Softwr

Software · head to head

Hopin vs Whereby

Hopin logo

Hopin

Software

Virtual and hybrid events at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Whereby logo

Whereby

Software

No downloads, no logins - just video meetings that work

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Hopin platform complexity with feature breadth that results in no single feature being particularly strong compared to specialized competitors; Whereby no breakout rooms, polls, or whiteboard tools
  • They diverge on capability: Hopin covers Virtual stages, Whereby covers Browser-based meetings.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hopin and Whereby actually diverge.

Attributes where Hopin and Whereby differ
AttributeHopinWhereby
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded20192013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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
  • Stripe
  • Salesforce
  • Zapier

Only in Whereby

  • Browser-based meetings
  • No downloads required
  • Personal room URLs
  • Screen sharing
  • Recording
  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • Slack

Both cover

  • HubSpot
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Hopin

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

Whereby

  • Client meetingsnot Hopin
  • Remote consultationsnot Hopin
  • Team standupsnot Hopin
  • Webinarsnot 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

Whereby

  • No breakout rooms, polls, or whiteboard tools
  • Hard cap of 200 participants and performance drops with groups of 12+
  • No phone dial-in option for participants without internet
  • Occasional connectivity issues and laggy screen sharing reported

Pricing, plan by plan

Hopin

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Hopin review.

Whereby

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 meeting room
    • 100 participants
    • Screen sharing
  • Pro$6.99/month
    • 3 meeting rooms
    • Custom branding
    • Recording
  • Business$11.99/month
    • Unlimited rooms
    • SSO
    • Analytics

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 Whereby if

  • You need browser-based meetings.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want no downloads required.

Questions people ask

Is Hopin or Whereby better?
Neither clearly leads. Hopin starts at Free and Whereby at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hopin or Whereby?
Hopin starts at Free and Whereby at Free.
Does Hopin or Whereby run on more platforms?
Hopin runs on Web, iOS, Android. Whereby runs on Web.
Can I use Hopin for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Whereby is typically brought in for.
What can Hopin do that Whereby cannot?
Hopin covers Virtual stages, Networking sessions, Expo areas, Breakout rooms. Whereby covers Browser-based meetings, No downloads required, Personal room URLs, Screen sharing. Both handle HubSpot, Web support, Ios 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
Whereby: Does Whereby require software downloads?

No. Whereby is browser-based and requires no downloads or complex configuration. Participants join via a simple link without needing to install software.

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
Whereby: What is Whereby's pricing model?

Whereby offers a free-forever plan and paid plans starting at $5.82/month when billed annually. Whereby does not offer a free trial.

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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