HackHQ vs Devpost. Built for Organizers, Not Sales Cycles.
Devpost runs a public hackathon directory with managed services. HackHQ is the modern organizer experience: transparent pricing from $199, 30-minute setup, mobile-friendly judging, and live results that work under pressure. See how we compare side by side.
HackHQ vs Devpost in Four Bullets
HackHQ pricing is public and starts at $0. Devpost pricing is sales-only with no public dollar figures for non-student events.
HackHQ launches in 30 minutes with self-serve setup. Devpost setup involves sales calls and managed services.
Neither judges nor participants need HackHQ accounts. Devpost requires accounts for both, with participants joining the public Devpost directory.
HackHQ events live on your branding. Devpost events live on devpost.com subdomains with Devpost branding.
HackHQ vs Devpost at a Glance
| Dimension | HackHQ | Devpost |
|---|---|---|
| Public pricing | Yes, from $0 | Sales-only |
| Time to launch | 30 minutes self-serve | Sales call required |
| Per-seat fees | Never | Sales-only |
| Mobile-friendly judging | Yes, no account | Account required |
| Money back guarantee | 14 days | Not advertised |
| Registration approach | Pair with Luma, Eventbrite, or your community | Devpost ecosystem only |
The Full Comparison Table
Every meaningful feature, side by side. Hover any cell with extra detail for the source or context.
Pricing & Plans
| Feature | HackHQ | Devpost |
|---|---|---|
Free plan available | Up to 10 submissions | Students only |
Public pricing on website | ||
Self-serve checkout | Stripe, instant | |
Pay per event | $199 / $599 | Custom quote |
No per-seat fees | Not publicly documented | |
14-day money-back guarantee |
Setup & Onboarding
| Feature | HackHQ | Devpost |
|---|---|---|
Time to launch first event | 30 minutes | Multi-week sales cycle |
Self-serve event creation | Self-serve for basic tier only | |
No demo call required | ||
Pre-built templates | Smart defaults | Limited (Teams product) |
Customer support | Direct team email + video calls | Managed-services tier only |
Submissions
| Feature | HackHQ | Devpost |
|---|---|---|
Custom submission form builder | ||
Six question types | Text + dropdowns | |
Auto embeds (YouTube, Loom, GitHub, Twitter/X) | Video links only | |
Bulk CSV import for submissions | ||
No participant accounts required | ||
Public read-only share links per project | ||
CSV export of submission data |
Voting & Judging
| Feature | HackHQ | Devpost |
|---|---|---|
Three voting modes (Judge / Audience / Hybrid) | ||
Score Criteria + Top Picks methods | Score Criteria only | |
Weighted criteria (custom weights) | 1-5 scoring, equal weight | |
Track and challenge specific criteria | ||
Three judge assignment modes | By track or expertise | |
No account required for judges | ||
Mobile-friendly judging interface | Browser only, no mobile app | |
Bulk judge CSV import |
Results & Awards
| Feature | HackHQ | Devpost |
|---|---|---|
Live leaderboard during ceremony | ||
Borda Count (ranked Top Picks) | ||
One click winner assignment | Manual workflow | |
Auto generated certificates | ||
LinkedIn shareable verification links | ||
CSV export with scores and feedback |
Privacy & Business Model
How each platform makes money, and whose data is involved.
| Feature | HackHQ | Devpost |
|---|---|---|
Revenue from organizer payments only | Events + sponsor reach | |
Participants and judges work without accounts | ||
Sponsor packages include developer audience reach | ||
Participant data stays inside your event | Public profile + directory |
Branding & Audience
| Feature | HackHQ | Devpost |
|---|---|---|
Audience model | Bring your own (any tool) | Devpost ecosystem only |
Suitable for internal events with no registration | Devpost for Teams | |
Marketing support and community promotion | ||
Project gallery after the event | ||
Searchable project gallery with filters | ||
Hosted on devpost.com subdomain |
How Pricing Compares
HackHQ
Public, transparent, pay per event
- Free plan: 10 submissions, 3 judges, 50 audience voters
- Starter: $199 per event for up to 50 submissions
- Pro: $599 per event for up to 200 submissions, unlimited judges and audience voters
- 14-day money-back guarantee on every paid plan
- No per-seat fees, ever
Devpost
Sales-led, custom quote
- Free for student-run, student-only hackathons
- All other tiers require a sales call (Basic, Mid, Full service)
- No public dollar figures published
- Pricing scales with managed services tier and event scope
- Marketing support and community promotion bundled into managed tiers
- Sales-led pricing in this category typically starts well above HackHQ Pro at $599 per event
Source: devpost.com
HackHQ Fits Any Hackathon Workflow
You bring participants from wherever makes sense. We handle submissions, judging, and results. No vendor lock in for your audience.
Public hackathons
Pair HackHQ with Luma, Eventbrite, or whatever registration tool you already use. They handle signups and reminders. HackHQ handles submissions, judging, and live results.
Community hackathons
Use your existing channels for reach: Slack, Discord, your university list, alumni networks, sponsor newsletters. HackHQ never asks you to switch ecosystems or grow a third-party developer audience.
Internal hackathons
No registration needed. Your employees are your participants. HackHQ runs the event end-to-end (submissions, judging, certificates, results) without forcing you into anyone else's ecosystem.
When Devpost is the right choice
- You want to be listed in the Devpost.com directory and tap into organic discovery from their public hackathon listings.
- You need turnkey managed services (project management, design, prize fulfillment) and have the budget for them.
- You want marketing support and community promotion through Devpost as part of a managed engagement.
- Devpost has invested in distribution channels. If those specific channels are the right fit for your event, that is a real reason to consider them.
Why teams choose HackHQ over Devpost
Transparent pricing you can budget against
Free, $199, or $599 per event. No sales calls, no surprise quotes, no per-seat math. You can see the full pricing before you sign up.
Live in 30 minutes, not three weeks
Sign up, create your event, and share the submission link the same afternoon. Smart defaults handle the boring choices so you can focus on your participants.
Judges and participants both work without accounts
Personalized links for everyone. Judges score from a link, participants submit from a link. No signups, no passwords, no profile to maintain. Devpost requires accounts for both, and participants on public events also appear in the platform-wide Devpost developer directory.
Direct line to the team, not a support queue
Email replies in hours, not days, on every plan. Need a video call? Just ask. No CSM tier required, no sales call needed. With Devpost, that level of access typically comes with managed-services engagements.
Live results that work under pressure
Real-time leaderboard with weighted averages and Borda Count. Updates the moment a judge submits a score. No spreadsheet formulas to break at the worst moment.
LinkedIn certificates that follow the participant
Every team member gets a verifiable LinkedIn certificate with a public verification page. They post it to the platform employers actually look at. Devpost offers participants a Devpost gallery profile, which lives within the Devpost ecosystem. HackHQ gives participants something they can take with them.
No per-seat fees
Bring your whole organizing committee, every department head, and every judge. Pricing is based on event scale, not how many people log in.
Works with whatever registration you already use
Pair HackHQ with Luma, Eventbrite, your Slack, your university list, or run an internal event with no registration at all. We do not lock you into a single ecosystem.
Competition structure that sorts itself
Combine Overall awards, mutually-exclusive Tracks, and opt-in Challenges in the same event. Teams self-categorize during submission, so you skip the spreadsheet sorting that breaks at the worst moment.
Your participant list stays yours
We make money only from organizer event payments. No participant directory, no recruiting product, no participant data resold or shared with sponsors.
HackHQ vs Devpost FAQ
Try the Devpost Alternative With Public Pricing.
Start free, no credit card required. Set up your event in 30 minutes and decide if HackHQ fits.
Email hello@hackhq.io and we will help you import submissions and judges from your current platform.