Disclosure: we make one of the options on this page, so this is not an independent review. Competitor facts come from their own websites and were checked on October 21, 2026. We say where others are the better fit. Spotted something wrong? Email us and we will fix it.
The options at a glance
| Provider | What it is | Published price |
|---|---|---|
| Hop On Stages | Done-for-you cold email outreach that leads with your reel | Quoted separately |
| Axia Public Relations | PR agency with a done-for-you speaking engagement pitching service | $2,250/mo plus booking bonuses |
| Speakhyve | Done-for-you, AI-assisted cold email system for speakers (email plus LinkedIn outreach, AI reply agent) | Not published |
| Speak to Scale Agency | Speaker coaching and management agency | $2,500 intensive, then from $2,500/mo |
| SpeakerHUB | Self-serve speaker platform and database, plus a separate done-for-you VA agency | $0 / $19 / $47 per month; done-for-you not published |
| The Speaker Lab | Speaker coaching and courses (Grant Baldwin) that teach you to book yourself | Not published |
| Speakers bureaus | Agencies that place speakers with event buyers for a commission | Commission, commonly 20% to 30% |
The options
Ranked for a speaker who wants a pipeline of paid engagements. Our entry is first, with its drawbacks.
1.Hop On Stagesours
Best for: Speakers who want paid engagements and a reel built to sell, without an agency retainer
Pricing: Quoted separately from the reel, based on your goals. Reels are $3,000 flat
Axia's page says its typical client mostly wants unpaid engagements. Our outreach targets event organizers, associations and bureaus that book speakers, with your reel in every pitch. Steve Taubman's campaign produced a paid invitation (honorarium, airfare, two hotel nights, ground transport, registration). If you also need a reel, ours is $3,000 flat, edited from footage you already have, compared with Axia's $15,000 to $20,000 photos and reel add-on.
What works
- Done for you: we research decision-makers and run the cold email campaigns
- Every pitch leads with your reel, which we can also make
- Named results: Keith Ferrazzi, in his words, "somewhere close to 81 qualified leads"
- Not a bureau, so no commission on your fees
Watch out for
- Price is quoted, not published, because it depends on your goals
- A done-for-you program costs more than a self-serve subscription
- No booking guarantees (nobody honest can guarantee a booking)
- Works best once you have a strong reel; the reel is a separate $3,000
2.Speakhyve
Best for: Speakers who want AI-assisted cold email at volume
Pricing: Not published ("See If You Qualify") (checked October 21, 2026)
Speakhyve runs done-for-you cold email and LinkedIn outreach for speakers, with an AI reply agent, and says it targets speakers in the $5k to $20k fee range. No published price.
What works
- Specialized in cold outreach for speakers
- Combines email, LinkedIn and an AI reply agent
- States it targets speakers in the $5k to $20k fee range
Watch out for
- No published price or named clients on the page
- The page states daily volume two ways ("200-500 emails a day" and "500+")
- No reel production, so your pitch relies on whatever video you have
3.Speak to Scale Agency
Best for: Speakers who want coaching and representation together
Pricing: Blueprint Intensive $2,500; Presentation Development $5k to $7,500; Speaker Management "starting at $2500/month" (after the intensive) (checked October 21, 2026)
Speak to Scale's management includes opportunity scouting, pitching, representation and PR, starting at $2,500/month after a $2,500 Blueprint Intensive. A good fit if you are still shaping your talk.
What works
- Coaching and talk development alongside pitching
- Representation and PR included in management
Watch out for
- Management requires the $2,500 intensive first
- Monthly retainer from $2,500
4.SpeakerHUB
Best for: Speakers who want to pitch themselves for very little
Pricing: Free $0; Credibility $19/mo; Outreach $47/mo; lifetime plans $249 / $499 / $999; Enterprise $997/mo. Done-for-you agency: price not shown, "All plans have a 3-month commitment" (checked October 21, 2026)
SpeakerHUB's self-serve plans start at $19/mo, with a large opportunities database and no commission. You do the pitching.
What works
- Very low entry price
- Large opportunities database (they cite 44,000+ conferences)
- No booking commission
Watch out for
- Self-serve plans mean you still do the pitching
- Done-for-you plan price is not published and requires 3 months
- No reel production
5.The Speaker Lab
Best for: Speakers who want to learn how to book themselves
Pricing: Not published (sales call) (checked October 21, 2026)
The Speaker Lab's coaching and courses teach you to find and pitch events yourself. Price requires a sales call.
What works
- Large community (they cite 17,000+ experts)
- Strong free content and podcast
- Teaches skills you keep
Watch out for
- You still do the outreach yourself
- Price requires a sales call
6.A speakers bureau
Best for: Established speakers with demand who want representation
Pricing: Commission, commonly 20% to 30% of the speaking fee (checked October 21, 2026)
A bureau costs nothing upfront and takes commonly 20% to 30% of each fee. Most sign speakers who already have demand.
What works
- No upfront cost
- Access to corporate buyers
- Handle negotiation and logistics
Watch out for
- Selective: most bureaus sign speakers who already have demand
- 20% to 30% of every fee
- You do not control who you are pitched to
Why people look for an Axia PR alternative
Credit first: Axia is a real PR agency with a done-for-you pitch team and clear published pricing, which is rare in this market. Its Speaker Membership is $2,250 per month plus booking bonuses ($750, $2,000 or $5,000 tiers), with up to 3 opportunities per month, and there is a $12,500 one-time Pitch project. For a founder or executive who wants earned stages for visibility, it is a credible choice.
Why speakers keep shopping:
Paid vs unpaid
Axia's own page says its typical client is mostly interested in unpaid (earned) engagements. If you speak for a living, you want a provider aimed at paid keynotes. See how to find paid speaking engagements.
Commitment
$2,250 a month plus bonuses, with 90-day cancellation notice, is a significant ongoing commitment before you know what it produces.
The reel add-on
Axia's photos plus reel add-on is "$15,000-$20,000 ... plus your travel expenses". Published edit-from-footage reels elsewhere run $1,500 to $5,000; ours is $3,000 flat. See the speaker reel cost guide.
Bonuses on top
Booking bonuses mean your cost rises as you book. That is fair, but count it when you compare with flat-fee options or a bureau's commission. Our speakers bureau commission guide has the math.
How to choose
| If you... | Look for | Shortlist |
|---|---|---|
| Want unpaid visibility stages and PR | A PR agency with a pitch team | Axia PR (stay) |
| Want paid engagements by direct outreach | Done-for-you cold email aimed at bookers | Hop On Stages, Speakhyve |
| Need a reel without a $15,000 add-on | An edit-from-footage studio | Hop On Stages ($3,000 flat), Speaker Sizzle Reel |
| Want coaching and management | A management agency | Speak to Scale |
| Will do it yourself | A database or a course | SpeakerHUB, The Speaker Lab |
Questions people ask
What is the best alternative to Axia PR?
For paid engagements through done-for-you outreach, Hop On Stages (quoted separately, leads with your reel). For coaching plus management, Speak to Scale (from $2,500/mo). For self-serve leads, SpeakerHUB (from $19/mo).
How much does Axia PR charge for speaker booking?
Per its service page: Speaker Membership $2,250 per month plus booking bonuses ($750 / $2,000 / $5,000 tiers); Pitch project $12,500 one-time; photos plus reel add-on "$15,000-$20,000 ... plus your travel expenses" (checked October 21, 2026).
Does Axia PR book paid speaking engagements?
Its page says its typical client is mostly interested in unpaid (earned) engagements. It does list bonuses for paid gigs, so ask what share of its bookings are paid.
Can I get a speaker reel without Axia's add-on?
Yes. Specialist studios edit reels from your existing footage for $1,500 to $5,000; Hop On Stages charges $3,000 flat. See best speaker reel companies.
Sources
- Axia Public Relations: pricing
- Speakhyve: website
- Speak to Scale Agency: pricing
- SpeakerHUB: pricing
- The Speaker Lab: website
- Speakers bureaus: website
- Hop On Stages: speaker booking outreach
Keep comparing
Comparison
Hop On Stages vs Axia PR
A PR agency's speaking-engagement membership against done-for-you speaker outreach: price, gig type and reel costs.
Roundup
Best speaker booking services
Done-for-you outreach, self-serve platforms and bureaus, ranked with real prices.
Alternatives
Speakhyve alternatives
Done-for-you and self-serve alternatives to Speakhyve's AI cold email system.
Guide
Find paid speaking engagements
Where paid stages actually come from, which sources are mostly unpaid, and how to research events yourself.
Guide
Speakers bureau commission
The 20% to 30% range, worked examples, and what bureaus look for before they represent you.
Service
Speaker booking outreach
Cold email outreach to event organizers, run for you. How it works and what it has produced.
Your next stage
Get a speaker reel that books the room.
One flat $3,000 per reel (50% to begin, 50% on completion). Edited from footage you already have, delivered in 2 to 3 weeks, with two rounds of revisions. Two minutes to see if you're a fit.