Cvent is arguably the most comprehensive event management platform. Using Cvent, you can plan, promote, and host your event seamlessly. In our Cvent review, we'll analyze whether this tool lives up to the hype, offers bang for the buck, and whether you should use it or not. Let's dive in!
Key Takeaways
- Cvent enables hosting large, recurring events in one platform. Eventify does the same with less complexity and a fraction of the cost.
- Compare the total costs of Cvent, not just the license cost. Cvent adds per-registrant fees, while Eventify offers flat tiers starting at $149/month.
- Prioritize ease of use when getting started. Cvent has a learning curve, while Eventify is an intuitive option.
- Check your CRM stack before choosing Cvent. As per Cvent users, integrating Cvent with HubSpot, Marketo, or Salesforce can be glitchy at times.
- Cvent has API limits that make automation difficult. Cvent requires a developer invitation for API calls, while Eventify allows API access via the Admin portal.
- You need to pay extra to use the Cvent engagement tools. Eventify includes engagement features in its flat-pricing plans.
- Test both Cvent and Eventify before you make the final decision. Request a Cvent quote and book a free Eventify demo so you can compare real costs.
What Is Cvent and What Is It Used For?
Cvent provides all the tools needed for hosting in-person, hybrid, and virtual events.
This tool helps you find and book the venue and vendors, provides event marketing features like an event website, offers event-day management with an event app, and helps with post-event engagement with content-repurposing tools.
Put simply, it is a complete package for hosting a successful event. But it might not be the tool for every event manager looking to host their event. Cvent was founded in 1999 and was acquired by Blackstone in 2023 for around $4.6 billion, a deal we cover in more detail in the FAQs below.
23 Key Cvent Features
Here is the full feature set Cvent ships across its platform:
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Budget approvals | Track your meetings about event planning in one place. |
| Venue search | Find from 300k+ event venues to choose the one you love. |
| Vendor marketplace | Choose vendors from thousands of trusted service providers. |
| Housing management | Better room block management to keep attendees happy. |
| Floor planning | Create 2D and 3D diagrams to plan your event perfectly. |
| Attendee sign-up | Persuasive registration flows that boost signups. |
| Event landing pages | Create branded event websites with the no-code tool. |
| Event promotion | Run email marketing campaigns with ease. |
| Presenter coordination | Onboard and collaborate with presenters. |
| Exhibitor portal | Ensure exhibitor ROI with tailored exhibitor management tools. |
| Attendee matchmaking | Make finding the right match easy for your attendees. |
| Mobile attendee app | One app to manage everything related to your event. |
| Entry and badges | Check attendees in and make them feel at home with badges. |
| Online event hub | Host hybrid and virtual events in the best possible way. |
| Live webinars | Host webinars that will keep your attendees engaged. |
| Media production | Record stunning footage without a professional team. |
| System connectors | Integrate Cvent with other apps that matter to you. |
| Performance analytics | Track attendee engagement and evaluate your ROI. |
| Feedback collection | Make attendees feel heard and better prepare your next event. |
| Lead tracking | Ensure seamless lead tracking to meet your sales goals. |
| Intent scoring | Evaluate how the attendees rated your event efforts. |
| Content recycling | Use AI to create event clips that you can repurpose. |
| Content library | Host all your content on a content hub. |
See every Eventify feature included in one flat-rate plan
Book a DemoHow Does Cvent Work? 5 Major Tradeoffs to Know
Despite all the robust features, Cvent lacks in certain areas and underperforms. This is why you need to take features with a pinch of salt. Here are the 5 major tradeoffs you will make if you adopt Cvent:
Lacks intuitive user experience
A real learning curve before you can touch core tasks like pre-event marketing.
Doesn't have seamless integrations
Users report glitchy syncs with HubSpot, Salesforce, and Marketo.
Has rigid pricing
Per-registrant fees on top of the license make costs climb fast as you scale.
Has limited API support
A 1,000-call daily cap on the REST API, with a 25-record-per-second ceiling on Bulk API.
Offers limiting engagement tools
Attendee Hub features cost extra and offer limited customization.
Lacks Intuitive User Experience
Most Cvent users complain about its user experience. The learning curve makes it difficult to jump right into event management. Before you get your hands on important tasks like pre-event marketing, you first need to spend hours familiarizing yourself with the interface.
Using an intuitive platform like Eventify's event app instead can save you valuable time. Instead of fighting with the clunky navigation offered by Cvent, using Eventify makes handling event management tasks feel like a breeze.
For example, Eventify allows you to edit your event app on the go with super easy and highly modifiable options.
You just don't have to take what users say about Cvent as fact. Cvent itself is aware of the difficulty users face navigating through the software. The current interface requires users to use separate interfaces within the app to arrange a single event. For example, assets and templates were buried deep down in the Admin section.
During Cvent CONNECT, held in July 2026, the company announced plans to combine all event formats into one workflow, unlike the current interface. Their announced UI revamp is looking to make necessary changes.
As of October 7, 2026, new changes around navigation (collapsible navigation rail, icon placement, search, and so on) have been implemented.
A complete overhaul to make the interface user-friendly will definitely take some time. On the other hand, you can rely on Eventify to simply get event management tasks done instead of waiting for Cvent's UI improvements.
Doesn't Have Seamless Integrations
Cvent features an App Marketplace that allows you to connect it with several apps. But despite the extensive support, the functionality of the integrations is often complained about.
Users have complained about integration issues with HubSpot, Salesforce, and Marketo. For example, Salesforce is a fixed-schema system, making the records prone to errors at times and causing factual errors.
The ongoing maintenance costs around integrations are definitely a downside from the event management point of view. Failing integrations and data loss can disturb your workflow and waste your time and money.
Just like the UI improvement update by Cvent this year, the Cvent team has made improvements to its 3rd-party integrations.
But the ongoing improvements and several user reports confirm that integrations are far from perfect. A technical glitch is the last thing you want to run into when finalizing your planning for an upcoming event.
This is why you need to rely on a platform that requires less technical setup. Eventify provides straightforward 3rd-party integrations that allow you to save time on setup and ensure you get all the useful data with ease.
Has Rigid Pricing
When you're scaling your event size and want to host more attendees, you don't want software that scales against you. Cvent, with its per-registrant policy, does not enable you to expand without breaking the bank.
Cvent provides pricing details upon quote request. But public data shows that Cvent not only charges an annual license fee but also charges a per-registration fee.
This means that if you host ten events a year with 1,000 attendees in each event, you are going to pay a hefty $70,000 extra along with the license fee.
The lack of flexibility around pricing makes it a no-brainer for cost-conscious teams to look for alternatives. With comprehensive and affordable pricing tiers compared to Cvent, and features that are on par, Eventify provides a good bang for the buck.
Has Limited API Support
Cvent's API support is limited, to say the least. Regardless of which plan you choose, you get access to the REST API that is capped at 1,000 calls per day. You will need to get in touch with support if you want to make more calls on a daily basis.
To ensure you don't run into bottlenecks like a 429 error on reaching your API limit, you will need to switch to the Enterprise plan. But even choosing the Enterprise plan doesn't put an end to unpleasant surprises.
Even the Bulk API has a hard ceiling of processing 25 records per second. Put simply, you will need to wait around 33 minutes to get a record with 50,000 entries processed. Slower processing can definitely be an issue, especially after you pay the hefty costs.
On the other hand, Eventify provides seamless API access that saves you time and effort. Head into the Integrations menu under the Admin portal, and you can access integrations without any developer invitation process.
The native Salesforce sync and HubSpot sync allow you to get data out of Eventify with ease. With Zapier, you can also link up to 8,000 integrations with Eventify instantly. Above all, you can use custom integrations and custom development when you use the Eventify enterprise plan.
Offers Limiting Engagement Tools
All the engagement tools provided by Cvent are grouped under the Attendee Hub. Cvent users complain that the Attendee Hub offers limited customization and has processes that can be confusing at times.
On the other hand, Eventify provides attendee engagement tools that ensure you keep attendees hooked without costing extra. Here's an overview of the engagement features offered by Eventify:
- Match-percentage scoring
- Calendar syncing
- 1-on-1 group meetings
- Live polls
- Push notifications
And the best part is that Eventify offers all the engagement features at affordable prices. You can get started with the Engage plan of Eventify at $149 a month or $999 per event. As stated earlier, you can only use Cvent's Attendee Hub features if you pay $7 to $12 per registrant per event.
Hefty prices and limited features make Cvent less than ideal for attendee engagement and force existing and potential users to look for better alternatives.
Cvent Pros and Cons
Cvent Pros
- Provides every feature needed for hosting any type of event.
- Offers an intuitive user interface that helps basic and advanced users alike.
- Has unparalleled event floor planning featuring 2D and 3D floor modeling.
- Supports integrations with leading CRMs and marketing tools.
- Includes content recording and repurposing tools.
- Suits enterprise needs for hosting sophisticated, large-scale events.
Cvent Cons
- Pricing isn't suitable for smaller or budget-conscious teams.
- 3rd-party software integrations can be glitchy sometimes.
- Technical setup for hosting repeat events is not straightforward.
- Customer support can be sluggish at times.
- Event floor planning features can prove limiting for large venues.
Cvent Pricing Explained
Cvent is not an ideal option when it comes to pricing. You need to request a quote for detailed pricing, and prices vary depending on the functionalities you choose. Let's explore how Cvent structures its prices.
What Factors Influence Cvent Pricing
- How many events you hold
- What event formats you choose from
- How many attendees you host
- What customer support you adopt
- How many 3rd-party integrations you use
Professional and Enterprise are the two pricing tiers that Cvent offers. Depending on your specific needs, you can evaluate both tiers and pick the one that suits you. But this is where Cvent pricing gets less attractive.
Cvent costs creep up quickly as you add features. Comparatively, platforms like Eventify offer flat pricing that better accommodates your growing needs without making a dent in your pocket. For the full breakdown of Cvent's exact plans and registrant fees, see our complete Cvent pricing guide, and for how pricing models compare across the wider market, see our event management software pricing guide.
“Per-registrant pricing punishes you the moment your event grows. We built Eventify's flat tiers so a sold-out event feels like a win, not a bigger invoice.”
Hussain Fakhruddin, Founder and CEO of Eventify
Who Is Cvent Best For?
Cvent is ideal for organizations that need to host large events regularly. Compared to many other tools, it provides a comprehensive all-in-one platform for hosting on-site, virtual, and hybrid events. This 3-in-1 functionality means that event planning teams can save time otherwise wasted cycling through different event management platforms.
Built-in venue and vendor selection features also make Cvent a great event management companion. For users with enterprise-grade security in mind, it makes enforcing security protocols like SSO and MFA easier.
Any company aiming to host seriously good events can rely on Cvent to achieve its event marketing goals.
What Cvent Users Say
Cvent has good ratings online, cementing its place as a reliable event management software. As of October 2026, it has a 4.3/5 rating out of 2,415 reviews on G2, 4.5 stars out of 1,099 reviews on Software Advice, and 4.5 stars out of 1,099 on Capterra.
Ratings for Cvent are good, not spotless. Users love how it provides event management breadth and has customer support that one can rely on. But reviews around pricing, integrations, and the learning curve paint a different picture.
Many reviews point out that data pipelines in and out of Cvent can be jittery at times. Customer support might be slow when needed the most, and prices can easily skyrocket as the number of attendees increases.
Cvent CONNECT and What's Next for the Platform
Cvent CONNECT is an annual conference held by Cvent. Event planners, marketers, and professionals from the hospitality industry are the primary audience for this conference. Cvent also makes announcements around product features at Cvent CONNECT.
Cvent CONNECT 2026
During Cvent CONNECT, held in July 2026, Cvent's CEO Reggie Aggarwal laid out a multi-year innovation strategy backed by $1 billion. This investment is going toward 70 product innovations across the Cvent platform.
Here's an overview of the features and updates the platform will offer throughout 2026 and beyond:
- Substantial upgrades to CventIQ™, the AI engine behind Cvent
- Marketing features like Attendee AI Assistant and lead capture follow-ups
- Jifflenow AI Meeting and iCapture Lead Intelligence for in-person events
- Acquisition of Goldcast and ON24 for marketing and compliance upgrades
Cvent was acquired entirely by Blackstone in 2023. This acquisition explains how Cvent has been able to invest serious money into upgrading the platform's features to stay ahead of other platforms.
These upgrades, and 60+ more not listed here, show that Cvent is serious about taking the top spot. However, as mentioned above, some serious downsides don't automatically make it the "best" event management software.
For example, if you're looking to launch your first event or cut the costs of your annual event without losing features, Cvent isn't an option for you.
Should You Invest in Cvent?
Cvent is arguably the most expensive event management platform. Put simply, if you host large events several times a year, using Cvent will be a good option.
This platform provides all the features in one place to make life easier for busy event managers working round the clock. But for smaller teams or corporate clients looking for a complete package at costs that make sense, Cvent is not an option to begin with.
Cvent vs. Eventify: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Cvent | Eventify |
|---|---|---|
| Event formats supported | In-person, hybrid, virtual | In-person, hybrid, virtual |
| Venue and vendor sourcing | 300,000+ venues and a vendor marketplace. | No venue/vendor sourcing option. |
| Floor planning | 2D and 3D floor plans, though large venues can feel limiting. | Built-in Event Site Map Creator Software |
| AI capabilities | CventIQ upgrades and an Attendee AI Assistant (announced). | AI Co-pilot answers attendee questions conversationally. |
| Exhibitor and lead management | Exhibitor portal and lead tracking. | Exhibitor and sponsor management plus lead retrieval. |
| API access and limits | REST API capped at 1,000 calls per day; Bulk API at 25 records per second. | No limits published. Admin-portal access without a developer invitation; custom development on the enterprise plan. |
| Customer support | Praised in places but can be slow when it matters most. | Support level and SLA vary by plan. |
| Branding and customization flexibility | Attendee Hub has limited customization. | White-label branding depth varies by plan. |
| Ease of use | Learning curve; UI overhaul still rolling out. | Intuitive user interface; powerful for beginners and pros alike |
| Pricing model | Annual license plus per-registrant fee; quote-based, not public. | Starts at $149 a month or $999 per event. |
| Third-party integrations | App Marketplace; users report glitches with HubSpot, Salesforce, and Marketo. | Native Salesforce and HubSpot sync plus Zapier access to up to 8,000 apps. |
| Kiosk and self-service check-in | Self-check-in kiosks. | Smart kiosks with QR badge printing and a trained onsite team. |
| Gamification | Leaderboards, quizzes, and polls in the app. | Leaderboards, quests, and trivia built to drive active participation. |
| Analytics and ROI reporting | Performance analytics for engagement and ROI. | Session-level data, check-in reports, and engagement metrics with export. |
| Event website customization | No-code builder for branded event websites and landing pages. | Customizable event pages and ticketing with branding control. |
| Payment processing | Supports payment collection, including during onsite check-in. | Stripe connection for instant payouts; supports 20+ currencies. |
| On-site check-in and badge printing | OnArrival lets attendees preview and print badges on-site. | QR check-in, bulk badge printing, and on-demand reprints. |
| Attendee mobile app | One app for the event; engagement tools sit in the Attendee Hub, which users find limited to customize. | Branded mobile apps with an AI Co-pilot for schedules and networking suggestions. |
| Speaker and presenter management | Presenter onboarding and collaboration. | Speaker profiles and session scheduling via content management tools. |
| Promotion and marketing tools | Email campaigns and event promotion tools. | Event creation, agenda customization, and promotion in one place. |
Request a Cvent quote and a free Eventify demo, then compare real numbers
Get a DemoWhat Are the Best Cvent Alternatives?
Cvent is good, but you don't need to pay the exorbitant costs and go through the tedious setup it requires to host superb events.
Eventify is a smart choice for people who're looking for the sweet spot between features and price. It comes with all the features needed for hosting one hundred or one hundred thousand attendees.
If Cvent still feels like the safer bet for your event size, our event management software buyer's guide walks through the full decision framework, and our roundup of the 20 best event management software platforms covers more alternatives beyond Cvent and Eventify.
And the best part? You can simply book an Eventify demo for free to see if it works for your needs before you commit to a plan. Get your demo and trial to know why businesses of all sizes rely on Eventify!
Ready to see why teams switch from Cvent to Eventify?
Start Free DemoFrequently Asked Questions
When Was Cvent Founded?
Reggie Aggarwal, CEO and Founder of Cvent, founded Cvent in September 1999. The company started off in Washington, D.C., and has been going strong as a reliable event management platform for 27 years.
Who Owns Cvent, and Is It a Public Company?
Cvent is currently owned privately by Blackstone. It was acquired in 2023 for around $4.6 billion. Cvent is not a publicly traded company anymore, as the company's shares, previously listed as CVT, were delisted when it was acquired.
Does Cvent Integrate With Salesforce?
Salesforce integration with Cvent is glitchy at best. User complaints suggest that Cvent doesn't fully integrate with Salesforce, and the detailed developer documentation around fixing several errors shows that you'll run into problems more often than not.
Is Cvent Legit?
Cvent is considered a trusted platform for event management needs. As per Cvent's claim, 89% of the Fortune 100 use Cvent to run their events. The ratings mentioned above also show it's a trusted option among customers.
What Is Cvent CONNECT?
Cvent CONNECT is an annual conference held by Cvent for event planners, marketers, and hospitality professionals, where the company also announces upcoming product features.
How Much Does Cvent Cost Per Year?
Cvent doesn't publish pricing. It charges an annual license fee across Professional and Enterprise tiers, plus a per-registrant fee that can add tens of thousands of dollars a year once you factor in multiple events, making total cost far higher than the sticker price suggests.
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