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hopin and Planning Pod actually diverge.

Attributes where Hopin and Planning Pod differ
AttributeHopinPlanning Pod
Starting priceFree$59/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20192012

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 Hopin

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

Only in Planning Pod

  • Lead management
  • Floor plans
  • Budgeting
  • Timeline
  • Client portal
  • QuickBooks
  • PayPal
  • Google Calendar

Both cover

  • Stripe
  • Zapier
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Hopin

  • Event planning
  • Ticket sales
  • Attendee management
  • Virtual events
  • Event marketing

Planning Pod

  • Event planning
  • Ticket sales
  • Attendee management
  • Virtual events
  • Event marketing

Both are used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events, event marketing, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

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

Planning Pod

  • Subscription pricing is metered by concurrent event volume rather than seats: the vendor states "Subscription pricing is based on the number of events your venue manages at any given time" and that "most single-location venues land between $199 and $319 per month."

Pricing, plan by plan

Hopin

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Hopin review.

Planning Pod

$59/month
  • Planner$59/month
    • Basic planning tools
    • 5 events
    • Email support
  • Professional$99/month
    • Unlimited events
    • Floor plans
    • Budget tracking
  • Business$199/month
    • Team features
    • Client portal
    • API access

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Planning Pod if

  • You need lead management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want floor plans.
Planning Pod review

Questions people ask

Is Hopin or Planning Pod better?
Neither clearly leads. Hopin starts at Free and Planning Pod at $59/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hopin or Planning Pod?
Hopin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Hopin and $59/month for Planning Pod.
Does Hopin or Planning Pod run on more platforms?
Hopin runs on Web, iOS, Android. Planning Pod runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Hopin for free?
Yes. Hopin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Planning Pod starts at $59/month.
What is Hopin best used for?
Hopin is most often used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events.
What can Hopin do that Planning Pod cannot?
Hopin covers Virtual stages, Networking sessions, Expo areas, Breakout rooms. Planning Pod covers Lead management, Floor plans, Budgeting, Timeline. Both handle Stripe, Zapier, Web support, Ios 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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Related pages

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