6 Favorite Virtual Summit Software for Engaging Summits

While you’re busy setting up your virtual summit, managing networking opportunities, and trying to create a strong brand image, busy attendees can become disengaged. Even if they don’t completely forget about your event afterward, they might not talk about it passionately with their network.

But virtual summit software can help you create an immersive, branded experience from start to finish. With the right platform, you can remind attendees of key information, engage them throughout the summit, and follow up with ease when it's over.

In this article, we explore the six best tools for managing and running virtual summits, taking into consideration features like customized event branding, engagement tools, and data analytics.

How we chose the best virtual summit software

A great virtual summit involves a dynamic, diverse conversation in which industry experts discuss a range of topics. For this reason, advanced engagement features which encourage more in-depth collaboration should be high on any virtual summit checklist.

We’ve assessed each of the tools on our list by looking at the following criteria:

• Networking rooms. Breakout rooms and booths can be used to facilitate networking, encourage deeper knowledge sharing, and enhance the attendee experience. They’re essential for virtual summits, where thought leaders are looking to forge new connections.
• Scheduling tools. To ensure you don’t lose attendees’ attention before they’ve even joined the summit, use scheduling tools to find and block the best time in their calendars.
• Ease of use. The best virtual summit software will be easy for you to use and simple for your attendees to engage with. Look for a browser-based platform that attendees can use with just one click.
• Branding options. Creating a strong brand identity throughout your virtual summit could make it more likely that attendees and audience members return in the future. You need customizable registration pages, event rooms, and email campaigns at the very least.
• Data analytics. You can make your virtual summits more engaging by analyzing data for past events. For example, you can look at levels of replays to determine how interesting and relevant the content was to your audience. The best virtual summit software comes with a simple, but powerful analytics dashboard.

6 Best virtual summit platforms to try this year

Finding a virtual summit platform that offers all the right features at a reasonable price can be a challenge. Perhaps you’re currently running your virtual summits on Zoom and looking to get access to more interactive features. Or maybe you’re using a tool that’s out of budget, but you still need to be able to host large amounts of people as you scale.

In this section, we help you find the perfect virtual event software for you, pointing out what each one is best for, looking at pricing information, and exploring key features with insights from the criteria above.

1. Livestorm: Best for all-in-one event management
2. HeySummit: Best for beginner summits
3. Accelevents: Best for data analytics
4. Zoom Events: Best for networking
5. CrowdComms: Best for hybrid events
6. EventsAir: Best for virtual environment

Livestorm: Best for all-in-one event management

As an all-in-one virtual conferencing solution, Livestorm can help you plan and run everything from virtual summits and workshops to webinars and internal meetings - all in the same place. It’s entirely browser-based, meaning attendees can easily join your virtual summits without creating an account or downloading an app. You can also manage their data securely using its intuitive interface. And with an extensive range of branding and engagement features, participants get the most value every time.

Livestorm’s key features

• Engagement tools. Use live chat, polls, Q&As, virtual whiteboards, and emoji reactions to encourage active participation and connections among attendees.
• Networking rooms. Experiment with different styles of networking by splitting attendees into breakout rooms manually or letting people connect with others freely.
• A registration page builder. Create branded sign-up pages with images and videos to create a strong first impression and capture lead data.
• Room design. Create a visually appealing background design to impress participants and showcase your company branding.
• Engagement analytics. View event attendee figures, get unlimited replay views, and analyze traffic data to optimize future events.
• Scheduling tools. Send automated email reminders and help employees find the best date for the summit with calendar integrations like Calendly and Google Calendar.
• CRM integration. Connect Livestorm with your customer relationship solution to collect contacts and follow up with participants after the event.

Why choose Livestorm?

For engaging online meetings, you need a platform that allows every attendee to feel seen and connected. Livestorm lets you do just that, with a range of engagement tools that are perfect for sparking conversation in events with up to 3,000 participants (but just as useful in small-scale internal meetings).

Livestorm’s pricing

Livestorm offers a free package that is great for events of up to 20 minutes with fewer than 30 people involved, Meanwhile, our second tier is $79 per month and perfect for small businesses and larger businesses, and enterprises are given tailored quotes.

HeySummit: Best for beginner summits

HeySummit is an easy-to-use virtual summit platform with features for planning, running, and marketing a virtual event. The only thing to be aware of is that it contains only limited branding options and engagement tools.

HeySummit’s key features

• Speaker directory. Search for and contact expert speakers if you’re running low on numbers.
• Speaker dashboard. Allow attendees to create their own descriptions and review details before the event.
• Talk management features. Add linked media and offers to your events to improve engagement.
• A registration page builder. Use themes and integrate pre-loaded speaker lists and event countdown timers. You can also use CSS to add customized features.
• Marketing tools. Use email templates to engage attendees and share copy for speakers to use to promote the summit.
• Registration insights. Understand who is joining your event with live, segmented data.

Why choose HeySummit?

If you’re just starting out running summits and need a little extra support, HeySummit is a great option. The marketing templates are a great base and the speaker directory could prove helpful while you try to build up industry contacts.

HeySummit’s pricing

HeySummit offers three packages ranging between $49 a month and $349 a month. And it’s worth noting that you can only remove the HeySummit branding with the most expensive package.

Accelevents: Best for data analytics

Accelevents is a cloud-based virtual event platform that offers advanced analytics that can help larger marketing teams to understand audience segments. Inside the software, you can assign links to campaigns, channels, or team members to monitor the success of your virtual summits in more detail.

Accelevents’ key features

• Breakout rooms. Encourage attendees to connect with pre-event networking, breakout sessions, and exhibitor spaces that are tagged by topic. You can also assign people to networking sessions based on these tags.
• Registration page builder. Use templates to quickly create landing pages with custom registration forms.
• An event app. Your attendees can watch content, submit questions, and participate in forums, polls, and Q&A sessions from their mobile.
• Event analytics. Discover how much attendees are networking and engaging with Q&As and monitor event page visits and registrations in real time.
• A wide range of integrations. Accelevents integrates with over 10 CRM, communications, and marketing tools.

Why choose Accelevents?

Though Accelevents has a bit of a steep learning curve, it’s great for larger marketing teams with more time to dedicate to the tool. Once set up, the analytics will become an important part of learning how to create an engaging summit.

Accelevents’ pricing

Accelevents’ standard package costs $12,000 a year. For larger businesses hosting more frequent events, the enterprise package based on tailored pricing will be better suited.

Zoom Events: Best for networking

A separate product from the Zoom software most of us are familiar with, Zoom Events was created specifically for hosting and managing virtual events. As such, it includes advanced features such as customized event pages, breakout rooms, and content streaming.

Zoom Events’ key features

• Networking tools. Give your attendees information about other event participants ahead of time to optimize connections.
• Event branding. Customize your registration page and event rooms with colors and your logo.
• Meeting recordings. Record and stream your events to the lobby so audience members remain engaged while they wait to speak.
• Integration with CRM tools. Follow up with contacts through Zoom Events’ integrations with software like Dynamic 365 and Salesforce.

Why choose Zoom Events?

Zoom Events’ networking functionality is perfect for large groups where people don’t know each other as well. However, when comparing Zoom to other platforms, bear in mind that Zoom doesn’t support automated or on-demand webinars.

Zoom Events’ pricing

Zoom Events costs a flat rate of $1490 per year which you pay separately from any other Zoom subscriptions. You’ll also have extra charges when you add more event managers to the backend.

CrowdComms: Best for hybrid events

CrowdComms has an event platform and supports both in-person setup and remote attendee engagement, making it perfect for hybrid events. It’s also geared up for complex agendas, so you can split audiences and host simultaneous sessions at once.

CrowdComms’ key features

• Engagement tools. Use live chat, polls, and Q&As to connect remote and in-person audiences.
• Customizable design. Start with templates or utilize CrowdComms’ specialist design team to create an engaging virtual experience.
• On-demand content. Create a library for easy, on-demand post-event viewing.
• Hybrid event support. Get help with on-site streaming from CrowdComms’ support team and utilize the events app for in-person engagement.
• Extensive integrations. Connect to analytics software, event planning tools, and ticketing solutions.

Why choose CrowdComms?

If you’re trying to engage both on-site and remote attendees, CrowdComms could be a good choice. Features such as Q&A and live chat work across both the events app and the live-streaming platform to keep everyone connected.

CrowdComms’ pricing

CrowdComms doesn't have pricing information on its site. Instead, you have to get in touch for a tailored quote.

EventsAir: Best for virtual environment

EventsAir also offers solutions for hybrid and in-person events, but one of the features it’s best known for is its 3D conference mode. This virtual environment engages remote attendees before the summit starts, with virtual exhibition halls, video meeting software, and seamless branding.

EventsAir’s key features

• Landing page creator. Make registration pages easily with a drag-and-drop builder.
• Engagement tools. Allow remote attendees to preview and instantly join sessions and contribute to live discussions, polls, and Q&As.
• Green room. Have presenters enter the green room for sound and visual checks before going live.
• Marketing tools. Send automated check-in emails, create enticing landing pages, and get social media support.
• Hybrid support. Use project management, budgeting, inventory tools, and a branded app to manage in-person events.

Why choose EventsAir?

If you’re hosting a large event and will have people waiting around to join sessions, EventsAir could be a great option with its engaging virtual environment. Bear in mind though, some users report that the software can be buggy and slow to set up.

EventsAir’s pricing

EventsAir doesn't have pricing information on its site. Instead, you have to get in touch for a tailored quote.

How to engage a growing number of attendees

To find the right virtual summit software for your needs, you need to decide on your long-term approach to engaging attendees.

If you’re looking to keep the attention of large numbers of attendees, a networking and analytics-focused solution like Accelevents or Livestorm could be the right fit. On the other hand, if you only plan on running smaller summits, beginner-focused software like HeySummit could work well.

Our tip? Choose Livestorm for simplified event planning. With our platform, you get support from the planning stages right through to follow-up, thanks to robust automation features and 1000s of integrations. Plus, you’ll provide the same engaging experience whether you’re running a small internal meeting or a large-scale summit.

Frequently asked questions about virtual summit software

How do you conduct a virtual summit?

To run a successful virtual summit, you need to:

• Define your target audience
• Approach relevant speakers
• Find an engaging streaming platform
• Create branded registration pages and rooms
• Use scheduling tools to remind speakers and audience members of the event
• Encourage networking
• Follow up with speakers
• Analyze analytics

Livestorm allows you to manage every stage of your virtual summit alongside other events in a centralized platform. Find the best date, engage speakers, and follow up with branded emails all in one place.

What does hosting a summit mean?

Hosting an online summit typically means bringing together industry experts to discuss a particular topic or issue. The summit may involve panel discussions, keynote speeches, workshops, and networking opportunities.

The host is responsible for planning and coordinating the event, selecting speakers and topics, and creating an environment that facilitates productive discussion and collaboration among participants.

Is there anything to watch out for when hosting a virtual summit?

When hosting a virtual summit you need to look out for:

• Timing. Make sure to check the availability of your speakers and find a date that works for everyone. You can use a calendar integration and virtual summit software such as Livestorm for this.
• Technical issues. Be sure to choose a platform that is secure and doesn’t often go down.
• Engagement. Track how involved your attendees are and encourage them to use interactive features to keep their attention.