Getting Started
Welcome to EngageLive
EngageLive is a free, no-account audience interaction platform. Run live polls, quizzes, Q&A sessions, word clouds, surveys, ratings, rankings and hotspot image activities with any audience — in person, hybrid or fully remote.
What makes EngageLive different: No sign-up. No app download for participants. No server stores your response data. Powered by Firebase for real-time messaging. Free for up to 50 participants — paid boosts unlock up to 1,000.
🚀 5-Minute Quick Start — Host Your First Session
1
Open EngageLive in your browser
Visit postlister.com/engagelive/ on your laptop or desktop. No sign-up required — the app opens immediately.
2
Click "Host Free →"
A unique 4-digit session code is generated instantly. Your host dashboard opens with an empty activity list.
💡 Keep the host tab open on your screen throughout the session.
3
Add your first activity
Click + Add Activity in the sidebar and choose an activity type — Poll, Quiz, Q&A, Word Cloud, Survey, Rating, Ranking, or Hotspot. Fill in your question and options, then click Save.
4
Share the QR code with participants
Click Share QR in the top toolbar. Display the QR code on a projector or share the join link. Participants scan or visit the link and enter the 4-digit code.
💡 On a projector: use the QR overlay view which shows just the code and QR large enough for a room to scan.
5
Launch your activity live
Click the ▶ play button next to any activity. Participants see it appear on their screens instantly. Responses come in live in real time.
6
Download results when done
Click 📊 Stats to see the full session report, then export to PDF, Excel/CSV, or save the full package to reload later.
Key Concepts
Session Code
A unique 4-digit number generated when you start a session. Participants enter this at the join screen.
Activity
A single interactive element — poll, quiz, Q&A, etc. A session can contain unlimited activities.
Live Mode
When you press play on an activity, it goes "live" — participants see it and can respond in real time.
Firebase Real-time
All responses travel through Firebase — responses appear on the host screen in milliseconds.
No Server Storage
Response data is not stored on EngageLive servers. Your session data lives only in your browser and Firebase during the session.
Session Package
Export your entire session (activities + responses) as a .eljson file and reload it later.
Host Guide
Complete guide for session hosts
Everything a host needs to create, run and export a live session from start to finish.
Creating a Session
1
Open the app and click "Host Free →"
A new session is created with a unique code. The host dashboard shows your activity list on the left and the participant view preview on the right.
2
Load from a template (optional)
Click 📦 Load Template in the sidebar to browse the template library. Choose a template and all activities load instantly — ready to customise or use as-is.
💡 The Template Marketplace has 40+ ready-made sessions for icebreakers, town halls, trivia, training and more.
3
Save your session package
Click 📦 Save Package at any time to download the session as a .eljson file. Use 📥 Load Package to restore it next time.
⚠️ Sessions are not saved automatically. Always export your session before closing the browser if you want to reuse it.
Adding and Configuring Activities
1
Click "+ Add Activity"
Choose from 8 activity types. A configuration panel opens on the right.
2
Fill in the activity details
Enter your question title, options, timer settings, and any media. Each activity type has different configuration options — see the Activities section below for details.
3
Bulk import via CSV (Quiz)
For quiz questions, click 📋 Bulk CSV to import multiple questions at once from a spreadsheet. Download the template CSV to see the required format.
4
Reorder activities
Drag and drop activities in the sidebar list to reorder them. The sequence you set is the order they appear in the session.
Running a Session Live
How do I start an activity for participants?▼
Click the ▶ play button next to any activity in the sidebar list. The activity goes live immediately — participants on the join screen see it appear on their devices.
Can I run multiple activities at the same time?▼
No — only one activity can be live at a time. End the current activity by clicking the stop ■ button before launching the next one.
How do I show a leaderboard for a quiz?▼
After ending a quiz activity, click 🏆 Leaderboard in the host toolbar. The leaderboard is pushed to participant screens automatically. You can also show it between individual questions using the host controls.
How do I send an announcement mid-session?▼
Click 📢 Announce in the host sidebar. Type your message (emoji supported), optionally add an image or link, and click Send. The announcement appears as a banner on all participant screens instantly.
Can I eject a participant?▼
Yes. Open the 📊 Stats panel and go to the Participants tab. Each participant has an Eject button next to their name. They are removed from the session immediately.
What is auto-advance in Quiz mode?▼
Auto-advance automatically moves to the next quiz question when the timer expires. Toggle it on/off using the ⏭ button in the host quiz controls. When off, you control when to move to the next question manually.
Event Branding & QR Code
1
Open Event Branding
Click 🎨 Event Branding in the host sidebar. Add your event name, logo, partner logo, accent colour, and custom background image.
2
Branding appears in participant view
Your logo, event name and colours appear on the participant join screen and activity screens. Makes sessions feel professional and on-brand.
3
Share the QR code
Click 📱 Share QR. Options include: display on projector, copy the join link, or download the QR image to include in presentations or printed materials.
💡 The QR overlay shows your event name and a large QR code — ideal for projecting in a room.
Exporting Results & Data
PDF Report
Full session report with charts, response counts, and activity summaries. Click ⬇ PDF in the host toolbar.
Excel / CSV
Raw response data for all activities. Open the Stats panel and click Export CSV or Download Excel.
Session Package
Full session including activities and all responses as a .eljson file. Use 📦 Save Package. Load back with 📥 Load Package.
Stats Dashboard PDF
Export the full visual stats dashboard as a PDF — includes all charts, engagement metrics, and per-activity breakdowns.
Boosting Participant Capacity
EngageLive is free for up to 50 participants. For larger audiences, purchase a boost:
Session Boost — ₹199
Up to 200 participants for a single session (24-hour window).
Monthly Boost — ₹999
Up to 500 participants across all your sessions for 30 days.
Yearly Boost — ₹4999
Up to 1,000 participants across all your sessions for one full year.
Ad-Free — from ₹99
Remove ads for both host and participants. Monthly (₹99) or yearly (₹999).
To purchase a boost, click ⚡ Boost in the host sidebar during a session. Boosts are activated instantly via Instamojo payment.
Activities
All 8 activity types explained
EngageLive supports 8 different interaction types, each with multiple configuration options. Here's what each one does and when to use it.
Live Poll
Single or multi-choice question with real-time bar chart
Single choiceMulti-choiceImage per optionVideo per optionCorrect answer markingAnonymous toggleTimerLive bar chart
Best for: Audience temperature checks, quick decisions, opinion gathering, icebreaker "this or that" questions, pre/post knowledge checks. Results display as a live animated bar chart visible to participants.
Quiz
Competitive multi-question quiz with scoring and leaderboard
Up to 15 questionsSingle / multi-correctTrue/FalseImage per questionVideo per questionTimer per questionLive leaderboardBulk CSV importAuto-advanceSpeed bonus scoring
Best for: Team trivia, training knowledge checks, onboarding assessments, event entertainment, classroom quizzes. Host controls which question is shown. Leaderboard can be shown between any question. Import questions from CSV/Excel using the Bulk Upload feature.
Word Cloud
Live growing cloud of participant text responses
Custom promptMax words per personWord exclusion list4 color themesLive updating
Best for: Icebreakers ("one word to describe your week"), brainstorming, expectation setting at workshops, mood checks, team culture exercises. Frequently used words appear larger in the cloud.
Q&A (Slido-style)
Participant-submitted questions with upvoting
Submit questionsUpvote othersAnonymous toggleHost moderationMark as answeredReject / deleteLive question wall
Best for: Town halls, conference sessions, webinars, executive Q&A, all-hands meetings. Participants submit questions anonymously or named; others upvote their favourites so the best questions rise to the top. Host sees all questions in real time and can moderate before they appear publicly.
Survey
Multi-question form with 8 question types
Up to 20 questionsSingle/multi choiceOpen textStarsYes/NoSliderDropdownNPSEmoji scaleRequired fieldsProgress bar
Best for: Post-event feedback, training evaluations, pulse checks, needs assessments, detailed research. Participants complete the full survey at their own pace — all responses aggregate in the host stats view.
Rating / NPS
Quick single-question rating with live distribution chart
Stars 1–5Scale 1–10NPS 0–10Detractor/promoter breakdownSlider (custom range)Emoji scaleLive distribution
Best for: Session satisfaction scores, speaker ratings, product feedback, NPS measurement, quick pulse ratings. NPS mode automatically calculates your Net Promoter Score and shows detractor/passive/promoter segments.
Ranking
Drag-and-drop ranking with aggregated results
Up to 12 itemsDrag-and-dropTouch/mobile friendlyWeighted aggregate scoresLive ranked chart
Best for: Prioritisation exercises, "rank these features by importance", team value alignment, decision-making workshops. Items are ranked by each participant individually; the aggregate uses weighted scoring (1st place = highest weight) to produce a group ranking.
Hotspot Image
Interactive image-based activities with 3 modes
Click-to-revealSpot the DifferenceOdd One OutVisual hotspot editorImage compressionDrag-drop editorLeaderboard
3 modes:
• Click-to-reveal: Participants click where they think a hotspot is on an image. Scored by proximity. Great for anatomy, geography, process diagrams.
• Spot the Difference: Two images side-by-side; participants click the differences. Perfect for quality training, attention to detail.
• Odd One Out: Grid of images; participants click the odd item. Great for product training, classification exercises.
Use the visual drag-and-drop hotspot editor to place circles on your image without any coding.
• Click-to-reveal: Participants click where they think a hotspot is on an image. Scored by proximity. Great for anatomy, geography, process diagrams.
• Spot the Difference: Two images side-by-side; participants click the differences. Perfect for quality training, attention to detail.
• Odd One Out: Grid of images; participants click the odd item. Great for product training, classification exercises.
Use the visual drag-and-drop hotspot editor to place circles on your image without any coding.
Participant Guide
How to join and participate
Share this section with your audience. Participants need only a smartphone or laptop browser — no app, no account, no sign-up.
📱 How to Join a Session
1
Scan the QR code or visit the join link
Point your phone camera at the QR code shown on screen. Tap the link that appears. Or type the join URL into any browser.
💡 No app to download. Any browser works — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge.
2
Enter the 4-digit session code
Type the code shown on the host's screen. Your host will display this prominently.
3
Enter your name (optional)
Some sessions require a name (for quiz leaderboards). Others are fully anonymous. Follow what your host asks.
4
Wait for activities to launch
You'll see a waiting screen. When the host launches an activity, it appears automatically — no page refresh needed.
Responding to Activities
What do I see as a participant when a poll launches?▼
A poll question appears with clickable answer options. Tap your choice. If multi-choice is enabled, you can select multiple. After submitting, you see the live results bar chart updating in real time.
How does the quiz work for participants?▼
Questions appear one at a time as the host advances them. You have a countdown timer to answer. After submitting, you see if you were correct and your current score. The leaderboard shows your ranking after each question.
Can I change my answer after submitting?▼
Generally no — once submitted, answers are final. This maintains fairness in competitive activities like quizzes.
My screen went blank — what do I do?▼
The session may have moved to a waiting state between activities. Keep your browser tab open and don't refresh. The next activity will appear automatically when the host launches it. If you've been disconnected, go back and re-enter the session code.
How do I rank items in a Ranking activity?▼
On mobile: press, hold and drag each item up or down. On desktop: click and drag. Arrange items from most important (top) to least important (bottom), then tap Submit.
How do I click on a hotspot image?▼
Tap or click anywhere on the image where you think the answer is. A pin drops at your chosen location. For Spot the Difference, tap each difference you find. For Odd One Out, tap the image that doesn't belong.
Using the Q&A Feature
1
Type your question
When a Q&A activity is live, you see a text box. Type your question and tap Submit. If anonymous mode is on, your name won't appear.
2
Upvote other questions
See a question someone else asked that you also want answered? Tap the 👍 upvote button. Questions with more upvotes rise to the top of the host's view.
3
Watch for answered questions
The host can mark questions as "Answered" — they get a ✓ badge. This helps you track what's been addressed.
⚠️ The host can moderate and reject questions that aren't appropriate.
Template Marketplace
Ready-made session templates
The EngageLive Template Marketplace offers 40+ professionally designed session templates. Load any template into your live session in one click — or preview it in solo mode first.
📦 How to Use a Template
1
Browse the marketplace
Visit the Template Marketplace. Browse by category (Icebreaker, Trivia, Business, Training, etc.) or search by keyword.
2
Open a template
Click any template card to see a full preview — activities included, activity types, rating and author details.
3
Load into a live session
Click Use in Session →. The template loads directly into the EngageLive app. All activities are ready — customise as needed then share your QR code.
💡 You can also use ▶ Play Solo to preview the template as a participant before using it in a live session.
4
Download as .eljson (optional)
Click ↓ Download to save the template as a .eljson file. Load it later via the 📥 Load Package option in the app.
Solo Preview Mode
Solo mode lets you experience a template as a participant — without starting a live session or needing other people. Great for checking content before a real event. Choose from 5 themes (Galaxy, Ocean, Forest, Neon, Sakura) and 4 play modes (Classic, Flashcard, Zen, Blitz).
Contributing a Template
1
Build your session in the app
Create your session activities as normal in the EngageLive host dashboard. Perfect it until it's ready to share with the world.
2
Export as a package
Click 📦 Save Package to export your session as a .eljson file.
3
Submit on the marketplace
Go to templates.html and click + Contribute. Fill in your template details and upload the .eljson file.
4
Get approved and earn benefits
Submissions are reviewed within 48 hours. Once approved, your template goes live with your name as author. Each approved template earns you daily free premium template downloads.
💡 Earn 1 free download/day with 30 approved templates. Tier 2 unlocks at 80, Tier 3 at 130, and so on.
Use Cases
Who uses EngageLive and how
EngageLive is used across industries and event types. Here are the most common use cases with recommended activity combinations.
Town Hall Meetings
Keep all-hands meetings engaging. Collect live feedback, let employees submit and upvote questions anonymously, run NPS on leadership communication.
Q&APollRating/NPSSurvey
Training & L&D
Knowledge checks before and after training, engagement during learning, skills assessment, and learner feedback collection.
QuizPollHotspotSurveyRanking
Conferences & Events
Audience Q&A for keynotes, live session ratings, networking icebreakers, sponsor activations, real-time voting for awards.
Q&APollWord CloudRating
Team Building & Icebreakers
Remote and hybrid team warmups, virtual social events, trivia nights, "two truths and a lie" polls, word association clouds.
PollWord CloudQuizRanking
Classrooms & Education
Live classroom polls, formative assessment quizzes, student Q&A, peer ranking exercises, visual geography/anatomy hotspots.
QuizHotspotPollQ&AWord Cloud
Parties & Celebrations
Birthday party trivia, wedding entertainment, baby shower polls, office party games, milestone celebrations with custom branding.
QuizPollHotspotWord Cloud
Product Launches
Live feature preference voting, instant feedback collection, customer Q&A during demos, satisfaction ratings after presentations.
PollQ&ARatingRanking
Sales Kickoffs
Energise sales teams, test product knowledge with quizzes, crowdsource ideas via word clouds, set priorities via ranking.
QuizWord CloudRankingPoll
Comparison
EngageLive vs Slido, Mentimeter, Kahoot
EngageLive offers professional-grade audience interaction features at no cost, without requiring accounts or apps from participants.
| Feature | EngageLive | Slido | Mentimeter | Kahoot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | ✓ 50 participants | Limited (2 polls) | Limited | Limited (10 Q) |
| No sign-up required (host) | ✓ Instant start | ✗ Account needed | ✗ Account needed | ✗ Account needed |
| No app for participants | ✓ Browser only | ✓ Browser | ✓ Browser | App recommended |
| Live Poll | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Live Quiz with leaderboard | ✓ Free | Paid plans | Paid plans | ✓ Free |
| Word Cloud | ✓ Free | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Q&A with upvoting | ✓ Free | ✓ | Limited | ✗ |
| Hotspot / Image activity | ✓ 3 modes | ✗ | Basic | ✗ |
| Ranking activity | ✓ Free | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| NPS / Rating | ✓ Free | Paid | ✓ | ✗ |
| Survey (multi-question) | ✓ Free | Paid | ✓ | ✗ |
| PDF export | ✓ Free | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| CSV / Excel export | ✓ Free | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| Custom branding / logo | ✓ Free | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| Bulk CSV question import | ✓ Free | ✗ | ✗ | Paid |
| Session templates | ✓ 40+ free | Few | Some | Some |
| Response data privacy | ✓ Not stored on server | Stored by Slido | Stored by Menti | Stored by Kahoot |
| Pricing (comparable features) | Free – ₹999/yr | $149–$899/yr | $11.99–$49.99/mo | $17–$39/mo |
Comparison based on publicly available pricing and feature information. Features and pricing of third-party tools may have changed. EngageLive is not affiliated with Slido, Mentimeter, or Kahoot.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
The most common questions from hosts and participants.
General
Is EngageLive really free?▼
Yes — completely free for up to 50 participants per session with no account or credit card required. Boost packages (₹29–₹999) unlock higher participant limits.
Does EngageLive work on mobile?▼
Yes. Both the host dashboard and participant view are fully responsive and work on all modern smartphones and tablets. Participants can join on any device with a browser.
Does EngageLive store our responses?▼
No. EngageLive uses Firebase for real-time messaging, but response data is not stored on EngageLive servers. Your session data lives only in your browser's local storage and in the ephemeral Firebase session. When the session ends, it's gone unless you export it.
Can I use EngageLive for paid events or commercial purposes?▼
Yes. There are no restrictions on commercial use. Use it for paid corporate events, training sessions, conferences — no additional licence required.
Does EngageLive work offline?▼
No. EngageLive requires an internet connection since Firebase handles real-time participant communication. Both host and participants need to be online.
What browsers are supported?▼
All modern browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Samsung Internet, and Opera. We recommend Chrome or Edge for hosts for the best experience. Any browser from 2018 onwards works for participants.
Technical
Why can't participants see the activity I launched?▼
Most common causes: (1) The participant's browser tab was closed or navigated away — they need to rejoin with the session code. (2) There's a network issue on the participant's device. (3) The session code has changed — verify they're using the correct current code. Always test with a second device before live events.
My responses are not showing up on the host screen▼
This is usually a Firebase connectivity issue. Check: (1) Your internet connection is stable. (2) The activity is actively "live" — the ▶ button was pressed. (3) Try refreshing your host browser. If problems persist, click "⟳ Clear Cache" in the topbar and reload.
Can I run EngageLive on two devices simultaneously (host + presenter)?▼
Yes. Open the host session on your laptop for control, and join as a participant on a second device (tablet/phone) to preview what participants see. Use the session code to join your own session from the second device.
How do I clear old session data if the app behaves unexpectedly?▼
Click ⟳ Clear Cache in the top navigation bar. This wipes all local EngageLive data and reloads the page — useful if a previous session's data is interfering with a new one.
What is the maximum file size for hotspot images?▼
EngageLive compresses uploaded images automatically. Recommended: upload images under 5MB. The built-in compression brings them to a size safe for Firebase transmission to all participants.
Templates
Are all templates free?▼
Most templates are free. Some premium templates require a one-time purchase. Contributors who have had 30+ templates approved get daily free access to premium templates based on their contributor tier.
Can I edit a template after loading it?▼
Yes. Once loaded into your session, the template's activities are fully editable — change questions, add options, update timers, remove activities you don't need, or add new ones.
How long does template review take?▼
Submissions are reviewed within 48 hours. You'll receive feedback via the email provided during submission if any changes are needed.
Troubleshooting
Common problems & solutions
❌ Participants can't join — "Invalid code" error▼
Solutions: (1) Verify the 4-digit code is correct — check the host screen. (2) Make sure the session is active — the host tab must be open. (3) Check the participant is going to the correct URL. (4) Try clicking ⟳ Clear Cache and rejoining.
❌ Responses appear delayed or not at all▼
Solutions: (1) Check internet stability on both host and participant sides. (2) Firebase can experience occasional delays — responses usually catch up within seconds. (3) Refresh the host browser. (4) If on a corporate network, ask IT if Firebase Realtime Database is blocked (*.firebaseio.com must be accessible).
❌ The app shows a blank screen or frozen state▼
Solutions: (1) Click ⟳ Clear Cache in the topbar. (2) Hard refresh: Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac). (3) Open a private/incognito window and try again.
❌ Quiz leaderboard shows wrong scores▼
Solutions: Scores are calculated from answers submitted during the timed window. Late submissions after the timer is up are not counted. If using auto-advance, ensure the timer is long enough for your audience to respond before it moves on.
❌ Hotspot image activity not sending responses▼
Solutions: Hotspot activities require the image to load fully before participants can click. Large images may take a moment. If responses aren't appearing, try using a smaller or compressed image. Test with a second device before the live event.
❌ Session data disappeared after browser refresh▼
Prevention: Always use 📦 Save Package before refreshing or closing the browser. Session data is saved in the browser's localStorage which can be cleared by privacy settings or browser updates. Recovery: If you had a .eljson file, use 📥 Load Package to restore it.
❌ Template doesn't load into the session correctly▼
Solutions: (1) Click ⟳ Clear Cache and try again. (2) Try downloading the template as .eljson first, then loading via 📥 Load Package in the app. (3) Check the template isn't premium — premium templates require purchase or contributor access.
Best practice before any live event: Open your session, load your template, then test it yourself on a second device as a participant. Run through every activity — poll, quiz, Q&A, hotspot — and confirm responses appear on the host screen. This 5-minute test prevents 95% of live event issues.
Fix Common Issues
🗑️ Clear Browser Data — Fix 90% of Issues
Most problems with EngageLive — Firebase "Connecting…", plan not updating, old session stuck on screen, login issues — are caused by stale browser data. Clearing it takes 30 seconds and fixes almost everything.
🔴 Session shows "Connecting…" and never connects to Firebase▼
Cause: The browser has a stale Firebase auth token or a corrupted session object in localStorage that keeps trying to reconnect to an old/ended session.
Fix — Option 1 (automatic):
Fix — Option 2 (manual Chrome):
- Open postlister.com/engagelive in Chrome
- Click the 🔒 lock icon in the address bar
- Click Site settings
- Scroll down and click Clear data
- Reload the page — connection will be fresh
Fix — Option 3 (all browsers): Open a Private / Incognito window and navigate to EngageLive. This always starts with clean storage.
🔴 Plan was upgraded but app still shows Free plan / old limits▼
Cause: The auth token cached in localStorage has old plan data. The server has the new plan but the browser hasn't fetched it yet.
Fix:
- Log out from the app (click your email → Log out)
- Click the button below to clear cached data
- Log back in — the app will fetch your current plan fresh
🔴 Started a new session but it shows activities from a previous session▼
Cause: EngageLive saves your session to localStorage (el_s_CODE) so you can recover it after an accidental refresh. When you start a new session, old session data sometimes persists and loads instead.
Fix:
- End the current session using the End Session button
- If stuck, open browser DevTools → Application → Local Storage → delete all
el_s_keys - Or use the button below to clear all EngageLive data
🔴 After paying for a boost, the participant limit didn't change▼
Cause: The boost token from the payment redirect was not applied — either the page reloaded before the token was processed, or the URL parameter was lost.
Fix:
- Check your email for the payment receipt from PayU/PayPal
- Log out and log back in — the server records your purchase and will restore the boost
- If still not working, clear data below and log in fresh
🔴 Org branding / team members not appearing in the session▼
Cause: The session was started before the branding was set, or the cached session object predates the branding save.
Fix:
- End and restart the session — branding auto-loads on new session start
- Or open Event Branding 🎨 in the session menu and save your branding there for this session
- Set branding in My Account → Org Branding to apply automatically to all future sessions
📋 What exactly does "Clear EngageLive Data" delete?▼
The button clears only EngageLive-specific data from your browser's localStorage and sessionStorage:
el_session(cookie) — your login session (you'll need to log in again)el_s_*— saved session objects (unsaved activities will be lost)el_pending_tpl,el_host_returning— temporary flagsel_adfree_*— ad-free purchase tokens (re-fetched on login)- All other
el_prefixed keys
It does NOT clear: your account data on the server, purchase history, branding settings, or any other website's data.
🔧 Manual steps: Clear data in Chrome, Firefox, Safari▼
Chrome / Edge
- Address bar → 🔒 lock icon
- Site settings
- Clear data
- Reload
Firefox
- Address bar → 🔒 shield icon
- Clear cookies and site data
- Reload
Safari (iOS/Mac)
- Settings → Safari
- Advanced → Website Data
- Find postlister.com → Delete
- Reload