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The most effective online event platform: Comparative and review of the best software

Mar 11, 2023

You've come up with some innovative ideas for your online event, and you've even approached potential guests to be a element of the celebration. They're showing interest, like the other people that are participating!

What do you think of the virtual platforms you'd choose to utilize to host your virtual event?

A difficult decision? The truth is that despite the variety out there and the variety of options there isn't a simple way to select a solution that is meeting all the requirements of your attendees while providing a remarkable (and without errors) an experience at your occasion.

But, there are platforms with helpful support staff that can help you plan your ideal virtual eventfor example, the multi-day conference, live-streamed training session or an online webinar. The only thing you have to do is search for the perfect treasure.

In this guide, we'll help you do just this while I walk you through the six best platforms for virtual occasions. The pros and cons aren't like the ones you'd get from merely testing some of these applications and going through tons of third-party reviews on these systems.

Let's dive deep:

In this article

What to look for in an online platform for conferences

Before we get into the best platforms for organize virtual events, let's begin by examining what makes a desirable platform for virtual events by examining some of the essential features.

Bookmark this webpage so that you can look up this list of functions to choose your perfect virtual event system.

Many useful and easy integrations

Integrations between CRMs and other systems as well as email programs such as email software, for example, are essential in sending out personalized invites and turning attendees into regular customers.

 The intuitive user

A user-friendly interface lets users to easily navigate the application, learn about the capabilities, and reap the most benefit from it. It also means you can use the software independently - with no assistance from outside.

Stream quality

The audio or video quality will directly impact the experience of attendees which can encourage attendees to stay around until the end. Make sure the software you select provides HD quality streaming. It is free of complaints regarding quality and also lets you download the content in high-quality.

A powerful Analytics system

Tools for engaging audiences dynamically

Quizzes, polls and quizzes along with Q&As are crucial tools to interaction with your audience and improving the experience of the visitors. Any platform you choose should provide these features along with the ability to create break-out rooms to encourage the networking of attendees.

Proactive customer service

Make sure the software's service team responds quickly and promptly to the your questions. An effective way to judge the level of service provided by the team is to inquire about questions concerning the software prior to purchase and also during the free trial. The way they answer queries will speak volumes on how they deal with clients and potential customers.

The following is an extensive review of the top online conferences:

Each tool I've gone over its key characteristics, the people it's ideal for, where the tool is successful, as well as the disadvantages it faces according to the opinions that its users have expressed on other websites like G2 as well as Gartner.

Let's go.

1. Events

Events provides an easy-to-use web-based, online platform that can be used for virtual events suitable for event marketers with the ability to handle hosting virtual events.

The guest speakers, you aren't need to download any an additional program to setup, create, and join the celebration .

Pros

  • Events can assist you with plan and promote your event. Events can be integrated to your CRM and email marketing software to create customized registration forms, emails invitations for events that are automatized, as well as event confirmations as well as reminder emails. Additionally, it helps to engage guests at the end of the event.
  • Provides sophisticated analytics that can help in the improvement of your event's promotion strategy. After the event is over it provides you with detailed information about the 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 user experience. Drag-and-drop the interface to add full-screen graphics, lower thirds for the speakers in the intro and personal branding.
  • The video editing and hosting toolskit that allows recycling event-related video content. Utilize it to cut, edit chapters, create chapters, and enhance your event video before uploading it to different media channels for advertising.

 Cons

  • Not specifically designed for internal meetings such as Zoom or similar programs to facilitate meetings. Events is more suited to virtual meetings, webinars town halls and other.
  • Events is a fresh and exciting virtual experience platform to host events. This means that it's not as well-known and has the same brand name as established players in the market.

2. Zoom

The most well-known feature is its one-on-one meeting sessions, Zoom lets you host virtual events too. It's perfect for artists and small-scale business marketers who want to earn money through online events.

ProsPros

  • Gives you plenty of tools to engage your attendees and let them interact with each other as they interact with sponsors as.
  • Making and establishing an online web-based webinar with Zoom is easy, especially for those with experience with the tool.

 Cons

  • Average video quality. When HD video quality (1080p) is the norm, Zoom offers 720p for as many as two people to attend an event. You will have to pay more for hosting virtual events in HD video.
  • Joining a virtual event held with Zoom does not provide an effortless experience. The best option for those who are new to the application is to be there five minutes before the event time to start downloading and installing the app. For event organizers, this results in poor attendance.
  • Zoom can be expensive for organizing events that have large crowds which makes it unsuitable to make large-scale events with this technology.
  • Lack of control options for hosts. Zoom offers no way hosts can control chat chats on the fly -- something you'll need to be mindful of when hosting large-scale gatherings.

Pricing

Pricing for Zoom is dependent on the number of people who attend your event. In order to give you an approximate idea of the price, 100 persons events starts at $990 per year.

Learn more about Zoom

3. Hopin

Hopin allows event organizers across all over the world arrange as many participants as they'd like. Much like Zoom the cost of hosting is based on the number of guests which can lead to growing slow on this platform. One place where it can beat Zoom is the fact that it has the ability to moderate comments.

ProsPros

  • Hopin offers the branding studio so you can create your own site for registration or even a virtual venue for the celebration.
  • Provides moderation capabilities and makes it easy for many speakers to join.
  • Includes a mobile-friendly app so guest speakers and attendees can join and engage via their mobile phones.

 Cons

  • Event analytics aren't in-depth.
  • There is no tool for recycling and reuse of the information from your events on the web.
  • There are some people who are unhappy with issues with video and audio quality at events held by Hopin. One of them mentions, "I don't like difficulties with audio or video. Users who do not have the highest quality internet connection have issues with lag. This [doesn't] happen with various solutions."

Pricing

There is a free plan that allows an administrator to host 2-hour long events with up to 100 guests. Pricing plans can be fixed.

4. GoTo Webinar

GoTo Webinar can be great for those who are creative as well as small businesses organizing small-scale events that have as many as 3,000 people this is less than the offerings that Hopin, and Zoom have to offer.

This can also be a good alternative for solo business proprietors who are hosting training sessions that cost money since GoTo Webinar directly connects with Stripe and allows you to accept payment.

Pros

  • GoTo Webinar offers audience engagement instruments, such as polls and Q&A. Hosts are also able to draw on the display.
  • Multi-presenter mode on webinars offers the organizer to present up to six presenters the chance of giving a presentation.

Cons

  • The user interface has been old-fashioned, and some users say they take a while to master GoToWebinar.
  • Some users complain of issues regarding performance, especially when the number of people attending the event increases to over 1,000 attendees. There have been reviews written on audio quality issues too.
  • Certain types of functions, for example, file sharing can slow down. Certain functions are hard to locate , or are difficult to use.

Pricing

The trial duration is 7 days and free available. Everything else is charged with pricing starting at $49 for each organizer month (for hosting 250 guests).

5. Cvent

Cvent can be an ideal solution for marketers from businesses who host in-person events, such as trade exhibitions because of the ability to check-in.

As opposed to other sites for conference the platform isn't well-liked by users who host virtual events.

ProsPros

  • Cvent provides onsite check-in and also a badging program that prints the photos of guests when they arrive. There were complaints from users on third-party review sites saying Cvent was printing incorrect pictures.
  • Gives you multiple integrations to integrate your tech stacks to streamline your workflow.
  • Comes with the standard tools that allow for interaction with the public and includes AI-powered network recommendations as well as the capability to play games.

 Cons

  • The interface for users has been around for a while.
  • 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
  • Some options to personalize your brand identity, get analytics and have live chat

Pricing

Cvent's pricing is determined by the demands of your business Therefore, you must get an estimate of the cost Cvent is worth.

6. On24

On24 is a virtual event platform which is perfect for companies that want to hold webinars as well as multi-session occasions.

ProsPros

  • A proactive customer service team.
  • This tool can simplify many processes. Additionally, it offers integrations to ensure that your marketing and sales teams.

 Cons

  • A few layouts for content are offered, but they restrict your options for customizing the online event log-in and registration pages.
  • The interface for users is not user-friendly, and editors can are code editors also serve as such, adding to the steep learning curve.
  • It is not possible to create the event online. You'll have to make an option between participating in the event and for the sake of making sure your event runs smooth as you conduct your event with the pace of light. A reviewer even notes, "I would love to make use of storyboarding for planning my webcast, and to decide on the content of the screen and how they will appear on the tile of media and perform the lower thirds of my video as well as inserting participants into the program, then take them off from the screen and the process continues." ________________

Pricing

On24's website doesn't provide pricing. Anyone interested in a quote should request a quote.

FAQs

In answering questions Don't answer the question in a hurry; provide links to relevant piece of content inside the organization (as suitable) for people to take a look.

Which one should I pick for an online event platform?

Examine your needs for business such as your budget, the size of an event you're planning to hold, and the numerous virtual events you'd like to host. Pick a virtual event platform that's not only an ideal fit for your budget but is user-friendly and provides deep analytics, audience participation tools, top-quality streaming and many connectivity options.

How do I enhance my online event? memorable?

What are the top talked about virtual event platforms out there at the moment?

The Event platform, Hopin, Zoom, and GoToWebinar are some of the most popular event platforms you can explore. Each one has its positives and negatives. Decide based on your budget and specific event requirements.

Which virtual event platform is best for you?

The best virtual event platform will fulfill the requirements of your business the best. It includes:

  • The size of your attendee
  • Use instances (how much you plan to make use of virtual events in marketing and sales, and whether or not you intend to provide classes for sale)
  • What's the amount of time spent learning to utilize an entirely new device
  • What is the amount you're planning to spend to grow the size of your platform (you aren't looking for the platform to slip from your budget when you expand)

Here's a list of applications that offer poor quality streaming using outdated UX. Some have a lengthy process of learning. Their cost can be high in the event of hosting large audiences.

This is where Events truly shines. It offers a ton of customization, high-quality streaming and a simple user interface. Additionally, it plays an important part in recycling content of events it organizes, allowing you to get the most value for your time and effort.

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