A smarter alternative to Hivebrite

Hivebrite vs Join It: how to choose

The short answer: Hivebrite suits universities, alumni networks and large associations whose main offer is an online community with groups, mentoring and a jobs board. Join It suits small teams that need to sign up, renew and manage members. As of October 2026, Hivebrite's Core plan starts at $895 a month, billed annually, about $10,740 a year, with no free trial. Join It suits small teams that want membership, renewals and payments running within days. Simple event registration and targeted member emails are built in, and direct integrations with tools like Mailchimp add more when you need it. Plans are published, start from $29 a month, and come with a 30-day free trial.

What is Hivebrite built for?

Hivebrite was founded in Paris in 2015 to help alumni networks stay connected, and says it now serves more than 2,000 organizations, including universities, global associations and large companies. It brings together a community feed, groups and sub-communities, events, a member directory, mentoring, a jobs board, AI-powered member matching and membership payments.

How much does Hivebrite cost?

As of October 2026, Hivebrite's Core plan starts at $895 a month and Flex at $1,995 a month, both billed annually, so Core comes to about $10,740 a year. Onboarding is included. The branded mobile app, mentoring and CRM connectors are paid add-ons, and there's no free trial.

Join It publishes all of its pricing. Plans start at $29 a month on Starter (3% platform fee). Total, at $99 a month (2%), adds digital membership cards, member check-in, a member directory and API access, and Extra, at $199 a month (1.5%), adds custom domains, push notifications and a dedicated account manager. Plans are month to month, Stripe's processing fees apply, and there are no setup fees. Annual billing saves 10%, and nonprofits get an additional 10% off. See full pricing.

Is Hivebrite cheaper than Join It?

No. Hivebrite's Core plan starts at $895 a month, billed annually, while Join It plans start at $29 a month, month to month.

When is Join It the better choice?

Join It is the better choice for small teams that want a simple all-in-one for sign-ups, renewals, payments, events and member emails rather than an online community, with plans from $29 a month against Hivebrite's $895.

• Your members value belonging and benefits more than an online community. If you only need a simple online home for your members, the Join It member portal gives you one without building a whole site: share posts, list upcoming events and give members a searchable directory (Total plan and above).
• You're a small team and about $10,740 a year on Hivebrite's Core plan is hard to justify.
• You want members to carry their membership on their phone without downloading an app. On the Total plan and above, members get a branded card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet that shows live status and can be scanned at the door. Hivebrite's branded app is a paid add-on.
• You use Mailchimp or Eventbrite. Neither Mailchimp nor Eventbrite is listed on Hivebrite's integrations page, where CRM connectors are a paid add-on. Simple event registration and targeted member emails are built into Join It, and when you need more, Join It integrates directly with Mailchimp, Eventbrite and other tools organizations use most, such as Stripe, QuickBooks, HubSpot and Salesforce, plus thousands more through Zapier, with no extra connector fees.
• You want month-to-month billing and a free trial. Hivebrite is billed annually and has no free trial. Join It is month to month, with a 30-day free trial and no credit card needed.

When Hivebrite may be the better fit

Hivebrite may be a better fit than Join It if:

• An online community is the main thing you offer members, with discussion, groups and networking.
• You run mentoring or a jobs board for your members or alumni.
• You're a university alumni office or a large association with many chapters or sub-communities. Join It supports multi-chapter structures on its Enterprise package.

Can I switch from Hivebrite to Join It without members re-entering card details?

Yes, if your members already pay through your own Stripe account: Join It's team can bring their existing Stripe subscriptions across, so they won't need to re-enter their card details.

• Check your renewal date and notice period. Hivebrite plans are billed annually.
• Start a Join It free trial before your renewal and set up your membership types and renewal emails.
• Export your member records and import them into Join It. Bulk import is free on every plan. Join It's team can do the import for you on any plan, even during your free trial.
• Plan the payment switch. If you use a different payment processor, members will set up card payments with Stripe when they next renew, so time the move before your main renewal period.

Questions to ask before you choose

• How many members actively use our online community today?
• What will we pay each year, including add-ons such as the app and connectors?
• Do members need a card to show at events or partner businesses?
• Which tools do we already use for email and events?

Join It is trusted by more than 4,000 membership organizations in 40 countries and has processed over $100 million in membership payments since 2016.

Comparing other options? See all Join It alternatives and comparisons.

Last reviewed: October 1, 2026. Hivebrite pricing and product details are taken from hivebrite.io and may change. Check their current pricing before making a decision.