Between managing schedules, coordinating speakers, and keeping attendees engaged, it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed.

With so many event planning tools out there, how do you choose? We’ve rounded up the top event planning platforms of 2025 to help you find the best fit for your needs.

What To Look For In Event Planning Software

Key Features To Consider

The right event planning software should take the stress out of organizing and make your event run smoothly. Whether you’re planning a school professional development day or a large-scale corporate event, the right tool should simplify your workflow, save you time, and make things easier for both you and your attendees.

These are the key features to look for when searching for event planning software:

Scheduling & Session Management

Your event software should make it easy to set up sessions, assign speakers, and keep attendees informed with real-time updates.

Attendee Registration & Check-In

Look for a platform that simplifies sign-ups, sends automatic confirmations, and makes check-ins quick and easy with QR codes or digital badges.

Customization & Branding

Your event should feel like your own. The right software lets you customize event pages, personalize attendee experiences, and showcase your branding.

Engagement & Networking Tools

A great platform keeps attendees engaged with interactive features like live Q&A, session feedback, and built-in messaging for easy networking.

Data & Reporting

You need more than just a successful event. You need clear insights to make the next events even better. Choose software that tracks attendance, session popularity, and engagement in real-time.

Not all event planning tools are created equal. The best platforms strike the right balance between ease of use, flexibility, and powerful features to support different types of events seamlessly.

Let’s explore the top 5 event planning software platforms in 2025 and what makes them stand out.

The 5 Best Event Planning Software Platforms In 2025

1. Sched – The Best Event Software For K-12 School Events & Professional Development Events

Main Pain Points It Solves:

Schools and districts often struggle with organizing school events and professional development (PD) days, coordinating sessions, tracking attendance, and keeping educators engaged. At the same time, they have to make sure training is always relevant and accessible.

How Sched Helps:

  • Eliminates scattered spreadsheets with a simple, all-in-one sign-up process. Attendees can register, personalize schedules, and access event details—no tech skills required.
  • Allows attendees to filter and personalize schedules so teachers and staff can easily find relevant training based on their role, grade level, or interests.
  • Tracks attendance and engagement in real-time, making it easy to monitor participation, measure session impact, and collect valuable feedback.
  • Simplifies speaker management with the Call for Papers feature. Collect, review, and approve speaker submissions without back-and-forth emails.
  • Allows professional badge printing with custom branding, attendee roles, and built-in QR codes. It speeds up check-ins and lets your attendees network easily. 
  • Keeps all event details in one place while automating tedious tasks like session assignments, registration tracking, and attendee check-ins.
  • Provides a no-code, branded event website and mobile app. You can share schedules, announcements, and resources while keeping attendees informed at all times. 

Best for: 

Sched is the best event management platform for K-12 school districts, professional development coordinators, and educational organizations looking to simplify event planning and create more engaging, impactful training experiences.

That’s exactly why Chicago Public Schools, LAUSD, and other K-12 schools rely on Sched to manage their events. As Craig Lawson, Director of Digital Learning and Media at Pender County Schools puts it:

“I love the ability to filter by type of PD, see what’s available, and look at the calendar. It makes everything simple. I think it’s the closest to a tool that could be the ONE tool for professional development.” 

2. Whova – Best For Corporate Events, Conferences & Trade Shows

Main Pain Points It Solves:

Corporate event planners juggle multiple sessions, exhibitor booths, and networking opportunities. It becomes difficult to keep everything organized and maximize attendee engagement.

How Whova Helps:

  • Centralizes event logistics. It provides a mobile-friendly event hub with schedules, speaker details, and interactive maps your attendees will love. 
  • Improves attendee engagement with in-app networking, live polls, and gamification features.
  • Simplifies exhibitor and sponsor management with lead capture tools and customized sponsorship placements.
  • Provides a smooth check-in experience with QR code on badges and real-time attendance tracking.
  • Supports hybrid and virtual events with live streaming integration and session recording capabilities.

Best for: 

Whova is a possible choice for corporate event organizers, trade show planners, and large-scale conference hosts looking to increase attendee engagement and simplify event logistics. It’s designed for companies that want to improve their event registration process, simplify the networking experience, and efficiently manage exhibitors and sponsors. 

Wondering how Sched compares to Whova? Discover how they stack up in our latest blog. 

3. Cvent – Best For Enterprise Event Management & Venue Sourcing

Main Pain Points It Solves:

It’s hard to coordinate large, complex events across multiple locations. Large organizations need to find and book the right venues to accommodate their sponsors, vendors, and attendees. At the same time, they need to manage event budgets, sponsorships, and exhibitor ROI.

How Cvent Helps:

  • Provides end-to-end event management with venue sourcing, registration, and attendee tracking in one platform.
  • Offers a venue sourcing marketplace to help organizers find and book the best event spaces.
  • Tracks event ROI and budget impact with detailed analytics on spending, sponsorships, and attendee engagement.
  • Manages hotel and travel accommodations for multi-day events with built-in booking tools.
  • Improves attendee experience with mobile check-ins, digital name badges, and exhibitor lead capture features.

Best for: 

Cvent is ideal for large enterprises, hospitality businesses, and organizations planning complex, multi-location events. It’s used by companies that need an end-to-end event management solution, from venue sourcing to attendee engagement. Businesses looking to secure event spaces, manage large corporate gatherings, and track ROI on event marketing efforts could use Cvent.

Thinking about Cvent for your events? See how it compares to Sched and which one fits your needs best.

4. Eventbrite – Best For Ticketed Events and Festivals

Main Pain Points It Solves:

Selling tickets, managing registrations, and promoting events can quickly become overwhelming without the right tools. With so many events competing for attention, standing out and driving attendance requires a strong marketing and ticketing strategy. On top of that, organizers need an effective way to handle payments, refunds, and check-ins without creating unnecessary friction for attendees.

How Eventbrite Helps:

  • Simplifies ticket sales and registration with ticketing options that can easily be customized, discount codes, and mobile-friendly sign-ups.
  • Provides built-in marketing tools to promote events through email campaigns, social media, and search engine listings.
  • Handles secure payment processing with options for refunds, payment plans, and financial reporting.
  • Offers real-time check-ins with a mobile app that scans digital or printed tickets for a smooth entry process.
  • Integrates with third-party platforms like Zoom, Mailchimp, and Facebook to support all marketing efforts. 

Best for: 

Eventbrite is the go-to platform for organizers running concerts, festivals, fundraisers, and ticketed community events. It’s built for event hosts who need an easy way to sell tickets, handle registrations, and successfully promote their events. Eventbrite makes running payments, refunds, and attendee check-ins easy while giving organizers the marketing tools needed to drive attendance.

Did you know you can connect Eventbrite with Sched? Find out how. 

5. Bizzabo – Best For Hybrid and Online Events

Main Pain Points It Solves:

As hybrid and virtual events have grown in popularity, managing both in-person and remote attendees in a single platform has become challenging. Many event organizers struggle to create engaging experiences that keep virtual participants involved beyond just watching a live stream. Virtual events can easily feel disjointed and lacking in connection for many. 

How Bizzabo Helps:

  • Supports hybrid and fully virtual events with built-in live streaming, chat features, and breakout sessions.
  • Engages attendees with AI-powered networking capabilities that connect participants based on shared interests.
  • Offers advanced analytics to track session engagement, attendee participation, and post-event insights.
  • Provides branded virtual environments to create immersive, customizable event experiences.
  • Facilitates event registration and ticketing with options for in-person, virtual, or hybrid attendance types.

Best for: 

Bizzabo is designed for organizations hosting hybrid, virtual, and in-person events. It’s best suited for companies that need powerful live-streaming capabilities, interactive tools to engage their audience, and strong integration with hybrid event platforms. Businesses looking to connect remote and on-site attendees in a single event experience will find Bizzabo a useful option. 

Sched vs. Bizzabo—what’s the difference? Find out which platform is the right fit for you. 

Which Event Planning Software Is Right for You?

Every event is different, and so are the tools needed to manage them. Some platforms are built for ticketed events, while others focus on professional development or hybrid conferences. The key is finding a tool that fits your specific needs and takes the stress out of planning.

To make that decision easier for you, we put together this comparison table. It will help you evaluate each platform’s strengths and see which one is the best match for your events.

Event Planning Software Comparison Chart

Comparison Chart Of 5 Best Event Planning Software In 2025

Want An Easy, Stress-Free Way To Manage Your Events? Try Sched For Free Today!

Event planning doesn’t have to be stressful anymore. With Sched, you can manage everything in one place—registration, scheduling, check-ins, and attendee engagement—without dealing with multiple spreadsheets or manual work. Sched makes organizing events easier for you and more seamless for attendees. 

As Dr. Travis Brandy, President of COBA says: 

“Sched has transformed the way we plan. It’s a tool that every organization should consider.”

Start using Sched for free today and see how easy event planning can be.