Top Software for Event Management: Eventzilla and More

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People have an innate desire to gather at a specific place and time to achieve a common purpose. It is a character deeply imbued in human nature. As the COVID-19 pandemic (2019) shown; that even with a seemingly worldwide catastrophe preventing people from gathering, it will never stop this desire to. Hence, people took to digital platforms, otherwise known as video conferencing. For the event organisers, they worked to transform these physical events into virtual events.

Regardless, the well management of events is a complicated and tedious one. It requires vigilance, immaculate planning, and even better execution. We are lucky that in this digital age, there are some amazing software for exactly this reason. That said, we are going to have a deep look at some of these top event management software, including the popular Eventzilla, to understand what they do.

The world wide web is huge, and yet you had stumbled on my site looking for something. I hope you find it as we had taken huge efforts to create them. Best of all, its FREE! Hence, some of our content may include affiliate links (i.e. whenever you click on the links and purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra costs to you!). No worries! Some of these links may look like phishing, but I assure you they are not! Lastly, the affiliation does not affect my reviews towards them. Enjoy!

If you are an Event Management specialist, or a Marketing Professional that organizes events, or even you are a Venue/Destination Manager, you got to read this article. In no order of merit, here we go!

  1. EventCreate
  2. Eventee
  3. Eventzilla
  4. HeySummit
  5. Pxier
  6. Socio
  7. Splashthat
  8. Swapcard
  9. WildApricot
  10. Zoho Backstage

1. EventCreate

Eventzilla Alternative: EventCreate

Year Founded: 2016

Country: USA

Essentials

  • Max Attendee/Event: Above 2.5k Possible
  • Virtual Events: No (require integrations)
  • No-Code Web Builder: Yes
  • Online Registration & Ticketing: Yes
  • Email Invite, Confirmation & Reminders: Yes
  • Enable GDPR Compliance: No
  • Post-Event Survey: Yes
  • Reports & Analytics: Yes
  • Integrations: 100+ (excl Zapier)
  • Mobile App: For iOS only for Check-in

Buy Factor

  1. Affiliate Tracking – As event organisers ourselves, we know how affiliate marketing is so infrequently tapped upon. Yet, as much as 40% of US merchants cite affiliate marketing to be their top customer acquisition channel. With EventCreate, you can create unique trackable links for your affiliates. While they promote, you gain traffic. When the traffic converts, your affiliates gain a share and so do you!
  2. Zero Ticketing Fee – Unlike Eventzilla’s pricing model which is based on ticket fees, EventCreate charges based on subscription. That is, no ticketing fees, except for those for your payment gateways such as PayPal. Hence, how much your profit from the event is, won’t be eaten by unexpecting high participation.
  3. Level 1 PCI DSS Compliant – PCI stands for the Payment Cards Industry, and is the industry watchdog for payment cards. With EventCreate being a level 1 PCI DSS compliant, they had met the strictest standards in their implementation towards card payment security. If card security is your concern, EventCreate is your choice!

Pricing

  • Free Plan: Yes, with 1 active event at 100 pax/event
  • Paid Plans: fr US$ 4/mo for 1 active event up to 250pax/event
  • Free Trial: No
  • Specials: Discounts for nonprofits & students via email

2. Eventee

Eventzilla Alternative: Eventee

Year Founded: 2015

Country: USA

Essentials

  • Max Attendee/Event: Unlimited
  • Virtual Events: Yes
  • No-Code Web Builder: Yes
  • Online Registration & Ticketing: No (require integrations)
  • Email Invite, Confirmation & Reminders: No
  • Enable GDPR Compliance: No
  • Post-Event Survey: No
  • Reports & Analytics: Yes
  • Integrations: 3000+ via Zapier
  • Mobile App: Yes, for Attendees

Buy Factor

  1. Advanced Virtual Event Tools – Frankly speaking, Eventee leans its use more towards virtual events than physical ones. Its built-in virtual event tools such as online networking, live feedback, polls, newsfeed and many others power their web app to drive impactful events. Sign up for a free account or take a trial to see how good Eventee is!
  2. Sponsors & Partners Showcase – Sponsors and partners are part of any successful event! With Eventee, your created event pages include a section where you can showcase their brand, contacts and even a backlink to their page. The visibility goes a long way for their businesses. Most importantly, if you are acquiring sponsors and partners, a way to showcase them is a ‘must’!
  3. Unlimited Events & Attendees Possible – That is if you opt for the Enterprise plan! Nonetheless, is it really unlimited? The true limit remains to be tested. But one thing is for sure. That being on a subscription model unlike Eventzilla make this buy factor a huge one for those with huge event needs!

Pricing

  • Free Plan: Yes, for 1 event/yr up to 100 pax
  • Paid Plans: fr US$ 999/yr for 1event/yr up to 500 pax
  • Free Trial: 30-Days
  • Specials: Discounts for NGOs via email

3. Eventzilla

Year Founded: 2009

Country: USA

Essentials

  • Max Attendee/Event: Unlimited
  • Virtual Events: Yes
  • No-Code Web Builder: Yes
  • Online Registration & Ticketing: Yes
  • Email Invite, Confirmation & Reminders: Yes
  • Enable GDPR Compliance: No
  • Post-Event Survey: Yes
  • Reports & Analytics: Yes
  • Integrations: 1000+ via Zapier
  • Mobile App: Yes, for Attendees & Organisers

Buy Factor

  1. Ticket-Based Fees – As mentioned a couple times now, Eventzilla’s pricing is based off your event’s ticket fees. So, if your event is free to attend, you can use Eventzilla without incurring any charges at all! Otherwise, there is an option to pass on Eventzilla’s service fees to your attendees. Although this should be carefully considered.
  2. Abstract Management – Rejoice, conference and academic event organisers! If collecting abstracts, reviewing and publishing them have always been complicated, you now have a tool to use! Eventzilla allows you to create custom submission forms so that all your abstracts and any other information are collected in a standardised manner for ease of review and comments. Thereafter, you could decide to publish them and start accepting registrations, all without skipping a step in the process!
  3. Organisers’ App – Most event management software comes with its mobile app version. However, a dedicated app for the organisers to manage the event on-the-go? Not all! Eventzilla mobile app for organisers helps to track registrations, revenue, attendance, and more all in real-time! Moreover, users can also use the app to check-in attendees by scanning QR code during event day for smooth and flawless crowd management. You will enjoy it!

Pricing

  • Free Plan: Yes, for all free events!
  • Paid Plans: fr US$ 1.50 per registration
  • Free Trial: 7-Day
  • Specials: 25% off for nonprofits

4. HeySummit

Eventzilla Alternative: HeySummit

Year Founded: 2019

Country: UK

Essentials

  • Max Attendee/Event: Up to 5k
  • Virtual Events: Yes
  • No-Code Web Builder: Yes
  • Online Registration & Ticketing: Yes
  • Email Invite, Confirmation & Reminders: Yes
  • Enable GDPR Compliance: No
  • Post-Event Survey: Yes
  • Reports & Analytics: Yes
  • Integrations: 40+ (excl Zapier)
  • Mobile App: No

Buy Factor

  1. Affiliate Program – Similar to EventCreate, HeySummit comes with tools to create your own affiliate program for your participants to refer another! Successful referral earns them an incentive, in addition to, a great way to encourage word-of-mouth! A useful feature that even popular platforms like Eventzilla do not have. 
  2. Speaker Directory – Over 1,000 speakers across sectors ready to speak at your event! Find them using HeySummit’s speaker directory and contact them via the pop-up form.
  3. Unlimited Team Members – It’s a luxury to have lots of hands on-deck! If you find yourself in this situation, have no worries that all of them can be registered as team members to use your HeySummit subscription. Nonetheless, for confidentiality and sensitivity of your attendees’ data, do so carefully.

Pricing

  • Free Plan: No
  • Paid Plans: fr US$ 25/mo for unlimited events up to 250 registrations
  • Free Trial: 14-Day

5. Pxier

Eventzilla Alternative: Pxier

Year Founded: 2008

Country: Canada

Essentials

  • Max Attendee/Event: N.A
  • Virtual Events: No
  • No-Code Web Builder: No
  • Online Registration & Ticketing: Yes
  • Email Invite, Confirmation & Reminders: Yes
  • Enable GDPR Compliance: No
  • Post-Event Survey: Yes
  • Reports & Analytics: Yes
  • Integrations: Limited
  • Mobile App: No

Buy Factor

  1. Venue Booking & Management – Pxier isn’t the usual alternative to Eventzilla or others in this list. That is, while most are built for event organisers, Pxier is built for venue managers. It has tools for venue information, layout management, contract sending and so forth. In that sense, you could be selling venues to event organisers (with the package of catering for their attendees), or directly to event attendees (i.e., you as event organiser). By the way, you can integrate your venue’s digital signage system with Pxier too! So, check it out if this all sounds good to you!
  2. Catering & Inventory Management – Create your own catering packages and manage any event inventory with Pxier. The result is seamless, efficient and effective execution before, during and after the event!
  3. Listing in Classified – What more? With Pxier, you get free public promotion for your venues too! As long as you make your venues available for registration online, Pxier automatically lists them in local online classifieds for you!

Pricing

  • Free Plan: No
  • Paid Plans: fr US$ 45/mo for 1 hall
  • Free Trial: 30-Day

6. Socio

Eventzilla Alternative: Socio

Year Founded: 2016

Country: USA

Essentials

  • Max Attendee/Event: Custom
  • Virtual Events: Yes
  • No-Code Web Builder: Yes
  • Online Registration & Ticketing: Yes
  • Email Invite, Confirmation & Reminders: Confirmation Only
  • Enable GDPR Compliance: Yes
  • Post-Event Survey: No, although there is ratings & reviews
  • Reports & Analytics: Yes
  • Integrations: 12+
  • Mobile App: Yes, for Attendees & Organisers

Buy Factor

  1. On-Site Check-In – Successful events start with checking in. With Socio, you can use the app to scan your attendee’s QR code for fast seamless check-in. Above all, the records will all be updated in real-time into the system for easy retrieve and export. Additionally, you have the option to rent badge printing hardware too. That is, as long as you choose Socio!
  2. Community Building – See, events are a great way for communities to congregate for a common cause. So, why not tap on this potential and organise events that have attendees coming back because they feel connected? With Socio, attendees can use the networking wall to discuss about anything, chat directly with other attendees, or even the Q&A function to engage with speakers directly! In simple term, this is engagement, and engagement builds you long-term event sustainability. Go figure with Socio!
  3. Sponsors & Exhibitors – Socio triumphs here as an Eventzilla alternative with its advanced sponsorship and exhibition tools. Use the various tools to showcase your sponsors and exhibitors, create networking rooms, and connect them directly to attendees. If you are having sponsors and exhibitors at anything from 5, you will need these tools, and Socio has it!

Pricing

  • Free Plan: No
  • Paid Plans: Custom
  • Free Trial: No
  • Specials: Discounts for nonprofits

7. Splashthat

Eventzilla Alternative: Splash

Year Founded: 2011

Country: USA

Essentials

  • Max Attendee/Event: Unknown
  • Virtual Events: Yes
  • No-Code Web Builder: Yes
  • Online Registration & Ticketing: Yes
  • Email Invite, Confirmation & Reminders: Yes
  • Enable GDPR Compliance: Yes
  • Post-Event Survey: Yes
  • Reports & Analytics: Yes
  • Integrations: 12+ (excl Zapier)
  • Mobile App: Yes, for Attendees & Organisers

Buy Factor

  1. Brand Virtual Events – Splash have shown themselves to be a superb platform for virtual events. Their ’Studio’ tool blends branding with pleasant, professional virtual event experience! Besides the main streaming screen, attendees can engage using the various functionalities in Studio such as Q&A, polls, chat and more. The outcome is a rewarding session met by enriching streams, deep engagements and effective networking. Top off your brand visibility, and your attendees will remember your event for life!
  2. Template-Based Design – We mentioned event experience before, and what better than to create them easily with event pages templates? Choose from various categories including launch event, exhibits, virtual, hybrid and more all within the template library.
  3. Flawless Check-In – Similar to Eventzilla and Socio, you can use the mobile app for attendee check-in via QR code on-site. Moreover, Splash have a ‘Kiosk’ mode for attendee self-service check-in which will help save manpower and greatly improve operations. That is, attendees can check-in anytime on their own, and even multiple times, as required sometimes for regulated attendance tracking.

Pricing

  • Free Plan: Yes, basic features
  • Paid Plans: fr US$ 12.5k/yr
  • Free Trial: No

8. Swapcard

Eventzilla Alternative: Swapcard

Year Founded: 2013

Country: France

Essentials

  • Max Attendee/Event: Unlimited Available
  • Virtual Events: Yes
  • No-Code Web Builder: Yes
  • Online Registration & Ticketing: Yes
  • Email Invite, Confirmation & Reminders: Yes
  • Enable GDPR Compliance: Yes
  • Post-Event Survey: No (require integration)
  • Reports & Analytics: Yes
  • Integrations: 25+ (excl Zapier)
  • Mobile App: Yes, for Attendees

Buy Factor

  1. Unlimited Events – With just any plan, including a free one, you get no event cap! That’s a good way to encourage usage, although you wouldn’t get advanced features. Nonetheless, if you are the corporate in-house organiser, and organisng huge number of events, Swapcard is your choice! Based off personal experience, corporate in-house organiser can organise from anywhere 800 to 1,000 events a year!
  2. AI-Powered – The only event software in our list that is artificial intelligence powered! The AI in Swapcard recommend attendees to target for your event, suggest them sessions to attend, as well as, exhibitors and other attendees to network with. No technology is perfect in any sense, but it’s a welcome technology that acts as an extended arm to perfecting the event experience you endeavour to create.
  3. Advanced Exhibition Tools – Unlike Eventzilla, Swapcard works best for exhibitions, or otherwise called trade shows. Their advanced exhibition tools such as buyer matchmaking, exhibitor marketplace, smart lead capture and others are developed to cater to industry demands and drive greater exhibitor ROI. Definitely ‘must’ check out and know more if you are the exhibition organisers!

Pricing

  • Free Plan: Yes, for 500 attendees/yr
  • Paid Plans: fr US$ 588/mo
  • Free Trial: No
  • Specials: Eligible nonprofits enjoy discounts of 10% or 15%

9. WildApricot

Eventzilla Alternative: WildApricot

Year Founded: 2001

Country: Canada

Essentials

  • Max Attendee/Event: Up to 50k
  • Virtual Events: No
  • No-Code Web Builder: Yes
  • Online Registration & Ticketing: Yes
  • Email Invite, Confirmation & Reminders: Yes
  • Enable GDPR Compliance: Yes
  • Post-Event Survey: Yes
  • Reports & Analytics: Yes
  • Integrations: 950+ with Integromat
  • Mobile App: Yes, for Attendees & Organisers

Buy Factor

  1. Full-Fledged Membership Management – This Eventzilla alternative is for the organiser with their own membership database. That is, perfect for the associations and non-profits! With WildApricot, users can use the software for membership application, automate renewals, create members-only pages and more! It’s a well-developed platform for managing everything membership related that may include paid public events, sending email newsletters, payment, online store and so forth. Actually, WildApricot is pretty amazing if you are needing an online system including a website. In any case, we have recommendations if you are looking for no-code website builders, or WordPress builders.
  2. Sell Physical & Digital Goods – As previously mentioned, you can operate an online store from WildApricot directly too! The tools are rather complete. That is, you get to list your products in a catalogue, set up payment including taxes and shipping, automatic invoicing, and receipts.
  3. Send Unlimited Emails – The pricing plans for WildApricot doesn’t cap by the number of emails sent. But the number of contacts you can have. Hence, you can set up your membership newsletters, auto renewal reminders, and even drip email campaigns without any issues to your members as long as they are in your contact list. Nonetheless, be careful not to spam your members with too many emails any time!

Pricing

  • Free Plan: Yes, for 50 contacts
  • Paid Plans: fr US$ 40.80/mo for 100 contacts
  • Free Trial: 30-Day

10. Zoho Backstage

Eventzilla Alternative: Zoho Backstage

Year Founded: 1996

Country: India

Essentials

  • Max Attendee/Event: Up to 10k or Custom
  • Virtual Events: Yes
  • No-Code Web Builder: Yes
  • Online Registration & Ticketing: Yes
  • Email Invite, Confirmation & Reminders: Yes
  • Enable GDPR Compliance: Yes
  • Post-Event Survey: No
  • Reports & Analytics: Yes
  • Integrations: Limited
  • Mobile App: Yes, for Attendees & Organisers

Buy Factor

  1. Pay By Event Available – Zoho knows how bigger events may have more requirements that could be assisted by using an event management software. Thus, Zoho Backstage comes with 2 methods of subscription; either a monthly/yearly or per event basis. There might be more value with any one subscription, as long as it meets your requirements. So, understand what you want and manage your budget!
  2. Unlimited Events & Attendees – As long as you hold a monthly subscription plan, you do not need to worry about any event or attendee limits. In fact, we believe the attendee limits per event to be 10,000. Thus, easily meeting most requirements except trade shows.
  3. Virtual Trade Shows – This feature isn’t exactly the same as what others in this list including Eventzilla may offer. With Zoho Backstage, users can create virtual trade shows, which is an event type that is gaining popularity nowadays. Organisers can set up virtual booths, sponsor-only rooms, webcasting and more, all within the platform itself! Well, true that most people still prefer physical shows. But if you haven’t done any virtual trade show before, you are missing out professionally. Likewise, your organisation could be seem as lagging behind.

Pricing

  • Free Plan: Yes, for unlimited events & attendees
  • Paid Plans: fr US$ 99/mo for advanced features
  • Free Trial: 15-Day

Our Advice

As you might noticed, all event management software in our list are quite different with unique features and pricing. Most importantly when choosing one for your usage, ensure their features meet your requirements. Then, register a free plan or take a free trial. If the software is useful, spending one for a major event that costs somewhere the expenses for one manpower would be worth it. Because often than not, these software not only provide you the ‘manpower’, but they add to the whole event experiences as well, both for the organisers and attendees.

In conclusion, we are pleased to review and present some of these top event management platforms including the popular Eventzilla and others. We’d love to hear what you have to say about them. Till then.

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