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The best virtual events platforms: Comparative and evaluation of the best applications

Mar 10, 2023

Did you think of an idea for your virtual conference , and you've already reached out to possible guests to be a part of your event. And they're showing interest, like the other people that are part of the process!

What do you think about the various virtual platforms that you'd like to utilize to host your next online gathering?

A difficult choice? In reality, in spite of the wide array of options it isn't easy to choose a system that meets needs and promises of providing a wonderful (and un-fault-prone) event experience.

There are, however, platforms that offer helpful support members who can assist with the planning of your dream virtual event -- be it a multi-day event or a live-streamed training session or even a webinar. The only thing you need to do is locate this treasure.

In this piece this article, we'll walk you through the procedure by looking at the top six systems for hosting virtual events. Pros and cons can be found from testing just a few of these apps and reading through the many opinions of external reviewers who have reviewed these platforms.

Let's dive deep:

In this article

What is the most important thing to look out for when choosing the best virtual conference software

Before we get into the best online event platforms first, we need to define what is a great event platform online by examining the most important features.

Keep this page in mind so that you can reference this checklist of functions in deciding on your perfect virtual event platform.

Plenty of useful and easy integrations

Integrations with CRMs and email software, for example could be essential in sending out personalized event invites as well as converting guests to loyal clients.

Intelligent UX

The user-friendly interface makes it simple for users to use the program to learn more about its capabilities and gain the greatest benefit from it. Additionally, it allows you to run the software entirely on your own, without any assistance from outside.

Stream quality

Quality of the audio and video can directly impact your guests' experience and inspire them to stick around until the conclusion. You must ensure that the application you choose offers HD high-quality streaming and has no issues with the performance. It also allows you download videos with high-quality.

 Analytics are reliable and stable

 Tools for engaging audiences dynamically

The ability to host games, polls and games and Q&As is essential ways to engage with your guests and improving the overall experience of visitors. The platform you select should offer these tools alongside making break-out spaces to facilitate attendee-to attendee networking.

Proactive customer service

Finally, make sure that the software's customer service is fast and responsive to queries. One method to assess the quality of the team's service is to ask questions about the software prior to buying it , and also during the trial time. Their responses to your queries will reflect on how they interact with the customers and potential clients.

6 best virtual platform for event planning (based on thorough review and customer feedback)

This is an exhaustive list of the best conference websites:

With every tool, I've discussed the main functions and who is the best user and the areas in which the tool has been successful as well as the negatives it comes with according to the feedback its users' comments have been on on websites such as G2 as well as Gartner.

Let's go.

1. Events

Events is a user-friendly, browser-based virtual event platform suitable for event organizers with some experience organizing virtual event.

The guests you invite to address your gathering along with guests and your guests don't have to download additional software for setting up or organising the event .

Pros

  • Events will assist you in the planning and creation workflow. Connect the platform with your CRM and marketing email software to design custom registration forms. It also lets you create automated invitation emails to the event, confirmations of event and reminder emails. Additionally, it helps keep active attendees after an event.
  • Advanced analytics can assist you improve your event marketing plan. Once the event is finished, it gives you detailed information about the viewer and event which reveal who attended the event, the amount they watched and what they did throughout the entire occasion.
  • Creates a customized user experience. Utilize the drag-and-drop feature to include full-screen images, lower thirds of the intro speaker and customized branding.
  • Provides video editing and hosting tools that allow you to reuse event-related content. Utilize it to cut, modify chapters, write chapters, or make your event videos more appealing and then upload it to various marketing channels.

Cons

  • Not designed for internal meetings like Zoom or similar software used to facilitate meetings. Events is better for virtual meetings, webinars town halls, and more.
  • Events is a relatively new virtual event experience platform which means it's not getting the same recognition and brand names as the larger companies in this space.

2. Zoom

Popular for its on-one-one-one meetings, Zoom lets you host virtual events, too. It's perfect for artists as well as small-scale business marketers who want to earn cash through virtual events.

ProsPros

  • It gives you a variety of ways to keep attendees engaged and let participants interact and your sponsors.
  • Setting up and creating an online webinar using Zoom is easy for users who are already confident with the application.

 Cons

  • Average video quality. When HD video quality (1080p) is the standard, Zoom offers 720p for up to two attendees in the same conference. It is cost-effective to host events online in HD video.
  • Participating in a virtual meeting hosted with Zoom isn't always easy. For those who are new to the event It is recommended that you arrive in 5 minutes earlier to install and download the application. If event planners are not aware of this, it may result in a bad experience for attendees.
  • Zoom can be expensive for hosting events with large audiences that makes it ineffective to increase the size of events with this technology.
  • There's no options for control that hosts can use. Zoom doesn't permit hosts to manage chat conversations on the go -- something is something you must be aware of when you host public events.

Pricing

The cost of Zoom is based on the number of participants at the conference. To give you an estimate, the cost for a 100-people event begins at $990 for a year.

 Learn more about Zoom

3. Hopin

Hopin lets event planners across the board organize any number of guests they want. Like Zoom the cost of Hopin is based on the number of attendees and can be difficult to scale the platform. The only thing that makes it more effective than Zoom is that it offers the ability to moderate comments.

ProsPros

  • Hopin offers the branding studio where you are able to customize your web registration form and venue.
  • Moderates the sound, and allows more speakers to connect.
  • Includes a mobile-friendly app to let guests and attendees have the ability to communicate and connect from mobile phones.

 Cons

  • Events analytics aren't as thorough.
  • There is no software that allow you to reuse or repurpose the contents of the virtual event.
  • There are some people who have complained about audio and video performance issues at events organized by Hopin. One user even states, "I don't like problems with the audio performance or video. People who don't have a good internet connection are prone to lag issues. This isn't the case for different solutions."

Pricing

A free option is available which allows administrators to create events lasting two hours, which can hold up to 100 people. Prices are set.

4. GoTo Webinar

GoTo Webinar the best option for small and entrepreneurial companies that organize small-scale events which can hold more than 3,000 attendees this is less than what , Hopin and Zoom provide.

It's also an excellent option for solo business owners or those who run classes for paid participants as GoTo Webinar directly connects with Stripe which lets you pay.

Pros

  • GoTo Webinar offers audience engagement instruments, such as polls and Q&A. Hosts can also create their own designs for the display.
  • The multi-presenter feature in webinars gives the organizer to have as many as six presenters to present.

Cons

  • The user interface has been dated so some users report that it takes some time to master GoToWebinar.
  • Many complain of performance issues in the event that attendance is above 1,000 people. Certain reviews mention audio quality issuesas well.
  • Some options, like file sharing, could be extremely slow. And some features are hard to locate or difficult to navigate.

Pricing

The trial period is 7 days and is accessible. The rest of the trial is cost-based with costs beginning at $49 for every participant month (for hosting 250 participants).

5. Cvent

Cvent can be best suited for marketing firms that organize event in person, such as trade events due to the check-in feature.

Contrary to other websites for conferences the platform is not well-liked among users for hosting virtual meetings.

ProsPros

  • Cvent offers check-in on site as well as a badging program that prints attendees' photos on the day of their arrival. There have been a few user complaints through third-party review websites concerning the program printing images that are not correct.
  • Gives you multiple integrations to join your technology stack and make it easier to connect your tech stack.
  • The program comes with common tools that you can use to interact with your viewers, but also offers AI-powered networking recommendations as well as gaming.

 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
  • There are a few choices to personalize brand identity, get analytics and get access to live chat

Pricing

Pricing is customized according to the specific requirements of your company So, it is important to obtain a quotation to get some idea of how much Cvent costs you.

6. On24

On24 is a virtual event platform that is ideal for businesses seeking to host webinars as well as multiple-session events.

Pros

  • Support for customers is proactive.
  • The software helps to in automatizing a variety of tasks. Plus, offers integrations to connect your sales and marketing sales teams.

Cons

  • There are a few templates for contentare limited, which restricts the options you have to customize your events' login and registration pages.
  • An unprofessional user interface and the editor is an editor of code, adding to the steep learning curve.
  • There's no way to create the event online. This means you'll have make a choice between audience participation and in order to ensure that the event will run smoothly while you host in the moment. One reviewer states, "I would love to to create a storyboard for my webinar , and be capable of controlling the content of the screen, such that their face appears in the media tile. Also, you can do lower thirds over the video, insert people in the event, and then eliminate their faces from the display and then on."

Pricing

On24's site On24 does not provide prices. Interested folks will need to request a quotation.

FAQs

When answering FAQs, you need not respond to the question at all; rather, provide the links to any relevant piece of material within the organisation (as suitable) so as to boost click-through.

How can I pick an online event platform?

Analyze your company's needs like the budget you have set, the size of the event you'd like to organize, and the many virtual events you would prefer to host. Choose a platform for virtual events that's not only a good fit to your budget, however, it is also user-friendly and has in-depth analytics, audience interaction devices, live streaming in high-quality as well as a variety of connectivity options.

How can I make my virtual event more engaging?

Event, Hopin, Zoom, and GoToWebinar are some of the most well-known platforms to host events that you could look into. Each comes with its advantages and disadvantages. Choose based on the budget that you are working with and the particular requirements for your event.

Which event virtualization platform is right for you?

The best virtual events platform to choose from is one that can meet the needs of your company and will be the most effective. It is comprised of:

  • The size of the person attending
  • Use the case (how how much you intend to make use of virtual events in sales and marketing, and whether you are offering the workshops for a fee)
  • How long do you have to devote to learning to control a brand fresh device
  • How much are you planning to spend to add on your platform (you do not expect the platform to be a part of your budget in the process of expanding)

There are some programs that are not of high-quality streaming and a dated UX. Certain have a long learning curveand pricing can become expensive when hosting large viewers.

It's good to know that this is the area where Events succeeds. The platform offers plenty of flexibility, including high-quality streaming and a simple user interface. It also plays a helpful role in the reuse of materials from events it organizes, allowing you to get the best return for the investment.

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