Hackathons have become a cornerstone of innovation, bringing together developers, designers, and entrepreneurs to collaborate on solving problems and creating new technologies. Whether you’re a startup, a large enterprise, or a community organization, hosting a hackathon can be a powerful way to engage talent, drive creativity, and discover new solutions.
However, the success of a hackathon often depends on choosing the right platform to host it. The platform should provide robust tools for organizing the event, managing participants, and evaluating submissions. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve compiled a list of the top seven hackathon platforms available today.
1. HackerEarth
HackerEarth is a leading global platform designed to assist enterprises in recruiting, assessing, and upskilling developers based on their specific skill sets. Established in 2012 with offices in San Francisco and India, HackerEarth has rapidly grown to become a preferred choice for companies looking to streamline their hiring processes and engage with top tech talent.
One of HackerEarth’s standout features is its comprehensive platform, which not only supports recruitment and assessment but is also a premier venue for hosting online hackathons. The platform boasts a community of over 7.6 million developers worldwide, providing a rich pool of talent for hackathon organizers to tap into.
HackerEarth offers an extensive library of over 16,000 exclusive questions across 18+ roles and 900+ skills, making it easy for organizers to create challenges that are both relevant and engaging. Additionally, the platform supports more than 40 different roles and 10+ frameworks, ensuring that you can tailor your hackathon to a wide range of participants.
What makes HackerEarth particularly effective is its AI-driven platform, designed to automate the evaluation and benchmarking of candidates. This automation ensures that assessments are unbiased and consistent, providing an equal playing field for all participants. Moreover, the platform integrates seamlessly with major Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) like Lever, ZOHO, JobVite, JazzHR, and TalentHub, making it a versatile tool for organizations of all sizes.
For companies looking to host hackathons that drive learning and development, HackerEarth is an ideal choice. Its focus on continuous upskilling and its large, engaged community make it a valuable platform for discovering and nurturing new talent.
Pros:
- A vast library of over 16,000 questions tailored to 18+ roles and 900+ skills.
- Supports 40+ roles and 10+ frameworks, allowing for diverse and customized hackathons.
- Automated, AI-driven assessments that ensure fair and unbiased evaluations.
- Integrates with major ATS platforms for seamless recruitment processes.
- Trusted by more than 4,000 global tech companies.
Cons:
- It is a paid platform, though it offers a 14-day free trial for new users.
Ratings:
- G2: 4.4/5
- Capterra: 4.7/5
HackerEarth | Talent Assessment Software
2. Devpost
Devpost is widely recognized as the go-to platform for developers who want to participate in hackathons, as well as for organizations looking to host them. It has become a central hub for the hackathon community, connecting developers with events and challenges that match their skills and interests.
Devpost’s user-friendly interface makes it easy for organizers to set up hackathons and manage submissions. The platform provides tools for judging, showcasing projects, and engaging with participants before, during, and after the event. Moreover, Devpost’s extensive reach ensures that your hackathon will attract a broad audience, from students to seasoned professionals.
Pros:
- Large and active community of developers.
- User-friendly platform with robust tools for managing hackathons.
- Excellent project showcase features.
Cons:
- Limited customization options for hackathon challenges.
Ratings:
- G2: 4.5/5
- Capterra: 4.6/5
3. GitHub
GitHub is more than just a code repository; it has become a central platform for hosting hackathons, particularly those that focus on open-source projects. GitHub’s collaborative features, such as pull requests, issues, and wikis, make it an ideal environment for teams to work together on coding challenges.
While GitHub does not offer dedicated hackathon management tools like some of the other platforms on this list, its widespread use in the developer community and integration with various CI/CD tools make it a natural choice for hackathons. GitHub also provides free resources and guides for hosting hackathons, which can be a great starting point for organizers.
Pros:
- Widely used and trusted by the developer community.
- Excellent collaboration tools for coding projects.
- Integration with various CI/CD tools.
Cons:
- Lacks dedicated hackathon management features.
Ratings:
- G2: 4.7/5
- Capterra: 4.6/5
4. Devfolio
Devfolio is a popular platform in India and beyond, known for its focus on student hackathons and developer-focused events. Devfolio provides a comprehensive set of tools for organizing hackathons, including registration, team formation, submission management, and judging.
One of Devfolio’s unique features is its focus on fostering student communities and enabling college hackathons. The platform has been used to host some of the largest student hackathons in India, and it continues to support initiatives that encourage young developers to innovate and collaborate.
Pros:
- Strong focus on student and community hackathons.
- Comprehensive tools for managing all aspects of a hackathon.
- Great for large-scale student events.
Cons:
- Primarily focused on the Indian market.
Ratings:
- G2: 4.6/5
- Capterra: 4.7/5
5. MLH (Major League Hacking)
MLH (Major League Hacking) is the official student hackathon league, which powers thousands of hackathons around the world each year. MLH provides a platform for students to learn, build, and share new projects, and it is particularly known for its strong community support and educational resources.
MLH’s platform offers tools for event registration, project submission, and judging. Additionally, MLH provides organizers with mentorship and logistical support, making it easier to host successful events. The platform is especially popular among educational institutions and student groups.
Pros:
- Extensive support and resources for student hackathons.
- Strong global community and network.
- Educational resources and mentorship.
Cons:
- Primarily focused on student hackathons.
Ratings:
- G2: 4.6/5
- Capterra: 4.7/5
6. ChallengeRocket
ChallengeRocket is a platform designed for organizing online challenges and hackathons with a focus on talent acquisition. The platform allows companies to create coding competitions and hackathons that attract top developers and engineers. These events can be used to identify and recruit new talent, making ChallengeRocket a great choice for organizations looking to combine hackathons with recruitment efforts.
ChallengeRocket also offers features like AI-driven candidate matching, detailed analytics, and integration with various ATS systems. This makes it a powerful tool for companies that want to streamline their recruitment processes while also engaging with the developer community.
Pros:
- Focus on talent acquisition through coding competitions.
- AI-driven candidate matching and analytics.
- Integration with ATS systems.
Cons:
- More suited for recruitment-focused hackathons.
Ratings:
- G2: 4.5/5
- Capterra: 4.5/5
7. Hackathon.com
Hackathon.com is a global platform dedicated to the hackathon ecosystem. It serves as a directory for hackathons happening around the world and offers a platform for organizations to host their own events. Hackathon.com’s wide reach and focus on the hackathon community make it an excellent choice for companies looking to attract a global audience.
The platform offers basic tools for managing hackathons, including registration, team management, and submission tracking. While it may not offer the advanced features of some other platforms, its focus on the global hackathon community makes it a valuable resource for organizers.
Pros:
- Global platform with a focus on hackathon events.
- Directory of hackathons worldwide.
- Basic management tools for hosting events.
Cons:
- Lacks advanced features for hackathon management.
Ratings:
- G2: 4.4/5
- Capterra: 4.3/5
Conclusion
Choosing the right platform to host your hackathon can make all the difference in the success of your event. HackerEarth leads the list with its robust assessment tools, large developer community, and seamless integration with recruitment systems, making it an ideal choice for companies looking to host impactful hackathons. Platforms like Devpost, GitHub, and Devfolio offer unique features that cater to different types of hackathons, from community-driven events to recruitment-focused challenges.
By selecting a platform that aligns with your goals and audience, you can create a hackathon that not only engages participants but also drives innovation and discovery.
