Our virtual event platform comparison lists the best virtual event platforms out there, so you can find the right one for you.
During the pandemic, virtual event platforms became extremely popular, with online events as the only option for B2B companies to build relationships with existing and prospective customers. And although in-person events are back, event organizers can’t deny the benefits that virtual event platforms still bring them. From cost-effectiveness, fast execution, and a low carbon footprint, to wider audiences, increased accessibility, and insightful analytics, nothing compares.
But if you are asking yourself “What is the best platform for an online event?” and “How do I choose a virtual event platform?”, our list of virtual event platform comparison chart can help you out.
With 20+ years in the event tech industry and after helping thousands of business leaders quickly adapt to virtual event platforms when the pandemic hit, we know what it takes to be the best virtual event platform. Read on to find out how to choose the best virtual event platform to help you achieve your business goals and discover which of the 12 best virtual event platforms made our list.
Don’t miss out on getting valuable customer insights from one of the few remaining first-party data sources: virtual event platforms.
What is a virtual event platform?
A virtual event platform serves as a dynamic, digital venue that facilitates and manages the seamless execution of virtual events. Virtual event platforms are equipped with an array of tools and features designed to simulate the interactive, engaging, and networking aspects of physical events in a virtual landscape. They cater to a broad spectrum of events, including conferences, seminars, speaker trainings, onboardings, and townhalls, and are flexible enough to accommodate varying scales and complexities.
In high-touch industries where personal interaction and customer engagement are paramount, virtual event platforms play a pivotal role. They enable companies to bridge the geographical gap, allowing for the engagement of a global audience, fostering meaningful interactions, and delivering immersive experiences, all while collecting valuable attendee data and analytics for post-event assessment. Choosing the best virtual event platform can significantly influence the success of your event. So, it is crucial to have a thorough understanding of their comparative advantages.
Before starting your virtual event platform comparison
Be strategic before diving into your virtual event platform comparison. You’re looking for the best virtual event platform for you. But what does “best” mean?
For us, “best” describes a solution that ensures you achieve your goals. It’s a solution that focuses on your audience and their needs and preferences.
Think about the type of virtual event or conference you’re organizing and your objectives.
Draw up a list of your audience’s needs and the critical features you want. Then, compare the best virtual event platforms against one another using a virtual conference platform comparison like this one.
What does your audience need and want from your virtual event platform?
As you read this virtual event platform comparison chart, keep your attendees’ needs top of mind.
How can you create a memorable virtual event experience with your online event platform? Can you exceed your audience’s expectations? How does your event compare to other virtual events they’ve attended?
Needs are different at every event. Attending a healthcare conference vs. attending a partner conference is not the same. Take this into account when weighing up the best virtual event platform for you.
For the healthcare conference, attending HCPs might expect:
For the partner conference, participants may want:
- An event site
- An agenda builder (even agenda recommendations)
- Access to pre-event on-demand content
- Several reminders and emails during the build-up to the event
The type of event you’re hosting matters. You’ve spent many years building your client community. Make sure your virtual events live up to their expectations.
If you organize online events with a mediocre virtual event platform and poor delivery, you’ll damage your brand.
That’s why it’s essential to consult a virtual event platform comparison chart. You need to ensure you’re using the best virtual event platform that will boost your brand’s reputation.
What are the critical features of a virtual event platform?
What features should you look for when doing a virtual conference platform comparison? Some features are critical for any type of event. Others depend on the specific type and purpose.
Here are some of the best virtual event platform features you’ll want to consider:
- Branding
- Event registration
- Agenda tools
- Personalization
- Live and on-demand
- One-way or two-way video
- Activation tools
- Networking and group building
- Virtual booth and virtual lobby
How to choose a virtual event platform
Here are the steps we recommend taking when choosing the best virtual event platform for you:
- Understand Your Requirements: Start by defining your event objectives and goals. What kind of event are you hosting – a webinar, training, conference, or a mixed format? Each type of event may require different functionalities from a virtual event platform.
- Assess Platform Features: Examine the variety of features offered by each virtual event platform. Interactive features, networking capabilities, in-event engagement tools, customization options, and integration possibilities are just a few to consider.
- Consider the User Experience: The virtual event platform should provide a smooth, intuitive experience for both organizers and attendees. This includes easy registration, seamless navigation, accessible customer support, and overall ease of use.
- Evaluate Scalability: Your chosen virtual event platform should be able to handle the size of your event, both in terms of attendee count and content delivery. This is particularly vital for high-touch industries, where customer interactions often occur at a large scale.
- Check Compatibility: Ensure the virtual event platform supports all required devices and browsers, offering a consistent experience across all platforms.
- Look into Analytics: Comprehensive data tracking and analytics are crucial to understanding attendee behavior, gauging event success, and improving future events.
- Review Security Measures: Confidentiality and data security are of utmost importance. Look for virtual event platforms that prioritize these aspects, particularly when handling sensitive data from clients in high-touch industries.
- Assess Customer Support: Effective customer service and technical support are key to smoothly resolving any issues that may arise before, during, or after your event.
- Consider Pricing: Finally, consider your budget. The most expensive option isn’t always the best, so evaluate the price against the value and features offered by the virtual event platform.
Remember, choosing the right virtual event platform is an investment toward the success of your event. Take the time to research and evaluate before making a decision.
4 types of virtual event platforms
We reviewed various tools to create our virtual event platform comparison chart. To make it easy, we’ve created 4 clusters of virtual event platforms:
- Virtual event platforms. These are the most versatile. They offer a broad range of use cases for external and internal users. They have interactive elements for both live and on-demand. Most of these tools have rich navigation options.
- Virtual conference platforms. These focus on registration, ticket selling and agenda management. They have some engagement features and integrations available.
- Webinar solutions. These solutions tend to have less interactive aspects built-in. They focus on delivering short-form webcasting (i.e. one-way delivery with no real agenda) with on-demand access.
- Internal meeting tools. These solutions focus on internal users, and two-way communication and collaboration. They rely on having a separate process to invite your users. (i.e. using an external calendar and email tools). They have simple navigation limited to one screen.
What is the best platform for an online event?
Are you ready to find the best virtual event platform to help you hit your targets? Read our virtual event platform comparison chart and once you’ve narrowed down your choices, download our event RFP template to send to your preferred vendors. Go for the one that ticks most of your boxes.
#1 SpotMe
Named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report.
SpotMe has been in the event tech industry since 2001 and is the first choice for enterprise event engagement, whether virtual, hybrid, or in-person. It is an intuitive enterprise event platform to create engaging, personalized, and compliant event experiences that help companies build better customer relationships.
SpotMe’s all-in-one event management solution will skyrocket audience engagement, making it stand out from the other best virtual event platforms. From an interactive activity feed, networking tools, chatbots, and live chat to Q&A, polls, live applause, quizzes, gamification, and more.
Its fully customizable, integrated, and intuitive virtual 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 experiences their 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 virtual event metrics to help you drive your next best actions.
Thanks to its enterprise-grade security, enterprise deployment, 24/7 instant support, and white-glove professional event services, hosting virtual events with a flawless user experience has never been easier than with SpotMe.
Cluster
Virtual event platform
Best for
For external and internal enterprise events, particularly in high-touch industries.
Reviews
To see SpotMe in action, request a personalized demo today.
#2 vFairs
vFairs has been around since 2008. It’s a pioneer for virtual career fairs and virtual trade shows. It deserves a place in our virtual event platform comparison chart. Its main features include 3D models of events with trade show booths. It offers e-commerce or in-event buying experiences. Virtual career attendees can book meetings with employers at their virtual booth.
Plus, the virtual event platform has an API to help build integration into the rest of your stack. And services to help you create your virtual event 3D experience are available.
Cluster
Virtual event platform
Best for
External users at virtual career fairs and virtual trade shows.
Reviews
#3 Notified
Notified has been a key player since 2004. That’s why it’s in our virtual event platform comparison chart. It’s a webcasting solution for webinar-style events. It’s like vFairs because its main feature is the ability to create 3D models of the event, including exhibit booths. Notified provides services to assist with large event webcasting. It offers tools for video editing and production.
Plus, Notified offers widgets. These help customize the webinar and webcast experience. Their packages have polls, Q&A and games, and integration with YouTube, Facebook and Roku TV.
Cluster
Virtual event platform
Best for
External and internal users attending webinars, virtual training and virtual trade shows.
Reviews
#4 Accelevents
Accelevents has been around since 2014. It’s a virtual conference platform that helps you promote and track event success. It offers features such as conference registration and attendee agenda management. Accelevents stands out in our virtual events platform comparison because it combines engagement with the ability to sell tickets.
Its main integrations are through Zapier. That may not suit all users. But it does provide flexibility for others. It offers direct integrations with Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel. These help track event promotion.
Cluster
Virtual conference platform
Best for
External users at virtual summits and user conferences. For any event where ticketing and tracking efforts are key.
Reviews
#5 Livestorm
Livestorm has been operating since 2016. It offers an end-to-end tool. And it allows you to manage video engagements all in one place. Its features include landing pages, registration, and email follow-ups. It provides integrated tools allowing you to manage conferences from start to finish.
Livestorm has a range of engagement features to captivate conference attendees. For example, polls, Q&S, emojis, file sharing. These are all user-friendly both for event organizers and participants. A noteworthy entry in our virtual event platform comparison.
Cluster
Virtual conference platform
Best for
External and internal conferences. For events where user-friendly engagement is important.
Reviews
Keep global audiences engaged by providing closed captions during your virtual events. For more info, read Live event captioning: How to boost attendance and engagement.
#6 Webex Events (formerly Socio)
Webex Events (formerly Socio) appeared in 2016. It’s an end-to-end virtual conference platform. It’s similar to Accelevents because it offers an efficient registration and ticketing tool. It has a mobile app to use with its virtual conference platform.
Webex Events helps to create event ROI. Its dynamic ticket sales and multiple sponsor tools help you create great conferences. Plus, its personalized post-event outreach helps you continue to generate ROI in the long run.
Cluster
Virtual conference platform
Best for
External and internal multi-track conferences, trade shows or networking events.
Reviews
#7 ON24
Named a Strong Performer in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report.
ON24 has been around since 1998. That’s why it deserves a place in our list of best virtual event platforms. They are specialists in the webinar world. Known for robust webinars and on-demand lead-generating content.
They have strong analytics around webinars, on-demand use, and attendees. ON24 offers integration to CRM and marketing automation solutions. Plus, it offers an API. The #webinerd community helps you plan and execute better webinars.
Cluster
Webinar
Best for
Lead generation and user conferences.
Reviews
For more details, see our in-depth review of ON24 for virtual events and ON24 competitors and alternatives.
#8 Zoom Video Webinars
Named a Contender in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report.
Zoom started operating in 2011. It does not need an introduction.
Most people use Zoom’s meeting solution. But Zoom Video Webinar is a robust option. Key features include the ability to host breakout sessions.
Zoom has basic registration capabilities. They offer a range of integration with CRM and marketing automation solutions. It’s unlike most tools in this virtual event platform comparison chart. That’s because you have to install software to use it.
Cluster
Webinar
Best for
External and internal webinars & team meetings
Reviews
For more insights, see 5 alternatives to Zoom Webinar.
#9 GoToWebinar
GoToWebinar is an easy-to-use webinar solution that appeared in 2004. It’s all about simplicity for the hosts and the attendees. That’s one reason why it’s so popular and features in our list of best virtual event platforms. It offers tools to help you promote and brand your webinar. It’s not as strong on the engagement front. But it does have a few interactive features.
Plus, GoToWebinar gives you the chance to analyze data after your webinar. And it has integrations with some of the most used apps. Salesforce, Slack, Outlook and Hubspot.
Cluster
Webinar
Best for
Simple educational webinars that don’t require a lot of engagement.
Reviews
#10 Adobe Connect
Adobe Connect rebranded in 2006. This flexible tool targets collaboration and team meetings. Users can switch between different modes, like teamwork, sharing and discussion.
Widgets for Adobe Connect are a powerful feature. Adobe and 3rd party developers make these widgets available. These allow users to enhance collaboration and team meetings.
Adobe Connect offers webinar delivery as well.
Cluster
Internal meeting tool
Best for
Internal users who want a no-frills user experience. Great whiteboard collaboration and live annotations.
Reviews
For more info, see Adobe Connect review and 15 alternatives to Adobe Connect.
#11 Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is part of the Microsoft Office 365 suite. It is good for collaboration and town hall meetings. Strong integration with the rest of the Microsoft offering is a key point. Teams users find it easy to share and work together on Microsoft documents.
This virtual event platform make it easy to build communities. Each group can have a feed dedicated to it. The limiting factor here is the agenda. They rely on Outlook to send meeting invitations. There is no agenda builder or registration platform. But it’s worth mentioning in our virtual event platform comparison.
Cluster
Internal meeting tool
Best for
Users who invest in Microsoft. For people who want a solution for internal collaboration and virtual town hall meetings.
Reviews
#12 Google Meet & G Suite
As part of the Google Cloud, they offer a range of tools, including Google Meet. This allows planners to host virtual town hall meetings from the G Suite. Google Meet offers limited interactive tools. It’s used in combination with Google Calendar and Gmail.
You can live stream your Google Meet session. But, users have to log in to G Suite. This makes it unsuitable for an external audience.
Cluster
Internal meeting tool
Best for
G Suite users who have smaller meetings and want a solution for virtual town hall meetings.
Reviews
Our verdict from our virtual event platform comparison
The best virtual event platform for enterprise virtual events with advanced requirements = SpotMe
SpotMe is a flexible platform with enterprise-grade features. It offers a fully branded experience. You can use it across a variety of virtual event types.
The best virtual event platform for small businesses and mid-market webinars = Zoom Video Webinars
You can’t beat Zoom for simplicity. So many people use it. All over the world. Even tech-averse people can pick it up easily.
The best virtual event platform for large-scale webinars = ON24
If you want a large-scale webinar solution, then look no further than ON24. You can’t beat ON24 for pure webinars. They have a powerful on-demand mode to help you generate views and leads to flow into your CRM.
The best virtual event platform for classroom collaboration = Adobe Connect
We like Adobe Connect for its flexibility. You can change between collaboration, sharing, and discussion modes with ease. G Suite and Microsoft offer similar tools. But, Adobe Connect beats them because it does more. Also, Adobe Connect doesn’t lock you into a full ecosystem.
The best virtual event platform for virtual job fairs = vFairs
vFairs has been doing virtual job fairs for a while, and they’ve mastered them. They help you build 3D models. They’re the best fit for helping job hunters schedule 1-1 meetings with company reps.
The best virtual event platform for ticketed virtual summits = Accelevents
Look no further than Accelevents for summits. Event planners hosting ticketed events will find their tool helpful. Plus, they have robust analytics around the event promotion.
Get the best virtual event platform, built for enterprise, loved by audiences
Using a virtual event platform comparison chart helps you find the best virtual event platform for you. If you’re planning large-scale virtual events, SpotMe is the best choice.
Its virtual event platform is tailor-made for large events. And its countless interactive features mean your attendees stay engaged throughout your whole event. It offers tools such as an activity feed, live captioning, applause, Q&A and breakout rooms.
Make your virtual event web and mobile-friendly. And get support in less than 30 seconds, if needed. Our white-glove services ensure your event will be of the utmost quality.
Why not request a free SpotMe demo today?
Other resources to help you find the best event platform and app:
We suggest reading our article about the 15 key event trends of 2024: How to make your events stand out and then checking out the following guides to help you succeed:
- The 25 best conference + mobile event apps for 2024
- The 15 best hybrid event platforms in 2024
- The 9 best event platforms for HCP events in 2024
- The best free event management RFP template for 2024
- SpotMe event platform demo
FAQ
What is a virtual event platform?
A virtual event platform serves as a dynamic, digital venue that facilitates and manages the seamless execution of virtual events. Virtual event platforms are equipped with an array of tools and features designed to simulate the interactive, engaging, and networking aspects of physical events in a virtual landscape. They cater to a broad spectrum of events, including conferences, seminars, speaker trainings, onboardings, and townhalls, and are flexible enough to accommodate varying scales and complexities.
What is the best platform for an online event?
There are lots of platforms for online events. It all depends on the type of event you’re running, your audience, and the goals you want to achieve. Here are the best in our virtual event platform comparison chart:
1. SpotMe
2. vFairs
3. Notified
4. Accelevents
5. Livestorm
6. Webex Events
7. ON24
8. Zoom Webinars
9. GoTowebinar
10. Adobe Connect
11. Microsoft Teams
12. Google Meet
How do I choose a virtual event platform?
Here are the steps we recommend taking when choosing the best virtual event platform for you:
1. Understand your requirements
2. Assess virtual event platform features
3. Consider the user experience
4. Evaluate scalability
5. Check compatibility
6. Look into analytics
7. Review security measures
8. Assess customer support
9. Consider pricing
Remember, choosing the right virtual event platform is an investment toward the success of your event. Take the time to research and evaluate before making a decision.
