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Webinar & Virtual Events · head to head

Hopin vs Zoom Webinars

Hopin logo

Hopin

Webinar & Virtual Events

Virtual and hybrid events at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoom Webinars logo

Zoom Webinars

Webinar & Virtual Events

Dedicated webinar platform by Zoom for large-scale events

From
On request
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; Zoom Webinars webinars tier limited to standard platform features; advanced features like pre-recorded content and multi-session events require Webinars Plus or Events tier
  • They diverge on capability: Hopin covers Virtual stages, Zoom Webinars covers Attendee registration.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hopin and Zoom Webinars actually diverge.

Attributes where Hopin and Zoom Webinars differ
AttributeHopinZoom Webinars
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidCloud-based SaaS
Founded20192011

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Webinar & Virtual Events).

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
  • Live streaming
  • Stripe
  • Zapier
  • Ios support

Only in Zoom Webinars

  • Attendee registration
  • HD video
  • Screen sharing
  • Polls and surveys
  • Q&A
  • Recording
  • Analytics
  • Google Workspace

Both cover

  • Breakout rooms
  • HubSpot
  • Salesforce
  • Marketo
  • Web support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Hopin

  • Event planningnot Zoom Webinars
  • Ticket salesnot Zoom Webinars
  • Attendee managementnot Zoom Webinars
  • Virtual eventsnot Zoom Webinars
  • Event marketingnot Zoom Webinars

Zoom Webinars

  • Large-scale broadcasts with 10,000+ attendeesnot Hopin
  • Multi-session virtual events and hybrid conferencesnot 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

Zoom Webinars

  • Webinars tier limited to standard platform features; advanced features like pre-recorded content and multi-session events require Webinars Plus or Events tier
  • All tiers support up to 100,000 attendees but 30-hour event limit applies across all packages

Pricing, plan by plan

Hopin

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Hopin review.

Zoom Webinars

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Zoom Webinars review.

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 Zoom Webinars if

  • You need attendee registration.
  • You work on Cloud-based SaaS.
  • You also want hd video.
Zoom Webinars review

Questions people ask

Is Hopin or Zoom Webinars better?
Neither clearly leads. Hopin starts at Free and Zoom Webinars at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hopin or Zoom Webinars?
Hopin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Hopin and On request for Zoom Webinars.
Does Hopin or Zoom Webinars run on more platforms?
Hopin runs on Web, iOS, Android. Zoom Webinars runs on Cloud-based SaaS.
Can I use Hopin for free?
Yes. Hopin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zoom Webinars 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 Zoom Webinars is typically brought in for.
What can Hopin do that Zoom Webinars cannot?
Hopin covers Virtual stages, Networking sessions, Expo areas, Live streaming. Zoom Webinars covers Attendee registration, HD video, Screen sharing, Polls and surveys. Both handle Breakout rooms, HubSpot, Salesforce, Marketo.

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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