Who's In vs Hopin
Hopin was built for virtual events and pivoted to hybrid — but in-person conferences need different tools. Who's In Conference is purpose-built for real-world conferences with QR check-in, speaker profiles, sponsor management, and face-to-face networking. From $40.83/mo billed annually.
Starter and Growth plans · 14-day free trial
By Craig Pollard, Founder & CEO · Reviewed July 2026
Last updated: July 2026
Who's In
$40.83/mo billed annually • Built for In-Person
- Conference management from $40.83/mo billed annually — in-person focused
- QR check-in for real-world events
- Speaker profiles & sponsor tiers
- Email broadcasts to attendees
- 0% Who's In fee on ticket sales
Hopin
Virtual-First • Hybrid • Subscription
- Strong virtual event infrastructure
- Built-in video streaming and breakout rooms
- Virtual expo and networking features
- Now sold as RingCentral Events on RingCentral plans
- Virtual-first — in-person is secondary
- Pivoted multiple times — uncertain product direction
- Heavy platform — overkill for in-person events
- Virtual networking doesn't replace hallway conversations
Hopin Virtualizes Events.
Who's In Brings People Together.
Hopin built its reputation streaming virtual events during the pandemic. As the world returned to in-person, Hopin pivoted to hybrid — but its core DNA is still virtual. Video stages, virtual expo halls, and digital networking are great online, but they're not what in-person conference organizers need.
Who's In Conference is built from the ground up for real-world conferences. QR check-in at the door, printed badge support, speaker greenroom management and sponsor booth placement, for attendees who are in the venue — not behind a screen.
💰 Hopin is a virtual-first platform. Who's In Conference is $49/mo, or $490/yr, and built for the conferences people actually attend in person.
Why Virtual-First Platforms Fail In-Person Events
- • Virtual networking tools are useless at physical venues
- • Streaming infrastructure you're paying for but not using
- • No native QR check-in for real-world attendance
- • Virtual expo halls don't help sponsors with booth logistics
- • Breakout rooms designed for video, not physical rooms
- • Attendee engagement metrics track screen time, not real interactions
- • Heavy platform slows down simple scheduling tasks
- • Paying for video bandwidth you don't need
Who's In Conference: Built for the Real World
- QR check-in — scan at the door, instant attendance
- Multi-track agendas with physical room assignments
- Speaker profiles with on-site session management
- Sponsor tiers with real-world booth visibility
- Email broadcasts to attendees, filtered by registration status
- Rule-based attendee matchmaking
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Who's In | Hopin |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription | From $40.83/mo billed annually | — |
| Transaction Fee | 0% Who's In fee (Stripe processing only) | Varies by plan |
| Primary Focus | In-person conferences | Virtual/hybrid events |
| QR Check-In | Included — built for venues | Limited |
| Multi-Track Agenda | Included — room assignments | Yes — virtual stages |
| Speaker Management | Included — profiles & sessions | Yes |
| Sponsor Management | Included — tiered visibility | Virtual expo focus |
| Registration & Ticketing | Included — multiple types | Included in paid plans |
| Video Streaming | No (link to external) | Built-in stages |
| Virtual Expo Hall | No | Yes |
| Virtual Networking | No | Built-in matchmaking |
| In-Person Networking | Rule-based matchmaking | Limited |
| Analytics | Included — registrations & check-ins | Video engagement metrics |
| Waitlist Management | Included + auto-notify | Basic |
| LinkedIn Integration | Native sign-in | Limited |
| Mobile Experience | PWA — no download | Web + mobile app |
| Setup Complexity | Self-serve — minutes | Moderate — hours |
| Contract Required | No | Monthly or annual |
| Event Photo Album | Up to 10 images with lightbox, included | Limited or paid plan |
| Downloadable Documents (PDF/Office/iWork) | Up to 3 files per event, included | No |
| Organiser Socials (8 platforms) | X, FB, IG, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Reddit auto-synced | Limited |
Who's In is Perfect For
Tech Conferences
In-person dev conferences with hallway track culture
Academic Conferences
Research presentations with real Q&A and poster sessions
Nonprofit Summits
Community gatherings where face-to-face matters
Corporate Conferences
Company-wide events and leadership summits
Community Conferences
Grassroots events built on real human connection
Industry Events
Trade conferences with sponsor booths and demos
Running a virtual or hybrid event with live streaming? Hopin has the infrastructure for that. Running an in-person conference where people actually meet? That's Who's In Conference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Who's In Conference a good Hopin alternative?▼
Yes — specifically for in-person conferences. Who's In Conference offers multi-track agendas, speaker profiles, sponsor management, registration, and QR check-in — from $40.83/mo billed annually and built for real-world events. Hopin excels at virtual/hybrid events with streaming, but those features are unnecessary overhead for in-person conferences.
How much does Hopin cost vs Who's In Conference?▼
Hopin's events platform is now RingCentral Events, sold on RingCentral's own plans. Who's In Conference is a flat subscription, $49/mo or $490/yr, with a 0% Who's In fee on ticket sales (Stripe's standard processing applies).
Can Who's In Conference handle hybrid events?▼
Who's In Conference is optimized for in-person events. For hybrid setups, you can add a virtual join link that registered remote attendees receive, with the stream running on your own video tool. However, if your event is primarily virtual or needs built-in video streaming, Hopin or a dedicated virtual platform may be a better fit.
Does Who's In Conference have virtual networking like Hopin?▼
Who's In Conference focuses on real-world networking, with rule-based matchmaking from shared interests, industry, goals, role and tracks. Hopin offers AI-powered virtual networking with video matchmaking, which is great for online events but irrelevant when your attendees are in the same building.
Why choose an in-person focused tool over a hybrid platform?▼
Hybrid platforms like Hopin add complexity and cost for features you don't use at in-person events. You're paying for video streaming infrastructure, virtual expo halls, and digital networking when your attendees are physically present. Who's In Conference eliminates that overhead and focuses on what in-person events actually need: check-in, scheduling, speaker management, and on-site logistics.
Does Who's In Conference support QR check-in?▼
Yes — this is a core feature. Every registered attendee receives a QR code. Your team scans it with any smartphone camera for instant check-in. You get real-time check-in numbers at the door. Hopin's check-in features are designed for virtual attendance, not physical venues.
Can I migrate from Hopin to Who's In Conference?▼
Yes. You can recreate your event in Who's In Conference with your agenda, speakers, and sponsors. The self-serve setup means you can be live in minutes. With the 14-day free trial, you can set it up alongside your existing tool to compare before fully switching.
Start free, scale when you're ready
Unlimited events and RSVPs, automatic waitlists, reminders, QR check-in, calendar sync, WhatsApp sharing
No monthly fee. Ticket money, minus the 2.7%, is transferred to your own Stripe account at the moment of sale.
Paid Starter and Growth plans, each with a 14-day free trial. Starter is $10/mo for Clubs (up to 99 members), $19/mo for Studio, $49/mo for Conference. 0% Who's In fee on member payments.
Every feature works the moment you turn it on. No configuration required.
Events is free, with no credit card needed. Clubs, Studio and Conference start with a 14-day free trial.
In-Person Conferences Need In-Person Tools
Get QR check-in, speaker management, and real networking — all included with Who's In Conference.
No streaming fees • No virtual overhead • 0% Who's In fee on ticket sales · 14-day free trial