I gained’t fake I’m an occasion marketer. However my mother has been a director of particular occasions for over 20 years (shoutout to her), so I fully perceive the significance of excellent occasion registration instruments.
I’ve heard her rattle off the numerous duties that have to be accomplished earlier than, throughout, and after an occasion. And he or she comes from a small crew, so it’s very simple for issues to really feel overwhelming … and rapidly.
So, I did two issues: 1) I sat down with my occasion professional of a mother to speak about her favourite occasion registration software program, and a couple of) I scoured the web to provide you a number of extra choices to select from.
All I ask for in return? An invitation to your subsequent occasion 😉
Let’s get into it.
Occasion Registration Instruments
- HubSpot Kind Builder
- Cvent
- OneCause
- Google Kinds
- Splash
- Whova
- Eventbrite
- vFairs
- RSVPify
- Accelevents
I’ve damaged this listing into three sections:
- Free Event Registration Tools: You may even see a well-recognized face right here because it’s one choice that’s at all times free.
- An Event Director’s Favorite Tools: These are a few my mother’s picks primarily based on her expertise working occasions for a big, well-known non-profit for the final 20 years. (Right here’s a touch: Nice futures begin there.)
- Best Online Registration Tools: These are all the highly-rated occasion registration instruments that I discovered in my search that provide paid or each free and paid plans.
Professional tip: Earlier than you begin your seek for the proper occasion registration software, I’d suggest creating an occasion guidelines in the event you haven’t already. May I provide HubSpot’s Ultimate Event Planning Checklist? It covers the whole lot you want to know to seamlessly execute any occasion.
Anywho, pleased searching!
Free Occasion Registration Instruments
1. HubSpot Free Online Form Builder
Download the Online Form Builder for Free
I do know, I’m tooting our personal horn a bit of bit right here. However HubSpot’s Free On-line Kind Builder actually does make it simple so that you can design an occasion registration kind.
The drag-and-drop builder allows you to create, combine, and share varieties together with your viewers. Plus, all the attendee contact data is mechanically saved in your CRM. Good.
What I like most: There are over 1,000 kind fields and over 12 discipline sorts you should utilize to customise your occasion registration kind. Plus, it’s versatile and presents plugins with tools like WordPress and integrations with instruments like Gravity Forms.
You possibly can’t actually go unsuitable in the event you use a free software like this for occasion registration (or as your Content Hub, CRM, Marketing Software, Sales Software, or Service Software, for that matter).
Okay, I’ll cease gushing now.
An Occasion Director’s Favourite Instruments
2. Cvent
Cvent’s occasion expertise permits you to personalize your registration expertise.
You possibly can construct automated workflows to gather signups. You may also customise the visitor expertise utilizing focused campaigns and Cvent’s complete library of occasion templates.
I requested my mother, an esteemed director of particular occasions, what she likes most about Cvent, and he or she stated, “the wonderful thing about it’s you are able to do as little or as a lot as you want it to do.”
“The primary yr we used it, we had an 800-900 attendee occasion, and we used to do all the registration manually. Now, we’re ready to make use of Cvent to print badges and arrange self-registration with minimal involvement from our workers.”
Total, she’s a fan of the scalability of the platform and the assist it supplies to companies with little to no assets. She notes that this software “has been an enormous assist for her small however mighty useful resource growth crew.”
Worth: Contact Cvent for pricing.
3. OneCause
OneCause presents a personalized ticketing and fundraising platform. You possibly can create customized ticket sorts, group packages, and promo codes for attendees. So, in the event you work at a non-profit or oversee donor occasions like my mother, this one’s for you.
Just like Cvent, she likes OneCause as a result of it cuts down her handbook work by a ton. She says, “it permits us to promote tickets to attendees and sponsorships to our greatest donors.”
Plus, it’s actually good for managing different occasion components together with silent auctions.
“My crew sends the public sale hyperlink to visitors via OneCause, and winners get notified on the finish of the night time and pay straight through the platform. It’s tremendous easy, and the backend is simple to navigate,” she says.
Worth: Contact OneCause for pricing particulars.
Finest On-line Registration Instruments
4. Google Forms
I ship a great quantity of surveys to my crew, and I at all times use the free model of Google Kinds.
It really works nice for private use, however I discovered that Google additionally presents a paid model for groups that comes with larger safety and management over your knowledge.
Google Kinds permits you to:
- Create and ship occasion registration varieties for attendees and observe all sign-ups.
- Drag and drop your kind fields to customise the registration expertise.
- Add photos, movies, and customized logic to your kind as you see match.
What the G2 rating says: Google Workspace has a G2 rating of 4.6. Right here’s what customers suppose:
- Execs: Constructive evaluations say the software permits you to simply “create a ticketing system for enroll by attendees” and “promote occasions via electronic mail advertising and social media platforms.”
- Cons: Others say the “formatting and design of the varieties may use an improve” they usually’d “love integration with Gmail” and different instruments to allow them to embed quick varieties throughout the registration course of.
Notice: Since I don’t have private expertise with most of those instruments, I sifted via the G2 evaluations to provide you an concept of what works finest for customers and what doesn’t. I’ll embrace insights just like the above for every software on this part.
What I like most: Since Google Forms Workspace requires a Google Enterprise Plan, you’ll additionally acquire entry to Google’s different merchandise in addition to extra knowledge storage, wider video internet hosting choices, and added safety and administration controls to your occasions.
Worth: Plans vary in value from $6 to $18 monthly.
5. Splash
Throughout my search, I discovered that Splash was recently acquired by Cvent, however it’s nonetheless working as an occasion advertising program for on-line, in-person, and hybrid occasions.
Splash permits you to:
- Design and customise responsive internet pages and emails to your occasion.
- Share registration varieties and RSVPs to assist attendee signup.
- Create good visitor lists, concentrating on, and electronic mail advertising options to streamline occasion registration and promotion.
What the G2 rating says: Splash has a G2 rating of 4.4. Right here’s what customers suppose:
- Execs: Constructive evaluations say it’s a “user-friendly platform” that makes it “simple to create touchdown pages and registration varieties.” They point out you “don’t must be a designer or developer in any respect” to make use of it.
- Cons: Others say that the “web site builder” and “some design points” are a bit restricted, and the reporting options aren’t “exceptionally versatile.”
What I like most: To me, Splash seems to be the mixing queen. You should utilize Splash together with your advertising automation platform and CRM (hey there, HubSpot) to research occasion knowledge and use it to tell your future campaigns and occasions.
Worth: Try Splash for free, request a demo, or communicate with a gross sales rep to study the precise plan to your crew.
6. Whova
Whova is an occasion administration software that comes with some fairly strong occasion registration options. I’m speaking branded ticketing experiences, retargeting campaigns, and exhibitor or sponsor tiering.
Whova permits you to:
- Create tickets inside minutes and customise your registration workflows.
- Provide low cost pricing for early-bird or group ticket purchases) and various kinds of tickets (e.g., single vs. multi-day cross).
- Ask attendees questions on your occasion throughout registration (e.g., what made them need to attend or what they’re most excited for).
- Obtain early registration payouts to assist cowl your occasion bills.
What the G2 rating says: Whova has a G2 rating of … drum roll, please … 4.8. Right here’s what customers suppose:
- Execs: Constructive evaluations say the platform “simplifies occasion administration” and “solves the backup that happens throughout preliminary occasion registration.” They point out it’s a “one-stop-shop” for occasions and an enormous “time saver.”
- Cons: Others say they obtained “misplaced within the app” given the numerous options, and that Whova in all probability wants “a number of extra seize factors for guests” on registration.
What I like most: From what I’ve seen, this platform works exhausting for that prime G2 rating. From embeddable registration widgets to real-time attendee monitoring, yow will discover absolutely anything you want to run your occasion from begin to end.
Worth: Contact Whova straight for a quote.
7. Eventbrite
I’ve used Eventbrite to register for native meetups in Washington, DC, and area of interest health courses like pet yoga. On the attendee facet, it’s fairly simple to make use of for registration and to trace my upcoming occasions.
On the occasion administration facet, Eventbrite permits you to arrange your occasion registration in three simple steps:
- Enter your occasion particulars — the who, what, the place, when, and why.
- Create your tickets and choose the worth or kind (e.g., single vs. multi-day cross). You may also provide reductions for early-bird and group purchases.
- Open your registration and share the occasion through internet web page or social media.
What the G2 rating says: Eventbrite has a G2 rating of 4.3. Right here’s what customers suppose:
- Execs: Constructive evaluations say Eventbrite presents “a number of sorts of registration setups” and “administration dashboards with good analytics instruments.” Customers additionally like that you may “customise the registration feel and look” utilizing your individual graphics and logos.
- Cons: This one really comes from an occasion guru (my mother, once more). She stated it “doesn’t work effectively for big occasions” that require “extra detailed attendee knowledge and monitoring choices.”
What I like most: The easy three-step setup looks as if it could work nice for smaller-scale occasions and newer occasion entrepreneurs. Plus, Eventbrite is recognizable. As a shopper, I belief the platform as a dependable supply to seek out occasions close to me.
Worth: Eventbrite presents each free and paid plans. The Necessities and Skilled plans are free in the event you host a free occasion. Eventbrite will solely cost you once you promote a paid ticket.
8. vFairs
vFairs is one other end-to-end occasion platform that helps you handle all the occasion lifecycle. I regarded via the software program suite, and it consists of check-in and badge printing software program, digital occasions software program, occasion ticketing and registration software program, and extra.
vFairs permits you to:
- Create a branded occasion touchdown web page to advertise your occasion and seize registrations.
- Customise your registration varieties via a self-serve, drag-and-drop module.
- Implement if/then situations on the varieties to personalize the info collected primarily based on consumer choice.
- Securely gather funds via standard fee platforms like Stripe and PayPal.
What the G2 rating says: vFairs has a G2 rating of 4.7. Right here’s what customers suppose:
- Execs: Constructive evaluations say the platform is “extraordinarily simple to make use of” and “extremely consumer pleasant” with little to no technical points upon implementation.
- Cons: Others say the platform is strong, however “some options may benefit from extra customization choices.” And since it’s very complete, it may be “complicated to navigate” at instances.
What I like most: With vFairs, you’ll be able to mechanically set off electronic mail workflows for various consumer segments each throughout the platform and thru integrations together with your CRM. I at all times love when instruments take away the handbook points of my work and play effectively with others.
Worth: Contact vFairs for a personalized quote.
9. RSVPify
I poked across the RSVPify platform, and I can inform you it’s designed to deal with occasions of all sizes — the whole lot from informal occasions to enterprise {and professional} conferences.
RSVPify permits you to:
- Leverage customizable and responsive occasion registration and setup instruments.
- Streamline ticket gross sales, gather donations, create customized occasion check-ins QR codes.
- Construct an occasion web site with event-specific templates and a wide range of integration choices.
What the G2 rating says: RSVPify has a G2 rating of 4.6. Right here’s what customers suppose:
- Execs: Constructive evaluations say the method for preserving observe of visitor particulars was “seamless and arranged.” They point out the “fashionable interface” and say the platform supplies a “simplified expertise” for each admin and attendees.
- Cons: Others say there’s a “lack of customization for occasion emails and touchdown pages” and that added options like low cost codes “weren’t simply accessible.”
What I like essentially the most: It’s the flexibility for me. Whether or not you want to host a number of marquee occasions concurrently, an annual gala, or your marriage ceremony, RSVPify has an answer.
Worth: There’s a free option available, and paid choices vary from $19/month (for private occasions) to $39/month (for skilled occasions).
10. Accelevents
For my part, Accelevents is a good choice for occasions that require superior coordination. It’s an entire answer with ticketing and registration options like assigned seating, pre-registration, and the power to promote add-ons like merch or subscriptions.
Accelevents permits you to:
- Design a customized registration expertise for in-person, digital, or hybrid occasions.
- Create customized flows with conditional logic, attendee segmentation, embeddable widgets, and distinctive hyperlink monitoring.
- Construct customized API integrations or natively combine together with your CRM and advertising automation instruments.
What the G2 rating says: Accelevents has a G2 rating of 4.7. Right here’s what customers suppose:
- Execs: Constructive evaluations communicate volumes about their chat assist, citing that customer support is “SO FAST” and “10 seconds away and at all times prepared to assist.” In addition they point out it has the “finest worth for total options and customization.”
- Cons: Others say the cellular app was “a bit cumbersome” they usually ran right into a “few bugs“ and “minor points” whereas utilizing the platform.
What I like essentially the most: I’m a giant, huge fan of stellar customer support. As I regarded via the evaluations, I noticed tons of compliments for the Accelevents assist crew, and I believe that’s an enormous win — particularly for tech merchandise.
Worth: Contact Accelevents for a free trial and to schedule a demo.
RSVPs Made Straightforward (Nicely, At Least Simpler)
My recommendation for choosing occasion registration software program is that this: Take into consideration the registration options you completely can’t stay with out, and discover a software that does them effectively.
A lot of the instruments on the market (and on this listing) are complete, however some are higher than others in sure areas. Do the analysis, and select the precise software to your particular wants.
In the meantime, I’ll be right here rooting for the second you’ll be able to sit again and watch all of these hard-earned attendee sign-ups roll in.
Editor’s be aware: This put up was initially printed in January 2021 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.
