Besides Spatial.Chat, there are also other interesting online networking platforms and similar apps of competitors with the possibility of flexible video conversations:
Spatial.Chat recommends the usage of a laptop or computer. Mobile devices are restricted in the functions of the platform. According to their website Google Chrome and Firefox offer the best user experience of the platform. Other browsers like Safari or Edge might not perform well.
In this showdown of online event and networking tools, we compare Spatial.Chat vs HyHyve to help you choose the right platform. While Spatial and HyHyve may seem like similar apps at first glance, the differences between these apps are actually quite significant, and you need to know them to make your online event exceptional.
| HyHyve | Spatial.Chat | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Starts at 0,03€/minute. Per event/month/year pricing on request. | Free Plan, Day Pass, Month Plan. Different prices models, e.g. Day Pass costs $2/user. [1] |
| Location | Germany | Cyprus |
| GDPR | ✅ German company. GDPR compliant. | ✅ Cyprus company. GDPR compliant. |
| Most common browsers supported | ✅ Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge. | 🟡 Recommended are Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Apple Safari and Microsoft Edge might not provide the best user experience. [2] |
| Platforms supported | ✅ Desktops (Windows, macOS, Linux), tablets (iPad, Android-based devices), mobile devices (iOS, Android-based devices). | ❌ Desktops (Windows, macOS, Linux). Mobile devices deal with restricted functions. [3] |
| Broadcast to your participants | ✅ Yes, speakers can be invited to the stage flexibly . | ✅ Yes, speakers can be chosen flexibly during the event. |
| Record Broadcast | ❌ No recording feature available. | 🟡 Recording is available on request for specific rooms. [4] |
| Embedding links, images, signs, streams, whiteboards or browser window | ✅ Yes, everything is available, some of them on request. | ✅ Yes, everything is available. |
| Public access | ✅ Yes, via a public link. | ✅ Yes, via a public link. |
| Restricted access | ✅ Yes, email-based, email-domain-based or guest list. | 🟡 Yes, via link without/with password or registration via email. |
| Custom background picture | 🟡 Yes, but not recommended. | ✅ Yes |
| Custom maps | ✅ Yes, fully customizable, including walls and the option to create buildings/places familiar to participants. | ❌ Not customizable. |
| Maximum participants per "circle" (ad-hoc conversation) | ✅ Up to 50 people. | ✅ Up to 50 people in a breakout room. |
| Maximum participants per room | 🟡 HyHyve spaces/rooms have an organizational soft limit of 250 participants. Multiple Spaces can be linked and can provide space for up to 5000 participants. [5] | ✅ Depending on the price plan and chosen room from 50 up to every number of participants. |
| Language | English and German | English |
[1] Here you can find the different price plans of Spatial.Chat.
[2] The list of recommended browsers.
[3] Here you have an overview of the restriction of a mobile device within the platform.
[4] It is possible to send a request to record your event in the stage room when you chose on the right price plan.
[5] We recommend dividing rooms if more than 250 participants are expected to ensure that the rooms do not become overly large and participants “get lost”. HyHyve can provide a high level of interactivity by switching off linked rooms at off-peak times with fewer participants.
This comparison was updated on 06.04.2022.
Spatial.Chat is an browser based online platform which offers you the in-person experience in virtual meetings, events and offices.
You and your participants can move their round-video-icon avatar freely in the multi-room space. When the avatars are close enough you can have a video talk with each other. In the case the avatars are moving away from each other you are stopping the video talk like it would happen in a real conversation. Within the space of the Spatial.Chat you and your attendees can discuss via chat and video, share photos, texts and videos and listen to other people speeches or presentations. It´s also possible to start a meeting instantly from the landing page without creating one in beforehand. Afterwards you can add the room to your existing account if you wish.
The possibilities of the usage of the Spatial.Chat space are numerous and the target group ranges from an event manager to a team of remote working people.
As an admin you can create a space with different rooms for any number of attendees. You can choose from given backgrounds or upload your own picture. In the breakout room it is possible to interact with each other like in real-life. This room is limited to 50 people. [7] You can create rooms for your team and allow them as team members of the space to adjust it if needed.
As the admin you can allow the guests to share and upload data and it is possible to pin an iframe in the room. You can also set a spawn point for the guests to appear when entering the room or place “rabbit holes”, so that they can switch to another room. The Broadcast function is a great way to get to inform all the guests in every room what is going to happen next. On the whiteboard or in a Google docs your attendees can easily exchange their ideas. Up to 5000 guests can listen to presentations or discussions in the audio or stage room and it is even possible to record them (available on request). In these modes your guests can only listen, chat via text or raise their hand to join the discussion.
Technically, Spatial.Chat works very well, but there are some areas you should consider even though not all of them are related to Spacial itself but to the overall event organization and preparation. For example you should consider that the room size of the breakout rooms is limited to 50 attendees where people can genuinely get in touch. If you have more than 50 attendees you need to create more breakout rooms and your guests have to switch between them. So its a good idea to keep always your exspectations for a platform in mind, so that you choose an online networking platform which fits your needs.
Spatial.Chat offers you a great onboarding experience. It is not too difficult for arriving guests to move around the rooms and take advantage of their functions like sharing media. Especially if you communicate some onboarding basics in beforehand, your guests will intuitively use the platform.
The backgrounds are adjustable and it is easy to prepare the space for an event. You can even personalize the space with a logo and an own URL. [8] As some sort of little criticism we would like to mention that the backgrounds of Spatial.Chat are just pictures. If you see a wall within the room the avatar can cross it without having the impression that the things in front of them are obstacles like in real life.
As the mechanism of “bumping together in a virtual venue” and interacting with content by clicking the “X” key is currently not known to everyone, it’s helpful to have “practice sessions” with your participants in advance (e.g. online networking and after-work session a couple of days earlier).
Spatial.Chat performs the best when you use a laptop and computer and log in via Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. Other browsers like Safari or Edge aren’t supported officially, therefore the platform might not work effortless then. Mobile devices such as a smartphones can be restricted in the all-in-all user experience. Spatial.Chat says on its website that a mobile device user can’t upload data, share the screen or use the customization menu of an admin. [9]
Although most users are already using Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, you should consider recommending using one of the supported browsers to your participants. As “clicking on links” leads to the start of the user’s standard browser, you have to ensure that the browser recommendation is communicated often and clearly. As selecting the right browser and joining the Spatial space can sometimes be tricky, you can implement a support hotline or a team during your event to guarantee a seamless experience. Spatial.Chat offers you a support team in this case which will be charged extra per hour. [10]
Spatial.Chat is located in Cyprus within the EU. Therefore and according to their privacy policy they are compliant to the GDPR and the data protection laws of the EU. [11]
[7] The limit of 50 people in the breakout room can’t be changed.
[8] Customizing the logo or URL of the space is not possible in every price plan.
[9] On their website you can find some tips how to access the platform with a mobile device in the best possible way, even though the usage is limited throughout the event.
[10] The cost of a technical support team is $150/hour. You can find more information about it in the FAQs.
[11] This is the privacy policy of Spatial.Chat
This section was updated on 06.04.2021.
