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.
Done for you, self-serve, or a bureau?
Done for you
Someone else researches events and decision-makers, writes the pitches, sends them and handles replies. You pay a fee or a retainer whether or not you book. This is the right model if your time is the constraint and you have a reel and a topic that sell. Examples: Hop On Stages, Speakhyve, Axia PR, Speak to Scale.
Self-serve
You pay a small subscription for a database, open calls or a marketplace profile, and you do the pitching. It is cheap and it works if you put in the hours every week. Many speakers do not. Examples: SpeakerHUB, SpeakerMatch, eSpeakers.
Bureaus
A bureau places you with corporate buyers and handles negotiation and logistics. There is no upfront fee; the bureau takes a commission, commonly 20% to 30% of your fee. On a $10,000 keynote, that is $2,000 to $3,000. Most bureaus sign speakers who already have demand, so a bureau is usually a result of momentum, not the start of it. Read speakers bureau commission and speakers bureau vs done-for-you outreach.
Whatever you choose, the planner will click through to your video before replying. If your reel is weak, fix that first: see the best speaker reel companies.
Ten options, side by side
| Service | Model | Published price | Who does the pitching |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hop On Stages | Done for you | Quoted separately | We do |
| Speakhyve | Done for you | Not published | They do |
| Axia Public Relations | Done for you | $2,250/mo plus booking bonuses | They do |
| Speak to Scale Agency | Done for you (with coaching) | $2,500 intensive, then from $2,500/mo | They do |
| SpeakerHUB | Self-serve (done-for-you agency separate) | $0 / $19 / $47 per month; done-for-you not published | You do |
| eSpeakers | Marketplace (passive) | PRO $119/month regular ($60 for 60 days offer) | You do |
| SpeakerMatch | Self-serve open calls | From $30 per 4 weeks | You do |
| The Speaker Lab | Training (you do it) | Not published | You do |
| Speakers bureaus | Bureau (commission) | Commission, commonly 20% to 30% | The bureau, for speakers it signs |
| SpeakerFlow | CRM (organizes, does not find) | $3,000 to $10,000 setup, plus $99/mo per user | You do |
The best speaker booking services, ranked
Ranked for a working speaker who wants more paid engagements. We make the first one, so weigh our ranking accordingly; its drawbacks are listed like everyone else's.
1.Hop On Stagesours
Best for: Speakers who want done-for-you outreach to decision-makers, led by a reel built to sell
Pricing: Quoted separately from the reel, based on your goals. Reels are $3,000 flat
Hop On Stages runs a separate, done-for-you outreach program that pitches you to event organizers, associations and bureaus by cold email, with your reel doing the selling. Results are named: Keith Ferrazzi said the campaigns produced "somewhere close to 81 qualified leads", with CXO-level conversations at companies including L'Oréal, Hitachi and Twitch, and close to double his monthly booked speaking engagements. Steve Taubman landed a paid invitation to speak at a professional society's annual meeting in New York City, and Doug Noll was selected as a workshop presenter at a statewide summit. We also make the reel; among the outreach providers here, only Axia PR publishes a reel option, as a $15,000 to $20,000 add-on. Details: speaker booking outreach.
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 in the $5k to $20k fee range who want AI-assisted outreach at volume
Pricing: Not published ("See If You Qualify") (checked October 21, 2026)
Speakhyve is the most direct done-for-you alternative: an AI-assisted cold email and LinkedIn system built for speakers, with an AI reply agent, set up in 14 days per its site. It claims to have "booked over 1,000 paid engagements" for 100+ speakers (self-reported). No price or named clients are published.
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.Axia Public Relations
Best for: Speakers who mainly want unpaid, visibility-building stages from a PR agency
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 has a real pitch team and publishes its pricing: Speaker Membership $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, and cancellation needs 90 days' notice.
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
4.Speak to Scale Agency
Best for: Speakers still shaping their talk who want coaching and management 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 Agency combines talk development and coaching with speaker management that includes opportunity scouting, pitching, representation and PR. Management starts at $2,500/month and requires the $2,500 Blueprint Intensive first.
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
5.SpeakerHUB
Best for: Speakers who will pitch themselves and want the best value database
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 are $0, $19/mo and $47/mo, with lifetime options from $249. It cites 44,000+ conferences in its database and charges no commission. A separate done-for-you VA agency exists, but its price is not shown and all plans have a 3-month commitment. Compare: SpeakerHUB vs eSpeakers.
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
6.eSpeakers
Best for: Speakers whose bureaus already use it
Pricing: eSpeakers PRO: "$60 for 60 days, a fraction of the regular $119/month price"; basic accounts available, including through associations (checked October 21, 2026)
eSpeakers is an established marketplace with profile and calendar tools, used by speakers and bureaus. PRO was offered at "$60 for 60 days" against a regular $119/month, and basic accounts are available through some associations. It is mostly passive: you wait to be found.
What works
- Established marketplace that bureaus use
- Profile and calendar tools
- Free basic accounts via associations
Watch out for
- Mostly passive: you wait to be found
- Search ranking is points-based
- PRO is $119/month at the regular price
7.SpeakerMatch
Best for: Speakers who want curated open calls and a money-back guarantee
Pricing: Silver $30 per 4 weeks (or $325/yr); Gold $50 per 4 weeks ($520/yr); Platinum $80 per 4 weeks ($845/yr). A 25% discount was showing when checked (checked October 21, 2026)
SpeakerMatch screens open calls for speakers each month; you apply. Plans run from $30 per 4 weeks, with no commission and an 8-week money-back guarantee. An older industry report found most listings were low or no fee. Compare: SpeakerMatch vs SpeakerHUB.
What works
- Inexpensive
- 8-week money-back guarantee
- No commission
Watch out for
- You apply to open calls alongside many other speakers
- An older industry report found most listings were low or no fee
- You write and send every application yourself
8.The Speaker Lab
Best for: Speakers who want to learn to book themselves
Pricing: Not published (sales call) (checked October 21, 2026)
The Speaker Lab (Grant Baldwin) teaches you to find and pitch events, with a large community (it cites 17,000+ experts) and strong free content. You keep the skills; 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
9.A speakers bureau
Best for: Established speakers who already have demand
Pricing: Commission, commonly 20% to 30% of the speaking fee (checked October 21, 2026)
A bureau costs nothing upfront, brings corporate buyers and handles negotiation and logistics, in return for commonly 20% to 30% of each fee. Most bureaus sign speakers who already have demand, and you do not control who you are pitched to.
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
10.SpeakerFlow
Best for: Speakers who have leads and need a system to manage them
Pricing: Power Up $3,000 (+$99/month per user); Flow Zone $6,000 one time; Flow Zone+ $10,000 (checked October 21, 2026)
SpeakerFlow is a CRM and business system for speakers. It says it is not a coaching company, agency or bureau, so it organizes your pipeline rather than filling it. Power Up is $3,000 plus $99/month per user; Flow Zone is $6,000 one time; Flow Zone+ is $10,000.
What works
- Purpose-built CRM for speakers
- Done-for-you setup on higher tiers
Watch out for
- Organizes your pipeline but does not fill it
- Setup plus per-user monthly fees
How to choose
| If you... | Look for | Shortlist |
|---|---|---|
| Want someone else to do the outreach | Done-for-you with named results | Hop On Stages, Speakhyve |
| Mainly want unpaid visibility stages | A PR-led pitch team | Axia PR |
| Are still developing your talk | Coaching plus management | Speak to Scale |
| Will pitch yourself every week | A cheap database or open calls | SpeakerHUB, SpeakerMatch |
| Work with bureaus already | A marketplace profile | eSpeakers |
| Want to learn the skill | Coaching and courses | The Speaker Lab |
| Have leads but lose track | A speaker CRM | SpeakerFlow |
| Already have strong demand | Representation on commission | A speakers bureau |
What a good booking service should tell you up front
- Who they contact. Event organizers, association education directors, corporate L&D leaders, bureaus? Ask for examples in your topic.
- What they send. Ask to see a pitch. A good one is short, specific to the event and links to a strong reel. See cold email for speakers.
- What counts as a result. Qualified leads, conversations, invitations and paid bookings are different things. Get definitions in writing.
- Paid vs unpaid. If you speak for a living, ask what share of past results were paid.
- Commitment and cancellation. Monthly retainers, minimum terms and notice periods vary widely.
- No guarantees. Be wary of anyone who guarantees bookings. Nobody controls an event's budget or program committee.
For the full process, read how to get booked as a keynote speaker and how to find paid speaking engagements. A clear speaker one sheet helps whichever model you pick.
Methodology
We read each provider's own website on October 21, 2026: services, pricing pages and FAQs. Where a price is not published we say so. We ranked for a working keynote speaker who wants more paid engagements, weighting who does the work, published proof, focus on paid engagements, cost and commitment. We excluded podcast-booking platforms and local-only booking services from the ranking. We make the first option on this list; we have tried to say plainly where others are the better fit. Spotted something out of date? Write to hello@hoponstages.com.
Questions people ask
What is the best speaker booking service?
For done-for-you outreach, our pick is Hop On Stages (cold email to decision-makers, led by your reel, quoted separately; we make it, so weigh that). For AI-assisted volume, Speakhyve. For self-serve value, SpeakerHUB (from $19/mo). If you already have demand, a speakers bureau.
How much does a speaker booking service cost?
Self-serve platforms run from free to about $119 per month. Done-for-you services publish prices from $2,250 per month plus bonuses (Axia PR) or $2,500 per month after a $2,500 intensive (Speak to Scale); others quote. Bureaus charge commission, commonly 20% to 30% of each fee.
Is a speakers bureau better than a booking service?
Different stage. Bureaus mostly sign speakers who already have demand and take 20% to 30%. Done-for-you outreach builds demand by pitching you directly. See speakers bureau vs done-for-you outreach.
Can a booking service guarantee bookings?
No honest one can. Events control their own budgets and programs. Judge services on named, checkable results and on what they define as a result.
Do I need a speaker reel before using a booking service?
Yes. Planners watch your video before they reply, so the reel decides whether outreach converts. See the best speaker reel companies.
Sources
- Speakhyve: website
- Axia Public Relations: pricing
- Speak to Scale Agency: pricing
- SpeakerHUB: pricing
- eSpeakers: pricing
- SpeakerMatch: pricing
- The Speaker Lab: website
- Speakers bureaus: website
- SpeakerFlow: pricing
- SpeakerHUB: done-for-you agency
- Speakhyve: homepage
- Hop On Stages: speaker booking outreach
Keep comparing
Service
Speaker booking outreach
Cold email outreach to event organizers, run for you. How it works and what it has produced.
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.
Guide
Get booked as a keynote speaker
The order of operations that actually produces paid keynotes: positioning, proof, then direct outreach.
Alternatives
SpeakerHUB alternatives
Self-serve platforms and done-for-you outreach compared with SpeakerHUB.
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.
Guide
Speakers bureau commission
The 20% to 30% range, worked examples, and what bureaus look for before they represent you.
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.