EngageTime vs HotSeat.im
EngageTime
engagetime.liveHotSeat.im
hotseat.imSide by side
| Figure | EngageTime | HotSeat.im |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €9/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 16 | 3 |
| Spec score · Audience Response Systems | 9.0 (#11) | 7.5 (#94) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | EngageTime offers Sessionize CSV session import and a Microsoft PowerPoint add-in for displaying live polls. | The maker says recap cards can be shared to Slack, social stories or group chats, and Enterprise plans can include custom integrations. |
| Live polling | Yes | Yes |
| Live Q&A | Yes | Yes |
| Privacy | The privacy policy says attendees can join anonymously without accounts, attendee submissions are not associated with identified individuals, and the service does not sell personal information. | The privacy policy says the service does not require accounts or collect email, phone number, password or payment details for core use; participants may provide a display name, optional selfie or quiz responses. |
| Product | EngageTime turns event sessions into audience contacts, feedback, and follow-up, with live polls and Q&A. | HotSeat.im is a live audience engagement platform for events, classrooms, lectures, talks and similar group settings. |
| Quiz mode | Yes | Yes |
| Support | The support page offers email support, a Discord community, and GitHub issue reporting. | Pro lists priority email support and hands-on rollout assistance; Enterprise lists dedicated onboarding and training plus an account manager and SLA. |
| Use cases | The maker presents EngageTime for conferences, summits, workshops, training sessions, and virtual or hybrid events. | The maker lists conferences, classrooms, corporate all-hands, coaching and training, webinars, workshops, and community meetups as use cases. |
Plans
EngageTime
- FreemiumFree
- Plus€9 a month
- Premium€39 a month
- Meetup Starter€19 a month
- Meetup Plus€49 a month
- Event Starter€1,000, paid once
- Event Plus€1,499, paid once
- Event Premium€2,499, paid once
- Meetup Starter€19 a month
- Meetup Plus€49 a month
In their own words
EngageTime
EngageTime turns event sessions into opportunities for audience participation, feedback, and follow-up through live polls and Q&A. Attendees can join from any device in a web browser without installing an app. They can ask questions anonymously, vote questions up, and participate in moderated Q&A. Sessions can also include quizzes, trivia, emoji reactions, ratings, and comments. The service reports on engagement, questions, poll responses, and learning outcomes. Speakers can share materials, collect attendee contact details with opt-in for follow-ups, and export contacts or send them to a CRM through the API. EngageTime offers Sessionize CSV session import and a Microsoft PowerPoint add-in for displaying live polls. Event plans include session moderation and CSV exports; higher tiers add multi-track scheduling and branding. The maker presents it for conferences, summits, workshops, training, and virtual or hybrid events. A Freemium pricing card lists one active session and 20 attendees, though other homepage copy advertises free use for up to 100 attendees. Paid plans begin at €9/mo. Listed platforms are API, extension, macOS, web, and Windows.