10 Best Virtual Event Platforms in 2026
The best virtual event platforms in 2026 are Eventify, ON24, Goldcast, Airmeet, Hubilo, vFairs, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Zoom Events, and GoTo Webinar, each built for a different job, from all-in-one hybrid event management to simple team webinars. Below, I compare real pricing, features, and support levels so you can pick the right one for your event size and budget, not just the one with the flashiest homepage.
Key Takeaways
- Eventify leads this list for transparent, tiered pricing (starting at $99/month) and true flexibility across virtual, hybrid, and in-person events.
- ON24 and Goldcast are strongest for enterprise webinar analytics and produced B2B content.
- Google Meet and Microsoft Teams work well if your team already lives inside that ecosystem, but they lack native event branding, ticketing, and analytics.
- The virtual events market is still growing double digits a year, and most organizers now see it as a permanent part of their strategy, not a stopgap.
- Check pricing transparency, format flexibility, engagement tools, attendee management, security certifications, and support before you sign anything.
I have spent the last few years talking to hundreds of event planners, agencies, associations, and AMCs through Eventify's client interview series, alongside running our own webinars and hybrid conferences and reading more G2 and Capterra threads than I would like to admit. If you have planned even one of the many types of virtual events, you know the problem: every virtual event platform homepage says "all-in-one," and none of them tell you what that actually costs once you add attendees, branding, and support.
So instead of another generic roundup, I pulled our own event data, sat through fresh demos of each online conference platform below, and compared real pricing pages line by line, including ours. I am not going to pretend Eventify is the right fit for every use case, but I will tell you exactly where it wins, where it does not, and why.
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📌 Jump to: Comparison table · Why Eventify · Full reviews · Stats · People also ask · Final Thoughts · FAQs
Quick answer: my top picks
- Best overall value for a growing event team: Eventify
- Best for enterprise-scale B2B conferences: ON24
- Best for polished, produced webinars: Goldcast
- Best for teams already living in Google Workspace: Google Meet
- Best for expo-style trade shows: vFairs
- Best for pre-recorded, automated webinars: GoTo Webinar
Comparison table
| # | Platform | G2 Rating | Best For | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eventify | ★★★★★ 4.9 (60+) | All-in-one virtual, hybrid, and in-person events with transparent pricing | $99–$299/mo, custom for Ultimate | Get Demo |
| 2 | ON24 | ★★★★☆ 4.3 (1,200+) | AI-powered webinar analytics | Custom pricing | Website |
| 3 | Goldcast | ★★★★★ 4.7 (235) | B2B marketing events | Custom pricing | Website |
| 4 | Airmeet | ★★★★★ 4.6 (750+) | Branded virtual conferences | ~$9–$167/user/mo | Website |
| 5 | Hubilo | ★★★★★ 4.6 (460+) | Event marketing and sponsor activation | ~$800/mo | Website |
| 6 | vFairs | ★★★★★ 4.7 (1,750+) | Expos and trade shows | Custom pricing | Website |
| 7 | Google Meet | ★★★★☆ 4.2 (18,000+) | Teams already on Google Workspace | ~$6–$7/user/mo | Website |
| 8 | Microsoft Teams | ★★★★★ 4.7 (70+) | Teams on Microsoft 365 | ~$4/user/mo | Website |
| 9 | Zoom Events | ★★★★☆ 4.5 (390+) | Simple online meetings and webinars | From $149/mo (100 attendees) | Website |
| 10 | GoTo Webinar | ★★★★☆ 4.2 (795) | Pre-recorded, automated webinars | From $49/organizer/mo | Website |
Ratings pulled from G2 as of July 2026; review counts are rounded and change constantly. Prices and plan details change often too. Confirm both on each vendor's own page before budgeting.
Why Eventify
Eventify wins on transparent pricing, true format flexibility across virtual, hybrid, and in-person events, and built-in engagement tools that most platforms treat as paid add-ons. Here is the reasoning, not just the claim.
1. No surprise per-attendee math
A lot of platforms on this list quote "custom pricing" and make you sit through a sales call before you learn anything useful. Eventify publishes real numbers on its pricing page: $99/month for Register, $149/month for Engage, $299/month for Advance, and custom pricing only on the top-tier Ultimate AI plan, each with attendee credits included and a flat rate for anyone beyond that, not a revenue-share cut on ticket sales. When I have built budgets for clients, that is the difference between a number I can defend to a finance team and a guess.
"We built Eventify because event teams shouldn't have to choose between powerful features and predictable pricing. Transparency isn't a nice-to-have anymore. It's what buyers expect." Hussain Fakhruddin, founder of Eventify
2. It is genuinely one platform for virtual, hybrid, and in-person
Most tools on this list are built for one format and bolt on the others. Eventify's event schedule app, on-site badge printing, and event analytics work whether your event is fully remote, fully venue-based, or a hybrid event. That matters whether you are running a single-track webinar or a full multi-day virtual conference: you are not re-learning a new tool, or paying for two subscriptions, when your event format changes.
3. Engagement tools that do not feel like an afterthought
Tag-based and AI-assisted event matchmaking, 1:1 meeting scheduling, live polls and Q&A, and event gamification with leaderboards are built in rather than sold as a networking add-on. On higher tiers, matchmaking gets an AI layer that goes beyond simple shared-interest tags.
4. Security that enterprise buyers can actually verify
ISO 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type 2 certification, GDPR coverage for both hosts and attendees, and SSO available on request: details some competitors only disclose after signing an NDA. Full breakdown on the security and compliance page.
5. Support that scales with your event, not just your invoice
Every plan includes standard or priority support, live onboarding time, and optional on-call and on-site support for the day of the event, useful for teams without a dedicated AV person on staff.
Where Eventify is not the right call: if you need a purely webinar-style, single-presenter broadcast tool with nothing else attached, Zoom Webinars or GoTo Webinar will feel lighter and faster to spin up. And if your event is a 10,000-person expo where dozens of exhibitor booths are the entire point, vFairs' pricing breakdown is worth a look before you compare it against Eventify.
See How Eventify Works For Your Event →The rest of the field, reviewed
2. ON24: Best for AI-powered analytics
ON24 is built for large enterprises that want to turn webinar attendance into measurable sales pipeline. Its engagement scoring tracks how long someone watched, what they clicked, and feeds that into your CRM. The tradeoff is setup time and enterprise-level pricing, which makes it overkill for a 200-person internal town hall.
Pros: deep engagement data, white-labeling, virtual exhibit halls.
Cons: long implementation, pricing available by request only.
3. Goldcast: Best for polished B2B marketing events
Goldcast leans hard into production value, with branded stages, overlays, and a streaming-service-style viewing experience. If your events double as demand-gen content you will repurpose later, this is a strong pick.
Pros: slick interface, CRM-native lead capture, responsive support.
Cons: networking rooms cap out at 15 people, needs solid bandwidth.
4. Airmeet: Best for branded virtual conferences
Airmeet's networking tables and backstage speaker prep are designed to make a virtual conference feel less like a webinar and more like a live event.
Pros: immersive lounges, solid analytics, scalable for large audiences.
Cons: fewer integrations than some rivals, pricier for smaller teams.
5. Hubilo: Best for event marketing and sponsors
Hubilo is aimed at organizers who need to prove sponsor ROI, with branded booths, gamification, and unlimited attendees on its higher tiers. If sponsor revenue is the main reason you are shopping for a platform at all, it's worth reading up on how to secure virtual event sponsorship before you compare tools, since the platform is only half the equation.
Pros: strong sponsor tools, live and on-demand content.
Cons: mobile app lags behind desktop, customization can be time-consuming.
6. vFairs: Best for expos and trade shows
If your event's whole purpose is exhibitor booths and a "walk the show floor" feel, vFairs' 3D environments and virtual swag bags replicate that experience better than most.
Pros: immersive exhibit halls, event mobile app included.
Cons: custom pricing only, steep setup for smaller events.
7. Google Meet: Best for Google Workspace teams
If your organization already lives in Gmail and Google Calendar, Meet removes friction, since there is no new login and no separate scheduling tool.
Pros: live captions and translation, easy Calendar integration, browser-based.
Cons: no built-in breakout rooms on lower tiers, no attendee analytics, no native branding or exhibitor tools.
8. Microsoft Teams: Best for Microsoft 365 teams
Teams shines for internal events and hybrid town halls where your audience already has a Microsoft account and you want deep Office integration.
Pros: strong security, file collaboration during sessions, breakout rooms.
Cons: steeper learning curve for outside guests, less personalized attendee experience at scale.
9. Zoom Events and Webinars: Best for simple online meetings
Zoom is the reliable, familiar default for teams that just need to get a meeting or basic webinar online without a learning curve.
Pros: strong security and moderation tools, easy recording, wide familiarity.
Cons: free plan is limited, minimal built-in event promotion or registration tools.
10. GoTo Webinar: Best for pre-recorded, automated webinars
If your model is "record once, replay often" with live Q&A layered on top, GoTo Webinar's automation is purpose-built for that.
Pros: solid attendee analytics, dependable automated scheduling, strong customer support.
Cons: dated interface, limited branding customization.
How I evaluated these platforms
I scored every platform on six criteria using hands-on demos, published pricing pages, and verified user reviews. Platforms needed to clear a baseline on all six before I would rank them at all. From there, the differences above are what separated them.
| # | Criterion | What I checked |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pricing transparency | Is there a real number on the page, or just "contact sales"? |
| 2 | Format flexibility | Virtual, hybrid, in-person, or locked into one format? |
| 3 | Engagement tools | Networking, gamification, live Q&A and polls, matchmaking |
| 4 | Attendee management | Ticketing, check-in, badge printing |
| 5 | Security and compliance | Certifications you can verify, not just claims |
| 6 | Support | What is included at each tier, and what costs extra |
The biggest tell is usually criterion one. Platforms confident in their value tend to publish real numbers. The ones that hide pricing behind a form are usually optimizing for a sales conversation, not for your time.
Virtual event statistics you should know
Virtual and hybrid events are not a pandemic-era leftover. The market is still growing double digits every year, and organizers are getting measurably better ROI from them than from in-person-only events. If you want the fuller picture beyond this list, our complete guide to virtual events breaks down formats, tools, and planning steps in more depth.
- The global virtual events market was valued at roughly $44 billion in 2024, and multiple forecasts put it on track to more than quadruple by the early 2030s, though estimates vary widely by research firm (Verified Market Research, via entrepreneurshq.com).
- 93% of event organizers now consider virtual events a permanent part of their strategy, not a temporary substitute (Statista, via entrepreneurshq.com).
- 81% of marketers report better ROI from virtual events compared to physical-only events, with average savings around $42,000 per event (99firms, via entrepreneurshq.com); we've seen similar patterns play out first-hand, which is part of why we broke down the full cost comparison between virtual and physical events.
- Platforms with strong AI-driven features saw roughly a 60% increase in user satisfaction scores compared to those without (vFairs, 2026).
- Event planning consistently ranks among the most stressful jobs in the world, according to industry research from Swoogo, which is part of why platform choice, and how much manual work it takes off your plate, matters more than a features checklist.
Market-size estimates differ significantly between research firms depending on methodology and what counts as a "virtual event." Treat any single number as directional, not exact.
People also ask
What is the best virtual event platform for small businesses?
For most small teams, Eventify's Register tier at $99/month and Airmeet's free plan both offer real functionality without enterprise pricing. The right pick depends on whether you need badge printing and in-person crossover, which favors Eventify, or you are purely online, which favors Airmeet.
What is the difference between a virtual event platform and a webinar tool?
A webinar tool such as Zoom or GoTo Webinar is built around one host broadcasting to an audience, while a full virtual event platform adds registration, networking, exhibitor booths, gamification, and multi-session agendas around that broadcast.
How much does it cost to host a virtual event?
Costs range from free, on tools like Google Meet or Zoom's basic tier, to several thousand dollars a month for enterprise platforms, with most mid-market tools charging per attendee, per organizer per month, or a flat per-event fee.
Can I run a hybrid event on the same platform as a virtual one?
Yes. Platforms built for hybrid events, including Eventify and vFairs, sync registration, streaming, and engagement tools across in-person and remote attendees in a single event rather than requiring two separate setups. If you are still deciding whether to go hybrid at all, this breakdown of virtual vs. in-person meetings is a useful next read before you commit to a format.
Which virtual event platform has the best networking features?
Airmeet, Eventify, and Hubilo all built dedicated event networking software rather than relying on generic chat, with matchmaking, 1:1 meeting scheduling, and lounges that make them stronger picks for events built around connections. For more ways to get attendees actually talking to each other, we rounded up a few innovative virtual networking ideas worth trying regardless of which platform you land on.
Final Thoughts: Which Platform Should You Actually Pick?
There is no single best virtual event platform, only the one that fits your event's size, format, and budget without hiding costs until you are three sales calls deep. If you run virtual, hybrid, or in-person events and want to see real numbers before you commit, Eventify's tiered pricing and all-in-one toolset make it the strongest starting point on this list. If your needs are narrower, a simple webinar tool like Zoom or GoTo Webinar, an analytics-heavy platform like ON24, or an expo-focused tool like vFairs may serve you better. Whichever you choose, run it through the same six checks: pricing transparency, format flexibility, engagement tools, attendee management, security, and support. That is what actually separates a platform that grows with your events from one you will be shopping to replace next year.
Request a Free Demo →Want to see how Eventify's pricing works out for your specific attendee count and event format? Request a demo and we will walk through real numbers, not a sales script.
FAQs
Do virtual event platforms support hybrid events?
Yes. Most modern platforms, including Eventify, now support hybrid formats, syncing registration, streaming, and engagement tools across in-person and remote attendees in the same event.
Can attendees network virtually as well as they would in person?
It gets close. Matchmaking based on shared interests, 1:1 meeting scheduling, and networking lounges recreate a lot of the value of hallway conversations, even if the dynamic feels different.
How secure are these platforms, really?
Check for named certifications such as SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001 rather than "enterprise-grade security" marketing language, and confirm GDPR coverage applies to both organizers and attendees, not just the host account.
What should I budget for a mid-size virtual event with around 500 attendees?
Expect anywhere from a few hundred dollars on lean, DIY tools to several thousand on fully managed enterprise platforms. The swing usually comes down to per-attendee versus per-user-per-month versus flat-fee pricing, and whether badge printing, branded apps, or dedicated support are bundled in or billed separately.
Is Eventify better than Cvent or vFairs?
It depends on your event type. Eventify is generally the stronger fit for organizers who want transparent, published pricing and one platform across virtual, hybrid, and in-person events, while Cvent and vFairs are built for large-scale, highly customized enterprise expos with custom-quote pricing.
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