What is Event Management Software?
Event management software contains a wide range of software products that are used to manage professional and academic conferences, conventions, trade shows, music festivals and can even be used for smaller events.
Using event management software can help organize and simplify the planning and execution of these events by eliminating the need for the use of multiple softwares to handle individual parts of the event. By using an event management software, you can streamline the planning and logistics of your event and create a seamless experience for your attendees.
Event management software often provides a digital environment that allows for seamless communication and organization for attendees, exhibitors and vendors. Many event management software tools will include self-serve functionality that allow attendees and organizers the ability to have online registration, delivery of information, ticket payment and communication.
What Makes the best Event Management Software for 2021?
There are a number of great event management tools available that offer a variety of different features. We took a look at each platform and summarized what we feel are the most important features offered by each event management software solution.
Large events and conferences have changed quite a bit over the past year and some of those new changes will likely carry over to 2021. This means that virtual and hybrid event support are a must for event management software in 2021.
Some other key features that we looked at are web and mobile app availability, scheduling, floorplans, registration process, customization for a more tailored event experience, how vendors, speakers and exhibitors are managed within the software and reporting functionality.
(1) Sched
Build, customize, and manage your event schedule in one organized place. Distribute it to attendees, speakers, and performers via Sched’s web and native apps, or embed it directly on your own website. This feature-rich platform includes everything you need to make your event a success.
- Publish your event on web and mobile
- Manage attendance and run check-in
- Eventbrite integration
- Simple content management
- Branded mobile apps
- Personalized attendee experience
- Insightful attendance management
- Speaker managed profiles
- Deep dive reports and insights
(2) Cvent
Whether you are organizing an in-person event or virtual, have your event spark engagement from your attendees. With Cvent, you can find out more about your attendees and the things that they like. Get meaningful insights that help your measure event interests.
- Virtual events
- Efficient check-in and badging
- Mobile event apps
- Lead capture for vendors
- Track attendance and actions
(3) Bizzabo
The Bizzabo platform gives you tools to create rewarding events, while showing insights to grow your event bigger and better than you expected.
- An intuitive experience
- Effectively measure your return on events.
- Customizable experience across web, email, and mobile
- Virtual experience solution
- Account-level insights
(4) Eventbase
Eventbase helps reimagine digital and hybrid events and also includes a mobile app. Capture the attention of attendees and get recommendations on content your attendees will find interesting.
- Visually rich
- Chatbots and AI-powered recommendation engines
- Hyper-local beacon technology
- Easy registration
- Interactive engagement tools
(5) Aventri
Virtual, hybrid, & in-person events with a single platform. Aventri’s Event Management Technology enables brands around the world to improve the way they organize and execute events and meetings.
- Integrated virtual and hybrid events
- Onsite lead collection
- Access control
- Integration with 3rd party tools
- Regulate and manage attendee flow with attendee access
- Venue sourcing
- Website builder
(6) EventsXD
EventsXD offers a functional, and free, multi-event app. If your needs change, you can upgrade to premium features. Give your attendees a great experience, with a with EventsXD.
- Event tracks
- Floor plans & Maps
- Create default agendas
- Session filters for attendees
- Social integration
(7) Core-apps
Core-apps provides technology for the event industry and specializes in event apps designed to scale, innovate and remain cost effective. Core-apps has been around since 2009 and has provided technology for events around the world.
- Mobile app packages available
- Floor plan management
- session and user schedule building
- E-newsletters
- Vendor and attendee “matchmaking”
(8) Attendify
Event tech that’s easy to use. Built for hybrid, virtual or in-person events, Attendify prides themselves on being user-friendly and easy to configure and manage.
- Customizable registration experience
- Mobile event app
- Fully featured event guide
- Attendee interaction tracking
- Customizable reporting
(9) Eventzilla
Eventzilla helps take your previously manual processes and automate them. They do this by streamlining the most difficult parts of the event management process. In short, Event Management Software should make life easier for event attendees and organizers alike.
- Customizable event registrations pages
- Secure checkout experience
- Personalized email campaigns
- Multi-track event schedule builder
(10) Pheedloop
Organizing conferences, meetings, and trade shows is made easy with Pheedloop’s event management software. Pheedloop’s event management software includes apps, registration, and live streaming, to floor plans, sponsors, badges, and virtual networking.
- Virtual & Hybrid Events Ready
- Registration, Ticketing
- Event Website
- Mobile and Web Event App
- Speaker, Exhibitor, Sponsor Support
The Best Event Management Software for 2021 is…
Sched’s event management software is our favorite for 2021 for a few key reasons but one of the most important factors that make Sched the winner is it’s simplicity without giving up any features that are needed when trying to execute a large event. Sched allows you to set up your event for FREE before publishing it. This means that you and your team have as much time as you need to get things set up before showing it to the world.
Sched is highly customizable and makes for a great user experience for attendees, speakers, vendors and exhibitors alike.
Here are a few of our favorite features that helping bring Sched home the first place spot:
- Simple Content Management
- Branded Mobile Apps
- Personalized Attendee Experience
- Insightful Attendance Management
- Speaker-managed profiles
- Feature sponsors of event
- Data and feedback collection