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 |
| Speakhyve | Done-for-you, AI-assisted cold email system for speakers (email plus LinkedIn outreach, AI reply agent) | Not published |
| Axia Public Relations | PR agency with a done-for-you speaking engagement pitching service | $2,250/mo plus booking bonuses |
| 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 someone else to run outreach. Our entry is first, with its drawbacks.
1.Hop On Stagesours
Best for: Speakers who want done-for-you outreach with named results, and a reel built to sell
Pricing: Quoted separately from the reel, based on your goals. Reels are $3,000 flat
We and Speakhyve both run done-for-you cold email for speakers. The difference is that we also make speaker reels, so every pitch leads with a reel built to get you shortlisted. Results are named: Keith Ferrazzi said the campaigns produced "somewhere close to 81 qualified leads", Steve Taubman landed a paid invitation to a professional society's annual meeting in New York City, and Doug Noll was selected as a workshop presenter at a statewide summit.
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.Axia Public Relations
Best for: Speakers who want a PR agency and mostly unpaid visibility stages
Pricing: 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)
Axia Public Relations publishes its pricing: Speaker Membership at $2,250 per month plus booking bonuses (up to 3 opportunities per month), or a $12,500 one-time Pitch project. Its page says the typical client is mostly interested in unpaid (earned) engagements.
What works
- Real done-for-you pitch team
- PR agency resources
- Clear published pricing
Watch out for
- Their page says the typical client is mostly interested in unpaid (earned) speaking engagements
- $2,250 per month plus bonuses, with 90-day cancellation notice
- Reel add-on is $15,000 to $20,000
3.Speak to Scale Agency
Best for: Speakers who want coaching plus management
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 offers speaker management with opportunity scouting and pitching, starting at $2,500/month after a $2,500 Blueprint Intensive. Coaching and talk development are part of the package.
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 will do their own outreach and want cheap leads
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. It also has a done-for-you VA agency, price not shown, with a 3-month commitment.
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 to run their own outreach
Pricing: Not published (sales call) (checked October 21, 2026)
The Speaker Lab teaches speakers how to book themselves, with a large community and strong free content. You build the skill; you also do the work. 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 existing demand
Pricing: Commission, commonly 20% to 30% of the speaking fee (checked October 21, 2026)
Bureaus charge commission (commonly 20% to 30%) instead of fees, and mostly sign speakers who already have demand. Compare the models in speakers bureau vs done-for-you outreach.
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 a Speakhyve alternative
Credit first: Speakhyve is specialized. It runs cold outreach only for speakers, combines email with LinkedIn, uses an AI agent to handle replies, and says its system is built in 14 days. It claims to have booked over 1,000 paid engagements for 100+ speakers (self-reported). If you want volume and you fit its fee range, it is the most direct option in this list.
Why speakers keep shopping:
No published price
Speakhyve asks you to "See If You Qualify" rather than publishing a price. Axia PR, Speak to Scale and SpeakerHUB's self-serve plans publish theirs; we quote ours based on your goals.
No named clients on the page
Its claims are aggregate and self-reported. If named, checkable results matter to you, ask any provider for speakers you can talk to.
Volume
The page describes daily volume two ways ("200-500 emails a day" and "500+"). High volume can work, but for a speaker brand, relevance and deliverability usually matter more than count. Our cold email for speakers guide explains why.
The reel is not included
No reel production is published, so the outreach relies on whatever video you have. If your reel is not strong, the best email in the world still sends planners to a weak video. See how event planners evaluate speaker reels.
How to choose
| If you... | Look for | Shortlist |
|---|---|---|
| Want high-volume AI-assisted outreach | Email plus LinkedIn with an AI reply agent | Speakhyve (stay) |
| Want named results and a reel in every pitch | Outreach from a team that also makes reels | Hop On Stages |
| Mainly want unpaid visibility stages | PR-led pitching | Axia PR |
| 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 Speakhyve?
For done-for-you outreach with named results and a reel built to sell, Hop On Stages. For a PR agency with published prices, Axia PR ($2,250/mo plus bonuses). To do it yourself cheaply, SpeakerHUB (from $19/mo).
How much does Speakhyve cost?
Speakhyve does not publish a price; its site asks you to "See If You Qualify".
Is cold email effective for speakers?
It can be, when it is targeted at the right decision-maker and backed by a strong reel. Keith Ferrazzi's campaigns with us produced, in his words, "somewhere close to 81 qualified leads". Nobody can guarantee bookings.
Do I need a reel before outreach?
You need a strong one. Planners click through to your video before they reply. See what to include in a speaker reel.
Sources
- Speakhyve: website
- Axia Public Relations: pricing
- 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 Speakhyve
The two closest done-for-you cold email services for speakers, compared on volume, proof, pricing and the reel behind the pitch.
Roundup
Best speaker booking services
Done-for-you outreach, self-serve platforms and bureaus, ranked with real prices.
Guide
Cold email for speakers
Finding the decision-maker, verifying emails, a short pitch structure, follow-ups and deliverability basics.
Alternatives
Axia PR alternatives
Alternatives to Axia's $2,250/mo speaker membership, for paid and unpaid stages.
Head to head
Bureau vs done-for-you outreach
Commission on every booking vs paying for outreach: the math, the trade-offs and who each model suits.
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.