Virtual Event Comparison

Which virtual event platform is right for you?

The teams at CSG Creative and NTP Events participated in a variety of product demos over the past few months to examine several virtual platforms on behalf of our clients.

We’ve learned a lot and wanted to share the results of our research. The features listed are ones we felt would benefit most clients, but it is not an all-inclusive list. If you want to learn more about any of the platforms, please feel free to reach out to the sales contact provided.

Don’t see your platform on the list? Want to know more about a particular platform? Or want us to check one out for you? Send Heidi a note, and she’ll look into it, haulakh@csgcreative.com.

Choose your own adventure

Communiqué

QUESTION	ANSWER
1. Sales Contact	Tony Kozuch akozuch@communiqueconferencing.com
2. How much does your platform cost? $$$$ = Four Figures $$$$$ = Five Figures $$$$$$ = Six Figures	Pricing starts at $$$$$ and extends based on the webcasting ordered.
3. What is the maximum number of attendees?	No maximum; default baseline is 2,000.
4. Do you offer a trade show component? If so, is it 3D or a profile listing format?	Yes, both options are available.
5. Does your platform support livestream content? If so, is the livestream native to the platform or do you use third parties?	Yes, can use native program or third-party platforms.
6. Do you support on-demand sessions?	Yes.
7. Can you host posters?	Yes.
8. Can you track CEUs in the platform?	Yes.
9. Are you able to host breakout rooms within the platform?	Yes.
10. Do you host networking events within the platform?	Yes, via a live chat.
11. Does the program offer matchmaking tools?	Yes, using any third-party tools that can be incorporated via iFrame.
12. Is gamification available?	Yes, this is a native feature to the platform.
13. Does the platform support a Google-like search, providing results across various modules, or do you have search within each section of the platform?	Yes.
14. How long do participants have access to the event after the live component?	Starts at one year but can be extended as long as the client would like.
15. What is your typical event development timeline?	The client can choose: 6 weeks (standard), 8 weeks, or 12 weeks. Varies by price point.
16. Do you provide custom graphics to brand the experience or do you provide a template for the client to provide the graphics?	Clients provide graphics based on templates provided.
17. Do you have in-house production capabilities to coordinate with speakers?	Webcast managers liaise with the event organizer for speaker bios, training, and handle live-day, 30-min pre-call, and recording of webcast. We do not send hardware kits to presenters.
18. Do you require clients to use your registration software or do you integrate with third parties?	Both options are available. The platform has a registration feature or you can do an API integration. Or, you can send an attendee list, which we can upload to the platform.
19. Currently taking clients?	Yes.
20. Additional information provided	—

Top

Cvent Virtual Attendee Hub

QUESTION	ANSWER
1. Sales Contact	Coleman Bacon cbacon@cvent.com
2. How much does your platform cost? $$$$ = Four Figures $$$$$ = Five Figures $$$$$$ = Six Figures	Cvent Virtual Attendee Hub is priced on a per-event basis. We look at the size of each event and the overall number of events to determine pricing. To receive a quote, contact Cvent directly.
3. What is the maximum number of attendees?	No maximum.
4. Do you offer a trade show component? If so, is it 3D or a profile listing format?	Yes, a profile listing with virtual booths.
5. Does your platform support livestream content? If so, is the livestream native to the platform or do you use third parties?	Yes, this is a native video player that is embedded within the platform delivering livestream, simu-live, and on-demand streaming.
6. Do you support on-demand sessions?	Yes.
7. Can you host posters?	Yes.
8. Can you track CEUs in the platform?	Yes.
9. Are you able to host breakout rooms within the platform?	Yes.
10. Do you host networking events within the platform?	Yes.
11. Does the program offer matchmaking tools?	An appointments module is available as part of the Cvent platform and is accessible within the Virtual Attendee Hub.
12. Is gamification available?	This feature is in development.
13. Does the platform support a Google-like search, providing results across various modules, or do you have search within each section of the platform?	Users would search within different sections of the Virtual Attendee Hub.
14. How long do participants have access to the event after the live component?	The event planner determines the length of access.
15. What is your typical event development timeline?	This varies by client/project, but averages 2-6 weeks.
16. Do you provide custom graphics to brand the experience or do you provide a template for the client to provide the graphics?	Clients provide their own graphics, but Cvent provides templates for recommended image file types and file sizes.
17. Do you have in-house production capabilities to coordinate with speakers?	Yes, this is available through our Virtual Events 360 offering.
18. Do you require clients to use your registration software or do you integrate with third parties?	While Cvent provides an end-to-end platform that addresses the entire event life cycle within one, integrated solution, a customer can use the Virtual Attendee Hub standalone.
19. Currently taking clients?	Yes.
20. Additional information provided	The Cvent platform is an end-to-end solution that addresses the entire event life cycle within one, integrated technology.

Top

Eventfinity

QUESTION	ANSWER
1. Sales Contact	Ray Baum raybaum@eventfinityexpos.com (714) 886-8192
2. How much does your platform cost? $$$$ = Four Figures $$$$$ = Five Figures $$$$$$ = Six Figures	Starts at $$$$ for licensing only and can extend to $$$$$ and beyond for fully managed projects.
3. What is the maximum number of attendees?	"Virtually" unlimited
4. Do you offer a trade show component? If so, is it 3D or a profile listing format?	Yes. The standard expo hall format is based on a searchable and filterable tiled format. 3D and immersive interfaces are available as a custom option.
5. Does your platform support livestream content? If so, is the livestream native to the platform or do you use third parties?	Audiences can watch your video content in both Main Stage Theaters or an unlimited number of our native vMeet video conferencing rooms. Our platform includes convenient built-in production tools and can also accept RTMP video feeds from any third party vendor.
6. Do you support on-demand sessions?	Yes, both within our agendas/theaters as well as dedicated On Demand Video Libraries.
7. Can you host posters?	Yes, with self serve listing creation and live or prerecorded video.
8. Can you track CEUs in the platform?	Yes, with real time self serve reporting.
9. Are you able to host breakout rooms within the platform?	Yes. Additionally, users can create their own one-to-one or small group video conferencing sessions as part of our global chat and social modes.
10. Do you host networking events within the platform?	Absolutely! Examples of such networking events include Receptions, Happy Hours, Lounges, Speed Networking/Sales Presentations and more.
11. Does the program offer matchmaking tools?	Yes, based on interests.
12. Is gamification available?	Yes.
13. Does the platform support a Google-like search, providing results across various modules, or do you have search within each section of the platform?	Most features are searchable and filterable.
14. How long do participants have access to the event after the live component?	Unlimited based on a monthly cost for hosting and maintenance.
15. What is your typical event development timeline?	6 weeks or more.
16. Do you provide custom graphics to brand the experience or do you provide a template for the client to provide the graphics?	Branding is provided by the client. Eventfinity sites can be built based on templates for fully customized.
17. Do you have in-house production capabilities to coordinate with speakers?	Yes.
18. Do you require clients to use your registration software or do you integrate with third parties?	Our clients have the option of using our registration or their own third party solution. We have existing API's with many major providers.
19. Currently taking clients?	Yes.
20. Additional information provided	Eventfinity provides live, hybrid, virtual and 365 community solutions, all on one seamless platform.

Top

Freeman Online Event Pro

QUESTION	ANSWER
1. Sales Contact	Kristen Koenig kristen.koenig@freemanco.com
2. How much does your platform cost? $$$$ = Four Figures $$$$$ = Five Figures $$$$$$ = Six Figures	$$$$ - $$$$$$
3. What is the maximum number of attendees?	No maximum.
4. Do you offer a trade show component? If so, is it 3D or a profile listing format?	Yes, profile listing in standard Online Event Pro exhibitor module but also offer a 2D/3D booth offering.
5. Does your platform support livestream content? If so, is the livestream native to the platform or do you use third parties?	Yes, can use Freeman or third-party platforms.
6. Do you support on-demand sessions?	Yes.
7. Can you host posters?	No.
8. Can you track CEUs in the platform?	Can check timestamps for CEU reporting, but no ability to test at this time.
9. Are you able to host breakout rooms within the platform?	Yes.
10. Do you host networking events within the platform?	Yes via live chat text, audio, and/or video chat.
11. Does the program offer matchmaking tools?	Yes.
12. Is gamification available?	Yes, attendees can accumulate points for prizes. This feature is native to the program.
13. Does the platform support a Google-like search, providing results across various modules, or do you have search within each section of the platform?	Yes.
14. How long do participants have access to the event after the live component?	Yes.
15. What is your typical event development timeline?	Exhibitor and sponsor artwork and content due 4-6 weeks in advance of event.
16. Do you provide custom graphics to brand the experience or do you provide a template for the client to provide the graphics?	Client can provide based on templates, or Freeman can provide for an additional fee.
17. Do you have in-house production capabilities to coordinate with speakers?	Yes, Freeman can not only provide the software/digital but also production, content, sponsorship, event planning/project management, and more.
18. Do you require clients to use your registration software or do you integrate with third parties?	Freeman has their own proprietary registration tool, but also integrates direct with all the major registration tech providers.
19. Currently taking clients?	Yes.
20. Additional information provided	Our system uptime is at 100% and we load test each site for optimal performance to mitigate risk. Freeman is 98% ADA/WCAG compliant (tested via Lighthouse in the Google toolkit), and we continue to test each site for ADA compliance.

Top

Intrado

QUESTION	ANSWER
1. Sales Contact	Alison Nowak alison.nowak@intrado.com
2. How much does your platform cost? $$$$ = Four Figures $$$$$ = Five Figures $$$$$$ = Six Figures	$$$$$$
3. What is the maximum number of attendees?	200,000 concurrent viewers.
4. Do you offer a trade show component? If so, is it 3D or a profile listing format?	Yes, 3D.
5. Does your platform support livestream content? If so, is the livestream native to the platform or do you use third parties?	Yes.
6. Do you support on-demand sessions?	Yes.
7. Can you host posters?	Yes.
8. Can you track CEUs in the platform?	Yes.
9. Are you able to host breakout rooms within the platform?	Yes.
10. Do you host networking events within the platform?	Live Chat.
11. Does the program offer matchmaking tools?	Yes.
12. Is gamification available?	Yes.
13. Does the platform support a Google-like search, providing results across various modules, or do you have search within each section of the platform?	Unknown
14. How long do participants have access to the event after the live component?	Up to 1 year.
15. What is your typical event development timeline?	10+ weeks.
16. Do you provide custom graphics to brand the experience or do you provide a template for the client to provide the graphics?	Unknown
17. Do you have in-house production capabilities to coordinate with speakers?	Unknown
18. Do you require clients to use your registration software or do you integrate with third parties?	Unknown
19. Currently taking clients?	Unknown
20. Additional information provided	—

Top

Juno

QUESTION	ANSWER
1. Sales Contact	Peter Hodgen peter@junolive.co
2. How much does your platform cost? $$$$ = Four Figures $$$$$ = Five Figures $$$$$$ = Six Figures	$$$$$ base price, plus additional costs based on one-time event.
3. What is the maximum number of attendees?	No maximum, but needs to be set up in advance.
4. Do you offer a trade show component? If so, is it 3D or a profile listing format?	Yes, profile-like listing.
5. Does your platform support livestream content? If so, is the livestream native to the platform or do you use third parties?	Yes, using a native player to deliver content.
6. Do you support on-demand sessions?	Yes.
7. Can you host posters?	Yes, live, prerecorded, or as sessions.
8. Can you track CEUs in the platform?	Yes.
9. Are you able to host breakout rooms within the platform?	Yes.
10. Do you host networking events within the platform?	Yes.
11. Does the program offer matchmaking tools?	Yes.
12. Is gamification available?	Yes.
13. Does the platform support a Google-like search, providing results across various modules, or do you have search within each section of the platform?	Module based for now. Looking to expand to a universal search option.
14. How long do participants have access to the event after the live component?	Up to the partner to decide, but starts at 30 days.
15. What is your typical event development timeline?	2-4 weeks.
16. Do you provide custom graphics to brand the experience or do you provide a template for the client to provide the graphics?	Clients provide graphics based on templates provided.
17. Do you have in-house production capabilities to coordinate with speakers?	Yes, they can provide production support based on the needs of the clients, including hybrid event support, and video editing support if needed.
18. Do you require clients to use your registration software or do you integrate with third parties?	Registration within the platform or using an API.
19. Currently taking clients?	Yes.
20. Additional information provided	Juno is built to turn an everyday event into a daily experience. We are known for personal touch.

Top

Map Your Show

QUESTION	ANSWER
1. Sales Contact	Syd Rivera syd@mapyourshow.com
2. How much does your platform cost? $$$$ = Four Figures $$$$$ = Five Figures $$$$$$ = Six Figures	$$$$ base price, plus additional costs if different modules are needed.
3. What is the maximum number of attendees?	No maximum.
4. Do you offer a trade show component? If so, is it 3D or a profile listing format?	Yes, using a profile listing format.
5. Does your platform support livestream content? If so, is the livestream native to the platform or do you use third parties?	Yes, using either MYS Live Demo feature or integrating with third-party platforms.
6. Do you support on-demand sessions?	Yes, live sessions are automatically converted to on-demand.
7. Can you host posters?	Yes.
8. Can you track CEUs in the platform?	Not at this time, but CEU credits can be listed in the appropriate sessions.
9. Are you able to host breakout rooms within the platform?	Yes, using third-party solutions.
10. Do you host networking events within the platform?	Yes, via Chat and Live Demos function, or third-party solutions.
11. Does the program offer matchmaking tools?	Yes via third-party registration data. MYS also has an AI feature that will recommend exhibitors and sessions that the user could be interested in.
12. Is gamification available?	Not at this time for the online floorplan, but is available in the MYS Mobile App.
13. Does the platform support a Google-like search, providing results across various modules, or do you have search within each section of the platform?	Yes.
14. How long do participants have access to the event after the live component?	4 months or longer depending on the needs of the client.
15. What is your typical event development timeline?	3-4 weeks after materials are received.
16. Do you provide custom graphics to brand the experience or do you provide a template for the client to provide the graphics?	Clients provide graphics based on templates provided.
17. Do you have in-house production capabilities to coordinate with speakers?	The MYS Conference Management Module supports speaker management, but not the production of the sessions.
18. Do you require clients to use your registration software or do you integrate with third parties?	MYS is able to integrate with just about any registration company/software and has been doing this for the last decade. We’ve integrated with the very largest and smallest reg companies. This is done primarily through our open API. Additionally, we provide a match-making feature that is merged into the registration process that will initiate the attendee’s show experience by presenting them with companies and sessions they’ve expressed an interest in.
19. Currently taking clients?	Yes.
20. Additional information provided	—

Top

SwapCard

QUESTION	ANSWER
1. Sales Contact	Kevin Singh kevin@swapcard.com
2. How much does your platform cost? $$$$ = Four Figures $$$$$ = Five Figures $$$$$$ = Six Figures	$$$$ - $$$$$$
3. What is the maximum number of attendees?	No maximum.
4. Do you offer a trade show component? If so, is it 3D or a profile listing format?	Profile Listing with Video and Chat or Marketplace Module.
5. Does your platform support livestream content? If so, is the livestream native to the platform or do you use third parties?	Yes, integrating with third-party platforms.
6. Do you support on-demand sessions?	Yes.
7. Can you host posters?	Yes.
8. Can you track CEUs in the platform?	Not automated, but tracking available.
9. Are you able to host breakout rooms within the platform?	Yes, using third-party solutions.
10. Do you host networking events within the platform?	Yes, using third-party solutions.
11. Does the program offer matchmaking tools?	Yes.
12. Is gamification available?	Yes, using third-party solutions. Will be integrating in 2021.
13. Does the platform support a Google-like search, providing results across various modules, or do you have search within each section of the platform?	Search within each module.
14. How long do participants have access to the event after the live component?	Up to a year.
15. What is your typical event development timeline?	Depends on complexity of event, typically 3-6 weeks but access starts when you register.
16. Do you provide custom graphics to brand the experience or do you provide a template for the client to provide the graphics?	Both options are available.
17. Do you have in-house production capabilities to coordinate with speakers?	Unknown
18. Do you require clients to use your registration software or do you integrate with third parties?	Unknown
19. Currently taking clients?	Yes.
20. Additional information provided	Known for its high level of security.

Top

vFairs

QUESTION	ANSWER
1. Sales Contact	Jeffrey Cooper jeffrey@vfairs.com
2. How much does your platform cost? $$$$ = Four Figures $$$$$ = Five Figures $$$$$$ = Six Figures	$$$$$
3. What is the maximum number of attendees?	20,000
4. Do you offer a trade show component? If so, is it 3D or a profile listing format?	Yes, 3D and bird's-eye view.
5. Does your platform support livestream content? If so, is the livestream native to the platform or do you use third parties?	Yes.
6. Do you support on-demand sessions?	Yes.
7. Can you host posters?	Yes.
8. Can you track CEUs in the platform?	No.
9. Are you able to host breakout rooms within the platform?	Yes, using third-party solutions.
10. Do you host networking events within the platform?	Yes.
11. Does the program offer matchmaking tools?	No.
12. Is gamification available?	Yes.
13. Does the platform support a Google-like search, providing results across various modules, or do you have search within each section of the platform?	Yes.
14. How long do participants have access to the event after the live component?	30 days.
15. What is your typical event development timeline?	12 weeks.
16. Do you provide custom graphics to brand the experience or do you provide a template for the client to provide the graphics?	Clients provide graphics based on templates provided.
17. Do you have in-house production capabilities to coordinate with speakers?	Unknown
18. Do you require clients to use your registration software or do you integrate with third parties?	Unknown
19. Currently taking clients?	Yes.
20. Additional information provided	Platform offers a hands-on project management team for dedicated support.

Top

Pathable

QUESTION	ANSWER
1. Sales Contact	Michael Arcide michael@pathable.com
2. How much does your platform cost? $$$$ = Four Figures $$$$$ = Five Figures $$$$$$ = Six Figures	$$$$$, pay for the items you need and number of attendees.
3. What is the maximum number of attendees?	No maximum.
4. Do you offer a trade show component? If so, is it 3D or a profile listing format?	Yes, profile listing.
5. Does your platform support livestream content? If so, is the livestream native to the platform or do you use third parties?	Yes, using third party (Zoom).
6. Do you support on-demand sessions?	Yes.
7. Can you host posters?	Yes.
8. Can you track CEUs in the platform?	Yes.
9. Are you able to host breakout rooms within the platform?	Yes.
10. Do you host networking events within the platform?	Yes.
11. Does the program offer matchmaking tools?	Yes, two options: "Want to meet tool" and then matching within the registration list.
12. Is gamification available?	Yes.
13. Does the platform support a Google-like search, providing results across various modules, or do you have search within each section of the platform?	No, you search within module.
14. How long do participants have access to the event after the live component?	Up to a year from the original provisioning of your site.
15. What is your typical event development timeline?	2-4 weeks depending on the time of the year.
16. Do you provide custom graphics to brand the experience or do you provide a template for the client to provide the graphics?	Both options are available.
17. Do you have in-house production capabilities to coordinate with speakers?	Requires additional discussion/definition from customer.
18. Do you require clients to use your registration software or do you integrate with third parties?	Able to integrate with several registration companies.
19. Currently taking clients?	Yes.
20. Additional information provided	Pathable has been in business for 14 years and is a known leader in the virtual/hybrid event space.

Top

a2z/Personify Community Platform

QUESTION	ANSWER
1. Sales Contact	Chris Garner cgarner@personifycorp.com
2. How much does your platform cost? $$$$ = Four Figures $$$$$ = Five Figures $$$$$$ = Six Figures	$$$$-$$$$$ (depends on features needed).
3. What is the maximum number of attendees?	No maximum.
4. Do you offer a trade show component? If so, is it 3D or a profile listing format?	Yes, profile listing or map like a regular “a2z” live show, can also be used in conjunction with hybrid live event.
5. Does your platform support livestream content? If so, is the livestream native to the platform or do you use third parties?	Yes, integrating with third-party platforms.
6. Do you support on-demand sessions?	Yes.
7. Can you host posters?	Yes, though they are not treated differently than a session in the system. Putting them on their own track is the most common way to handle this.
8. Can you track CEUs in the platform?	Not automated, but tracking is available.
9. Are you able to host breakout rooms within the platform?	Yes, using third-party tools.
10. Do you host networking events within the platform?	Yes, using third-party solutions from exhibitor or event organizer.
11. Does the program offer matchmaking tools?	Yes.
12. Is gamification available?	Not integrated, but third-party options can be added. We are anticipating gamification to be coming in Q1 of 2021.
13. Does the platform support a Google-like search, providing results across various modules, or do you have search within each section of the platform?	Yes.
14. How long do participants have access to the event after the live component?	The platform remains open for up to 90 days post-event, but can be easily extended to a year-round community for hosting additional events, delivering content, and empowering buyer-seller and peer-to-peer communication and collaboration.
15. What is your typical event development timeline?	4 weeks.
16. Do you provide custom graphics to brand the experience or do you provide a template for the client to provide the graphics?	Clients provide graphics based on templates provided.
17. Do you have in-house production capabilities to coordinate with speakers?	Not at this time.
18. Do you require clients to use your registration software or do you integrate with third parties?	Able to integrate with several registration companies.
19. Currently taking clients?	Yes.
20. Additional information provided	In addition to our virtual conference platform and robust expo management solutions, Personify A2Z Events delivers proven, powerful tools to facilitate matchmaking and virtual appointment scheduling between exhibitors and attendees. We can also take your digital marketing to the next level with our world-class Digital Engagement Team, experienced experts uniquely skilled in promoting attendee engagement both pre-show and during the show, resulting in increased participation and ROI for both attendees and exhibitors/sponsors. With deep experience in delivering in-person, virtual and hybrid experiences, Personify A2Z Events captivates attendees, delights exhibitors and grows your events regardless of format.

Top