Whether you're exploring options for a first-time event or you’re already using Cvent, you're likely wondering: is there something out there that's easier to use, faster to set up, and more affordable?
Cvent is a heavyweight in the event tech space. It is packed with features and is built for enterprise-scale operations. However, many teams are seeking leaner tools that still offer powerful registration, ticketing, engagement, and analytics features, without the hefty overhead.
Below, we’ll break down what Cvent offers, where it shines, where it may fall short, and which platforms offer promising alternatives, including our platform, Checkout Page.
Cvent overview
Cvent is a comprehensive event management platform designed to support every stage of the event lifecycle, from sourcing venues and managing registrations to engaging attendees and tracking ROI.
It’s used by large enterprises, governments, and associations for a wide range of events, including conferences, trade shows, webinars, and internal meetings.
Cvent's key capabilities:
- Event registration & branded websites: Custom registration forms, automated email flows, and branded landing pages.
- Attendee engagement: Virtual event hubs, mobile apps, appointment scheduling, polls, and Q&A.
- Onsite solutions: Check-in, badging, lead capture, and session tracking with Cvent OnArrival.
- Sourcing & logistics: Venue sourcing (via the Cvent Supplier Network), budget management, room block management (Cvent Passkey), and exhibitor coordination.
- Post-event insights: Feedback surveys, reporting dashboards, and attendee analytics.
- Integrations: CRM, marketing, and sales platforms for seamless data flow.
- Webinars & content: Webinar hosting and video libraries via Cvent Events+.
Pros:
✅ Extremely feature-rich and scalable
✅ All-in-one platform with tools for every phase of event planning
✅ Strong hybrid and virtual event capabilities
✅ Deep integrations with enterprise tools (e.g., Salesforce, Marketo)
Cons:
❌ High cost, especially for smaller teams or simple events
❌ Complex setup with a steep learning curve for staff
❌ Some or many features may be overkill for basic use cases
❌ UI and customization can feel dated or rigid for smaller brands
For large, complex events, Cvent remains a go-to solution within the industry. However, if you're hosting smaller events, prefer a quicker and leaner setup, or are focused on cost efficiency, numerous great alternatives may serve you better.
Criteria for choosing a Cvent alternative
Let's examine the key criteria to consider when selecting an alternative to Cvent for your event management needs.
The right choice depends on your organization’s goals, team size, event type, and budget. Some teams require the full enterprise suite, encompassing complex workflows, highly detailed data, and robust native integrations.
Others are looking for something more lightweight, with fast setup, lower costs, and just the essential features to run their events without incurring high maintenance costs or requiring dedicated developer teams.
Here's what you should consider when evaluating an option:
1. Registration and event website builder
At the core of any platform is the ability to create custom registration and branded event pages. Enterprise tools often offer high configurability and access control, while leaner platforms focus more on simplicity, speed, and mobile responsiveness.
- Enterprise need: Multi-session registration, approval flows, waitlists, ticket tiers
- Lean need: Quick setup, easy no-code page build and customization, Stripe or payment integration out of the box
2. Attendee data management and analytics
Access to data is critical, whether you're running five events or 500. Look for platforms that offer insights into registrations, attendance, and engagement.
- Enterprise: Granular reporting, real-time dashboards, CRM syncing
- Lean: Visual analytics, exportable CSVs, basic attendance tracking
3. Attendee engagement tools
Virtual and hybrid events require more than just a registration page to be successful. Consider what engagement features are built-in or can be easily added.
- Enterprise: Session chat, polling, appointment scheduling, mobile apps
- Lean: Simple email reminders, feedback forms, basic livestream embedding
4. Customization and branding
Every event is unique, and therefore, a one-size-fits-all look and feel won't accurately reflect your brand; the ability to tailor the design, messaging, and attendee journey matters.
- Enterprise: Full design control, white-labeling, granular permissions
- Lean: Drag-and-drop editors, logo/color matching, clean default templates
5. Integration needs
You might need to connect your event platform with your CRM, email tool, or payment system.
- Enterprise: Native integrations with Salesforce, Marketo, HubSpot, etc.
- Lean: Zapier or Webhooks, Google Sheets, Stripe, Mailchimp
6. Customer support
Support can be a deciding factor, especially during crunch time.
- Enterprise: Dedicated account managers, SLAs, implementation teams
- Lean: Fast live chat or email support, helpful documentation
7. Session and strategic meetings management (SMM)
If your organization handles high volumes of internal or client-facing meetings, SMM and session tools might be critical.
- Enterprise: Complex session scheduling, multi-track events, compliance workflows
- Lean: Simple agendas, one-track event flow, manual session setup
8. Virtual and hybrid event capabilities
If you’re hosting events online or in hybrid formats, evaluate the platform’s virtual capabilities.
- Enterprise: Built-in streaming, breakout rooms, sponsor booths, networking lounges
- Lean: Embedded video (Zoom, YouTube), basic chat, pre-recorded content
9. User experience (UX)
A clean, intuitive experience, for both planners and attendees, goes a long way. Clunky user experiences will not win over the team using the tool or the customers buying the tickets.
- Enterprise: Feature-rich but potentially overwhelming
- Lean: Minimalist UI that gets out of the way and just works
In a nutshell:
If you’re planning large-scale events with complex workflows, compliance needs, or global teams, you may need an enterprise-grade platform. But if you’re focused on speed, simplicity, and cost efficiency, leaner tools can offer everything you need, without the overhead.
9 Cvent alternatives you should consider
1. Checkout Page
Checkout Page is a highly customizable, no-code event ticketing and registration tool that lets you create branded event pages and start selling tickets in minutes.
Powered by Stripe, it’s ideal for small to medium-sized teams, creators, and startups seeking ultimate flexibility and the ability to use all aspects of the platform without a developer or a middleman holding their funds.
Key features:
- Unlimited events & tickets
- Fully customizable, no-code event pages
- Built-in event check-in app (QR code + manual lookup)
- Flexible ticket types (paid, free, donation-based)
- Custom registration forms with conditional logic
- Stripe-native with instant payouts
- Multilingual and multi-currency support
- Promo codes, order limits, and upsells
Pros:
✅ Extremely fast to set up
✅ No transaction fees
✅ Excellent support from the founders
✅ Great for small and growing teams
Cons:
❌ No seating charts or complex badge printing
❌ Not ideal for large-scale conference logistics
🏆 Great for: Independent creators and startups, and small to medium businesses that need fast, flexible event registration with strong customization and no code required. Perfect for workshops, webinars, and simple paid or donation-based events.
😞 Not so great for: Enterprises with complex approval flows, multi-session agendas, or strict compliance requirements. Limited if you need advanced seating, access control, or enterprise-level integrations.
💸 Pricing: Starts at $24/month. No per-transaction fees or hidden feature fees. Immediate payouts through your Stripe account, we don't hold funds.
2. Eventbrite
Eventbrite is almost a household name in the world of event ticketing, and it is ideal for public-facing and discoverable events. It’s user-friendly and widely trusted, but the fees can seriously add up!
Key features:
- Marketplace exposure
- Custom event pages
- Real-time reporting
- Native email marketing
- Mobile check-in app
- Discount codes and ticket tiers
Pros:
✅ Great discoverability
✅ Free to use for free events
✅ Reliable infrastructure
Cons:
❌ High fees for paid events
❌ Pushy Eventbrite branding on you events
❌ Limited customization
🏆 Great for: Creators, fitness instructors, and event organizers who don’t have an existing audience. Its marketplace makes it easy to get discovered by new attendees.
😞 Not so great for: Organizers who prioritize branding, customization, or need to tightly control the ticketing experience. Not ideal for white-labeled or corporate events with complex workflows.
💸 Pricing: 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket + 2.9% payment fee (US)
3. Ticket Tailor
Ticket Tailor is a pay-as-you-go event platform that’s user-friendly and affordable. It’s best for recurring small events, fundraisers, and local community gatherings. As a B Corp company, it emphasizes environmental and social ethics.
Key features:
- Flat-rate or pay-as-you-go ticketing or up front credits
- Custom event pages with branding
- Free check-in app
- Integrations with Mailchimp, Zapier, and Stripe
- Multiple ticket types & time slots
- GDPR compliant attendee data tools
Pros:
✅ Free for free events
✅ Good value for budget-conscious organizers
✅ A good choice for those who want an ethically minded platform
Cons:
❌ Limited customization
❌ Not suited to multi-track or hybrid events
❌ There are lots of hidden fees for features you may need, such as white labeling and custom domains.
Checkout our article: Best Ticket Tailor alternative? Checkout Page vs. Ticket Tailor
🏆 Great for: Local community organizers, schools, or nonprofits that host recurring or ticketed events like fundraisers, performances, or fairs.
😞 Not so great for: Professional planners needing a more polished user experience, in-depth reporting, or support for complex ticket tiers and multi-day schedules.
💸 Pricing: Free for free events, or from $0.28 per ticket
4. RegFox
RegFox offers deep flexibility with a low-cost, per-ticket pricing model. It's ideal for events that require customized registration workflows without the expense of enterprise tools.
Key features:
- Custom form fields and conditional logic
- Attendee check-in tools
- Badge printing integration
- Flexible pricing, donations, and upsells
- Branded registration pages
- Embedded video and countdowns
Pros:
✅ Highly customizable
✅ Very affordable
✅ Transparent, capped pricing
Cons:
❌ No native event app
❌ Not built for virtual/hybrid events
🏆 Great for: Mid-sized conferences, trainings, or retreats that need more complex forms or workflows (e.g., approvals, upsells, cross-event discounts) without a bloated interface.
😞 Not so great for: Hosts of virtual or hybrid events expecting a seamless online experience; lacks built-in virtual features and app support.
💸 Pricing: 99¢ + 1% per registrant (capped at $4.99)
5. Eventcube
Eventcube is a white-label platform that offers full control over branding and customer data, with great scalability from simple events to enterprise-level hosting.
Key features:
- White-label event site builder
- Stripe and 100+ payment methods support
- GDPR and data ownership compliance
- Discount codes and ticket bundles
- Instant payouts on ticket sales
- Developer-friendly API access
Pros:
✅ Instant payouts
✅ No attendee data sharing
✅ Scalable pricing tiers
Cons:
❌ Lacks built-in engagement tools
❌ API use may require developer support
🏆 Great for: Tech-savvy event teams, agencies, or brands who want to control every pixel and retain full ownership of their customer data.
😞 Not so great for: Users who need plug-and-play engagement tools, virtual streaming, or extensive onboarding support.
💸 Pricing: Free to $99/month + 3–5% per transaction
6. Eventzilla
Eventzilla is a flexible tool that combines registration, virtual features, and CRM-lite capabilities, making it a popular choice for professional event planners.
Key features:
- Virtual and hybrid event support
- Custom registration emails and workflows
- CRM-style attendee management
- Check-in tools and badge design
- Marketing integrations (HubSpot, Zoom, etc.)
- Session and speaker management
Pros:
✅ Good feature breadth for the price
✅ Hybrid event functionality
✅ Integrations with Zoom, HubSpot, and more
Cons:
❌ UI can be clunky
❌ Some features have a learning curve
🏆 Great for: Marketing teams and midsize companies hosting webinars, multi-track trainings, or conferences needing both registration and post-event insights.
😞 Not so great for: Event novices or organizers who want minimal setup; the UI may require time to learn and configure correctly.
💸 Pricing: From $1.50–2.9% + $1.50 per ticket
7. Whova
Whova is focused on in-depth attendee engagement with a mobile-first experience. It’s ideal for academic conferences and multi-session events that benefit from personalized agendas and strong networking opportunities.
Key features:
- All-in-one mobile event app
- Personalized agendas and session sign-ups
- Gamification (leaderboards, challenges)
- Sponsor booths and lead retrieval
- In-app messaging and networking
- Real-time analytics and feedback tools
Pros:
✅ Rich engagement tools
✅ Great analytics and session tracking
✅ Strong mobile experience
Cons:
❌ Expensive for small events
❌ App-centric model may not fit all use cases
🏆 Great for: Associations, universities, and research communities hosting educational or professional development events where attendee networking and mobile engagement are key.
😞 Not so great for: Budget-constrained teams hosting simple events with minimal interaction needs. It will likely be overkill for one-day or internal meetings.
💸 Pricing: From ~$1,499 for 2-day event (estimate)
8. Bizzabo
Bizzabo is built for hybrid and virtual-first enterprises. It offers deep functionality across the whole event lifecycle, especially for large, multi-track conferences.
Key features:
- End-to-end event planning suite
- Multi-track agendas and breakout rooms
- Virtual event streaming and chat
- AI-driven attendee matchmaking
- Sponsor and exhibitor management
- Enterprise-grade analytics and integrations
Pros:
✅ Fully enterprise-ready
✅ Strong hybrid and virtual tools
✅ Robust reporting and analytics
Cons:
❌ Custom pricing only
❌ Not suitable for small or low-budget teams
🏆 Great for: Enterprise-level teams managing flagship conferences or brand experiences with high expectations for scale, engagement, and ROI tracking.
😞 Not so great for: Small or one-off event planners who don’t need deep integrations, sponsorship management, or a complete SMM strategy.
💸 Pricing: Custom only. Contact for a quote.
Conclusion: Finding the right fit for your events
As always, recommending an ideal platform is tricky because the needs of event planners and businesses vary widely. In this guide, we covered:
- The strengths and limitations of Cvent
- Key criteria to help you compare alternatives
- A detailed comparison of 8 great Cvent competitors
While no one-size-fits-all solution exists, we believe Checkout Page is a great choice for teams who prioritize fast, customizable, and affordable event management that puts them fully in the driving seat.
Checkout Page is a powerful alternative for those who want complete control over every aspect of event management, without barriers in the form of technical skills or financial intermediaries standing between you and your funds.
Why not give it a try yourself? Start your 7-day free trial of Checkout Page today - no card needed.
