The 6 Best Event Marketing Platforms in 2025 (Paid & Free)

 

Managing B2B events is much more complex than simply sending invitations and tracking RSVPs.

As an event marketer, you need to coordinate guest lists across sales and marketing teams, track attendance of high-value customers, measure event ROI, and ensure the right people actually show up—not just fill seats. 

On top of that, many teams try to handle this using Excel spreadsheets for guest lists, generic email tools for invitations, separate check-in apps on event day, and manual processes to sync data back to their CRM afterward.

The typical event management approach isn’t built for this level of detail. Conventional tools either leave sales and marketing disconnected or require time-consuming manual work that makes it impossible to track actual business impact.

Instead, if you’re running B2B events and want to avoid fragmented processes, a modern event marketing platform should enable you to:

• Collaborate on a single guest list across sales and marketing teams.
• Send invitations under individual account managers’ names, rather than generic company addresses.
• Automatically capture attendance data and sync it back to your CRM for pipeline and ROI tracking.
• Measure which accounts attended and the revenue impact without cross-referencing spreadsheets.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through six event marketing platforms designed specifically for B2B organizations. You’ll see what each platform does best, where it falls short, and which use cases it’s built to solve—from enterprise-grade solutions for teams running 50+ events annually to free DIY options for one-off community gatherings.

If you’re short on time, here’s a birds-eye view of the platforms:

Comparison at a glance

 

1. InviteDesk: Event management platform built for B2B sales and marketing collaboration

Best for: B2B sales and marketing teams running customer events, hospitality events, roadshows, and executive dinners where guest quality matters more than guest quantity

InviteDesk is built for sales and marketing teams who run relationship-driven B2B events, think executive dinners, product launches, seminars, roadshows, and more—where the objective is getting specific decision-makers to attend, not just filling seats.

Our platform removes “Excel chaos” by centralizing guest management, aligning sales and marketing, and syncing attendance back to your CRM so you can measure real business impact. InviteDesk is designed to boost event ROI (typically +25%) while cutting admin time in half.

InviteDesk makes life easier for every team involved by putting guest- and account-level data at the center of your event workflow.

When a guest is added, all related details—account owner, invite quota, communication history, registration status, and check-in—are available to both sales and marketing in real time. That single source of truth stops duplicate invites, short-circuits manual spreadsheet merges, and gives sales the visibility they need to follow up while the event is still top of mind.

Below, we’ll walk through how InviteDesk helps B2B event teams:

• Centralize guest lists and quotas.
• Send invites from account managers’ emails.
• Auto-sync registrations and check-ins to CRM.
• Single event, multiple languages.
• Fast offline QR check-in (ScanApp).
• GDPR, ISO 27001, and EU hosting.
• Rapid, in-house support.
• Track attendance, pipeline, and ROI.

Stop managing guest lists in spreadsheets that sales and marketing teams edit separately

Most B2B events are about precision — getting the right decision-makers in the room, not chasing raw registration numbers.

But too many teams still run invite programs from emailed Excel files. That creates slow handoffs, stale lists, accidental double-invites, and sales follow-ups that happen days too late.

InviteDesk replaces that messy file handoff with a single live guest system that both sales and marketing work from. Sales can add Tier A contacts and see their invite quotas. Marketing controls messaging, timing, and capacity. Changes surface in real time and everything syncs back to your CRM.

Each guest record captures the practical, sales-first details you actually need:

• Company name, primary contact, role, phone, email
• Assigned account manager, invite quota, allocation history, who invited
• Registration status, session choices, check-in timestamp, waitlist position
• Sent emails, template used, personal notes, scheduled follow-ups
• Dietary needs, seating requests, accessibility notes, plus-one details
• GDPR consent, opt-in flags, retention date and audit notes
• Tier A/B, executive, partner, industry, and custom fields for account scoring
• Auto-created follow-up tasks, linked opportunities, attendance logged to Salesforce/HubSpot/Dynamics

No more wrestling with multiple spreadsheet versions — just one accurate guest profile that powers faster sales follow-up, cleaner reporting, and a clear audit trail of who was invited, who came, and why it mattered.

Send invitations from individual account managers’ email addresses instead of generic marketing mailboxes

Relationship-driven B2B events live and die on personal connections. When invites arrive from a generic address like events@company.com, they read like mass marketing — not a one-to-one ask from the person who actually owns the relationship. That small mismatch makes executive dinners, VIP briefings, and client dinners feel impersonal and lowers the chance a key decision-maker says yes.

Most event platforms default to a single sender address, so even highly targeted outreach looks like a campaign. Replies get routed to a shared inbox, follow-ups are delayed, and the account owner loses the moment to add a personal touch.

InviteDesk fixes this by letting you send invites on behalf of individual staff members. Each message can be sent from a salesperson’s name (e.g. john.smith@company.com), while replies can be directed to a different address, like the events team. This way, the invite feels personal and relationship-driven, but responses are still managed centrally by the right team.

 

The platform also handles deliverability and authentication behind the scenes so personal sends don’t get flagged as spam.

Each invite in InviteDesk can include:

• Sender as the account manager’s real email — customers see the invite come from a person, not a department.
• Personalization tokens and editable templates — customize copy, signature
• Automated follow-ups tied to RSVP behavior — no manual chasing when someone opens but doesn’t respond.
• Reply routing and inbox handling — responses land with the account manager, not a shared mailbox (unless you want to).
• Deliverability safeguards — DKIM/SPF alignment and sending best practices managed for you.

Tracking per account manager — see who invited whom, open rates, and acceptance so sales can act fast.

 

When invites feel personal, acceptance improves and conversations happen earlier. Users report “very positive feedback from invitees” and smoother, more professional outreach — because the invitation actually looks like it came from the person who matters.

Track event ROI by syncing attendance data back to your CRM without manual exports

After an event, stakeholders want proof: which customers attended, which opportunities moved, and what pipeline the event influenced. Most platforms force you to export attendee lists, import them into your CRM, and wait—often costing hours and delaying sales follow-up.

InviteDesk removes that manual step with native CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics) and open APIs. 

 

Data flows automatically as it happens:

• Registration syncs to the correct contact or company record.
• Check-ins are shared with your CRM, so attendance can be logged as activities if your setup supports it.
• Session selections and survey responses attach to the attendee’s record.
• Declines and reasons become contact intelligence for sales.
• Attendance data can be linked to opportunities, depending on how you manage influenced pipeline in your CRM.
• Follow-up tasks can be created in your CRM using the data InviteDesk provides.
• Event → campaign attribution populates reports for clean pipeline tracking.
  

Because everything syncs in real time, sales can follow up while the event is top of mind, marketing gets accurate attribution for pipeline reports, and executives see ROI metrics without waiting on spreadsheet wrangling. Customers tell us this integration removes the typical “we need a clean attendee list” delay that used to stretch days after an event.

Manage multilingual events across Europe without creating separate registration pages per language

When running the same event in multiple countries, most teams create separate registration pages for each language—German for Frankfurt, French for Paris, Dutch for Amsterdam. That means maintaining multiple versions, manually syncing capacity, and hoping translations stay consistent. It’s slow, error-prone, and eats up setup time.

InviteDesk solves this with built-in multilingual capabilities. A single event can support multiple languages across registration pages, automated emails, and the mobile app. Attendees select their preferred language and see content automatically translated, so you don’t need duplicate events for each region.

 

Multilingual features include:

• Registration pages in multiple languages, fully localized.
• Automated emails that match the attendee’s language choice.
• Mobile app experience translated per attendee preference.
• Single event dashboard with unified capacity and registration tracking.
• Consistent branding across languages without manual duplication.

For pan-European roadshows or multi-country product launches, this reduces setup time dramatically. Instead of managing five separate events, you create one event that serves all regions while maintaining language-specific messaging and professional, localized experiences.

Check in hundreds of attendees in minutes using QR code scanning

Event check-in often becomes a bottleneck—200 guests arriving in 30 minutes can overwhelm venue WiFi, leaving lines that frustrate attendees and delay your start. Systems that require constant connectivity fail in these moments, creating chaos at the door.

InviteDesk’s ScanApp solves this with mobile QR code check-in using phones, dedicated scanners, or webcams. The app stores data locally and syncs automatically. Organizers get real-time updates, capacity is managed automatically across multiple sessions, and waitlists adjust instantly if guests cancel at the last minute.

 

Check-in features include:

• Offline QR scanning via phone, scanner, or webcam.
• Real-time arrival updates for organizers.
• Automatic capacity management for multiple sessions.
• Waitlist handling if registered guests cancel.
• Fast check-in for 100–500 attendees, reducing lines from 30 minutes to just minutes.

With ScanApp, even high-volume events run smoothly. Attendees move through efficiently, and organizers can focus on the experience rather than managing bottlenecks.

Get responses to support questions within minutes instead of waiting days for ticket resolution

Even experienced event managers can run into technical issues—like a registration glitch or a bulk import failing right before an event. Most platforms offer generic email support or outsourced teams, leaving you to wait hours or even days for a solution.

InviteDesk takes a different approach. Our in-house support team knows the platform inside out and resolves tickets quickly, often within minutes. They provide clear, specific guidance instead of generic troubleshooting steps, so your events keep running smoothly.

 

Support highlights:

• Direct access to an in-house team familiar with your workflows.
• Rapid response times, especially during critical moments.
• Step-by-step guidance tailored to the issue, not scripted answers.
• Focused on minimizing delays for time-sensitive events.
• Communication channels that prioritize urgent problems.

Users consistently report that fast, knowledgeable support is a major benefit, helping them stay confident and in control, even when last-minute issues arise.

 

2. Cvent: Enterprise event management for organizations running 50+ complex events annually

Best for: Large associations, enterprise corporations, and event management companies running dozens of conferences, tradeshows, and multi-day events with dedicated event staff

 

Cvent is a cloud-based event management platform with modules for registration, venue sourcing, and post-event analytics.

While it’s not a simple scheduling tool, enterprise organizations use it to manage complex in-person, virtual, and hybrid events at scale, handling everything from initial planning to attendee reporting. The platform serves over 24,000 customers worldwide and processes more than 240 million registrations annually.

Key features

• Registration system with conditional logic and complex multi-path flows
• Venue sourcing tool connecting to 300,000+ global properties via RFP system
• Native CRM integrations with Salesforce, Marketo, HubSpot, and Eloqua
• Mobile event apps with networking, gamification, and push notifications
• Event website builder with branded templates
• OnArrival check-in system with iPad-based badge printing
• Virtual and hybrid event capabilities with streaming and on-demand content
• Analytics dashboard with engagement scoring and ROI tracking

Pros

• Users describe Cvent as an “all-in-one solution” that replaces multiple platforms.
• Registration system supports complex workflows with conditional logic.
• Venue sourcing RFP tool reduces back-and-forth emails.
• Reporting and analytics provide actionable data.
• Customer support is responsive and helpful.
• CRM integrations allow automatic data syncing.
• Platform can handle large conferences with 1,500+ attendees.

Cons

• Steep learning curve; users report “months of continuous practice” to master the platform.
• High costs for smaller organizations; many features require paid add-ons beyond base pricing.
• Standard annual price increases of around 9% per contract year.
• Limited customization of event website designs.
• Non-intuitive interface requires training.
• Frequent unannounced platform updates can disrupt workflows.

Pricing

Prices below are estimates according to Capterra & G2

• Custom quote-based pricing; no published rates.
• Small events (up to 100 attendees): $3,000–$5,000/year.
• Mid-market organizations: $10,000–$20,000/year.
• Enterprise implementations: $50,000–$150,000+/year.
• Typically includes per-registrant fees ($3–$12 per registrant) and 3.99% payment processing fees.

User reviews

• G2: 4.3/5 from 2,133+ reviews
• Capterra: 4.4/5 from 950+ reviews
• Software Advice: 4.43/5 from 627 reviews

Best suited for organizations running 50+ events annually with dedicated staff and substantial budgets.

Using Cvent but not fully satisfied? Check out the best Cvent alternatives worth considering.

 

3. Bizzabo: Consolidated event platform for B2B companies eliminating multiple tools

Best for: Mid-market B2B companies running 10-25 events annually who want to consolidate registration, email marketing, mobile apps, and analytics into one system

 

Bizzabo is an event management platform designed for B2B marketers, combining multiple tools into a single system for registration, attendee engagement, and analytics.

The platform supports events ranging from small 20-person webinars to large conferences with 10,000+ attendees, providing high reliability with a 99.99% uptime SLA. It is recognized in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Event Technology Platforms.

 

Key features

• Registration and ticketing with customizable flows and payment processing
• Event website builder with drag-and-drop, no-code interface
• Mobile event app with real-time updates and networking functionality
• Klik SmartBadges for contactless networking and lead capture (4X increase reported)
• Virtual and hybrid capabilities with built-in streaming and live Q&A
• Native integrations with HubSpot, Salesforce, Marketo, and Pardot
• iPad-based check-in with badge printing and session tracking
• Real-time analytics dashboard with attendee engagement tracking
• Email marketing automation with workflows and post-event follow-ups

Pros

• Users describe the interface as intuitive and easy to use, requiring no coding knowledge.
• Customer support receives positive feedback for responsiveness from dedicated customer success managers.
• Platform consolidates multiple tools, with users reporting reduced tech stack complexity.
• Modern, clean design allows professional-looking websites and apps.
• Recognized on G2 for fast implementation relative to other platforms.
• Integrations enable CRM data flow.
• Can scale from 20 to 10,000+ attendees on a single platform.

 

Cons

• Onsite equipment failures reported (WiFi routers, badge printers, iPads).
• Onsite support can be difficult to reach during live events.
• Limited website customization compared with dedicated website builders.
• No onsite payment processing; transactions limited to pre-event only.
• Push notifications cannot be edited after creation.
• Marketo integration reported as unstable.
• Pricing can be prohibitive for smaller organizations.

 

Pricing

Prices below are estimates according to Capterra & G2

• Custom quote-based pricing with annual subscriptions.
• Basic packages start around $15,000/year.
• Mid-tier: approximately $499/user per month, billed annually.
• Implementation costs: $2,000–$5,000 for SMBs, $10,000+ for enterprises.

 

User reviews

• G2: 4.5-4.7/5 from 348-370+ reviews (Grid Leader in G2 Spring 2025 Awards)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 from 112+ reviews
• TrustRadius: Top Rated awards 2023-2024

Best suited for B2B companies running 10-25 events annually with budgets exceeding $15,000/year.

 

4. Eventbrite: Free event publishing with marketplace discovery for smaller events

Best for: Event creators managing free community events or paid ticketed events under 500 attendees who need marketplace discoverability

 

Eventbrite operates as “the world’s largest events marketplace,” connecting 93 million ticket buyers to events of all sizes. 

Unlike platforms charging annual license fees, Eventbrite uses a free-to-publish model where organizers only pay fees on paid tickets, with free events costing nothing.

Key features

• Free event publishing with unlimited capacity and no upfront costs
• AI-powered event setup for rapid configuration
• Ticketing and registration with QR code mobile check-in
• Marketing suite with email automation and social media promotion
• Payment processing with Apple Pay and Google Pay support
• Discovery marketplace featuring events to 93M+ potential attendees
• Analytics and reporting with promotional tracking
• 500+ integrations including Zoom, Facebook Live, Mailchimp, and PayPal
• Mobile organizer app for real-time management and onsite sales

Pros

• Users report the interface is intuitive and easy to use, with integrated ticketing.
• Event setup can be completed quickly.
• Event management tools include a wide range of features.
• Integrates with platforms such as Facebook Events and Zoom.
• Free events can use the platform at no cost with full access.
• Marketplace discovery reportedly drives a large portion of attendees (about 70%).
• Mobile functionality supports real-time check-in and sales tracking.

 

Cons

• High fees on paid tickets (around 6.5%+) can reduce revenue for smaller events and nonprofits.
• Customer support can be slow or difficult to reach during urgent issues.
• Limited customization compared with dedicated website platforms.
• Funds from ticket sales are held until after events, affecting cash flow for pre-event activities.
• Two separate dashboards require switching between interfaces.
• Email editor is basic, with no pre-built templates.

 

Pricing

• Free events: $0 with full platform access
• Paid events: 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket plus 2.9% payment processing (approximately 6.5%+ total)
• Pro Plans: $15-$100/month for email marketing capabilities
• Nonprofit discount: 50% off for qualifying organizations

User reviews

• G2: 4.4/5 from 891+ reviews
• Capterra: 4.6/5 from verified reviews
• Software Advice: 4.5/5 from verified reviews

Best suited for free community events or paid events under 500 attendees where marketplace discovery provides value.

 

5. Swoogo: User-based pricing with unlimited events for high event volumes

Best for: Corporate event teams and associations managing 25+ events annually who need advanced customization without per-event fees

 

Swoogo uses user-based pricing with unlimited events and registrations rather than charging per-event or per-registrant fees. Founded in 2015, the platform targets corporate event planners managing high volumes of in-person, virtual, and hybrid events from field marketing roadshows to 5,000+ attendee conferences.

Key features

• Advanced registration with unlimited conditional logic and 15+ question formats
• Drag-and-drop website builder with 40+ widgets and 12+ themes
• Email marketing automation with personalized workflows
• Virtual and hybrid tools with Event Hub for streaming integration
• Session and speaker management with Call for Speakers module
• Mobile apps for attendee engagement and Go Onsite check-in with offline capability
• Real-time analytics with 15+ built-in customizable reports
• 30+ free native CRM integrations including Salesforce, Marketo, and HubSpot
• SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS Level 1, and GDPR compliant

Pros

• Customer support receives high marks, with reported response times around 15 minutes.
• Platform described as user-friendly and intuitive, with drag-and-drop builders requiring minimal technical knowledge.
• High customization supports events from small webinars to 5,000+ attendee conferences.
• Transparent per-user pricing model, generally lower cost than per-event platforms at high event volumes.
• Virtual and hybrid capabilities with integrations to streaming platforms.

Cons

• Learning curve for advanced features, especially when using HTML/CSS customization.
• Design customization more limited compared to some competitors.
• Pricing can still be expensive for small businesses or nonprofits.
• Reporting has limitations; cross-event analytics often require manual workarounds.
• Mobile app offers fewer features than desktop version and can have minor bugs.

 

Pricing

Prices below are estimates according to Capterra & G2

• User-based pricing rather than per-event or per-registrant.
• Professional Tier: approx. $11,800/year for 1 Full User + 1 Reporting User, unlimited events, unlimited registrations, 30+ integrations.
• Enterprise Tier: custom pricing with advanced personalization, enterprise security, dedicated Customer Success Manager, and 99.9% uptime SLA.

User reviews

• G2: 5.0/5 from 181+ reviews (98% gave five stars)
• Capterra: 4.7-4.8/5 from 82 reviews
• GetApp: 4.7/5 from 82 reviews

Best suited for organizations running 25+ events annually with budgets exceeding $11,000/year.

 

6. Spreadsheets (Free): DIY event management for simple one-off events

Best for: Individuals planning personal events, small nonprofits, and solopreneurs organizing basic gatherings under 50 attendees with minimal budgets

Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel serve as free DIY options for basic event planning. These tools target solopreneurs, nonprofit organizations, and individuals organizing baby showers, community events, or small corporate gatherings who cannot justify spending thousands annually on dedicated event software.

Looking to use spreadsheets? We’ve created an in-depth guide on how to create google form for event registration.

Key features

• Attendee tracking with RSVP management
• Budget planning comparing estimated versus actual costs
• Task lists with assignment tracking
• Guest list management with contact information
• Vendor coordination worksheets
• Timeline planning using formulas
• Free templates available from Microsoft, Google, and third-party providers
• Cloud-based collaboration (Google Sheets)
• Offline access capability

Pros

• Free to use (Google Sheets) or included with existing subscriptions (Excel).
• No learning curve due to widespread familiarity.
• Offers unlimited customization flexibility.
• Cloud-based collaboration available with Google Sheets.
• Works across multiple devices.
• Easy data export.
• Simple for managing basic events.
• Can create custom setups without software limitations.

 

Cons

• No automation; all updates must be made manually.
• High risk of human error.
• Poor scalability for complex events.
• Limited real-time collaboration can cause version control issues.
• No automated reminders or notifications.
• Lacks attendee management features such as check-ins.
• Security risks with scattered or unprotected data.
• Time-consuming setup from scratch.
• Limited data handling can cause performance issues with large datasets.
• No integration with registration or ticketing systems.
• Frequent crashes when working with very large datasets.

 

Pricing

• Google Sheets: Completely free with a Google account
• Microsoft Excel: $6.99-$9.99/month for Microsoft 365 subscriptions, or $149.99 one-time purchase for Office 2024

 

Choose the right event marketing platform for your B2B event needs

The right event marketing platform depends on your organization’s event volume, target audience, budget, and whether you prioritize guest quality or guest quantity.

Choose InviteDesk if you’re a B2B sales and marketing team running customer events, executive dinners, or roadshows where targeting high-value customers matters more than maximizing registrations. The platform excels when you need sales and marketing collaboration on guest selection, invitations sent from individual account managers’ email addresses, CRM integration for ROI tracking, and GDPR-compliant European data hosting. Budget for custom pricing based on your event volume and team size.

Choose Cvent if you’re an enterprise organization managing 50+ complex events annually with dedicated event staff, need comprehensive venue sourcing across 300,000+ properties, and require deep CRM integrations for large conferences. Budget $50,000-$150,000+/year and accept months of training time for your team to master the platform.

Choose Bizzabo if you’re a mid-market B2B company running 10-25 events annually and want to consolidate registration, email marketing, mobile apps, and analytics into one system. Budget $15,000+/year for user-based pricing. Ensure adequate WiFi infrastructure to mitigate reported onsite equipment issues.

Choose Eventbrite if you’re organizing free community events at zero cost, managing paid events under 500 attendees, or need marketplace discovery to reach 93M potential attendees. Accept 6.5%+ fees on paid tickets and limited customer support access. Ideal for events where marketplace discoverability drives registrations.

Choose Swoogo if you’re running 25+ events annually and need advanced customization without per-event fees. Budget $11,800+/year for user-based pricing with unlimited events. Expect 15-minute support response times but accept initial learning curves for maximizing advanced features.

Choose spreadsheets only for simple personal events under 50 attendees with zero budget, where you don’t need automation, attendee communication, payment processing, or professional features. Accept manual data entry for everything and version control challenges as complexity increases.

For B2B organizations where event success is measured by which specific customers attended rather than total registration numbers, platforms like InviteDesk that enable sales-marketing collaboration and provide clean CRM attribution deliver significantly better ROI than generic event software designed for consumer ticketing or large public conferences.