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Best virtual event platforms: A review and comparison of top applications

Mar 9, 2023

You've brainstormed some stellar concepts for your virtual conference , and you've even contacted possible guests to be a part of the event. The guests are showing curiosity, so do your stakeholders!

What do you think do you think of the virtual venue you'll use to host your online gathering?

A difficult decision? In reality, despite the variety out there It can be a challenge to determine if a software is capable of fulfilling all your expectations while offering attendees a remarkable (and error-free) the experience of your event.

There are, however, platforms with helpful support team members who can assist you to host your dream virtual event -- be it a multi-day event or a live workshop for training or even a webinar. It's all you have to do is find that precious gem.

In this guide, we'll assist you in doing just that by examining the six best platforms for virtual event. They are all from testing just a few of these software and sifting through a myriad of reviews from third parties for these software platforms.

Now, let's dig into:

In this article

What should you look for in the virtual conference platform

Before diving into the best platforms for online events, let's highlight what makes a good platform for online events by reviewing must-have features.

Bookmark this page so that you can look up this list of features when selecting your ideal virtual event platform:

 A plethora of helpful and simple integrations

Integrations with CRMs and your email program For instance, they is essential for sending invitations to events that are personalized and turning participants to loyal customers.

 The Intuitive User

A user-friendly interface makes it simple for users to use the program, explore its features, and get the maximum benefits out of it. Also, it lets you set up the system and get it functioning on your own -- no outside help needed.

 Stream quality

Your event's audio or video quality directly impact attendees' experience, encouraging people to remain until the conclusion. You must ensure that the application you select offers HD high-quality streaming and has no complaints about performance and allows you to download your content at a high quality.

 A robust analytics system

 Interactive tools for engagement with audiences

The ability to host polls, games, and questions are essential methods of engaging with your viewers and improving their experience. The platform you select should offer these tools alongside creating break-out rooms to encourage attendee-to attendee networking.

 Proactive customer support

Lastly, ensure the software's service team is prompt and responsive to any questions you have. A good way to determine the quality of support offered by the team is to inquire about the program prior to purchasing it as well as during the trial period. How they respond to your queries will speak volumes about the way they treat their prospects and customers.

6 best virtual platform for events (based on detailed reviews and customer testimonials)

Now for a list of the top conferences on the internet:

With every tool, I've discussed its main features and who is the best user, where the tool wins, and its cons based on what its customers have to say on websites like G2 and Gartner.

Let's go.

1. Events

 Events is an easy to use web-based event platform ideal for event planners with the ability to handle organizing digital events.

You, your guest speakers, and event attendees don't have to download additional software for setting up the event, or even create the event .

Pros

  • Events can assist you in your planning and event promotion process. Connect the platform with your CRM and marketing email software, to build customized registration forms, and email invitations for events that are automated as well as event confirmations and reminder emails, as well as keep attendees engaged after the event.
  • Provides sophisticated analytics that can help you improve your event marketing plan. Once the event wraps will provide you with specific analysis of the event and its viewers which reveal who was there and how long they stayed, and how they engaged throughout the event.
  • Helps you create a branded visual experience. Utilize the drag-and-drop feature to add full-screen graphics, lower thirds of the intro speaker, and custom branding.
  • Gives you the tools for editing videos and hosting to repurpose event media. You can trim, edit, add chapters, and enhance your video recording and upload to various marketing channels.

 Cons

  • Not designed for internal meetings like Zoom and similar software for meetings are. Events is better for webinars, virtual venues town halls, and more.
  • Events is a brand new and innovative virtual event experience platform, therefore it isn't able to boast the same name recognition as the established players in the space.

2. Zoom

Best-known for hosting on-one-on meetings, Zoom lets you host online events too. It's best for creators and entrepreneurs in small businesses who wish to earn money through online occasions.

 Pros

  • Gives you plenty of tools to engage attendees and let participants interact as well as your sponsors.
  • The process of setting up and creating the webinar on Zoom is easy -- especially for those who are already comfortable with the software.

 Cons

  • Average video quality. When HD video clarity (1080p) is standard, Zoom offers 720p for the presence of two or more people at the same conference. You'll need to pay more to host virtual events using HD video.
  • Joining a virtual event hosted with Zoom isn't always easy. The best option for those who are new to the app is to arrive 5 minutes before the event to install and download the app. Event organizers will find this translates to poor attendee experience.
  • Zoom can be expensive for hosting conferences with a large audience making it ineffective for scalability of events on this platform.
  • There are no control options available to hosts. Zoom provides no means for hosts to manage chat conversations on the fly which is something you have be aware of for public events.

 Pricing

The pricing of Zoom is based on the amount of guests joining your event. To give you a rough idea, pricing for 100 people events starts at $990 per year.

 Read More about Zoom

3. Hopin

Hopin allows event planners across the board organize as many attendees as they want. Similar to Zoom it's pricing is contingent on the number of participants that can be costly to scale up with this platform. The one area where it can beat Zoom is in offering comment moderator capabilities.

 Pros

  • Hopin has an event branding studio where you can personalize your event registration page and virtual location for your event.
  • Moderates the sound and allows several speakers to connect.
  • Comes with a mobile app so guest speakers and attendees can join and engage on their mobiles.

 Cons

  • Event analytics aren't in-depth.
  • There are no tools for repurposing and reusing material from virtual event.
  • Some users have complained about video and audio performance issues at events organized by Hopin. One user even writes, "I don't like the performance issues that arise with audio or video. If you don't have a good internet connection have issues with lag. This [doesn't] happen with different solutions."

 Pricing

The free plan is offered which allows one administrator to host 2-hour long events with up to 100 guests. To learn more about pricing, plans are gated.

4. GoTo Webinar

GoTo Webinar works the best choice for entrepreneurs and small companies that are hosting events of a smaller size -- as high as 3,000 people that is lower than the services that Hopin and Zoom can offer.

It's also an excellent option for solo business owners or creators hosting paid-for training seminars since GoTo Webinar directly connects with Stripe, letting you receive the payment.

Pros

  • GoTo Webinar offers audience engagement tools , including polls and Q&A. Hosts can also draw on the display.
  • The multi-presenter option for webinars offers at least six presenters the ability to present.

Cons

  • The interface for users is old so some users report it can take some time to learn how to use GoToWebinar.
  • Users complain of performance issues as the number of attendees rises higher than 1,000. There are reviews complaining of audio quality issues, too.
  • Certain options like the file sharing feature are slower. And some features are hard to find or are confusing to utilize.

 Pricing

There's a 7-day free trial that is available. The rest of it costs money with prices starting at just $49 per host per month (for hosting 250 participants).

5. Cvent

Cvent can be ideal for business marketers hosting in-person events like trade events due to the check-in function.

Contrary to other platforms for online conferences It's not a popular choice among users for hosting virtual events.

 Pros

  • Cvent provides onsite check-in as well as badging software that prints attendees pictures upon the arrival. There are complaints from users on third-party review sites saying Cvent was printing incorrect images.
  • It lets you integrate multiple systems to join your technology stack to streamline your workflow.
  • It comes with standard audience engagement tools along with AI-powered recommendations for networking, as well as gamification.

 Cons

  • User interface is outdated.
  • Poor customer support and limited training resources/documentation, which aggravates the steep learning curve, making it challenging to start and get the most value from the platform
  • A few options for customizing the branding of your company, gain access to analytics and get instant chat

 Pricing

Pricing is customized according to the needs of your business, therefore you need to get an estimate of how much Cvent costs.

6. On24

On24 is a virtual event platform great for marketers who want to host webinars or multi-session events.

 Pros

  • A proactive customer service team.
  • This tool can simplify a number of processes. Plus, offers integrations to bring together your marketing and sales teams.

 Cons

  • There are a few content layouts available are available, which limit your choices for customizing your online events Registration and login pages.
  • The interface for users is not user-friendly, and the editor being a editor for code, which adds the steep learning curve.
  • There's no way to create your online event. It means you'll need make a choice between audience participation and to make sure the show's functioning smoothly while you host at the speed of light. One reviewer notes, "I would love to have the ability to create a storyboard for my webinar and control the screen's content, where their face appears on the tile of media, do lower thirds over their video, place people into the webinar then remove them from the screen and so on."  8

 Pricing

The website of On24 doesn't provide any pricing. Interested folks will need to request a quote.

FAQs

When answering FAQs, don't answer the question directly straight away; include a link to a relevant article from your internal website (as appropriate) in order to increase click-through.

How do I choose a virtual event platform?

Examine your needs for business including your budget, how large the event you'd like to host, and how many virtual events you would like to hold. Select a virtual events platform that is not just a good fit for your budget, but also easy to use, offers detailed analytics, participation tools, top-quality streaming as well as a variety of connectivity options.

What can I do to enhance my online event? interactive?

What are the top virtual event platforms out there currently?

Event, Hopin, Zoom, and GoToWebinar are some of the most popular event platforms that you could test. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Decide based on your budget and specific event requirements.

Which virtual event platform is the best one for you?

The best virtual events platform for you will be one that is able to meet the needs of your company in the best way. It includes:

  • Your attendee size
  • Use cases (how will you utilize virtual events in your marketing and sales, and whether you offer paid workshops)
  • What's the time it takes to learn to use an entirely new device
  • How much you plan to expand (you aren't looking for the platform to fall out of your budget as you grow)

There are a few software options that offer poor-quality streaming with outdated UX. Some have a lengthy learning curveand pricing can become costly for hosting large crowds.

Luckily, this is the area where Events really shines. The platform offers plenty of flexibility, top-quality streaming, and an intuitive user interface. Additionally, it plays an important function in the reuse of footage from your events you organize, allowing you to get the highest return on your investment.