HackHQ vs HackerEarth. Hackathons Without the Recruiting Funnel.
HackerEarth Sprint is bundled with assessments and ATS integrations for hiring funnels. HackHQ is purpose-built for hackathons as innovation events: transparent pricing, self-serve setup, and a clean separation from recruiting.
HackHQ vs HackerEarth in Four Bullets
HackHQ is purpose-built for hackathons as innovation events. HackerEarth bundles hackathons with technical assessments and recruiting integrations.
HackHQ pricing is public from $0. HackerEarth Sprint pricing is sales-only with no published figures.
HackHQ launches in 30 minutes with self-serve setup. HackerEarth is heavily managed services oriented.
Neither judges nor participants need HackHQ accounts. HackerEarth requires accounts for both, with participant data feeding the recruiting funnel.
HackHQ vs HackerEarth at a Glance
| Dimension | HackHQ | HackerEarth |
|---|---|---|
| Public pricing | Yes, from $0 | Sales-only |
| Time to launch | 30 minutes self-serve | Sales call required |
| Recruiting / ATS integration | No (purpose-built for events) | 14+ ATS integrations |
| Mobile-friendly judging | Yes, no account | Account required |
| Code execution / coding tracks | Not built in | Available via Assessments product |
| Best for | Innovation events, university, internal | Hiring funnels, technical assessments |
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 | HackerEarth |
|---|---|---|
Public pricing on website | ||
Free plan available | ||
Self-serve checkout | ||
Pay per event | $199 / $599 | Custom quote |
14-day money-back guarantee |
Setup & Onboarding
| Feature | HackHQ | HackerEarth |
|---|---|---|
Time to launch first event | 30 minutes | Multi-week sales + onboarding |
Self-serve event creation | ||
Managed services included | ||
Customer support | Direct team email + video calls | Bundled with managed services tier |
Submissions
| Feature | HackHQ | HackerEarth |
|---|---|---|
Custom submission form builder | Built around products / solutions | |
Six question types | Not publicly documented | |
Auto embeds (YouTube, Loom, GitHub, Twitter/X) | GitHub / Heroku integrations | |
Bulk CSV import for submissions | Not publicly documented | |
No participant accounts required |
Voting & Judging
| Feature | HackHQ | HackerEarth |
|---|---|---|
Three voting modes (Judge / Audience / Hybrid) | Not publicly documented | |
Score Criteria + Top Picks methods | Suggested criteria framework | |
Three judge assignment modes | Not publicly documented | |
Automated shortlisting / pre evaluation | ||
No account required for judges | ||
Mobile-friendly judging interface | Browser-based | |
Bulk judge CSV import |
Results & Awards
| Feature | HackHQ | HackerEarth |
|---|---|---|
Live leaderboard during ceremony | ||
Borda Count (ranked Top Picks) | ||
Auto generated certificates | ||
LinkedIn shareable verification links | ||
CSV export with scores and feedback | Not publicly documented |
Recruiting & Integrations
| Feature | HackHQ | HackerEarth |
|---|---|---|
ATS integrations (Greenhouse, Lever, etc.) | ||
GitHub / Heroku / AWS deploy integrations | GitHub URL embeds | |
Built-in candidate sourcing |
Privacy & Business Model
How each platform makes money, and whose data is involved.
| Feature | HackHQ | HackerEarth |
|---|---|---|
Revenue from organizer payments only | Events + Recruit + Assess | |
Participants and judges work without accounts | ||
Hackathon data flows into recruiting tools |
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
HackerEarth
Sales-led, custom quote
- No public hackathon pricing on the website
- Sprint hackathon pricing is custom and includes managed services
- Bundled PM, design, promotion, and evaluation support
- Best fit for orgs that need a managed engagement, not self-serve
- Managed-services quotes in this category typically start well above HackHQ Pro at $599 per event
Source: hackerearth.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 HackerEarth is the right choice
- You want to use the hackathon as a hiring funnel and need first-class ATS integrations (Greenhouse, Lever, iCIMS, SAP, and similar) to push candidates into your existing recruiting workflow.
- You need built-in code execution for coding tracks (timed challenges, automated evaluation, IDE in browser) via the HackerEarth Assessments product.
- You want a fully managed engagement: dedicated PM, design support, organic promotion, evaluation help.
- You already use HackerEarth for technical assessments and want a tightly integrated event experience on top of that data.
Why teams choose HackHQ over HackerEarth
Pure focus on hackathons as innovation events
No recruiting funnel, no assessment platform attached. The product is one thing and does it well: hackathons, pitch competitions, and innovation challenges.
Transparent pricing without the sales cycle
See the price on the website, sign up with a credit card, run your event. No procurement, no back-and-forth quote process, no managed services contract.
Self-serve, live in 30 minutes
You do not need a dedicated PM to launch your event. Smart defaults plus a clean dashboard get you live the same afternoon.
LinkedIn certificates that go to the participant, not the recruiter
Every team member gets a verifiable LinkedIn certificate with a public verification page. They post it to their professional profile, where employers actually look. HackerEarth pulls participant data into its talent and recruiting products. We give the credit directly to the participant instead.
Live results that work under pressure
Real-time leaderboard with weighted averages and Borda Count. Updates the moment a judge submits a score. No formula errors at the worst moment, no waiting for batch calculations between awards.
Direct line to the team, not a managed-services tier
Email replies in hours, not days, on every plan. Need a video call? Just ask. With HackerEarth, hands-on support is bundled into the managed Sprint engagement, which is sales-led with custom pricing.
Built for the people running events, not hiring funnels
Live leaderboards, weighted criteria, Borda Count, auto generated certificates, project galleries, CSV export of feedback. The toolkit for organizers, not recruiters.
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.
Mobile judging without accounts
Judges score from their phone via a personalized link. No HackerEarth account, no password reset tickets during your event.
Your participant list stays yours
We make money only from organizer event payments. No recruiting product, no talent database, and participant data is not used for hiring.
HackHQ vs HackerEarth FAQ
A Hackathon Platform That Stays a Hackathon Platform.
No recruiting funnel, no assessment bundle. Just hackathons, pitch competitions, and innovation challenges. Start free today.
Email hello@hackhq.io and we will help you import submissions and judges from your current platform.