Vistage is the largest CEO peer advisory organization in the world - and they've earned that. Since 1957, they've helped tens of thousands of business leaders grow through peer groups, executive coaching, and speaker events.
Hampton is newer, smaller, and built for a very specific type of leader: digital-first founders and CEOs doing $3M–$50M+ in revenue.
Both believe CEOs make better decisions when they have peers who challenge them. But the experience, the culture, and who's sitting across from you are meaningfully different.
Here's where each excels - so you can make the right call.
Quick Comparison
| Hampton | Vistage | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2022 | 1957 |
| Members | 1,000+ vetted founders | 45,000+ across 35 countries |
| Focus | Digital-first founders & CEOs ($3M–$50M+) | CEOs & executives of all industries |
| Group size | 8 members per Core group | 12–16 per peer advisory group |
| Meeting format | Monthly, in-person, 3 hours, 10x/year | Monthly, in-person, full day |
| Facilitation | Trained Hampton moderator | Vistage Chair (experienced business leader) |
| Matching method | Proprietary Mentor-Mentee-Mirror model | Chair-led selection based on geography/role |
| Cost | $15,000/year | ~$1,500–$2,500/month (~$18K–$30K/year) |
| Community beyond meetings | Private Slack (1,000+ founders), 150+ events/year, retreats | Speaker events, research, online platform |
| Revenue requirement | $3M+ revenue, $3M+ raised, or $10M+ exit | Varies by group type - generally $1M+ |
| Guarantee | 60-day money-back guarantee | Varies by chair/region |
| Culture | Founder-first, Three C's (Candor, Commitment, Confidentiality) | Professional, corporate, structured |
Where Vistage Excels
Global scale and a 70-year track record. Vistage has been doing this longer than almost anyone. Their network spans 35+ countries with 45,000+ members. If you want a peer group backed by decades of institutional proof, Vistage has it.
Multiple group types for different roles. Vistage isn't just for CEOs. They offer Chief Executive groups, Key Executive groups (for VPs/directors), Emerging Leader groups (for rising managers), and Trusted Advisor groups (for coaches/consultants). If you need peer groups across your entire leadership team, Vistage can serve every level.
The Chair model. Every Vistage group is led by a Chair - an experienced CEO or business leader who doubles as facilitator and one-on-one coach. You get monthly group meetings plus individual coaching sessions. If having a dedicated executive coach built into your membership matters to you, Vistage delivers.
Broad industry representation. Manufacturing, healthcare, professional services, retail, construction - Vistage serves them all. If you run a traditional business and want peers from a wide range of industries, their breadth is a real advantage.
World-class speakers and research. Vistage brings in top speakers on leadership, strategy, and management. Their research division also publishes data on CEO confidence and business trends that members actually use.
See what Hampton members are saying →
Where Hampton Excels
Built specifically for digital-first founders. Hampton isn't trying to serve every CEO. The membership is exclusively founders and CEOs of digital or digital-enabled businesses doing $3M+ in revenue. That means the advice, the frameworks, and the connections are directly relevant if you're building a SaaS company, running a DTC brand, scaling an agency, or growing a tech-enabled business.
Intentional matching that actually works. Hampton doesn't group people by geography and call it a day. Every Core group is hand-curated using a proprietary Mentor-Mentee-Mirror model - founders ahead of you, behind you, and at your level, matched on life traction, family stage, communication style, wealth, and energy. The result: groups where everyone can both give and receive.
Smaller groups, deeper relationships. Hampton Core groups have 8 members. Vistage groups typically have 12–16. Fewer people means more airtime, deeper trust, and more accountability per person.
The Three C's create a different kind of room. Hampton runs on three non-negotiable tenets - Candor (radical honesty), Commitment (Core meetings come before board meetings), and Confidentiality (zero-tolerance policy). Members consistently say the level of vulnerability and trust in their Core group is unlike anything they've experienced in other communities.
A full ecosystem beyond Core groups. Your Hampton membership isn't just 10 meetings a year. It includes a private Slack community with 1,000+ vetted founders active daily, 150+ events per year, local chapter events in 16+ cities, and world-class retreats (Pinehurst Golf, Peak Performance, Women of Hampton, and more).
60-day money-back guarantee. Attend your first 3 Core meetings. If you're not thrilled, get a full refund. Hampton is confident enough in the experience to put their money where their mouth is.
Key Differences That Matter
1. Who's in the room: Generalist vs. Founder-Specific
Vistage serves CEOs of all types - franchise owners, manufacturing executives, healthcare administrators, professional service firms. Great for breadth. But the advice you get isn't always applicable to your world.
Hampton members are exclusively digital-first founders and CEOs. The average member does $23M in revenue. 25% are in SaaS, 13% run agencies, 12% are in DTC. When you bring a challenge to your Core group, the people responding have faced similar problems in similar businesses.
"I spent two years in a traditional peer advisory group. The difference with Hampton is night and day. My group is all founders, all building at my scale, and every meeting I walk out with something I can use that week."
SaaS Founder, $15M ARR
2. How your group gets built
Vistage groups are primarily organized by geography and assembled by the local Chair. The Chair knows their members well and selects people they believe will work together - but the matching is largely relationship-driven.
Hampton uses a data-driven, proprietary Mentor-Mentee-Mirror model. Groups are curated based on life traction, geography, age, family stage, wealth, experience level, energy, and communication style. The goal isn't just compatibility - it's intentional asymmetry that maximizes learning in every direction.
3. Meeting structure
Vistage meetings are typically full-day sessions - 8 hours including speaker presentations, issue processing, and peer advisory time. The Chair also provides monthly one-on-one coaching.
Hampton Core meetings are 3 hours, 10 times per year (August and December off), always in-person, always facilitated by a trained moderator. The format is focused and intense - designed for founders who guard their time but want maximum impact from every session.
4. What it costs
Vistage runs approximately $1,500–$2,500 per month depending on your group type and region - that's $18,000–$30,000 per year.
Hampton is $15,000 per year. And it includes a 60-day money-back guarantee. Given that Hampton also includes Slack, 150+ events, chapters, and retreats in that price, the value per dollar is strong.
"The Three C's are real. I have never been in a room where people are that honest. Someone told me my pricing strategy was leaving $500K on the table, and they were right."
DTC Brand CEO, $20M Revenue
5. Community culture
Vistage has a more corporate, professional tone. It's a large organization with decades of institutional norms. This appeals to CEOs who prefer structure, formality, and a traditional executive peer group experience.
Hampton feels like a founder community. The Slack is active, the events are social and high-energy, and the culture rewards openness and vulnerability. Members talk about real numbers, real failures, and real personal struggles - not just business strategy.
Who Should Choose Vistage
Vistage is likely the better fit if you:
- Run a traditional (non-digital) business - manufacturing, healthcare, professional services, construction
- Want one-on-one executive coaching built into your membership
- Need peer groups for multiple leadership levels in your company (C-suite, VPs, emerging leaders)
- Prefer a large, established institution with 70 years of track record
- Value full-day meeting formats with speaker presentations
- Need a group in a smaller city where Hampton doesn't yet have chapters
Hear from hundreds of founders on the Wall of Fame →
Who Should Choose Hampton
Hampton is likely the better fit if you:
- Are a founder or CEO of a digital or digital-enabled business doing $3M+ in revenue
- Want a smaller, more intimate group (8 vs. 12–16)
- Care about how your group is matched - and want an intentional Mentor-Mentee-Mirror dynamic
- Want a community beyond meetings - active Slack, 150+ events/year, retreats, local chapters
- Value radical candor, deep vulnerability, and strict confidentiality
- Want a guarantee - try it, and if it's not for you, get a full refund
- Identify more as a "founder" than a "corporate executive"
What Hampton Members Say (See all on the Wall of Fame)
"I spent two years in a traditional peer advisory group. The difference with Hampton is night and day. My group is all founders, all building at my scale, and every meeting I walk out with something I can use that week."
SaaS Founder, $15M ARR
"The Three C's are real. I have never been in a room where people are that honest. Someone told me my pricing strategy was leaving $500K on the table, and they were right."
DTC Brand CEO, $20M Revenue
"I joined for the Core group and stayed for the community. The Slack alone has saved me from two bad vendor contracts and introduced me to my current VP of Marketing."
Media Company Founder, $8M Revenue
The average Hampton member does $23M in revenue. The community includes founders of companies valued at up to $38B, founders who have raised $60M+, and serial founders with $10M+ exits.
Ready to See If Hampton Is Right for You?
Hampton isn't for every CEO - and that's the point. If you're a founder or CEO of a digital business doing $3M+ in revenue and you want to be surrounded by peers who will challenge you, sharpen you, and keep you from drifting into mediocrity, apply today.
60-day money-back guarantee. No risk, just growth.
The Founders Inside Hampton
Hampton members include founders and CEOs running companies from $3M to $200M+ in annual revenue. The average member does $23M. The community includes:
- Founders of companies valued at up to $38B
- CEOs who have raised $60M+ in venture capital
- Serial founders with $10M+ exits
- Leaders across SaaS, e-commerce, agencies, media, fintech, health tech, real estate tech, and more
- Founders recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, Inc. 5000, and The Wall Street Journal
Every member is a vetted founder or CEO. No investors. No consultants. No hired executives. Just people who are building.
Browse the Wall of Fame to see who's inside Hampton →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Hampton and Vistage?
Hampton is a private membership for digital-first founders and CEOs doing $3M–$50M+ in revenue, with curated groups of 8 members, trained moderators, and a founder-first culture. Vistage is the world's largest CEO peer advisory organization with 45,000+ members across all industries, featuring full-day meetings led by experienced Chairs who also provide one-on-one coaching.
How much does Hampton cost compared to Vistage?
Hampton costs $15,000 per year with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Vistage costs approximately $1,500 to $2,500 per month depending on group type and region, which comes to $18,000 to $30,000 per year. Hampton's flat annual price includes Core groups, Slack community, 150+ events, retreats, and local chapters.
Can I join both Hampton and Vistage?
Yes. There is no exclusivity requirement for either organization. Some CEOs maintain memberships in both, using Vistage for executive coaching and broader industry perspectives and Hampton for a more intimate, founder-specific peer group.
How are peer groups different in Hampton vs Vistage?
Hampton Core groups have 8 members matched using a Mentor-Mentee-Mirror model based on revenue stage, industry, personality, and life stage. Groups are led by trained moderators and meet for 3 hours monthly. Vistage groups have 12 to 16 members selected by the local Chair, meet for full-day sessions, and include one-on-one coaching with the Chair.
Is Hampton a good Vistage alternative?
Hampton is an excellent Vistage alternative for digital-first founders and CEOs doing $3M to $50M or more in revenue. It offers smaller groups, intentional matching, a highly active Slack community, 150+ events per year, and a modern founder-centric culture. It costs less than most Vistage memberships and includes a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Does Vistage offer executive coaching that Hampton doesn't?
Yes, Vistage includes monthly one-on-one coaching with your group's Chair as part of the membership. Hampton does not include dedicated executive coaching but offers trained group moderation, a highly active Slack community for real-time advice, and 150+ events per year including workshops and retreats.
What industries do Hampton and Vistage serve?
Vistage serves CEOs across all industries including manufacturing, healthcare, professional services, retail, and construction. Hampton serves digital-first founders and CEOs in SaaS, e-commerce, agencies, media, fintech, health tech, and other technology-forward industries. Hampton's focused membership means advice is more directly applicable for digital businesses.
Does Hampton have a money-back guarantee?
Yes. Hampton offers a 60-day money-back guarantee. If you attend your first Core meetings and decide it is not the right fit, you receive a full refund. Vistage guarantee policies vary by Chair and region.
See also: Hampton vs YPO | Hampton vs EO | What Is a Founder Peer Group? | CEO Peer Groups Guide