Event management software has simplified the entire event-launching process, allowing even small businesses to put on an impressive show despite not having technical expertise or experience.
On-site and virtual event platforms contain a whole host of connected features for smooth preparation, hosting, and analytics. From scheduling and registration to A/B testing and performance metrics, event management tools all play their role in seamless, memorable events.
So let’s look at the top event management software on the market so you can identify the best solution for you.
1. Bitrix24 — Straightforward event management software as part of an all-in-one business platform
Although Bitrix24 isn’t a laser-focused solution like many of the other virtual event platforms on this list, more and more of our clients are using tools already at their disposal to run all kinds of events both online and in-person.
Bitrix24 covers a vast range of event tools, including calendars to schedule the time and date, a CRM to register attendees and send communications, marketing tools to promote the event, and a document management hub for you to store resources, agreements, and more. In terms of the process, you can set up replicable task management workflows and easily launch repeat events, safe in the knowledge you won’t miss any key steps.
So how do you launch an event from Bitrix24?
- Create a project with defined tasks, deadlines, and milestones
- Choose your desired attendees through a segmented, in-built CRM
- Set a time, date, and location, ensuring it doesn’t clash with other events in your team
- Design a landing page with more information and a sign-up form (Bitrix24’s CoPilot AI assistant can help speed this up for you!)
- Spread the word through social media and email marketing
- Gather all legal and practical documents into a folder with restricted access
- Host your event either in person or online on our video conferencing software
- Gather performance data and personal insights from attendees to improve your workflows in the futur
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2. Whova — Run events that encourage people to connect
Whova’s niche is that it focuses on allowing attendees to learn about the people they meet at events. Users of Whova’s mobile event management apps can suggest meet-ups with others and gravitate toward people with similar interests for lunch. It’s not just about meeting people though. Whova has a super-intuitive display for browsing in-event sessions and deciding on a plan for the day.
Behind the scenes, event managers can use conference planning tools like customizable free or paid tickets, early bird pricing to spark action, as well as discount codes, group purchases, and invite-only tickets. When reaching out to speakers, Whova has dedicated business event software for receiving, reviewing, and ranking proposals so you know you have a varied lineup of quality sessions.
Whova’s CRM has event registration tools that let you design your own forms and pages, before tailoring confirmation emails to build a closer connection with your attendees. Once people sign up, algorithms start gathering valuable data that you can display in analytics charts later to assess and improve the success of your events.
3. Eventbrite — A go-to solution with a small learning curve
Perhaps the most recognizable brand among our list of event management software, Eventbrite has made its name by taking excellent events and posting them on its own platform that users can search by location, type of event, and time.
For organizers, Eventbrite provides a simple step-by-step process that even first-timers can pick up easily. In terms of event marketing software, the main advantage is an integration with social media platforms that lets you immediately publish and reach your audience at the click of a button. All of these posts will link back to a branded event page that offers more information and a payment portal to take care of the administrative side.
In terms of ticketing, you can set different price levels as well as run special offers and VIP tickets all from the same platform. When the day comes, your team can check people in with mobile ticket scanning for a smooth-running event.
Eventbrite’s event organization software stretches to analytics that gives you insights into the sales side and into the kind of people who are attending your event. View data based on a single event, multiple events, or even by event type for a more in-depth analysis.
4. Accelevents — Close the gap between virtual and hybrid events
Accelevents offers a set of conference planning tools that let you bridge the gap between virtual and hybrid events. It specializes in high-quality live streams that are ideal for webinars, presentations, panels, and keynote speakers.
Its event registration tools span customizable registration pages complete with conditional logic jumps and registration widgets that attach to your webpage for a more direct experience. Like many of the other premium virtual event platforms on this list, Accelevents generates access codes for VIPs, speakers, and exhibitors, and offers discount codes to boost ticket sales. You can even boost revenue from each participant through merchandise, products, and other add-ons during the registration process.
Although Accelevents excels at the online side of things, its onsite format also competes with the best event management software out there. With QR scanners, self-check-in kiosks, and fully integrated badge printing, Accelevents checks a load more steps off your to-do list in those tense moments in the lead-up to an event.
5. Feathr — The non-profit’s choice for event management
Feathr’s event scheduling software is purpose-built for nonprofits to reach a wider audience and raise more money for their cause. Its in-app budget recommendations set it apart from other event marketing software by helping to keep costs down and the impact high.
Feathr focuses most of its attention on the registration and marketing stages, with fewer incapabilities during the event itself. You can launch targeted, personalized campaigns across a range of channels based on the specific interests of your audience, whether you know them already or not. Feathr even doubles down on its initial efforts with retargeting ads for potential attendees who have visited your page but didn’t commit to signing up. The app gathers a great deal of data from these marketing efforts for you to study and learn from going forward.
Seamless integrations with the leading CRM systems allow for better attendee management and follow-up emails to capitalize on the success of your event. However, despite the powerful event scheduling software, many users report unexpected bugs that can be confusing, especially to beginners.
6. Splash — Save time when preparing professional events
Splash’s event management software brings a whole host of features, automations, and analytics to the promotion of virtual, hybrid, and in-person events. The company boasts a potential 85% decrease in the time it takes to set up an event compared to its competitors, without skimping on design, ticketing, and email capabilities.
A wide range of event organization software and hardware help your events run smoothly. Splash Studio allows online speakers to livestream their presentations and fosters audience participation with Q&A sessions, polls, surveys, and a chat. Your in-person attendees can check themselves in with a QR code before printing out a badge with customizable information about the person. As only those who sign in will get a badge, you can save a great deal of paper and ink too!
On the whole, users tend to agree with Splash’s bold claims, frequently commenting on how intuitive and well-designed the platform is. However, among a long list of positives, it’s not uncommon to find complaints about the limited customer service that Splash offers.
7. Eventdex — A matchmaking event management platform with AI capabilities
Eventdex is another example of event management software that aims to make the in-person, hybrid, and virtual event formats all as good as each other.
For example, Eventdex’s B2B Matchmaking Platform connects buyers with businesses that match their interests. In-person, this involves a dynamic, AI-powered table booking service that automatically assigns tables based on a given attendee’s number of appointments. This helps to save everyone's time by stopping people from constantly running from one table to another.
In a virtual setting, meeting attendees can break out into a Single Video Room where they’ll stay for every appointment. Their schedule will automatically direct other participants to them with no need to manually find the virtual room they’re supposed to be in.
Both for online and in-person sessions, meeting participants can score the other party based on fields like geography, commodities, and capital to make more data-informed decisions after the event.
8. Swoogo — Personalized registration form with conditional logic options
Swoogo provides an all-encompassing event management software solution. Starting with a drag-and-drop website builder to design your landing pages, you can write personalized emails and schedule an automated delivery system to keep interest high. Integrations with leading CRMs sync your email marketing to gather open rates, click-through rates, and more, which serves as a base to draw out insights that inform better preparation in the future.
Swoogo’s event planning tools are all about customization and allow you to add conditional logic to your registration forms. The thinking behind this is that users will only receive questions relevant to their interests at the time, rather than a standardized form. On the internal side, you learn a lot more about your audience — information that feeds back into your CRM for future use.
Your attendees can use the Swoogo virtual event platform app in person and online. This app gives participants an agenda for the day and encourages them to meet up in a one-on-one setting. Event organizers can easily take the mechanics of the Swoogo app and design it with their own branding for a professional-looking app experience.
9. Sched — Impressive AI-powered event management, but keep an eye out for bugs
Whether it’s conferences, conventions, festivals, meetings, or academic events, Sched offers a far-reaching suite of event management software for all industries. With artificial intelligence (AI) features helping out with many of the event planning tools, you can instantly create catchy headings, launch an AI chatbot for attendees, and plan schedules — all removing time-consuming tasks from your workflow and allowing you to focus on the finer details of your event.
Sched is keen on analytics across its business event software. Every plan comes with an impressive range of reporting tools in whichever format you want. Standardized reports identify event trends or track your preferred key performance indicators (KPIs). In addition to attendee statistics, Sched also gives you a clear idea of your event’s return on investment with finance-focused reporting.
Having said all that, it’s important to be aware that there are some scathing reviews out there about Sched’s mobile app. According to reports, confusion around remembering filters and managing two events at the same time have been around for a long time with no improvement, so let’s hope this changes soon.
10. Cvent — Event management software with budgeting and expense tracking
Cvent is one of the best-known event management apps on the market, designed to streamline every step of event planning, from creating landing pages to post-event analytics and reporting.
To get better control over your events, Cvent gives you budgeting and expense tracking so you can stop costs from running out of control. Customizable registration forms facilitate signups and a range of ticket design options allow you to give invitees a specially designed ticket with a QR code and even the possibility to add it to their Apple Wallet.
In a breakthrough for event management software, Cvent has a vast database of venues on record to simplify the booking process. Search by location, size, or features and run comparisons between venues when you've narrowed down your search.
Attendees can use a customized version of the Cvent Attendee Hub Event App for a more interactive experience with polls, Q&A, and surveys. It's also great for communicating changes in attendee management and is a place where participants can chat with each other and make connections.
Choosing the right event management software for you
Although some of the tools on this list have gone all-out to explore what is possible in the realm of event management software. However, all of that tech comes at a cost, and the truth is that most people don’t need it.
As part of an all-in-one business platform, Bitrix24 allows you to plan, run, promote and analyze events without breaking the bank.
So if you’re looking to set up excellent events for both you and your audience, the solution may not be too far away. Sign up for Bitrix24 today and try it for yourself.
Unlimited Free Users
Bitrix24 allows you to plan, run, promote and analyze events without breaking the bank. Set up excellent events for both you and your clients
Register Today
FAQs
What are the top event management software options?
The top event management software includes:
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Cvent
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Whova
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Eventbrite
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Accelevents
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Feathr
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Splash
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Eventdex
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Swoogo
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Sched
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Bitrix24
These platforms offer diverse features such as registration, ticketing, attendee management, and virtual event capabilities to ensure successful event planning and execution.
How can Bitrix24 help in event planning?
Bitrix24 helps in event planning by offering necessary tools such as task and project management, CRM, communication, document management, calendar and scheduling, and workflow automation. These features streamline organizing tasks, managing contacts, coordinating schedules, and automating processes.
What features should I look for in event management software?
The main features to look for in event management software include:
Can event management software handle both virtual and in-person events?
Many event management software platforms are designed to handle both virtual and in-person events. They offer features like live streaming, virtual networking rooms, and online registration for virtual events, as well as on-site check-in, badge printing, and venue management for in-person events.
Is event management software suitable for small events and large conferences alike?
Most event management software is versatile and can be scaled to suit both small events and large conferences. Comprehensive platforms provide tools that cater to various event sizes, including customizable registration forms, detailed scheduling options, and attendee engagement features, making them a valuable asset for any event planner. However, it's important to evaluate the specific capabilities of the software to ensure it meets the needs of your event.
