8 Best Virtual Event Platforms for 2026 (Compared & Reviewed)

Hosting a virtual event on a large or small scale can be daunting. You have to worry about the tech, the budget, and most importantly — the attendees. Keeping your attendees interested, comfortable, and engaged is essential to success.

The best virtual event platforms will offer features like polling and Q&A sessions, social media integration, and interactive features to keep your attendees engaged. Whether you're hosting a networking event, customer or employee training, or even a virtual trade show, virtual event platforms make it easy to engage your audience no matter where they are.

That's why we've put together this list of the best virtual event platforms, based on features, pricing, and best use cases. The short version: Livestorm is the best all-in-one choice for webinars and interactive online events, Zoom Events and BigMarker suit large multi-day conferences, and vFairs, Airmeet, and Whova stand out for networking, hybrid, and in-person event management.

Virtual event platforms compared

Pricing changes often, so confirm current plans on each vendor's site before you buy.

How we evaluated these platforms

We compared each platform on the criteria that matter most when you run online events: how easily attendees can join, engagement features (chat, polls, Q&A, networking), registration pages and email automation, recordings and on-demand content, analytics and CRM integrations, and pricing transparency.

8 Best virtual event tools to host any online event

Whether you’re planning a small webinar or a large conference, there’s an online platform that’s best for you. Here are eight of the best virtual event platforms to consider for your next event:

1. Livestorm: Best all-in-one virtual tool

2. Zoom Events: Best enterprise event platform

3. Hubilo: Best virtual trade show software

4. vFairs: Best virtual platform for networking

5. BigMarker: Best for industry conventions

6. ON24: Best for AI-powered events

7. Airmeet: Best for hybrid events

8. Whova: Best for virtual and in-person event management

1. Livestorm: Best all-in-one virtual event tool

Livestorm is a browser-based virtual engagement platform with a strong set of engagement features designed to boost interaction among participants. Businesses can easily connect with customers, employees, and partners using Livestorm’s intuitive interface.

Key features

• Customizable registration pages help boost your branding and user experience.

• Analytics dashboards collect success metrics for your virtual event, like the number of event attendees, sessions, replay views, traffic data, and technical information like the browser or any other custom field that you added to the registration form.

• CRM integrations with tools like Salesforce and Zapier sync participant contact information and help you follow up after your event.

• Real-time engagement features like chat, polls, and Q&A make your virtual events interactive and help audiences connect.

• Handouts plugin enables file sharing during events so your attendees don’t miss anything important.

• Automatic recordings help with on-demand content delivery and repurposing recordings post-event.

• Easy room access as attendees don't need to download the software onto their devices.

Best use cases

Livestorm is ideal for businesses that need to host live streaming events where participant engagement is key—like webinars, online courses, product demos, customer training, and podcast interviews.

Pricing

Livestorm has a free plan for small sessions of up to 30 attendees. Paid plans are usage-based: Pro starts at $3 per attendee, with sessions up to 4 hours and up to 3,000 live attendees, and you only pay for people who actually attend. Enterprise plans are priced on quote and support sessions up to 12 hours. See current pricing.

2. Zoom Events: Best enterprise event platform

Like Livestorm, Zoom makes creating a virtual event simple with customization options, data analytics, and event landing pages. It offers a stable platform with engagement features for free, paid, live, and on-demand events. Zoom also offers one-click meeting accessibility for participants.

Key features

• Screen sharing lets you collaborate with colleagues, clients, and partners.

• Integrates with a wide range of business tools like Slack, Google Calendar, Shopify, and Salesforce.

• Recorded meetings can be shared with those who couldn’t register or as training resources within teams.

• Mobile app lets users connect from anywhere.

Best use cases

Zoom Events is best suited for enterprise teams planning to host large multi-day conferences with expo features and sponsorships.

Pricing

Zoom's free plan covers basic meetings of up to 40 minutes, not Zoom Events. Zoom Events plans start at $149 per month for up to 100 attendees and also require a Zoom Workplace license.

3. Hubilo: Best virtual trade show software

Hubilo is a virtual and hybrid event platform built for marketing teams that run sponsored events, trade shows, and webinars. It puts the emphasis on attendee engagement, sponsor visibility, and event data.

Key features

• Interactive features like live chat, Q&A, and polls enable engaging virtual events.

• Public API lets you connect Hubilo to custom applications.

• Integrates with popular CRM and marketing automation tools including HubSpot, MailChimp, Salesforce, and Typeform.

• Custom branding features let you showcase your brand along with those of your sponsors and event partners.

Best use cases

Hubilo is best for event planners looking for a flexible solution that supports both engaging events and impactful sponsorships.

Pricing

Hubilo offers three pricing plans, but the lower tier plans are designed for hosting webinars. Only the enterprise plan is geared toward virtual events. This plan doesn't have standard pricing, so you'd need to contact Hubilo's sales team for a quote.

4. vFairs: Best virtual platform for networking

vFairs emphasizes virtual environments rather than virtual events themselves. It comes with a 3D lobby that directs attendees to different areas of your event. Participants can explore virtual venues like they would in the real world. vFairs makes it easier for attendees to find and connect with the right people.

Key features

• 3D lobby area with a directory that lets attendees navigate to virtual venues like exhibit halls, auditoriums, and networking rooms.

• Leaderboards engage attendees to participate in activities and earn rewards.

• Customizable registration forms and booth templates let you add any data-input field you need.

• Analytics dashboard collects metrics like event registrations and turnout.

Best use cases

vFairs is best suited for events like virtual job fairs, trade exhibits, seminars, and conferences.

Pricing

vFairs does not list its pricing on its website. But you can connect with their team for a quote tailored to your needs.

5. BigMarker: Best for industry conventions

BigMarker can host everything from webinars and virtual events to hybrid and in-person events. It's ideal for large-scale conferences and industry conventions.

Key features

• Networking features like breakout rooms and AI-driven matchmaking to help attendees get more value from the event.

• Gamification features to boost engagement, including a leaderboard and prize packs from sponsors.

• Media hubs where you can publish on-demand videos and other relevant content for participants.

Best use cases

While BigMarker can support virtual events, it's a better fit for businesses that regularly host hybrid conferences and conventions with 10,000+ attendees.

Pricing

BigMarker has separate plans for webinars and events, and it's possible to purchase a single, multi- or unlimited event license. All plans have custom pricing.

6. ON24: Best for AI-powered events

ON24 is an intelligent engagement platform designed for hosting virtual events and webinars. In addition to its many engagement features, ON24 offers personalized event experiences and AI tools to simplify event promotion.

Key features

• Engagement features like polls, live chat, and networking lounges.

• AI tools to generate event content that you can publish across marketing channels.

• Content hub for building personalized resource center with on-demand content.

Best use cases

ON24 works well for hosting engaging virtual events and webinars. But because it has limited branding and customization tools, it's less ideal for events with sponsors or ticketed sessions.

Pricing

ON24 doesn't list pricing publicly. You'd need to contact the ON24 sales team for a custom quote.

7. Airmeet: Best for hybrid events

Airmeet is a great solution for small and medium-sized organizations wanting to run virtual and hybrid meetups, virtual fairs, summits, and conferences. It supports interactive hybrid, in-person, and virtual events for audiences up to 10,000.

Key features

• Personalized agendas with options for participants to create their own schedules for multi-track events.

• Networking and lead generation tools like meeting schedulers, a backstage area, and 1:1 DMs.

• Ticketing options that let you set up session-level access and create multiple tiers for different attendee types.

Best use cases

Airmeet is best for hybrid events and multi-track virtual events designed for large audiences of up to 10,000 people.

Pricing

Airmeet's webinar plans start at $199 per month. However, the platform's event plans have custom pricing.

8. Whova: Best for virtual and in-person event management

Whova is an all-in-one event management platform that supports virtual, hybrid, and in-person events. From sponsorship tools and engagement features to name badges and check-in options, it has what you need to streamline almost any type of event—including conferences, trade shows, and expos.

Key features

• Sponsorship tools that help sponsors generate leads, engage participants, and boost ROI.

• Monetization options including multiple ticket types, early bird pricing, add-ons, and invite-only event tickets.

• Mobile apps to boost attendee engagement during conferences and trade shows.

Best use cases

While Whova fully supports virtual events, its in-person features make it ideal for hybrid events like community events, industry expos, and trade shows.

Pricing

Whova doesn't list pricing publicly. To get a custom quote for your event needs, you'd need to contact Whova's sales team.

What to look for in a virtual event or virtual conference platform

Here's what to look for when choosing a virtual event platform:

1. User-friendly interface for easy navigation

Participants should be able to easily find their way around the registration process, explore the event, and connect with other attendees and hosts. Brands, sponsors, and hosts should find it easy to set up virtual booths, customize them to match their branding, and connect with participants.

The software should also make tracking registrations and engagement metrics seamless. It should allow viewers and speakers alike to participate via an easy-to-use browser link without requiring an app download.

2. Engagement features for easy interaction

The best online event software should offer features that help participants network with each other. These could include live chat, video conferencing, and Q&A sessions.

Livestorm is built to engage audiences of any size. Our virtual conferencing software has in-room engagement features to keep audiences entertained and host successful virtual events.

3. Automated event recordings

When you host online events, you'll want to think beyond the livestream. The best software platforms record events automatically so you can share the content with viewers who couldn't attend live sessions or repurpose the content into blog posts or social media posts.

4. Analytics and reporting

The top software should have an analytics dashboard that lets you track registrations, viewers, and engagement metrics. This data can help you understand what works and what doesn't so you can make necessary changes for future events.

5. Customization options and sponsor engagement

The right software for your event should offer enough customization options to help you match your branding across all aspects of the event like registration pages and virtual booths.

It should also offer features like sponsor-branded feeds, dedicated sponsor pages, and chat rooms so attendees can connect with the right people.

6. Integration with other tools

If you're looking to seamlessly plan events, you need a virtual conference platform that integrates with the tools you're already using—like your CRM, email marketing platform, and payment processor. Seamless integration with your marketing and sales tech stack will help make the event management process smoother.

What are the different kinds of virtual events?

Events like webinars, training sessions, and online courses come in all shapes and sizes. Here are some of the most popular event types to consider hosting.

Industry conferences and presentations

Presentations from keynote speakers, experts, and analysts are a mainstay of many virtual conferences. These are large-scale events that take place over several days and attract hundreds or even thousands of attendees.

Webinars

Webinars are typically one-to-many presentations that last for an hour or less. They’re a great way for businesses, educators, exhibitors, and other experts to share information and generate leads.

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Professional onboarding and training

New employees need to be trained on company processes, products, and culture. The same goes for ongoing professional development for existing employees. These sessions are often led by in-house subject matter experts and involve small groups for hands-on learning.

Customer training

Product and customer support teams usually act as the event organizers for these sessions, hosting them to help customers get the most out of their purchases. They might include product demonstrations, how-to guides, and customer success stories. These sessions are often interactive, with plenty of time for questions and answers.

Recruitment fairs

Recruitment fairs bring together job seekers and employers for a day or more of networking, interviewing, and information sharing. These virtual recruiting events are usually hosted by colleges, universities, and professional organizations.

Product demos

Businesses launching a new product or service often hold an online event to generate buzz and interest. These product demos might include a keynote presentation, panel discussion, and Q&A with the product team.

Workshops

Virtual workshops provide a hands-on learning experience led by an expert instructor. Hackathons, coding boot camps, and cooking classes are all examples of workshops. These are ideal for business professionals, students, hobbyists, and DIYers who want to learn new skills.

Online courses

Remote and distance learning is a great way for businesses and educators to share knowledge with a global audience. There are many online learning websites that offer courses on everything from marketing to programming.

Online courses can be self-paced, focusing on reading materials, interactive modules, and quizzes, but the best ones will include virtual events like pre-recorded lectures, and live Q&A sessions or panel discussions.

Hybrid learning

Hybrid events combine the best of both worlds: the convenience of online learning like pre-recorded lectures, or online courses with the touch of in-person teaching like lectures, or seminars.

Q&As

Q&A sessions help engage with an audience and get feedback on your products, services, or ideas. They can be live or recorded and moderated by an expert panel or a single host.

Team meetings

Staying connected with colleagues, clients, and partners is essential for any business. Online events like team meetings, brainstorms, and all-hands calls help keep everyone on the same page.

Choose Livestorm as your virtual event software

The top online event platforms make it easy to host any type of event. From all-hands team meetings to virtual hiring events to webinars with business partners to industry conferences with guest speakers the best software helps you deliver an impactful, engaging experience that drives business results.

When you want a tool that can do it all, Livestorm is the best video conference software. Livestorm is packed with features designed to make online events more engaging and leverages event data so you can optimize conferences, meetings, and educational sessions for future success.

Sign up for a Livestorm account and set up your next online event today.