Even before the recent global health crisis, hybrid and virtual events were growing in popularity. While some event organizers have moved quickly to transition their plans and take their live event online, others have been considering making the move anyway. Essential to hosting a successful virtual event is the event technology and software tools you choose to use. To help you put together the greatest possible event experience, we created this list of the best virtual event software, which also includes details about features and pricing. With this breakdown, you will be able to decide which software or platform best suits your needs so you can get on with planning the best online event ever! *Please note that the following platforms are listed in alphabetical order, this does not represent a rank. The authors of this post are affiliated with Accelevents.
Summary: Accelevents is an affordable answer to all of your event planning questions and concerns. With recently updated features that include a live video streaming platform and virtual exhibitor booths, this software creates a seamless experience for both the event organizer and event attendees. Facilitate networking opportunities with interactive features like live chat, breakout sessions, and virtual “cocktail hours.” Simple and intuitive, this software is perfect for the first-time planner and, with live support available to you around the clock, you can rest assured that nothing will stand in your way. Features: Customizable branding, virtual lobby, reporting/analytics, survey/poll management, online registration, real-time chat, live streaming, record and playback ability Best for: Virtual and hybrid events, virtual conferences, first-time event planners Capterra Rating: 4.8/5
Summary: Founded by event managers, the company has evolved over the years to provide an end-to-end solution. This software can help you manage registration, grow your brand, drive engagement, and make informed data-driven marketing decisions. Simplify the planning process, scale your virtual event, and connect attendees in a meaningful way with this powerful and flexible tool. Features: Attendee management, live streaming, reporting/analytics, online registration, survey/poll management Best for: All virtual events from small staff meetings to massive conferencesCapterra Rating: 4.3/5
Summary: With end-to-end management solutions, Events.com allows organizers to manage, market, and monetize their events like few other platforms.Build your event brand, engage the audience, drive sales, and stream live video to host a virtual event that rivals the traditional in-person experience. Features: Gamification, social media promotion, vendor/exhibit management, sponsorship management, ticketing Best for: Planners hosting everything from small scale community events to massive festivals and conferences Capterra Rating: 4.7/5
Summary: Like so many others in the industry, Event Ready has made a pivot to enable virtual conferences with a special focus on pre-registration services. This focus means you can carefully plan out each element of your conference from a centralized location. With a number of registration and reporting capabilities, you can create a smooth and professional experience for your virtual attendees. And with the ability to offer group registration, this software can be a dream for corporate event planners. Features: Ticketing, sponsorship management, speaker management, surveys & feedback, attendee management Best for: Corporations with annual conferences, large and small scale meetings Capterra Rating: 4.3/5
Summary: As a platform for event registration and management, Eventzilla now offers registration for virtual events. From small classes or education sessions to large scale conferences, concerts, and sporting events, this software is able to support it all. Eventzilla makes it easy to promote your event, sell tickets, process payments, and send communications to registered guests and attendees. Features: Lead generation, online registration, attendee management, live streaming, record and playback ability, customizable branding Best for: Conferences, Virtual Events, Fundraisers, Sports events, Music Festivals Capterra Rating: 4.4/5
Summary: INXPO is a reliable, secure, and scalable software platform meaning you can easily grow your event without a care in the world. This software is versatile. It allows you to reach your specific target audience with fully branded videos, webcasts, conferences, and trade shows.INXPO has powerful marketing capabilities, connecting you with interested parties from all over the world. They offer two different types of live event experiences (“Essentials” and “Expert”) so you can choose the one that best fits your needs and your budget. Features: Presentation streaming, private chat, record & playback ability, video conferencing, real-time chat, on-demand webcasting Best for: Engaging online events and webcasts, B2B and B2C applications Capterra Rating: 4.8/5
Summary: Livestorm is far and away one of the top meeting and conference software providers on the market. Users will not have to download the software as all interactions are handled inside a web browser. Livestorm will tackle your landing page, analytics, email automation, recordings, and more, allowing you to focus on creating the best event experience possible instead of the finicky technical details. Features: Multi-host, social media promotion, reporting/analytics, surveys/polls, on-demand webinars, screen sharing, customizable branding Best for: Small budgets, events of all sizes that require live video as a driver of growth Capterra Rating: 4.7/5
Summary: Socialive makes it easy to share your event’s video streams across all of your social media platforms. With features that include live chat, polling, surveys, you can keep your virtual audience attentive and engaged. The user interface is clean and intuitive, making the software easy to use for event hosts, speakers, and attendees. Customization capabilities allow you to create a fully realized and unique branded experience. Features: Customizable branding, intuitive user interface, live streaming across social media platforms, record & playback ability, polling, reporting/analytics Best for: Events that want to preserve video streams for access after event completion Capterra Rating: 4/5
Summary: vFairs is perfect for those looking to host a virtual trade show or conference. The virtual environment created by this software allows attendees to interact directly with vendors and exhibitors in real-time. Attendees can even create a “wishlist” allowing them to keep track of products they have during their virtual booth tours. To boost the attendee experience, the software supports chat capabilities (audio, video, and text), polling, webinars, and video content. Features: Customizable branding, attendee management, online registration, lead generation, live streaming, reporting/analytics, survey/poll management Best for: Large scale conferences, fairs, and trade shows Capterra Rating: 4.8/5
Summary: Whova is an all-in-one event software solution that comes with a list of noteworthy credentials. Having won the Event Tech Award every year from 2016-2019, you know you are getting a tried and tested tool. For virtual and hybrid events, Whova can help you plan better while improving attendee engagement, increasing networking opportunities, and enhancing exhibitor and sponsor ROI. Features: Social media promotion, ticketing, vendor/exhibit management, sponsorship management, gamification, ticketing Best for: Event organizers looking for a mobile event app and an event management platform Capterra Rating: 4.8/5
