The phenomenon of virtual events has emerged as a distinguishing feature of the contemporary events ecology. This wouldn't have been possible without the help of a variety of cutting-edge technologies for virtual events. This article is a roundup and review of our top 10 recommendations for virtual event software currently available on the market in 2023. We include pricing, essential features, advantages, negatives, and much more.
Since the pandemic and enviable speed up of event technology it caused, virtual event platforms have become increasingly prevalent in the modern events industry arena.
You’d think it’s a direct response to a world that’s ever demanding for convenience. We say, it’s an awakening. Technology has not isolated us from opportunities to connect and add value. It’s only opened more doors to come together wherever we are in the world. Virtual events have become insanely ubiquitous in the past years that even those who haven’t already partaken in a virtual event expect to be doing so soon.
In early 2022, a survey showed that 37% of US consumers expect to attend an online work conference within the next five years, with 35% expecting to collaborate with others in a digital or hybrid environment. So if you haven’t adapted to it, it’s high time to reconsider moving forward.
But what are virtual events and how can they be a game-changer for your business?
What is a virtual event?
A virtual event is any gathering held online and it’s often through a conferencing platform or virtual event software.
It tries to mimic traditional events by providing spaces for communication and knowledge sharing. The only difference is that it doesn’t require travel and massive budgets.
With virtual event platforms democratising event planning with plug and play technology, anyone can now host webinars, conferences, and live shows. Even beginners can host events in a few clicks and reap the benefits that were once reserved for in-person affairs. Think, lead capture, community building, and brand awareness.
It’s only a question of whether your choice of virtual event platform sets you up for success.
What types of virtual event platforms are there?
There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to virtual events. It is anything you make of it, so long as you preserve the virtual element.
Some of the virtual events you may recognise are the following:
Virtual Conferencing
Conferences gather individuals of similar goals, interests, and industries in one room to exchange information through visual presentations and discussion hours.
Of all virtual events, conferences are the most versatile as they are scalable and relevant to many event goals.
You can add or take away features from a virtual conference such as networking rooms and live polling and its purpose still stands. It’s only a matter of enhancing attendees’ experience or keeping costs to a minimum by sticking to the bare bones of the event. Your call.
Admin controls are also flexible in conferences. Depending on your goal, you can share the spotlight with several presenters and encourage viewers to share their thoughts forum-style by leaving microphones open. There is equal opportunity for everyone to contribute but only if you allow it.
Characteristics of a virtual conference:
Scalable
High admin control
Industry-agnostic
Modular
Simple
Broadcast
Broadcast events are less involved than conferencing.
As the name suggests, the experience is similar to watching television or a livestream. Viewers and attendees are passive contributors whose roles are limited to answering questions, reacting, and voting. The spotlight is reserved for speakers and guests.
What makes broadcast events beautiful is that it’s the easiest to put-together, making it the perfect format to adopt if you’re operating on a tight deadline. You only have the video production to fuss about while the rest is cared for by your virtual event platform.
Characteristics of a broadcast event:
Straightforward
Cost-effective
Less engaging
Virtual Workshops
Workshops focus on skill-development, so it’s no surprise that it welcomes a limited number of attendees at a time.
Because of the low head count, its event format is simple. Participants gather in a plenary and interact with the speaker in the same way you would in a classroom setting. Should there be a one-on-one segment to the event, it’s accommodated in breakout rooms.
Access to workshops are often sold at a premium so expect it to be a little more high-touch than other types of virtual events. A downside to it is the duration, so prepare to bond with your screen for hours.
Characteristics of a virtual workshop:
High engagement
Does not require back-end/developer support
Can be organised with minimal effort and virtual event tools
Virtual Networking
Networking events are interesting as they can be an add-on or an event in itself.
Its goal is to bring attendees together and foster meaningful connections, so you can imagine it adopting a more granular format. Meaning–more private rooms, discussion boards, and roundtables are used.
Because of this, networking events benefit the most from immersive 2D and 3D environments where participants can visualise designated networking spaces.
Characteristics of a virtual networking event:
Prefaced by matching attendees with similar interests
The cost of virtual events depends on its scale, complexity, and attendee count.
As illustrated above, different event types need different iterations of the virtual environment. Some require a simple livestream while others want the whole nine yards including networking rooms, live polls, and simultaneous sessions.
If you want a definite number, you can take it from Wonder who suggests that a single-day conference with less than 500 attendees can cost anywhere between $2,500 to $10,000. This primarily accounts for video production support and marketing.
At this rate, your virtual event platform is likely free but it comes with a caveat. You have to work within the limits of the platform.
If you’re looking for more flexibility, you can trust on Eventcube to deliver with stackable virtual event features, add-ons, and production services that best serve your goals; all for as little as £1.25 per attendee.
Virtual event vs Hybrid event platform - which should you choose?
While virtual events are completely remote, hybrid events make the most out of digital and physical spaces. It’s easy to recognise through its attempt to marry on-the-go content access and in-person activities.
Hybrid events have many flavours.
Sometimes, it’s one event delivered simultaneously to a live and virtual audience. Other times, it’s an in-person event with accessible on-demand videos that attendees can watch in their own time. It’s a spectrum and you have full control over how much virtual or physical you want to inject into your event.
The bigger question now becomes: “Which is better? Virtual or hybrid events?”
Whether you should choose hybrid events over virtual events depends on your objective.
Is it to welcome a global audience? Cut costs? Prolong content shelf-life?
Hybrid undoubtedly trumps virtual events in reach as it covers more ground, literally. However, it will be more costly with venue fees, audio-visual equipment, and onsite labour added to the mix.
Best to assess your budget and goals before committing to an event format.
What features do virtual event platforms offer?
Many virtual event platforms are becoming increasingly sophisticated, offering various features and tools such as:
virtual booths
meeting spaces
gamification
polling
networking spaces
workshopping zones
They’ll even make the coffee if you ask nicely.
Ok, I made that last bit up. But you get the idea?
The key elements to look for in a virtual event platform
Scalability
Ease of use
Ticketing options
Pricing and affordable ticketing fees
Most importantly, opt for a software with great customisation options so you can tailor your event to your brand as well as expand the platform’s capabilities with robust app integration.
If you haven’t committed to a virtual event platform yet, here are the best ones in the market today:
This easy-to-use and fully customisable platform comes with a range of powerful tools that ensure that your event runs smoothly from end to end. Eventcube aims for an outstanding experience for all attendees at every touchpoint, even going so far as developing its own email builder for branded ticket confirmation emails where you can upsell any available virtual event in your store.
+ Built-in ticketing platform for a seamless end-to-end event experience + White labelling capabilities for creating bespoke, branded virtual holding areas, broadcast pages, networking rooms, and ticketing stores + HD video networking rooms that support up to 200 attendees + Option to request for production support from Eventcube’s in-house video engineers and designers
+ Has an event landing page builder with pre-built themes + Comes with a speaker dashboard for easier collaboration + Ability to manage different talks in one place + Offers event promotions to help you get the word out
Cons
- High transaction fees even with a monthly subscription
Integrations
StreamYard, Zoom, Google Meet, Twitch, Spatial Chat, Webex
Price*: Starts at $14.99/month Free plan: Available Support: Email, phone, & live chat
Best for
Corporate meetings, team huddles, presentations
Pros
+ Has a diverse product suite that caters to any and all types of events + Easy to use and navigate + Familiar to a wider age group across different industries + Versatile
Cons
- Could get pricey for large events with high attendee volume
Integrations
Hubspot, Calendly, Microsoft Teams, Screenloop, Zapier, etc.
Price*: Starts at $15/month Free plan: None Support: Live chat & email
Best for
Discussion groups, brainstorming sessions, interactive workshops, group coaching calls with one-on-one hour
Pros
+ Immersive and interactive + Allows you to set up virtual environments where attendees can hop from one discussion table to another + Has simultaneous screen share options
Cons
- Custom tables can only room 2 to 16 participants - Remo Zoom app operates within Zoom’s limitations
Price*: On quotation Free plan: None Support: Email
Best for
Fairs, trade shows, exhibits, expo, business events
Pros
+ Provides an interactive 3D virtual venue that can be modelled after a real venue + Comes with gamification features (e.g., trivias, challenges, and hunts) + Has a mobile app you can use for check-in and as a directory for networking events + Supports different presentation formats (live, pre-recorded, semi-live)
Cons
- May need more back-end support and hand-holding throughout the event building process
Price*: Starts at $500/event or $125/month (billed annually) for unlimited events Free plan: None Support: Email & phone
Best for
Conferences, career fairs, product launches, virtual expo, auctions
Pros
+ Designed with audience interaction and engagement in mind + Interactive live polling and Q&A features + Supports simultaneous live stream and in-person sessions
Cons
- Having all the bells and whistles may mean more features to familiarise
Integrations
Hubspot, Saleforce, Marketo, MailChimp, Slack, etc.
+ Built-in ticketing and extended badge design features for easier event access + Mobile app with live polling and leaderboards + Comprehensive reports page that tracks video views, clicks, replays, etc. + Customisable event page
Cons
- Specialises in turning webinars into lead-generation machineries; not much is said about immersive virtual events
Integrations
Hubspot, Saleforce, Marketo, MailChimp, Slack, etc.
Price*: On quotation Free plan: Available Support: Live chat & email
Best for
Enterprise-level events
Pros
+ All-in-one, heavy-duty event management platform with ticketing, streaming, and marketing product extensions + Supports up to 100,000 viewers + Supports unlimited concurrent live sessions + Has its own content areas and storage system for on-demand videos
Cons
- Steep learning curve
Integrations
MailChimp, Interprefy, Kahoot, Salesforce, Hubspot, Slido, Snapbar, etc.
Price*: On quotation Free plan: None Support: Live chat, phone & email
Best for
Classes, consultations, conferences
Pros
+ Fully branded registration and ticketing features + Mobile app for on-the-go event content access and contact check-in + Built-in networking wall/feed + Allows you to overlay yourself on top of your presentation like it’s your personal green screen
Cons
- Its strength lies in messaging and meetings rather than immersive virtual experiences
Integrations
Microsoft Teams, Miro, Notion, Calendly, Slack, Invision, etc.
+ Customisable virtual venue that match your brand and in-person stage + Offers a network of vendors who can help you realise the hybrid event of your dreams + Real-time analytics that inform how to stay connected with your audience post-event + Full control over the layout and scheme of video presentations + AI-powered attendee matchmaking for more meaningful networking activity
Cons
- Lowest tier (Webinar) only allows up to 2 hours per meeting (compare: Zoom Pro’s 30-hour bandwidth)
Integrations
Hubspot, Slack, Salesforce, MailChimp, CVent, Kahoot, Miro, Snapbar, etc.