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ARS Vendor Comparison

Compare leading audience response hardware vendors

When we first tried to learn about Audience Response Systems, it quickly became overwhelming. First, they go by many names: Audience response, classroom clickers, voting keypads, classroom performance systems, classroom response systems, personal response systems, student response systems, audience polling, interactive, wireless, conference, meeting... Wow. Yikes!

We found over 25 different systems. What are the basic prices? Who are the leaders? That's why we've compiled this detailed ARS comparison for 10 vendors. It's not a full buyer's guide, but we think it's a good start.

Audience Response System Vendor Comparison Matrix

A detailed survey of audience response hardware vendors

Scroll left/right to view this large table. Vendors on the left tend to be corporate-focused, and vendors on the right tent to be education-focused. Simplify your view by hiding any vendors you aren't interested in, or unhide vendors using this list.

	IML Machine Dreams (hide)	Meridia (hide)	Fleetwood Reply & derivatives (hide)	TurningPoint (hide)	Poll Everywhere (hide)	Qwizdom (hide)	eInstruction Interwrite PRS, EduQue (hide)	iClicker (hide)	H-ITT (hide)
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Product image (click to enlarge)
Website	imlaudienceresponse.com	meridiaars.com	replysystems.com	turningtechnologies.com	polleverywhere.com	qwizdom.com	einstruction.com	iclicker.com	h-itt.com
Overview	IML is an innovative leader in ARS features, and is probably the most secure system. They target high-end corporate event rentals such as shareholder meetings, elections, and resolution voting. IML acquired Machine Dreams.	Neither hardware nor software is sexy, but the product lineup is impressive and feature rich, from ARS to sales lead gen, kiosks, and voice microphones. They use their own hardware as well as Fleetwood gear, but we list them separately due to their impressive client list. 85% corporate. Meridia is probably related to Presentation Testing, Inc. (political polling).	Fleetwood makes many types of Audience Keypads and relies on a distributor network to write software and sell rebranded systems and consulting services. Larger resellers include: Meridia, Option Technologies, ComTec, Brahler ICS Digivote, PowerCom, and Padgett.	Probably the strongest overall ARS considering features, price, and market share growth: they are recognized by their small but durable card clickers. ~65% education. A successful business: #18 on Inc. 5000	Simple ARS using mobile phones in place of clicker keypads. Less features but significantly cheaper than any ARS purchase or rental.	In business for 25 years without merger or acquisition. 50/50 education/corporate.	eInstruction is the result of M&A by GTCOCalComp. Combined, the companies have a long history including the historically popular Interwrite "PRS" (and eInstruction's "CPS"). Acquired FSCreations Examview and their partnerships with content publishers. 70% education. Financially stable.	Purchased by MacMillan Publishers in 2005. iClicker has a large user base in higher ed fueled by high-value pricing. Estimated 75% education, 25% corporate.	H-ITT prides itself on stable, rugged hardware and software. 75% Higher Ed, 25% K-12. It was founded by 2 Arkansas professors around 1998 and purchased by the hardware manufacturer in 2006.
Features	IML	Meridia	Fleetwood Reply (& derivatives)	TurningPoint	Poll Everywhere	Qwizdom	eInstruction (Interwrite PRS, EduQue)	iClicker	H-ITT
Standard ARS features	Yes	Yes	Generally yes, depends on software vendor	Yes	Yes, but First-to-buzz-in games not accurate over SMS	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Presenter console for moderating questions	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
Free-text response	Yes, like on a 10-digit phone keypad	No	ReplyPlus: No ReplyIQ: Yes, but awkward	XR model: Yes, but awkward	Yes	Single word	No. Awkward short answer capabilities on PRS	No	Yes, but awkward: 20 characters on the TX3200
Cutting edge features	Voice communications, ID cards, "text messaging" (not SMS, alarms when clickers "walk away", live auctions	Built-in mic, auto-tracking robotic camera system	Most flexible hardware platform to develop new software for	Web-based ResponseWareWeb. Well known for small, white, durable keycards with 6-12 month battery life.	Web 2.0, simplicity (no training necessary), SMS, Twitter and webphone voting, and short form response	Offers standalone ARS application (Interact) which includes a hovering toolbar, and a PowerPoint Plug-in (ActionPoint)	LCD screens (overall not very innovative)	Book model: Very pedagogical product development model. Software is open source. API.	Reliability of software and durability of clickers. Homework mode.
Technical	IML	Meridia	Fleetwood Reply (& derivatives)	TurningPoint	Poll Everywhere	Qwizdom	eInstruction (Interwrite PRS, EduQue)	iClicker	H-ITT
Underlying technology	In-house designed hardware	2-Way RF	2-Way RF	Responsive Innovations (TurningPoint)	Web2.0, AJAX, and text messaging or Twitter	Their own RF technology	In-house IR/RF	RF, designed in-house	RF and IR
Response speed	Undisclosed, but comparable to other systems	500 votes in 2 seconds. 2-way RF accuracy (99.6%)	200/second per base on Reply+, 100% accuracy	Not spec'd, but underlying data rate is 1Mbps (similar to Bluetooth). Some complaints of lost votes.	Depends; while audiences of >3000 concurrent participants have been done, SMS will be slower than clickers. Web and Twitter support hundreds per second.	1000 in 6 seconds	1000 in 4 seconds	750, 1ms per confirmation. High accuracy.	300/sec
Max devices per receiver	1500	Small - 500, Large ~36,000	Reply Plus: 500; Reply WW/Mini: 250. Up to 71 bases for max 35,500.	1000	Unlimited	999	CPS RF: 1000, PRS RF: 2000, IR: 64	1500	1000
Software notes	Very impressive and flexible - has almost every feature of other systems except SpotMe (which in turn does not have every feature that IML has)	Several modes, not really a smooth PowerPoint plug-in, but powerful ARS - (e.g. lectern navigator controls PowerPoint)	Varies, but most impressive is ComTec software	Robust and well-liked PowerPoint plug-in, as well as hovering toolbar. Mac version much weaker.	No software to install - live results in PowerPoint or web "widgets". Less features than hardware ARS.	PowerPoint and Keynote plug-in	Standalone: CPS and PRS comparable features. Supports latest Win, Mac, Office. PRS adds Linux. PRS's PowerPoint Integration is better.	Standalone software hovers over other applications. Win and Mac equally robust.	PPT plug-in, but most functionality is in standalone app (hovering toolbar) with import/export. Hovering always-on-top works on Win & Linux
Range of wireless	n/a - consultants will set up system to suit needs	400 feet	Depends on model. Usually 400 - 650 feet. Reply Plus and Mini+ incorporate Wifi avoidance features.	IR: 65 ft, RF: 200 ft, 400 ft w/long range receiver	99% SMS coverage in US meeting locations and classrooms	500 feet	PRS RF: 150, CPS 200 ft, PRS IR: 60 ft	200-250 feet	450 ft outdoors
Reference customers	Jewish National Fund, British Airways	Bristol-Myers/Squibb, MTV Blame Game, Political Opinion Polling	Between all software and distributors, there's too many to mention	American Research Institute, Ohio State, University of Maryland	Google, Discovery Channel Education, Accenture, Notre Dame	Hyundai, Several K-12	Purdue. University of Massachusetts. University of New Hampshire: >10,000 students/semester	Wal-Mart (training). 600 schools, incl: Cornell, Boston College, UC Bolder	UC Riverside, University of Florida
Pricing	IML	Meridia	Fleetwood Reply (& derivatives)	TurningPoint	Poll Everywhere	Qwizdom	eInstruction (Interwrite PRS, EduQue)	iClicker	H-ITT
Rental price per keypad, high quantity (list price)	List $20/participant for the first day	$10 per keypad for first day, $5 per addition day. $200 for the small receiver. Huge meetings (e.g. 5000 people) for 5 days can get as low as $5 per person per day, including technicians.	Varies by company, but see Meridia pricing at left for a comparable. For corporate accounts Option Technologies is about $8 per participant for one day, and $5 per person per day for week-long events.	$14 per participant per day through reseller network (A/V Companies)	Between $.10 and $.30 per participant per month	$12 per participant for the first day	Rentals very uncommon	Limited rentals (usually corporate)	$395 event fee + $7 first day, $5 thereafter
Recommend technician for rental	Always	Yes, for >50 people. Another is required per 500 keypads.	Yes, especially through VARs or for first use	Sometimes; if not, the complexity still necessitates training	No	Yes - ~1 per 500 keypads	n/a	n/a	Sometimes. Rental not a large part of the business.
Technician price, 1 day	Know something?	Know something?	Varies by VAR. One VAR quoted $1000/day +$100/hour over 10 hours, another quoted $800/day.	Know something?	n/a	$1,000	n/a	n/a	$250 + $75/hr (min 8 hours)
Purchase: List price per keypad	Keypads are deliberately over $500 each; IML prefers the rental business	Know something?	As of 4/09: $35 (mini), $60 (WW), $100 (Plus), $190 (IQ) + $400-$700 per base station. Software additional.	Receiver: $695. Extra keypads - IR: $49, RF: $89, Software vPad $39. $120 per person in corporate kits.	Software-as-a-Service model. As compared to hardware, cost averages $3.00 per "virtual clicker" (audience participant) per year; but of course participants pay $0.01-$0.20 per text.	$40	Sells in 24, 32, and 40 packs. 32 pack RF: $2995, IR: $1995. Volume discounts begin at 10 systems. Software is free.	One price: $27 to bookstore Bases are free at 1 per 100 remotes, extra bases $110	$35 before bookstore/university markup to $48. H-ITT makes receivers free for universities who distribute clickers in bookstores. 32 pack of the TX3200 RF go for $1795.
Best deal heard of, or street price	Pricing can vary quite a bit. Confirm a large but short event for an unbooked or uncommon time in a local market, and < $8 per participant is possible.	Know something?	Know something?	Rental: $5 per clicker per day, no setup, shipping, or technician fee (promotional)	(One price for everyone)	$6/participant/day rental	School purchase: PRS/CPS: $50 per clicker, $160/$200 per receiver. Bookstore model: CPS: $16 to bookstore ($13 if standardized), so $22 to students plus $15 per semester. PRS: $39 to bookstore, $53 to student, but no per-semester fee. Receiver hardware is free.	$26.50 net	2-way, 32 clicker IR class pack for $795, everything included

More ARS Resources

Other sources for audience response system information

Another page with compiled ARS information is Will Thalheimer's http://www.audienceresponselearning.org. We have not evaluated SMART Senteo, Promethean/Logical Choice Activote, Quick Tally, Pearson/Scantron Engage, TI-Navigator, iRespond, Ortek, Interactive Horizons IRIS, iRespond, GeneeUs, EduGame, Dolphin Inteactive Presenter, CLiKAPAD, iTech Keypads, Sun-Tech, or XTOL. If you would like to share information and help others, please .

Remarks

Aren't we biased? After all, we make Poll Everywhere, which might be seen as a mobile phone and web alternative to ARS. The answer is that Poll Everywhere has a very different set of strengths and weaknesses, and we've tried our best to be impartial. For our feelings about what makes us unique, see Poll Everywhere vs. ARS. Our aim is to provide you with information that is difficult to compile in order to build goodwill with customers and promote industry transparency. Poll Everywhere is not right for everyone.

• Vendors: Has your product evolved such that information above is inaccurate? so we can correct it. Thanks IML, HITT, and Fleetwood for participating, and helping us make this accurate with an editorial tone!
• Users: We care about your input and experiences. any missing information. If we can verify its accuracy we'll post it and you will help others make the right purchase or rental decision.