10 Best Virtual Event Platforms in 2024
After the global pandemic, many virtual event platforms were used by B2B firms to shift from in-person events to internet-based ones with existing and prospective clients. Today we have physical gatherings again; nevertheless, virtual event platforms still stand out in terms of their cost-effectiveness, quick setup time, reduced carbon emission, wider networking coverage zone, better accessibility and data analytics.
This comprehensive guide is meant to provide answers if you wonder “What is the best platform for an online event?” or “How do I choose a virtual event platform?” Over the years, we have spent over two decades within the events industry providing guidance to thousands of company executives on transitioning onto virtual event platforms and understanding what it takes to be the best. Continue reading our article to identify how you can select the right virtual events platform for your business goals as well as get acquainted with some of 2024’s top 10 lists.
What is a Virtual Event Platform?
It is a place where digital activity occurs and ensures that digital events take place without any hitches coming up. They have tools and features that try to reproduce interactional and engaging aspects of physical events into a cyber space. They cater for various classes of functions ranging from conferences, seminars, training sessions, on boarding processes or town halls characterized by differing magnitudes or complexities.
These are critical tools in high touch industries where personal people-to-people interactions are vital for customer engagement. These companies are able reach out globally while collecting useful attendee information about their customers through immersive experiences fostering meaningful interactions during events. The success of an event can largely depend on which platform is used.
Choosing the Most Suitable Virtual Event Platform
But let’s know first what “best” is for you. The best platform should ensure that your needs are met and that it actually focusses on the requirements of your audience to help in achieving event goals. Below are some important things to consider:
Audience Needs and Event Type
Think about what type of virtual event you are planning and what the goals you want to achieve. For instance, for a medical conference, participants may expect:
- A calendar meeting request;
- Pre-event questionnaires;
- Customized invitations for individual events.
On the other hand, when someone attends a partner conference they may prefer:
- A specific site
- An agenda builder
- Links to pre-event resources
- Multiple reminders leading up to the day of the summit.
Critical Features
Some features are essential for any event type, while others depend on the specific purpose. Consider these functions when comparing virtual event platforms:
- Identification marks,
- Enrollment,
- Timetable tools,
- Individualization,
- Live and recorded streaming capabilities,
- One or two-way video,
- Prompting tools,
- Networking and team development,
- Online stands as well as lobbies.
Steps in Selecting a Platform
To select an ideal virtual event platform, here’s what should be done:
- Understand Your Needs: Define objectives and aims of your happening;
2. Platform Features Review: What attributes does it have?
3. User Experience Consideration: Let organisers and their guests have a smooth ride;
4. Evaluate Scalability: Is this able to accommodate its size?
5. Check Compatibility: Support all browsers used on various devices;
6. Analytics Look Up: This is nothing but comprehensive data tracking plus analytics ;
7. Review Security Measures: Remember confidentially and data security;
8. Assess Customer Support: It means effective customer service together with technical support?
9. Consider Pricing: Price value against features.
Top 10 Virtual Event Platforms for 2024
- SpotMe
SpotMe has been a leader in the event tech space since 2001 and was honored as a Leader in the Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report. It is an easy-to-use enterprise events platform meant for virtual, hybrid or onsite events. The suite includes interactive activity feeds, networking functionality, chatbots, live chat, Q&A sessions etc.
The fully customizable nature of its platform allows it to integrate well with CRM systems and MAPs hence tracking multiple virtual event metrics. SpotMe is designed for high-touch industries such as life sciences, pharmaceuticals and professional services that want to create branded personalized experiences.
Cluster: Virtual event platform
Best for: Enterprise events both internal and external mainly in high-touch sectors.
Reviews:
- G2 Score: 4.7 (162 reviews)
- Capterra Score: 4.5 (14 reviews)
2. vFairs
vFairs has been offering virtual career fairs and trade shows since pioneering them in 2008. It features e-commerce or in-event buying experiences with 3D models of the events showing off trade show booths.Attendees can book meetings with employers at virtual booths. With the API accessible within this platform, you will be able to merge it into your existing technology stack while there are also service providers that would help you create your virtual event’s experience in three dimensions.
Cluster: Virtual event platform
Best for: External users at virtual career fairs and virtual trade shows.
Reviews:
G2 Score: 4.7 (1,591 reviews)
Capterra Score: 4.8 (515 reviews)
Notified
Notified since major industry inception in 2004 is focused on webinar-style events that include production of exhibit booths available in three-dimensional formats(Virtual Edge Institute). Widgets for polls, Q&A and even games are included along with promotion using YouTube, Facebook, and Roku TV.
Cluster: Virtual event platform
Best for: External and internal users attending webinars, virtual training, and virtual trade shows.
Reviews:
G2 Score: 4.4 (37 reviews)
Capterra Score: 4.5 (6 reviews)
Accelevents
Since 2014, Accelevents have been a virtual convention platform that mixes engagement with ticket sales and monitors event success. It offers conference registration and attendee agenda management. Integrations are mainly through Zapier but it also offers direct integrations with Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel for tracking event promotion.
Cluster: Virtual conference platform
Best for: External users who require online payment systems since they hold virtual summits and user conferences.
Reviews:
G2 Score: 4.8 (101 reviews)
Capterra Score: 4.8 (148 reviews)
Livestorm
Since 2016, Livestorm is a comprehensive tool for managing video engagements from start to finish. It includes features like landing pages, registration, email follow ups; as well as engagement tools like polls, Q&A; emojis & sharing files bringing about a good experience to both the organizers and participants.
Cluster: Virtual conference platform
Best for: Outbound or inbound conferences that need to be simple.
Reviews:
G2 Score: 4.4 (1,398 reviews)
Capterra Score: 4.7 (391 reviews)
Webex Events (formerly Socio)
Webex Events previously known as Socio is an end-to-end virtual conference platform that delivers effective registration and ticketing solutions. They have mobile application for its virtual meeting platform alongside driving event ROI via dynamic ticket sales mechanism, multiple sponsor tools & customized post-event outreach activities.
Cluster: Virtual conference platform
Best for: External and internal multi-track conferences, trade shows, or networking events.
Reviews:
G2 Score: 4.7 (566 reviews)
Capterra Score: 4.8 (208 reviews)
ON24
Since 1998, ON24 has been a specialist in webinars and on-demand lead-generating content that comes with powerful webinars analytics about attendant behaviors. It seamlessly integrates with CRM and marketing automation solutions and provides an API, making it perfect for lead generation and user conferences.
Cluster: Webinar
Best for: Lead generation and user conferences.
Reviews:
G2 Score: 4.3 (1,084 reviews)
Capterra Score: 4.4 (219 reviews)
Zoom Video Webinars
Zoom Video Webinars is one of the well-known platforms since 2011 offering strong options for hosting webinars such as breakout sessions .It also includes basic registration capabilities and integrates with CRM and marketing automation solutions but, users need to install software to use it.
Cluster: Webinar
Best for: External and internal webinars and team meetings.
Reviews:
G2 Score: 4.5 (304 reviews)
Capterra Score: 4.7 (5,904 reviews)
GoToWebinar
GoToWebinar has been an easy-to-use webinar solution since 2004 that focuses on simplicity for hosts and attendees. This include tools to promote branding of webinars as well as integrations with apps like Salesforce Slack Outlook HubSpot making it ideal for simple educational webinars .
Cluster: Webinar
Best for: Simple educational webinars that don’t require a lot of engagement.
Reviews:
G2 Score: 4.2 (789 reviews)
Capterra Score: 4.5 (2,056 reviews)
Adobe Connect
Rebranded as Adobe Connect in 2006, this tool mainly aims at enhancing teamwork with various options for collaboration, sharing and discussion. It has robust features to enhance collaboration through the use of powerful widgets and offers webinar delivery making it suitable for internal users looking for a bare-bones CMS.
Cluster: Internal meeting tool
Best for: Internal users who want a no-frills user experience with great whiteboard collaboration and live annotations.
Reviews:
G2 Score: 4.1 (624 reviews)
Capterra Score: 4.3 (629 reviews)
Conclusion
The choice of a virtual event platform can make or break your event’s success; every platform has its own peculiarities and strong points that make them appealing to different types of events and objectives. You are advised to make an informed decision based on your audience’s needs, essential features, steps to select a platform, etc., thus aligning it with the business goals you have set forth. In case you need a platform for extensive conferences or small webinars – here is an overview of the top virtual event platforms in 2024 that meet any requirements related to engagement during internal meetings.
