Our guide to the 15 best hybrid event platforms in 2023 helps you find the right tool for your events. You may be looking for the best hybrid event tools, hybrid event software, hybrid expo platform. Or you may be looking for a hybrid events platform or hybrid conference platform. In this article, you’ll be able to find the perfect solution for you and your business.
Hybrid events have never been so popular. With costs rising for traditional in-person events and participants wanting a choice about how to attend, true hybrid is the go-to choice for the majority of large life science, professional services, and technology companies.
It appears that the world of events is turning into the world of hybrid events. That means digital platform managers are looking for hybrid event tools to help them deliver the best customer experience possible.
But, what is hybrid event software? How can you find the platform that suits your needs? And are there hybrid event platforms that integrate with your CRM to make enriched data collection easy?
Let’s take a look at the different types of hybrid events. Then, we’ll review the features every hybrid events platform should have to be able to fit your event technology needs. And finally, we’ll list the 15 best hybrid event software tools in 2023.
Want to go straight to the list of the 15 best hybrid event platforms? Let’s go!
Hybrid events: what are they?
Hybrid events are two-sided. There’s a virtual part and an in-person part. Hybrid event platforms have emerged as a powerful tool to bring people together, both physically and virtually, creating an engaging, inclusive experience for all.
There are four types of hybrid events. Understanding the unique features of each type will help you choose the right one for your enterprise.
True hybrid
A true hybrid event offers a simultaneous in-person and virtual experience. Attendees can choose to participate onsite at the physical location or join virtually from the comfort of their homes or offices. This format fosters a seamless integration of both audiences, allowing for real-time interaction, networking opportunities, and engagement between all attendees, regardless of their location.
Very few hybrid event platforms allow for a true hybrid experience. If you’d like to find out how SpotMe can help you run engaging true hybrid events and enrich your CRM records with numerous data, request a demo today.
Live studio
Live studio events use state-of-the-art technology to deliver a polished, broadcast-quality hybrid experience. In this format, event organizers pre-record keynotes, panel discussions, and presentations, which are then streamed live on the hybrid event platform during the event. This approach allows for high-quality production values, editing, and the incorporation of additional content, such as graphics and animations. Attendees can participate in real-time by asking questions, participating in polls, and engaging with each other through chat or the activity feed on the hybrid event platform, no matter where they are.
On-demand
On-demand events start out as live events that are recorded and shared with attendees after. This offers the convenience of accessing event materials when it best suits attendees’ schedules. With some hybrid event platforms, you can turn your live event into an on-demand video and make it available on a gated content hub in just a few clicks. This is a great way to help those who couldn’t attend experience your event as if it was live.
Hub-and-spoke
The hub-and-spoke hybrid event model comprises a central “hub” event with multiple “spoke” locations connected through a hybrid event platform. This format is ideal for large-scale conferences or exhibitions, allowing attendees to gather at regional locations while still being connected to the main event. The hub-and-spoke model provides a more intimate setting for local attendees, reduces travel-related environmental impact, and encourages collaboration among different communities or regions.
Hybrid event platforms: What’s trending?
In 2022, 71% of organizations with 5000+ employees had hybrid events in their portfolio (Markletic). And we expect this statistic to grow. Why?
Participants love in-person events. Nothing compares to the joy of social interaction and the energy of live gatherings. But many also appreciate the value of a virtual experience. Especially because people are more and more aware of their carbon footprint and the cost of travel.
Enterprise-level life science and professional services companies have noticed that by using a hybrid event platform to run true hybrid events, they’re giving participants the power to choose how they would like to attend. And this in turn brings a larger and wider audience as they bridge the gap between physical and virtual spaces.
The large organizations that run hybrid events today will be more successful tomorrow. So, if you hasn’t started looking into a hybrid event platform yet that can integrate with your event tech stack, here’s why you should:
A hybrid event platform? Why do I need one?
There are lots of advantages to using hybrid event tools. You can mix and match, give the best of both worlds, and deliver something truly unique.
With the ever-changing world, people are choosing to travel less and less. This may be for health or environmental reasons. It means that most hybrid event attendees tend to be virtual. Hence, the growing need for a hybrid event platform that helps enterprises host both virtual and in-person audiences successfully.
Check out the positives in detail and discover why you should invest in a hybrid events platform.
Save costs
First and foremost, event spending goes down for both organizers and attendees.
- Organizers save on renting event venues, because fewer people will attend in person and more will participate online using the hybrid event platform.
- Attendees do not have to book hotels and flights given that they can get involved from the comfort of their own homes through user-friendly hybrid event software.
This does not only reduce costs but also allows for an increase in participation. Furthermore, the reduction in the carbon footprint of travel is good for the whole planet.
One area where you might want to spend more is on swag. A carefully curated swag experience can add value. And even create a link between in-person and virtual audiences.
Boost business
Second, you have two venues – the physical one and the virtual one on the hybrid events platform. This is an opportunity for sponsors to be in front of two audiences. You might be organizing an expo or a conference where sponsors are vital and so having a hybrid expo or conference platform to deliver your event would be the ideal direction to take. After all, wider audience reach is important for sponsors and your business to bring messages across.
Engage more
Hybrid events can give you more options to engage your audience. Long sessions can easily be broken down into break-out sessions and content can be made available on-demand for the virtual audience using one of the best hybrid event platforms. This will undoubtedly keep your audience intrigued. It will bring them back to the interactivity of an event experience when/if they lose focus.
Run more sustainable events
In today’s fast-paced, eco-conscious world, integrating a hybrid event platform into your enterprise event strategy can revolutionize the way your conduct events. By having part of your audience online, you make your events more sustainable and eco-friendly. That’s because they reduce carbons emissions by cutting down on the need for travel. But they also lower waste production from event materials.
Want to offer your participants a more eco-friendly experience and boost attendance? Get 25 ideas on how to run more sustainable events.
Hybrid event platforms: what features to look for?
A few key features are fundamental in guiding your attendees through the hybrid event journey. Make sure the hybrid event software you choose has the following features to get the most out of your hybrid event, expo or conference.
Branding
For starters, you should be able to brand. Whether it is your registration page or your web app, participants need to know that it is your business during the hybrid event, not anybody else’s. Ideally, your hybrid expo or conference platform will allow for fully customizable branding, allowing you to handpick the colors, upload your company’s logo, etc.
Content strategy
Your content strategy has to be top of mind when choosing a hybrid event platform. Content should keep your audience engaged, which can sometimes be difficult to achieve when in front of a screen for a long time.
So, choose hybrid event software that allows for multiple sources of content, such as live streams, pre-recorded videos, and a live feed where speakers, vendors, and guests can share content and interact with each other.
Personalized agendas
Make sure your audience knows where to go. Personalized agendas are key for any hybrid events platform. For example, your in-person audience splits into different breakout sessions than your virtual audience.
Sponsorship and virtual booths
You should have an eye on sponsors or exhibitors. Will exhibitors with an in-person booth also want a virtual booth on the hybrid expo platform? Are they different exhibitors? These are all things you can consider.
Attendee tracking
It is helpful to know which attendees participated in certain sessions so you can gain more information on prospective customers.
Find a hybrid event platform that offers a form of attendee tracking. This feature automatically tracks which users attend specific sessions and works hand-in-hand with other features like surveys. By knowing which users participated in each session, you can then decide to send those people surveys or other targeted messaging, all using the hybrid event software itself.
Deep analytics and reporting
To determine a hybrid event’s success it’s important to track user data and create reports based on relevant metrics.
Here are some examples of reporting features that SpotMe, among the best enterprise hybrid event platforms, offers:
- Number of app users and adoption rates
- App user engagement (feed posts, booth scans, notes taken, shared contacts, etc.)
- Number of workspace agenda sessions
- App user devices and operating systems used to access the workspace
- Workspace documents and their sizes
And with deep CRM / MAP integrations, you can get all these data fed automatically into your CRM to enrich your records and help you drive your next best action.
Live chat and social media-inspired networking
Networking is often a major reason people attend events, so it is important to find a hybrid event platform that offers intuitive live chat and messaging features.
Certain hybrid event tools, such as SpotMe, are modeled after social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, providing each attendee with a personal profile page. They also offer familiar features like a live feed, commenting on posts, adding friends, watching live-streams, and viewing on-demand content.
The right vendor
Find a vendor that can handle your in-person and virtual needs. For example, find a hybrid events platform that can be used across the web and an app. What you’re aiming for is a smooth and seamless experience for your audience. Wherever and however they attend.
To help you find the best vendor for you, we’ve created an event RFP template you can send to a few vendors to discover whether they can help you achieve your business goals. Download it now.
The 15 best hybrid event platforms
So, hybrid events seem to be the way forward in the new normal. Now it is time to select the right hybrid event platform tailored to your needs. We have reviewed many platforms and come up with the 15 best hybrid event platforms with event planners and marketers in mind.
Hybrid event platform #1 SpotMe
Named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report and a Market Leader in Research In Action’s Vendor Selection Matrix™ Report – Marketing Event Management: The Top Global Vendors 2023.
SpotMe brings all your hybrid event needs together. It’s an intuitive hybrid event platform to create engaging, personalized, and compliant hybrid event experiences that help companies build better customer relationships. With 20+ years of unrivaled experience in the event technology industry, SpotMe is the first choice for enterprise event engagement.
SpotMe will ensure you skyrocket engagement at your hybrid events from the moment they start to the moment they end. With personalized event registration, seamless onsite check-in & badging, and an intuitive mobile event app, you can make a great impression as soon as attendees sign up. No matter whether they will attend in person or remotely. And it’s easy to keep engagement high at your hybrid events with an interactive activity feed, networking tools, a meeting scheduler, and live chat to Q&A, polls, live applause, quizzes, gamification, and much more.
Its fully customizable, integrated, and easy-to-use hybrid event platform makes it the ideal solution for leading Fortune 500 companies in high-touch industries, such as life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and professional services, looking to create branded and personalized true hybrid event experiences their onsite and virtual audiences will love.
SpotMe has deep native integrations with CRM systems and MAPs, including Veeva, Hubspot, Marketo, Salesforce, and Rainfocus, to name a few, making it effortless to automatically track numerous event metrics that will help you drive your next best action with customers.
As well as its hyper-personalized hybrid event platform, SpotMe offers white-glove professional event services and instant 24/7 support to ensure your hybrid events run as smoothly as possible from the moment you start planning. Trust SpotMe to handle all your event technology needs with their battle-tested processes and trained professionals, whether onsite or remote. Services range from event app creation, event app training, and speaker orientation to live production, coordination, and onsite attendee help desks.
Thanks to its enterprise-grade security and enterprise deployment, SpotMe is trusted by 10 of the top 20 life sciences and pharma companies worldwide and the Big Four professional services networks.
Key Hybrid Event Platform Features
- Deep CRM / MAP integrations (incl. Veeva, Salesforce, Hubspot, Marketo, RainFocus, Eloqua, Pardot)
- Customizable event app and congress companion app
- Event registration
- Check-in, badge printing & attendance tracking
- Personalized agendas
- Numerous engagement features (incl. polls, quizzes, word clouds, moderated Q&A, chat, moderated activity feed, gamification, breakout rooms, networking)
- Live streaming and live captioning
- Gated on-demand content hub
Industries
- Life sciences
- Professional services
- Technology
- Event agencies
SpotMe Reviews
To see customer testimonials and event apps SpotMe has created in the app store that you can easily filter, take a look at our customer page.
Hybrid event platform #2 Stova
Named a Strong Performer in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report.
Stova (the result of a merger of the event tech suppliers MeetingPlay, Aventri, and Eventcore) is a hybrid event platform that supports all event sizes, from small meetings to 100,000+ conferences.
This hybrid event platform brings both in-person and on-demand content to attendees. It is easy to use and comes with attendee registration features. Stova’s most powerful feature is probably the way you can make templates out of routine events. So, you won’t have to worry about creating your hybrid event from scratch.
Keep in mind that Stova charges extra for additional features outside of the basics. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the cost of this hybrid event software before your event starts.
Top hybrid event platform features
- Use registration process
- Contact list management
- Event agendas and schedules
- Reporting and dashboards
Industries
- Education
- Technology
- Financial services
- Media
- Associations
- Agencies
- Transportation
Reviews
Hybrid event platform #3 Bizzabo
Named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report.
We can’t exclude Bizzabo from the 15 best hybrid event platforms in 2023. The product has gained fame for its ease of use and features.
For marketers, a hybrid events platform must integrate with the marketing stack. Thus, Bizzabo offers integration with the most common marketing tools around. Think Slack, Eloqua, and HubSpot. Also, there is an event website tool inside the Bizzabo package. This makes creating an event page a piece of cake.
However, Bizzabo is not always as flexible as one might expect. Push notifications are hard to edit and would have to be deleted and recreated if you want to change something. The polling feature doesn’t always work as smoothly either. Therefore, there is still room for improvement on a User Experience level.
Overall, Bizzabo does a good job and is still improving its hybrid events platform.
Top hybrid event platform features
- Event creation
- Speaker submissions
- Multiple event management
- Live chat
Industries
Reviews
Hybrid event platform #4 EventMobi
EventMobi offers a hybrid event platform that is well-known for its flexible pricing. The platform stands out in the way you can customize it.
Looking for plenty of features to choose from? With over 120 features to choose from, EventMobi is your choice. The platform includes features like polling, Q&A, and gamification. It makes it easy to integrate with popular platforms such as Marketo and Salesforce.
However, for some, the hybrid event software’s interface might not look like a modern design. This can influence the participant experience during events. Overall, EventMobi is a great platform and not for nothing one of the most popular around.
Top hybrid event platform features
- Event creation
- Contact list management
- Event marketing
- Speaker access and control
Industries
- Associations
- Corporations
- Technology
- Finance
- Healthcare
Reviews
Hybrid event platform #5 Swapcard
Swapcard offers user-friendly hybrid event tools. It creates a one-stop-shop experience for attendees. The User Interface looks modern and smooth to navigate. This is supported by branding features.
If you are looking for a quick and simple event app, Swapcard is a solid choice. It is great for in-person events. For hybrid, you might want to look further. Swapcard comes with features such as virtual booths and personalized agendas. However, it has limited streaming and virtual abilities.
Event planners can’t manage the visibility and complex targeting of their audience. For basic event needs, this is perfectly fine. If you’re looking for a more complete hybrid expo platform, you should look a bit further.
Top hybrid event platform features
- Mobile check-in
- Business card scanner
- Online event agenda
- Lead analysis
Industries
- Finance
- Manufacturing
Reviews
Thinking of going with Swapcard? Check out the full Swapcard review!
Hybrid event platform #6 Hopin
Hopin is definitely among the 15 best hybrid event platforms, able to host events from 50 to 50,000 people.
It features several interactive areas where attendees can move in and out of rooms, simulating the feel of a traditional venue. Its networking area offers attendees a fun way to meet fellow guests, creating random video chats with others that automatically start, with each chat time set by the event organizers.
However, if you’re looking for a reliable and quick support team to help you with glitches during your presentation, you might want to look elsewhere. Their support has been reported to be on the slow side.
Still, Hopin is a recognizable name in the hybrid event platform space and is a good overall option.
Top hybrid event platform features
- Email automation
- Lead generation and retrieval
- Event agendas and schedules
- 1:1 chats
Industries
- Software
- Technology
- Finance
Reviews
Read more about the platform in our Hopin Review: Virtual Event Tech Guide
Hybrid event platform #7 BigMarker
BigMarker is a virtual/hybrid event platform capable of hosting events of up to 10,000 people.
BigMarker is browser-based, meaning your guests won’t need to download an app. This can make attending a breeze.
Designing your hybrid event is fun and intuitive with BigMarker’s 15+ virtual modules, which are essentially separate customizable web pages for you to create your welcome page, ticketing, main stage, expo booth, and other virtual meeting spaces. Event hosts are encouraged to mix and match different modules to create their ideal event.
While it’s a fine enough hybrid conference platform, BigMarker is still widely regarded as a webinar tool, which means it’s still a bit limited compared to other hybrid event platforms.
Top hybrid event platform features
- Use registration process
- Mobile check-in
- Onsite tickets and registration
- Email automation
Industries
- Manufacturing
- Technology
- Retail
Reviews
Learn more about BigMarker’s features in our BigMarker Review: Virtual Event Tech Guide
Hybrid event platform #8 Vfairs
VFairs’ hybrid conference platform makes its audiences feel like they are physically attending the conference by using ultra-realistic 3D virtual environments.
If you want to create a traditional in-person experience at a distance with visually appealing animations and interactions, this is one of the best hybrid event platforms for it.
It can be challenging for event organizers to manage this hybrid event platform’s backend due to its complexity. Plus, the price is not affordable for all. But, if you have experience in the event tech industry and are willing to invest more in creating an unforgettable experience, this is a great choice.
Top hybrid event platform features
- Event website creation
- Social media integrations
- Attendee surveys
- Virtual lobby
Industries
- Education / Universities
- Information Technology
- Telecommunication
- Financial services
- Event services
- Retail
- Healthcare
- Non-profit
Reviews
Hybrid event platform #9 Hubilo
Named a Contender in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report.
Hubilo is a hybrid events platform that does not just offer interactive experiences for attendees, but also helps you drive towards achieving business goals.
Hubilo did not always offer hybrid event tools. In fact, before the pandemic, its main focus was in-person events. However, now it is becoming a player to watch in the market.
The hybrid event software’s frontend and backend are easy for event planners to use and its interface is pleasing to the eye, although the custom branding feature could be improved.
Top hybrid event platform features
- Session scheduling
- Speaker submissions
- Exhibition management
- Attendee networking
Industries
- Education / Universities
- Information Technology
- Telecommunication
- Financial services
- Event services
- Retail
- Healthcare
- Non-profit
Reviews
Hybrid event platform #10 Webex Events (formerly Socio)
An advantage of Webex Events (formerly known as Socio) is that it has a live event app as well as a hybrid event platform.
Originally a webinar tool, it has now evolved into a hybrid conference platform with which event planners can manage a range of events. Its gamification makes it captivating for event attendees although there are occasionally issues with privacy and personal information.
Top hybrid event platform features
- Session scheduling
- Exhibition management
- Event agendas and schedules
- Multiple event management
Industries
Reviews
Hybrid event platform #11 6Connex
Named a Contender in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report.
6Connex is a hybrid expo platform that is a great choice for trade shows, job fairs and summit markets.
Its enterprise-grade security means that it can accommodate up to the tens of thousands without issues. The fact that this hybrid event software is built on HTML5 results in enjoyable experiences from any browser-supporting devices.
Top hybrid event platform features
- Email customization
- Lead generation and retrieval
- Contact list management
- Site selection
Industries
- Marketing and sales
- HR
- Education
- Media
- Non-profit
Reviews
Hybrid event platform #12 InEvent
InEvent claims to be one of the best hybrid event platforms with numerous features as well as a mobile app.
This is one of the hybrid event tools that is not for one-off events or for events that use audio only. It has a strong video streaming feature and custom branding that brings businesses to life.
Even though the backend is easy for event planners to manage, there is an excellent support team available 24/7 to assist with any problems.
Top hybrid event platform features
- Event creation
- Mobile check-in
- Hotel and transportation planning
- Attendee networking
Industries
- Pharmaceutical
- Government
- Education
- Technology
- HR
- Agencies
- Investor Relations
Reviews
Hybrid event platform #13 Eventcube
Eventcube’s hybrid event platform is known for its outstanding real-world ticketing system.
It offers features for live virtual engagement and numerous ways for participants to interact with event content, such as Q&A and polls. The hybrid event software even allows for detailed reporting on data to help you evaluate your events.
Top hybrid event platform features
- Real-time chat
- Networking rooms
- Live streaming
- Ticketing
Industries
- Festivals
- Charities and non-profits
Reviews
Hybrid event platform #14 Cvent
Named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report.
Cvent is renowned for its hybrid conference platform with optimal event registration and management.
It is not affordable for all and not as customizable as some of the other hybrid event tools in this list. But, it has great potential for hybrid events due to its strong registration, data collection, and report sharing features.
Top hybrid event platform features
- Email customization
- Exhibition management
- Event agendas and schedules
- Cross-device functionality
Industries
Reviews
Hybrid event platform #15 ON24
Named a Strong Performer in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report.
ON24 is a hybrid event platform that helps drive engagement with both virtual and in-person audiences by providing the same interactive experience.
With this hybrid event platform, you can collect and track first-party engagement data from remote and onsite attendees on a single platform. With both types of attendees able to simultaneously engage with keynotes and presentations, and participate in polls and surveys, you are sure to collect rich data to help you personalize future experiences.
Top hybrid event platform features
- Lobby page
- Simulive experiences
- Branding
- Attendee reports
Industries
- Financial services
- Life sciences
- Manufacturing
- Professional services
- Associations
Reviews
Why Spotme Is The Best Hybrid Event Platform
When it comes to delivering engaging hybrid events, every interaction, whether face-to-face or digital, is important. 71.1% of event organizers say that connecting the in-person and virtual audience is their biggest challenge with hybrid events. SpotMe helps companies in high-touch industries such as life sciences and pharma stay one step ahead of the competition by prioritizing both onsite and offsite engagement, personalization, and the overall hybrid event experience.
Here are some reasons why SpotMe is the best hybrid event platform.
Engage Onsite & Remote Attendees Like Never Before
SpotMe delivers a complete omnichannel event experience so you can meet attendees where they are and create a personalized journey for them, whether they are attending your event remotely or in person. 10 of the top 20 life sciences and pharma companies, including GSK, Sanofi, and Takeda, use SpotMe’s hybrid events platform to create engaging digital-first experiences that are fully compliant and secure.
With its wide range of interactive features, event organizers can engage onsite and virtual attendees before, during, and after events. This leads to stronger relationships that last a lifetime. Meanwhile, both types of attendees enjoy relevant and engaging content that’s right at their fingertips.
Get First-Party Insights Fast With Deep CRM Integrations
Events are one of the few remaining sources of first-party data. And with technology a must to host a successful hybrid event, this is a great way to get these valuable insights. SpotMe collects hundreds of event metrics both from your onsite and offsite attendees and feeds them automatically into your CRM system/MAP. This way, event marketers don’t have to manually extract data.
With deep, vertical-specific CRM/MAP integrations, you can view all the rich engagement data collected when participants use SpotMe’s hybrid event platform. You can see the entire participant journey – from the average time spent on the hybrid event platform, and the average number of interactions per visit to the features they used most and the path they took through the hybrid event platform. As a result, event marketers and sales teams can understand the participant behavior and follow up with the most appropriate next best action.
SpotMe Is Always On Hand To Help With Your Hybrid Events Platform
Having a hybrid events platform that is easy to set up and use for both onsite and remote attendees and event organizers is critical for organizations that run many different types of events every year. Leading life sciences and pharma companies such as Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Roche don’t just choose SpotMe for its intuitive mobile event app. They also choose it for the exceptional event technology support services we offer alongside it.
With 100+ certified event professionals worldwide, 20+ years of event technology training, and excellent customer NPS scores, our support team is always on hand with their industry-specific event expertise to help you deliver great events.
Give SpotMe’s Hybrid Events Platform A Try
Our fully branded and compliant hybrid events platform is designed to create engaging events that audiences love. By equipping your event organizers with the digital tools they need to keep attendee engagement high and gain detailed insights into participant behavior, you can build lasting relationships with them at scale. And with our battle-tested professional services, it has never been easier to deliver smooth hybrid events with a flawless user experience.
Join the 12,000+ event builders from high-touch industries who use SpotMe to run better events. Request a demo today.
