Webinar & Virtual Events · head to head
Hopin vs Welcome
Welcome
Webinar & Virtual Events
Enterprise event experience platform for memorable virtual events
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
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; Welcome the Internet Archive's capture of Welcome's homepage on 3 January 2021 confirmed its virtual events platform is sold only via 'Book a demo', with no price figure published, only customer case metrics (an average NPS score of 92 cited for one client).
- They diverge on capability: Hopin covers Virtual stages, Welcome covers Immersive event spaces.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Hopin and Welcome actually diverge.
Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated).
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
- Stripe
- Zapier
- Marketo
Only in Welcome
- Immersive event spaces
- Networking lounges
- Breakout sessions
- Event analytics
- White-label options
- Slack
- Okta
- IOS support
Both cover
- HubSpot
- Salesforce
- Web support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Hopin
- Event planningnot Welcome
- Ticket salesnot Welcome
- Attendee managementnot Welcome
- Virtual eventsnot Welcome
- Event marketingnot Welcome
Welcome
- Virtual Eventsnot Hopin
- Enterprise Eventsnot Hopin
- Networkingnot Hopin
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
Welcome
- The Internet Archive's capture of Welcome's homepage on 3 January 2021 confirmed its virtual events platform is sold only via 'Book a demo', with no price figure published, only customer case metrics (an average NPS score of 92 cited for one client).
Pricing, plan by plan
Hopin
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Hopin review.
Welcome
On request- Professional$999/month
- Up to 1000 attendees
- Custom event spaces
- Basic analytics
- Business$2499/month
- Up to 5000 attendees
- Advanced customization
- Networking features
- Enterprise$4999/month
- Unlimited attendees
- White-label solution
- Dedicated support
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.
Choose Welcome if
- You need immersive event spaces.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want networking lounges.
Questions people ask
- Is Hopin or Welcome better?
- Neither clearly leads. Hopin starts at Free and Welcome at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Hopin or Welcome?
- Hopin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Hopin and On request for Welcome.
- Does Hopin or Welcome run on more platforms?
- Hopin runs on Web, iOS, Android. Welcome runs on Web, IOS, Android.
- Can I use Hopin for free?
- Yes. Hopin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Welcome starts at On request.
- What is Hopin best used for?
- Hopin is most often used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events. Of those, event planning and ticket sales are not what Welcome is typically brought in for.
- What can Hopin do that Welcome cannot?
- Hopin covers Virtual stages, Networking sessions, Expo areas, Breakout rooms. Welcome covers Immersive event spaces, Networking lounges, Breakout sessions, Event analytics. Both handle HubSpot, Salesforce, 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.
SourceHopin: 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.
SourceHopin: 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.
SourceHopin: 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.
SourceHopin: 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.