The Endless Events implementation team evaluated over 500 event technologies for this year’s report. The scoring consisted of customer reviews, user experience, native and unique features, price, accessibility enhancements, integrations, and the platforms that offer a seamless end-to-end planning experience. These awards are based not just on where their features stand today but where we believe they are going in the next few years. And since we’re the Einsteins of Events, we’ve added Albert’s Aha! Feature: one unique platform feature that almost no other platforms offer.
And remember: this list focuses only on virtual and hybrid event platforms that act as the venue to host your events. However, it does not focus on event management tools, registration, streaming software, or your average webinar platforms.
One final disclaimer before we dive in: this is not sponsored content; no event platform paid to be featured on this list. And even though we’re a reliable source, we advise you to never judge the book by its cover. Always schedule a demo with your desired event platform before moving forward with it.
Topia is the event platform to use to simply create a customizable virtual world for your entire event, specific session, or ongoing community. Import a custom background to serve as your world’s map and add engagement opportunities and lounge areas anywhere you would like. Attendees are free to explore on their own or follow a leader. As you get closer to other users, Topia utilizes spatial video, creating private conversations for up to 10 users. Explore a public world here. Currently, this platform’s analytics only serve an overview of the number of active users and users per day. However, it does not natively integrate with CRMs or marketing tools.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: Spatial video enables attendees to easily move in and out of conversations as if they were in person.
A note to planners: Not the solution currently meant to manage onsite elements for your event, but offers the unique opportunity to incorporate Topia onsite at your event to connect the virtual audience.
Building events since: 2020
Remo is the event platform that best facilitates 2D and isometric virtual table configurations between 2-16 people. Users can toggle between the tables to join different conversations or be randomly shuffled at timed intervals. Remo events support up to 10 floors. Multiple buildings can be linked to incorporate multiple floor plan designs. The possibilities are truly endless when designing a custom floor plan for your Remo event that immerses attendees to any imaginable location (trade show floor, the moon, the beach, relaxing networking lounge). Presenters can join the main stage and broadcast a presentation to all users. The host can invite users up on stage. Currently, this platform’s analytics only represent the guest list, time spent in the event, and any submitted questions in the Q&A. It does not natively integrate with CRMs or marketing tools.
Albert’s Aha feature: Connected buildings to link multiple table-like environments with unique custom floor plans.
A note to planners: Not the solution currently meant to manage your complex registration form or lead retrieval, but offers a simple login experience for attendees that use the same email address at login when attending multiple events in Remo.
Building events since: 2018
Airmeet offers two variations of its event platform. Social Webinar is a variation meant to modernize your town hall, webinar, or workshop. The Conference variation allows for concurrent tracks, reception area, and exhibitor booths. In either variation, utilize the HD native streaming player that allows attendees to raise their hand to join the stage. As an organizer, you can toggle between light and dark mode and enable or disable randomized or table-like speed networking. Currently, this platform offers a simplified analytics dashboard with 3 standard Excel reports including poll responses, time spent in sessions, and chats or questions sent during the sessions. Airmeet does natively integrate with CRMs, marketing tools and has a public API.
Albert’s Aha! feature: Attendees can raise their hand to come up on stage and ask the presenters a question.
A note to planners: Does not currently offer any onsite lead retrieval services for booths, but offers dedicated video tables for booth representatives in the platform.
Building events since: 2019
VenuIQ is the event platform that provides you with the most information on what is taking place onsite at your in-person and hybrid experiences. The Venue Map allows your guests to easily guide themselves. Attendees can personalize their agenda, meet in the app with video meetings, and even save the video files for review. As an organizer, implement beacon badges for automated session check-in, and even a scavenger hunt to entertain guests and promote specific points of interest. Event Builder targets singular events, Membership Builder is for communities, and Enterprise Builder is for your internal company app. Currently, this platform offers an analytics dashboard with onsite and online lead tracking, and even more insights powered by beacon technology. VenuIQ has an open API for integrating with registration and marketing tools.
Albert’s Aha! feature: The graphical heatmap highlights real-time foot traffic at your event.
A note to planners: The virtual booth offerings for exhibitors and sponsors are limited, but the built-in floorplan amplifies traffic to the onsite booths.
Building events since: 2015
GEVME is the best event platform if you are looking for an easy-to-navigate platform that incorporates a 360-degree welcome page. Do you ever feel limited to what extent you can customize the look and feel of a specific page in your event platform? GEVME’s venue builder backend experience is made simple and easily customizable with drag & drop content blocks as if you were editing a website. GEVME offers 1:1 and group video meetings, an activity feed, sponsored products, and a passwordless login experience utilizing OTP (one-time pin). Currently, this platform offers an analytics dashboard with custom report-building capabilities preventing you from spending time cleaning up reports, as well as a real-time leads dashboard for sponsors. GEVME natively integrates with registration and email marketing tools with their open API.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: GEVME offers a DIY, real-time virtual venue builder! Updating banner ads and buttons in the welcome page lobby has never been easier to modify on the fly.
A note to planners: Registration and onsite services appear to be in the earlier stages of development, but the easy login experience makes it simple for the users once their information is on the platform.
Building events since: 2007
Grip is the event platform that makes networking and hosted-buyer conversations easier. Grip makes it very easy to show interest in other attendees and participating vendors. The AI-powered matchmaking engine is structured using 15 different strategies to recommend other users to meet, sessions to attend and booths to see, continuing to learn about your actions as the event continues. The Grip app that can be custom-branded to your event can enable lead retrieval via the app for exhibitors to scan badges onsite. The home feed can be a unique experience per user type tailored to their relevant experience and sessions. Currently, this platform offers an analytics dashboard with the ability to export attendance and meeting reports with preferred columns as Excel, CSV, or PDF files. Grip natively integrates with 50+ CRM and marketing tools with their API.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: Speed networking allows your participants to have short and fast meetings as part of either following a live stream or as an independent session. The profile for whom you are meeting can be shown during the call for additional background information to fuel your conversation. This is ideal for boosting connections and widening the meeting pool for your participants.
A note to planners: Branding opportunities are limited but the booth products offer an additional opportunity to highlight images, videos, or PDFs.
Building events since: 2016
Cadmium is the event platform for managing event content. Their Conference Harvester division allows for your planning team to collect and manage registration, call for abstracts, and booth management. Their eventScribe division will construct your event platform, mobile app, ePoster sessions, and even digital signage to further connect the technology with the in-person experience. Their Elevate LMS and EthosCE provide a community platform supporting course building, certifications, collaboration, and e-commerce. Populate a quick summary report for an overview of activity within each module. Reports can easily be sent to stakeholders directly from the myCadmium Dashboard or via API integration.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: Attendees can take notes and zoom in on high-quality digital files within the digital poster gallery.
A note to planners: Currently attendee-to-attendee video networking is not supported, but video sessions can include up to 75 attendees.
Building events since: 2000
JUNO is the event platform built to make communities last. The platform offers matchmaking with 1:1 video chat, gamification, CE/CME accreditation with custom certificates, learning cohorts, and team grouping. PCMA announced their 365 Community launching in JUNO starting in January at Convening Leaders. JUNO’s companion mobile app will make it an easy and easy-to-access branded experience for your community to stay connected. Currently, this platform offers a simplified analytics dashboard with downloadable reports for users, session interactions, clicks, downloads, as well as supports API integrations.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: JUNO has mastered the modern learning experience that incentivizes learning to keep attendees on the platform for extended periods.
A note to planners: Branding opportunities are limited but this can help attendees stay focused on the content without being too distracted by platform ads.
Building events since: 2020
Cvent is the event platform to build your event strategy from the ground up. The Attendee Hub provides an Engagement Score consisting of a unique set of event activities to better understand your attendees’ engagement levels. If you have never planned a complex event with venue sourcing, creating seating charts, crafting a registration microsite, printing badges, and hosting a live stream in a mobile app, Cvent is the one-stop shop for your planning team. This platform offers a simplified analytics dashboard to review attendance and feedback, or the organizer can utilize 120 standard report templates for tracking sessions, leads, and budget. Their REST APIs allow you to develop solutions to integrate your organizations’ existing systems.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: Cvent offers a suite of additional services, such as venue sourcing, contactless check-in, and room diagramming.
A note to planners: There is currently no strong solution native to the platform for 1:1 or group video meetings to take place to connect a remote and in-person audience. However, appointment scheduling is an additional Cvent product that can be licensed.
Building events since: 1999
Bizzabo is the event platform to stay connected with your audience. Their Event Experience Operating System powers your event from registration to lead scanning. Bizzabo has a Bizzy 2021 while acquiring x.ai, Whalebone, TeeVid, and most recently Klik to power this OS’s video production suite, AI-matchmaking, smart badges, and making it possible to hear and visualize the online crowd. Bizzabo Interact, their native streaming player, offers a webinar mode, meeting mode, and allows for sessions with breakout room capacities of up to 300 participants spread across 30 rooms, with a max of 25 participants in each room. Currently, this platform offers an analytics dashboard monitoring registrations, revenue, attendance, engagement, and sponsors & exhibitors that can be exported as a spreadsheet. Bizzabo has an open API and natively integrates with CRM and marketing tools.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: Bizzabo recently acquired Klik, an event tech startup that developed wearable RFID technology that offers amazing data-driven insights into attendee behavior, from session check-ins to providing your exhibitors and sponsors a list of people they interacted with.
Building events since: 2011
SpotMe is a feature-rich event platform. It offers the widest array of features to implement in its marketplace. Their mobile app does an excellent job replicating the same experience as on desktop. Allow your attendees to record thoughts and internalize ideas on the go with the digital notebook. The platform also features a WYSIWYG editor for preparing participant badges, certificates, and personalized QR codes to implement lead retrieval and attendance tracking. Currently, this platform offers an analytics dashboard monitoring user activity, user journey, and sponsor engagements. Reports can be downloaded as spreadsheets and easily be anonymized for sharing with stakeholders. SpotMe has a REST API and natively integrates with CRM and marketing tools.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: Summarize news, actions, and content in bite-sized daily digests in the activity feed.
A note to planners: Branding opportunities are currently limited, but the interface is easy to navigate.
Building events since: 2000
MeetingPlay is an event platform that offers flexible navigation. The MeetingPlay team will develop your ideal button configuration based on a flat or virtual lobby look and feel. Pre-recorded sessions allow for the speaker to join the right-side toolbar to answer questions asked in the Q&A panel with video participation in real-time. Internal video collaboration rooms can support up to 40 users on camera and video meetings can be up to 4 users. MeetingPlay is focusing on crafting the premium onsite experience with facial recognition check-in kiosks, badge printing, and lead scanning. Currently, this platform offers 22 standard reports incorporating demographics, lead acquisition, and survey results. MeetingPlay has a built-in API that integrates with CRM and marketing tools.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: Aside from the most common engagement features (Q&A, live polling), you can also include a (virtual) swag store where attendees redeem their points for swag.
A note to planners: Historically, the MeetingPlay team has needed to be more hands-on in building the platform for extensive coding. However, MeetingPlay Core, the most recent edition (made-for-simple-event-creation), has recently launched.
Building events since: 2012
Accelevents is the event platform that helps drive change. The platform offers native registration, streaming, interactive breakouts, and lead retrieval. The welcome page highlights the modules you would like to highlight including the leaderboard, event-wide chat, and activity stream. Accelevents offers a workshop-style session for up to 250 attendees to participate in a meeting with up to 25 users on camera. Meetups sessions include speed networking and Lounges are topic-based discussion threads that include video conversations that can be used for a coffee break. Exhibitor booths offer an add-on live booth member to be present with a video that attendees can choose to engage with a customized CTA link. The dashboard provides an overview of ticket sales, while the analytics tab is currently split up for registration, sponsors, exhibitors, networking, lounges, sessions, and gamification that provide reports that can be downloaded as CSV files. Accelevents currently integrates with HubSpot, Salesforce, Marketo, and Zapier.
Albert’s Aha feature: Seamlessly collect donations from your attendees during the ticketing & registration process by adding an option for silent auctions, raffles, fund-a-need, online donations, or text-to-give. Instantly push notifications to attendees to begin donating or bidding during the event. Donors can also bid on items within seconds via text message.
A note to planners: The menu design could be more flexible for creating additional tabs currently, but the platform allows you to embed specific widgets or the entire platform onto your own website.
Building events since: 2015
We’ve talked to Jonathan Kazarian, the CEO and founder of Accelevents, on the Event Tech Podcast. Click here to listen or read about the episode!
Hopin offers powerful solutions. While Hopin has been a popular choice for planners of all event types, the Hopin team is strategizing how your event can be best marketed and implemented onsite too. In 2021, Hopin acquired Boomset, Attendify, Streamable, and jamm to incorporate powerful features including facial recognition, access control via RFID management, video collaboration spaces, video editing, and an audience CRM. Hopin’s native streaming is powered by StreamYard which is a familiar tool to many streamers. A GoFundMe campaign can be embedded in the session toolbar. The overview panel provides a dashboard of registrations and usage, while the analytics tab is currently segmented to provide 15 standard reports including surveys, viewership, and booth interactions that can be exported as CSV files. Hopin natively integrates with 20+ CRM and marketing tools with their API.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: Hopin is the ruler of cashless payments. Boomset by Hopin allows for on-site spending and voucher redemption to help decrease lines and enhance security.
A note to planners: The menu design could be more flexible for creating additional tabs, but the interface is easy to navigate.
Building events since: 2019
EXVO is the event platform that makes a remote world feel closer. EXVO can replicate the look and feel of your in-person venue or transport your event into any dream destination in 3D. As an attendee, you will have the opportunity to walk around the 3D environment as a floating robot and interact with other attendees by having 1:1 or group video calls. Multiple custom environments can be linked together to incorporate different ambiances, and the experience is all browser-based. No event platform currently can offer a more custom booth-design experience for your exhibitors and sponsors. EXVO does not offer any out-of-the-box integrations but has an open API and collects analytics on where attendees went and who they engaged with.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: If fully immersive 3D is among your non-negotiables for your event platform, EXVO just might be the right fit for you. Making your virtual space feel real will generate excitement among your attendees and foster better connections between your virtual and in-person audiences.
A note to planners: Experience on mobile and tablets is currently limited, but the platform is easy to navigate for users with an up-to-date desktop or laptop computer.
Building events since: 2020 (but Allseated was founded in 2012)
Click here to check out Endless’ company meeting using EXVO as our chosen platform.
6Connex empowers attendee exploration. It provides an immense array of virtual lobby templates to implement as the home page, vendor booth, VIP lounge, or theater. Users can benefit from experiencing matchmaking with 1:1 or group video chat, obtaining reward points on the leaderboard, collaborating on a whiteboard, or finding hidden items throughout the platform on a scavenger hunt. 6Connex currently offers 35+ real-time analytic reports including session duration and popularity. The platform offers a public API and integrates with CRM and marketing tools.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: 6Connex’s virtual lobby template gallery makes this platform ideal for constructing your virtual or hybrid venue. All templates can be branded for your specific program, and many can accommodate additional signage and click states.
A note to planners: While virtual lobbies can create a unique experience for your attendees, they may get lost while looking for their session if multiple concurrent sessions are taking place.
Building events since: 2011
vFairs is the event platform your marketing and design team will love. vFairs can be white-labeled and include multiple languages for the registration landing page, event platform, and mobile application. Attendees can simply log in with Single Sign-On or Two-Factor Authentication. Additionally, they can be greeted by a welcome video. There are four main areas for users to visit: the Virtual Auditorium, Exhibit Hall, Networking Chat Lounge, and Information Booth. The photo booth and social media will allow participants to share their favorite moments of the event. vFairs also offers built-in accessibility features including color contrast and text size adjustment. Currently, analytics reports can be generated for categories including attendance, booth interactions, questions asked and chats sent. After your event, a PDF summary report will generate key highlights. Integrations to CRMs are powered by Zapier.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: Users can explore the Exhibit Hall booths, drop a business card, select their favorite documents and add them to their Digital Swag Bag.
A note to planners: While the virtual booths incorporate unique design elements, from a user’s perspective it feels more like engaging with a sponsor’s microsite, rather than interacting with booth representatives.
Building events since: 2016
CrowdComms is the event platform that offers every piece of pizza and delivers. The platform manages registration, wayfinding, lead and attendance capture, and even silent auction solutions. Events are built by intertwining over 20 modules of features to lay out the custom experience for your guests. Watch a live stream in a networking room where you can move around to tables or open spaces to chat with others as the session is ongoing. The Achievement board and Multi-Factor Authentication are bonuses to keep your event secure and attendees fixed on content. Currently, this platform offers a simple analytics dashboard for an overview as well as downloadable reports for sponsor booth views, document downloads, session views, survey responses, and questions asked. CrowdComms has a built-in API that integrates with registration and marketing tools.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: Interactive Map & Wayfinding in CrowdComms allow for scanned destinations to be viewed on the map to see where you have been.
A note to planners: Currently, their knowledge base has been slower to release product updates but they seem to be focusing on functionality development for the future of networking.
Building events since: 2011
Hubilo is the event platform that leads the industry for a modern user interface. The platform offers various advertising placements and virtual booths with custom CTA buttons and products. Networking opportunities include 1:1 video meetings, video lounges, and video rooms. The user’s briefcase allows them to see their notes, connections, and bookmarked users and documents. A custom URL, custom email sender details, and a Single-Sign-On login experience add value to your branded virtual venue. Currently, this platform offers cross-event dashboards for engagement revenue and attendee profiles. Each event currently consists of dashboards and downloadable reports for people, activity feed, registration, networking, speakers, sessions, virtual booths, and rooms. Hubilo has a built-in API that integrates with embeddable apps, CRMs, and marketing tools.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: Awaken your attendees’ inner competitors! Gamify your event with Hubilo’s contest module!
A note to planners: While the UI is sleek, it could take some time for your attendees to find what exists in the side panel menu.
Building events since: 2015
Swapcard is the event platform that offers the strongest hybrid exhibiting experience. Schedule in-person or video meetings with exhibitors, sponsors, speakers, or attendees, and scan badges or Swapcodes to instantly share information in a custom-branded mobile application. Showcase products, services, or any item category that attendees can get recommended and even save to their My Event Plan. Live Now keeps the attendees right on schedule for the next streaming session. Create additional tabs in the menu that support any journey that you’d like your attendees to follow. Swapcard supports API integrations and currently has 24 built-in registration integrations including their own solution, Avolio.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: Give your webcam a rest by implementing audio-only roundtable sessions for up to 100 participants.
A note to planners: Currently, users must access the event by being sent an event email or entering an event code, but the email manager can be whitelisted for your domain to be the sender’s details.
Building events since: 2013
Webex Events is the event platform that is most easy to use. This platform offers registration, badge design, native streaming powered by Restream, a custom-branded mobile app for your community, lead retrieval, and onsite check-in. The mobile experience offers a shake or tap to connect. It includes an event feed, gamification leaderboard, video rooms for up to 16 people, and accessibility features including color contrast, text size adjustment, subtitles, and more. The platform offers multiple dashboards and four downloadable reports on metrics, chats, calls to action, and the event game. Currently, Webex Events integrates with registration tools but does not support API integrations.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: Live display: Display platform dashboards in real-time and publish them to every venue screen!
A note to planners: Branding opportunities are currently limited, but the interface is easy to navigate.
Building events since: 2016
We’ve talked about producing virtual events with Socio’s Kara Gladish and Sheehan Hubbard on the #EventIcons Podcast. Click here to listen or read about the episode!
Pheedloop is the event platform that is pushing the boundaries of what is possible for the future of events. This platform includes registration, badge design, credit tracking, streaming with Meet & Stream, a custom-branded mobile app, donations, gamification, and 1:1 video networking. Real-time presence tracking empowers attendees to always see who is around them at the event, and connect privately. Pheedloop implements speaker and exhibitor management portals as well as accessibility features including color contrast, text size adjustment, and subtitles. Currently, this platform offers a REST API with 12 analytic dashboards for page visits, download, and message reports that can also be exported as CSV files.
Albert’s Aha! Feature: Pheedloop’s built-in floor plan builder syncs with all the booths added to the event platform. The Auto-layout tool allows you to put all your booths on the floor plan with one click and is instantly synced with back-end changes made to booth assignments.
A note to planners: Branding opportunities are currently limited, but the interface is easy to navigate.
Building events since: 2015
And there you have it: the best event platforms list brought to you by the Einsteins of Events. But remember: just because these platforms rank high, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the best fit for your particular event. No platform on this list is one-size-fits-all. Those who have been following our content on attendee engagement know that every event requires a different usage of features to keep the audience feeling connected and engaged. The selection of your event platform will vary depending on what kind of experience you’re planning and what your non-negotiables are.
The Endless team is technology-agnostic. We help planners choose an event platform that will best deliver on THEIR event strategy. Additionally, we also design and construct the platform and the mobile app, manage speakers, and offer exhibitor and attendee support. Yes, we do all that – and more! So if you need a partner who will amplify your event strategy, feel free to talk to us! The Einsteins of Events are here to help.
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