Crealanta Magazine

The best virtual event platforms: Review and comparison of the best applications

Mar 9, 2023

You've come up with some brilliant ideas for your online event -- and even contacted potential guests to speak at your event. The guests are showing enthusiasm, and so are your participants!

However, let's think about the virtual event platform you'd choose to use for hosting your online gathering?

A difficult decision? Truth be told: regardless of the many options available, it can be challenging to determine if a software is capable of fulfilling all your expectations with the promise of a fantastic (and error-free) event experience.

Thankfully though, there are platforms with helpful support teams that can help you organize your ideal 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.

This guide will help you do just that while I go through the six best platforms for virtual events. They are all from testing just a few of these applications and looking through tons of third-party reviews for these software platforms.

Let's dive deep:

In this article

What are the things to look out for when choosing an online conference platform

Before diving into the best platforms for online events, let's highlight what makes a good platform for online events by examining the most important attributes.

Bookmark this piece so you can reference this list of functions to select your ideal virtual event platform.

 A plethora of helpful and easy integrations

Integrations with CRMs as well as email programs such as email software, for instance, can be crucial in sending out customized invitations for events and turning guests into loyal customers.

 Intuitive UX

The user-friendly interface allows users to use the program and explore the features and get the maximum value from it. This also means that you are able to start the software functioning on your own -without any assistance from outside.

 Stream quality

The audio and video quality will directly affect guests' experiences, causing people to remain until the very end. Be sure that the program you choose provides HD high-quality streaming and has no performance complains, and allows you to download your content at a high quality.

 Analytics robust and reliable

 Tools for engaging with the audience dynamically

The ability to host polls, games, as well as Q&As are vital methods of engaging with your visitors and to improve their experience. Your platform should offer these tools alongside creating break-out rooms to encourage attendee-to attendee networking.

 Proactive customer service

Also, be sure the program's customer support is fast and attentive to the your questions. A good way to determine the software team's helpfulness is to ask them questions about the tool pre-purchase and also during the free trial. Their response to your queries will speak volumes about how they deal with their prospects and customers.

The top 6 virtual event platforms (based on detailed review and testimonials from users)

Here is a complete listing of the best online conference platforms:

Each tool I've shared its core functionality and who is the best user as well as the areas where the tool is successful as well as its disadvantages based on what its users have shared on other websites like G2 as well as Gartner.

Let's go.

1. Events

 Events is a simple-to-use web-based event platform ideal for event planners with any level of familiarity with managing digital events.

Your guest speakers, you, and event attendees don't require any other software to set up, create, and join an event with .

Pros

  • Events assists you throughout the event creation and promotion workflow. Integrate the platform with your CRM and marketing email software to create personalized registration forms. It also allows you to create automated invitations to events along with event confirmations and reminder emails, and engage attendees after the event.
  • Provides sophisticated analytics that can help you develop your event's marketing strategy. Once the event wraps, gives you detailed analysis of the event and its viewers that tell you who attended, how much they watched, and how they engaged during the event.
  • It helps you design a custom user experience. Utilize the drag-and-drop feature to include full-screen images, lower thirds to intro speakers and personal branding.
  • It gives you the tools for editing videos and hosting for repurposing event video content. Utilize it to edit, trim, add chapters, and improve your event video and upload to various marketing channels.

 Cons

  • Not designed for internal meetings like Zoom or other software for meeting are. Events is better suited for webinars, virtual venues, town halls and much more.
  • Events is a relatively new virtual event platform therefore it isn't able to boast the same brand recognition like the well-established players in this space.

2. Zoom

Best-known for hosting on-one-on meetings, Zoom lets you host digital events as well. It's best for creators and small business marketers who want to earn money through virtual occasions.

 Pros

  • There are plenty of ways for engaging attendees, and letting them interact with each other and your sponsors.
  • The process of setting up and creating the webinar on Zoom is straightforward and is especially so for users already familiar with the tool.

 Cons

  • Average video quality. Where 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 events online in HD video.
  • The process of joining a virtual conference that is hosted by Zoom doesn't come as a seamless experience. For new attendees, it's recommended to arrive 5 minutes before the event to download and install the application. For event organizers, this translates to poor attendee experience.
  • Zoom can be expensive for hosting events with large audiences making it ineffective for scaling events with this technology.
  • Insufficient control options for hosts. Zoom provides no means for hosts to control chat chats at will which is something you have to be mindful of when hosting public events.

 Pricing

Zoom's pricing depends on the number of people attending the event. For a rough idea, pricing for an event with 100 attendees begins at $990 for a year.

 Find out More about Zoom

3. Hopin

Hopin allows event organizers throughout the globe host as many people as they'd like. Similar to Zoom the cost of hosting is based on the number of attendees that can be expensive to expand using this system. But where it wins over Zoom is the ability to provide features for moderators of comments.

 Pros

  • Hopin has an event branding studio where you can personalize your event registration page and virtual event venue.
  • Provides moderation capabilities and allows several speakers to connect.
  • Comes with a mobile app which allows guests and speakers can interact with and connect via their smartphones.

 Cons

  • Events analytics aren't as thorough.
  • There is no tool to repurpose and reuse content from your virtual event.
  • A handful of users complain about audio and video performance issues at events organized by Hopin. One person mentions, "I don't like the performance issues that arise with audio or video. Users who do not have an internet connection experience some lag problems. This [doesn't] happen with different solutions."

 Pricing

A free option is available that allows an administrator to organize events lasting 2 hours that can accommodate up to 100 people. To learn more about pricing, plans are locked.

4. GoTo Webinar

GoTo Webinar the best choice for entrepreneurs and small companies that are hosting events of a smaller size with up to 3,000 attendees this is less than the offerings that Hopin, and Zoom provide.

This is also a great option for solo business owners or creators conducting paid training workshops because GoTo Webinar directly connects with Stripe which allows for the payment.

Pros

  • GoTo Webinar offers audience engagement tools , including polls and Q&A. Hosts are also able to draw on the display.
  • Multi-presenter mode for webinars gives up to six organizers the ability to present.

Cons

  • The interface for users is old as some users complain that it can take some time to learn how to use GoToWebinar.
  • Some users complain of issues with performance as the number of attendees rises higher than 1,000. Reviews have been written about audio quality issues too.
  • Certain features such as files sharing can be slow. Some features can be difficult to find or confusing to use.

 Pricing

A 7-day trial is that is available. The rest of it costs money with prices starting at just $49 per host per month (for hosting 250 people).

5. Cvent

Cvent is ideal for business organizers who host events in person, such as exhibitions and trade events because of the check-in function.

As opposed to other online conference platforms however, this platform is not well-liked among users for hosting virtual events.

 Pros

  • Cvent provides onsite check-in as well as badging software that prints attendees photographs upon their arrival. Some users logged complaints via third-party review sites about the tool printing the wrong pictures.
  • It lets you integrate multiple systems to integrate your tech stacks and improve the process.
  • The software comes with the usual tools for engagement with the audience as well as offers AI-powered network recommendations and 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
  • Few options to customize brand identity, get analytics and access live chat

 Pricing

Prices are based on your needs, so it is important to request 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

  • Proactive customer support team.
  • This tool can simplify a number of processes. Additionally, it offers integrations to align your sales and marketing teams.

 Cons

  • Few content layouts can be used, which restricts your options in customizing your online event Registration and login pages.
  • A poor user interface, with the editor being a editor for code, which adds the process of learning.
  • It's not possible to prepare your event online. That means that you'll need be able to compromise audience engagement for the sake of ensuring that your show is functioning smoothly while you host at the speed of light. The reviewer says, "I would love to use storyboarding to plan my webinar and control the screen's content, where their face appears in the media tile, make lower thirds on their video, place individuals in the live stream before removing them or off-screen, etc." 8

 Pricing

The website of On24 doesn't provide any prices. People who are interested should obtain a quotation.

FAQs

When answering FAQs, don't address the issue in the first place; rather, provide a link to a relevant piece of internal content (as appropriate) to encourage users to click through.

How do I choose an online event platform?

Review your business needs including your budget, how large an event you want to organize, and the many virtual events you would like to host. Select a virtual events platform that does not just fit your budget but is also easy to use, offers in-depth analytics, audience participation tools, top-quality streaming, and lots of connections.

How do I create a virtual experience that is more interactive?

What are the most talked about virtual event platforms out there today?

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

What virtual event service will work best for you?

The most effective virtual event platform you can choose from is one that meets the requirements of your business the best. It includes:

  • Your attendee size
  • Use the case (how much you plan to leverage virtual events for your marketing and sales, and whether you are offering paid workshops)
  • What's the time it takes to learn to use a new tool
  • What amount do you intend to increase the size of your platform (you don't want the platform to slip out of your budget when you expand)

We've shared some software that provide poor quality streaming using outdated UX. Some have a lengthy learning curve, and their costs can get expensive for hosting large crowds.

Luckily, this is the area where Events really shines. The platform offers plenty of flexibility, top-quality streaming and a simple user interface. Additionally, it plays an important part in recycling material from events that you host -- allowing you to get the highest return on your investment.