Software vs. Hardware ARS
How does Poll Everywhere compare to hardware-based Response Systems?
Poll Everywhere has unique advantages compared to hardware-based response systems. See the differences in the table below, and see our detailed vendor comparison that includes list and street prices.
| Hardware ARS |
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|---|---|---|
| Five year total cost of ownership (TCO) per participant | $50 and up | $18 |
| Live, animated, customizable, graphed results |  |
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| PowerPoint integration | |
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| Automatic grading/scoring | |
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| No proprietary hardware to buy or special vendor software to install | |
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| Combine responses from SMS text messages, smartphones, web, and Twitter | |
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| Poll people in thousands of locations (such as TV or print advertising) | |
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| Hassle-free: no need to handout and collect devices before and after event | |
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| No need to bother with recharging batteries | |
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| Audience can text in questions, comments, or feedback | Some | |
| How to make students accountable for clickers | Make the student buy or rent it | Students take care of their own phone |
| Solution for traveling speakers, trainers, or meeting planners | Lug around a heavy briefcase of clickers or rent an ARS in each city. | You can pack an extra pair of shoes for your trip and count on a consistent voting experience |
| Rental Cost | Often $5-$20 per voting device + fixed cost for receiver and $800-$1000 per technician | Free for meetings with less than 30 people, otherwise $0.10 - $.30 per voter. |
| Effort to setup your first poll | Hours - definitely some training | A few minutes |
| Requires technician for large meetings | Yes ($1000/day) | No |
| Number of participants supported | Between 200 and 1000 voters per RF receiver | Unlimited |
| How to get the latest features | Download software updates, and sometimes buy new clickers/keypads | Available instantly; no downloads required |
| Cost to provide ARS to every person in an entire university or corporation | "x" | < 10% of "x"! |
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Want more data? Check out our detailed comparison including industry prices for major ARS systems.