Virtual events and virtual conferences are expected to reach a $30+ billion value by 2027. With a slight dip after the pandemic (not a surprise), virtual conferences and events have still become mainstays in many industries.
If you're on the hunt for a digital space for a virtual event, we've rounded up the 9 best virtual conference platforms.
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What Makes a Great Virtual Conference Platform?
When considering which technology to host a virtual conference with, there are three questions that are helpful as you plan:
Does it replicate in-person conference features? Obviously, hosting a virtual conference can try to replicate an in-person conference. This could be similar schedules, “main stage” speakers and sessions, the option of “breakout” or small group interactive sessions, and the concept of attendees, or trade booths.
Does the platform have a good track record? There are unlimited virtual-type platforms, from Zoom to Facebook. And the number of platforms makes it hard to choose one. So it's important to look for a track record of hosting events like the one you envision.
Does the platform let you do more? A great virtual conference DOES NOT just replicate live events. After all, as we've learned from the early adopters of virtual conferences, a virtual conference is actually a unique value proposition. It turns out that virtual connections and conferences allow for a better experience and deeper relationships for attendees, and therefore significantly more value, over time.
Here's what else we considered:
- Does this platform let a conference organizer structure ways for relevant people to meet each other?
- Can attendees see other members near them, members like them, or members who care about the same topics?
- Can this platform keep people connected before, during, and after the conference?
- Does this platform allow for long-term collaboration beyond the event itself?
- Does the platform eliminate "tech debt" so you can do everything in one place (no mixing and matching software)?
- Does the platform manage both the organization and the revenue collection (if applicable)?
After whittling down the list of established and emerging virtual conference platforms even further, what emerged were these finalists for the best virtual conference platform.
The 9 best virtual conference platforms
1. Mighty Networks
The Best Virtual Conference Platform to Build a Conference and Community
Mighty Networks is a virtual event and community platform that lets you bring content, community, courses, and commerce to your conference.
And Mighty's flexible Spaces mix in live streaming, events, messaging, discussions, Q&As, and more -- all the features you need for a great virtual conference. And it's instantly available on every device–web, iPhone, iPad, and Android.
With a Mighty Network, you can connect attendees to each other before, during, and after your online events in unique ways not possible elsewhere.
That means you can use a Mighty Network not just to deliver a virtual conference, but to bundle your event(s) into an extremely valuable set of broader benefits of membership.
Features
- Built-in native live streaming (branded if using Mighty Pro) with multispeaker and synchronous chat.
- Dynamic smart member profiles with AI features to help find friends and start conversations
- Interactive discussion forums with messaging, chat, and content options
- Spaces with their own features (that can be toggled) to build break-out rooms, subgroups, special-interest conversations, unique conference Spaces, and more
- Course and media Spaces; Host conference recordings (or charge for them); Build online courses or charge for live teaching sessions.
- Customizeable branding or total white-labeling with Mighty Pro.
- Payment processing and plan creation & bundling; Charge in 135 currencies.
- Polls and questions
- App notifications and email updates, plus a built-in ConvertKit integration.
- Available on web or native apps.
For your own conference app under your brand, book a call with us.
2. Accelevents
The Best Virtual Conference Platform for the Basics
Accelevents is a virtual event platform for virtual, hybrid, and in-person events. It’s an affordable-ish solution aimed at companies that are mid-sized and bigger, but it’s missing one big thing: a mobile app.
Pros of Accelevents:
- It’s affordable. Kind of. A lot of virtual conference platforms charge fees in the tens of thousands. Comparatively, Accelevents is affordable-ish, charging $500 per day of your virtual event. Still, there are plenty of other, more affordable, more robust options.
- Accelevents has a handful of super useful features. With a few robust features—from real-time chat and live streaming to virtual exhibitor booths—Accelevent makes a good home for virtual events like auctions.
Cons of Accelevents:
- There’s no mobile app. Accelevents’ biggest miss is that it just doesn’t have a mobile app. In 2022, that feels like a hugely missed opportunity for continued connection.
- There’s no way for attendees to maintain connections once the event is over. Accelevents boasts about its ability to build relationships among attendees with fancy things like A.I. based matching. But there’s no way for those attendees to maintain those connections once the event is over.
3. Aventri
The Best Virtual Conference Platform for Super Complicated Virtual Events
Aventri powers virtual, hybrid, and in-person events. Overall, they offer some key virtual conference features, but users often report inconsistencies in Aventri’s software.
Pros of Aventri:
- It’s one of the few virtual conference platforms that covers all of the bases. With Aventri, you’ll get some light tools to manage your event—from email marketing to attendee surveys—plus access to a website builder and a mobile app. It’s especially suited for super complex events.
Cons of Aventri:
- Aventri can get pricey. Aventri was made very much with big companies in mind. And when it comes to pricing, it shows. Rates are based on a subscription, the most basic of which starts at $3,000 a year.
- And it’s not exactly user-friendly. From our research, it looks like a lot of users find Aventri to be challenging to customize, especially for people without a highly techy background. Meaning, there is very much a learning curve when it comes to acclimating to Aventri’s tools.
4. Bevy
The Best Virtual Conference Platform for Big Corporations
Bevy is a platform that focuses on both in-person and virtual events, but it has only recently shifted its focus to the latter. Bevy has upped its digital event management capabilities and is now helping big brands plan, promote and execute virtual conferences.
Pros of Bevy:
- Bevy has recently revised its features to make its events more digital-friendly. The virtual conference platform has added a few new tools to help brands create successful events, from premium analytics to custom forms.
Cons of Bevy:
- Bevy offers limited capabilities for connections. The majority of Bevy’s community building is based on emails, surveys, and in-event networking, the latter of which is only possible via Zoom. So not only do attendees miss out on connecting before and after the conference, but the way they’re able to connect during the conference is limited.
- Bevy is expensive. Bevy was created with big brands in mind, and its pricing reflects that: of their three tiers, their most basic option starts at $25,000 per event. Plus, pricing information isn’t easily available. Interested members have to schedule a demo before they can get a custom quote.
5. CVent
The Best Virtual Conference Platform for a Hybrid Event with Just the Fundamentals
CVent is a virtual conference platform that lets users create hybrid and—more recently—virtual events. It has some decent potential, but many organizers say that it’s difficult to learn and its features aren’t intuitive.
Pros of CVent:
- CVent has a few of the essentials. With CVent’s Virtual Event Hub, creators can build a website for their event where attendees can register and pay for their tickets. You’ll get a few necessities: minimal event data, the ability to create interactive, personalized content, and a one-on-one feature. But for anything more robust, you’re likely better looking elsewhere.
Cons of CVENT:
- But it’s also missing tons of features. That being said, CVent doesn’t offer much in the way of flexibility. You won’t get any customizable branding, real-time chat, or access to analytics. You’ll also be missing out in terms of video: don’t expect the capabilities for live streaming, recording, or playback.
- CVent isn’t intuitive either. Past users say that CVent is hard to learn, glitchy, and unintuitive. For most people, that will be a dealbreaker: Virtual conference platforms are supposed to make your job easier, not harder.
6. Convene
The Best Virtual Conference Platform for Splurging on a One-Off Virtual Event
Convene started out as a fancy place that helped creators choose in-person venues for meetings, events, and conferences. Since the pandemic, the company has expanded to hosting virtual events. Since they’re pretty new to the virtual events game, it’s too early to tell exactly how much they deliver what they say they will.
Pros of Convene
- Convene offers aesthetically pleasing, hands-off virtual conference solutions. Hosts will get all the standard virtual conference features, from live polling and questionnaires to breakout rooms and one-on-one chats.
Cons of Convene:
- There just aren’t enough reviews. Because there aren’t a ton of reviews of Convene’s virtual conference services, it’s hard to say whether it’s a platform worth investing in.
- All signs point to Convene being super pricey. Convene is full-service, and can be especially tempting if you’re hoping to not break a sweat, ever. You’ll get a dedicated producer and live operator for your event, plus a full tech rehearsal too. We can’t find a definitive set of pricing for their services, but with all of those extras, it’s certainly not cheap.
7. EventMobi
The Best Virtual Conference Platform to Run a Single Event
EventMobi is a new conference solution that can be used to host both live and virtual events. For live events, it gives you the tools like registration and check-in and a mobile event app. The virtual event features comes with streaming, analytics tools, some member management options, and sponsorship opportunities.
Pros of EventMobi:
- EventMobi hits the basics. EventMobi has a lot of good features to work with for a one-time event. It’s got sessions, panels, breakouts, and more. It’s thoughtful about making a conference work in-person and virtually, including adding networking, virtual happy hours and Q&As.
Cons of EventMobi:
- It's a one-time platform. EventMobi is probably best if you're looking for a one-time solution for your virtual event. It's missing the features to build event communities and memberships that last throughout the year. And, finally, the branding is quite corporate--a bit outdated.
8. ON24
The Best Virtual Conference Platform When You Want Webinars and Stability
ON24 is a “webinar” platform that lets big brands deliver live audio and video presentations typically used for sales and marketing pitches. It’s a well-established platform that serves large companies with a very solid, conventional approach to streaming one or two people talking to an anonymous audience.
Pros of ON24:
- Established “enterprise” solution that’s stable and proven for webinars. If you have a mission critical event where you’re willing to trade off interactivity and attendee networking for a one-way presentation that just works, ON24 is your best bet. It’s not fancy or creative, which means that people may not stick around for long, but it will work.
Cons of ON24:
- It doesn’t feel modern. This may be fine for a corporate event that requires mandatory attendance, but for something that you’re looking to market to people who have a choice of where to spend their time, ON24 feels sterile.
- It doesn’t support networking and member connections. While Mighty Networks shines in its ability to connect attendees and Run The World offers a few ways to connect people, there’s nothing available on this front from ON24.
- When it comes to pricing, ON24 adds up. Because ON24 serves large companies, it’s not cheap. Expect to spend anywhere between $10,000 and $25,000 for a single event and much more for anything beyond that.
9. VFairs
The Best Virtual Conference Platform for Mid-Level Businesses and Up
VFairs is a fairly robust virtual conference platform that allows large companies and universities to host online conferences, trade shows, and more. It’s definitely made with a huge business in mind, but it’s missing some must-haves, like a mobile app.
Pros of VFairs:
- If you’re in a supersized company, and you’re looking for a place to host a virtual conference, VFairs will probably be a good fit. It has every virtual event feature you could think of, from real-time video, audio, and text chat, to global networking capabilities.
Cons of VFairs:
- VFairs lacks a mobile app. VFairs supports mobile compliance, but doesn’t have a dedicated mobile app. Ultimately, that means there’s no way to offer a fully immersive, super reliable experience for attendees unless they’re chained to their desktop computer.
- Lacking when it comes to user-experience. Lots of users report that VFairs offers limited customization, integration is glitchy, technical issues are common, and its support team is slow to respond.
Conclusion
If you're ready to run a virtual conference that just WORKS, we hope these options have given you some ideas for the best places to host it.
And if you'd like to check out what type of virtual conference you could run on Mighty Networks, come check it out for free!
