These are my Top Picks for the Best Virtual Conference Platforms.
I’ve tried a bunch of them out there and I’ve drilled it down to the Top 5 (including 1 bonus) you see below.
My overall favorite is WebinarJam, but each of these has its own pros and cons so if you want the details make sure to give it a read.
WebinarJam
Best Overall Virtual Conference Platform. Easy to use, Smooth UI & comes with a ton of marketing tools.
EventZilla
Eventzilla has a unique pricing structure - you pay for the number of attendees. Effective pricing if you know your numbers.
Demio
Browser Based Conference Platform. If you want something quick and don't want to download software, then Demio is a great one.
LiveStorm
If you need to know detailed numbers, then LiveStorm is a great one. Comes with super-detailed Analytics for businesses of all sizes
AirMeet
Unique, networking style conference platform where users are able to interact with speakers directly behind the stage.
What are Virtual Conference Platforms?
Virtual conference platforms or Online conference platforms are digital conference tools where you can hold large conferences and expos all online without having a physical location.
Since the start of the pandemic, virtual event platforms have been getting extremely popular, because people can interact Digital all across the world without going to a physical location.
And since the pandemic has slowly faded and some locations have come back to normal, you can also use a hybrid system.
You can host a physical conference, while at the same time, live stream it on one of the best virtual conference platforms.
So you get the best of both worlds:
Having a physical presence where people can network and meet
Plus,
Having a digital presence where people can couldn’t make it, can still enjoy the conference online.
Digital conferencing software has been getting a huge surge of popularity since 2020.
In March 2020, these virtual event softwares have been downloaded a whopping 62 million times according to business wire.
And this video conferencing platform market number is likely to reach a staggering $10.92 billion by 2027.
#1 - WebinarJam
Best Overall
(Starts at $39 /month)
David's Take
I have personally used WebinarJam for my own webinars and used them very successfully. They have a super easy to use, smooth interface and it was a joy to run my webinars with their virtual event software. It’s not just a digital conference platform, but it also comes with sales & marketing tools so you don’t have to purchase third party tools. Awesome conferencing tool overall!
Best For
EverGreen Webinars & Marketing
Price
$39 – $379 a Month
Annual Discount?
Yes, only Annual
Promotions?
$1 Trial
WebinarJam is a cloud based virtual conferencing platform that lets you hold conferences, webinars, streaming and virtual meetings.
You’re able to interact with:
- 5,000 participants
- 6 presenters
- For up to 4 hours
WebinarJam is compatible with all devices including:
- Laptops
- Tablets
- Smartphones
And streams in 30 Frames per Seconds
There’s also a live chat feature to chat with your participants in real time.
In the chat, you can answer and ask questions, moderate the comments, create sticky announcements, and chat in private and much more.
One of the best things about WebinarJam is you can record the live event and save it as an HD video file – all automatically!
WebinarJam has a “Replica Replay” feature where it allows you to display everything that went on during the live event, second by second.
They have multiple options on when you want to set up your conferences or events.
You can create a Replay Room, or you can also have a recurring series at any time.
You can also invite attendees to speak during the live events.
It reminds me of the App Clubhouse or Twitter Spaces
By being able to interact with participants and also gives them a chance to ask questions live and hear their voice as well.
These invited participants are also able to share their screens and broadcast through their webcam or video camera.
You can also send them back to attendee mode at any time.
WebinarJam also comes with an iOS and Android mobile so you can access it anywhere, even on the go.
Along with their Virtual Conference Software, you get a drag and drop page builder to help you create beautiful registration pages.
And don’t worry, you don’t have to start from scratch because many pre-designed templates which you can just import and make it your own!
WebinarJam comes with a TON of features, but I’ll list a few of the notable ones here:
- Live polls & surveys to allow engagement from audience
- Able to draw, annotate, and use notes in the presentations
- You can import presentations in any format and share it on the screen.
- Unlimited hosting and split testing
- Schedule follow up Emails & SMS with registrars
- Display clickable offers
- Has a “Panic Button” to redirect participants to another live room in case something happens during the conference
- Awesome Q&A Tools
- One-click Registrations
- Video sharing
And much more!
WebinarJam Pricing
- Basic: $499 /year
- Professional: $699 /year
- Enterprise: $999 /year
All plans include these features:
- Automatic Recordings
- Live Chat
- Email & SMS Followups
- Surveys & Polls
- Drag and drop page builder
- Scheduling
- Drawing Board & Tools
- & More
The Professional and Enterprise plans include the special features mentioned like the “Panic Button” and the Always-on mode.
All these plans come with a 30 day money back guarantee, and it’s the one I would recommend, especially if you are running webinars.
They have an “Evergreen” webinar system, where you can run the same webinar and direct your new leads to an already existing webinar, so you don’t have to go live every time!
It also includes scheduled chats, so you can ask a question to the audience at a specified time (ex: 30 minutes and 30 seconds) and so it “looks” like it is being presented live, when it is actually pre-recorded.
I’ve had tons of success with this system and WebinarJam is recommended especially if you’re using it mainly for sales and marketing.
#2 - Eventzilla
Best for Effective Pricing
($1.50 per registration)
David's Take
The best thing about Eventzilla is their pricing structure – you only pay for the number of attendees. So any extra services or features you don’t use, you won’t need to pay the extra premium that other virtual conference platforms will charge you. Very effective you know your numbers and know how many people will be attending.
Best For
All – Beginners, Experts and all in Between
Price
Free – $399 /month
Annual Discount?
Yup – Save 20%
Promotions?
Free Plan!
Eventzilla is an all-in-one virtual event software where you can setup, host and manage events, webinars, streams and online conferences.
You can use it directly with popular video streaming platforms like:
- Zoom
- GotoWebinar
- ON24
- And more!
They have an embed feature where you can embed their registration widget anywhere!
Source: Eventzilla
Some of the stand out features:
- Participant Self Service for registration, modification, cancel and refund
- Branded Meeting Rooms
- Live Chat
- Multi Session Registration
- Screen Sharing
- HD Recording
- Multiple Cycles of Registration based on who’s attending
- Automatic approvals and waitlists
- Multiple Breakout Rooms
- Drag and drop editor
- Multistream on other Social Platforms – Sharing the event live on social media
You don’t need to know any code to be able to build an event registration page with Eventzilla.
You can easily use their intuitive drag and drop editor and it is automatically optimized for mobile!
Eventzilla also comes packed with many marketing features like followup email campaigns discount coupons, and embedding a widget for registration on a blog, site or even a Facebook page.
You’re also able to send certificates to all attendees through email as well as creating speaker profiles.
You also have some awesome analytics right on the dashboard including your traffic, registrations, orders, etc.
You can even go further with Google Analytics integration and track things like ticket sales and traffic source.
You’re also able to provide attendees with a mobile app to access event details, time, location, number of attendees and a lot more.
Both available for Android and iOS.
And as an event organizer, you’re able to see real-time analytics of attendees such as attendance, ticket sales, revenue, etc.
With Eventzilla you have a ton of options for integrations.
Some of the most popular integrations include:
- Paypal
- Stripe
- Zapier
- Mailchimp
- Slack
- And much more!
Honestly, Eventzilla is one of the easiest virtual conference platforms to use!
Navigation is super easy in the dashboard and everything just makes sense with their UI. You’re able to share your event with just a few clicks and with their easy to use drag and drop registration page builder, you’re in good hands.
EventZilla Pricing
- Basic: $1.50 /registration
- Pro: 1.9% + $1.50 /registration
- Plus: 2.9% + $1.50 /registration
They also have a free 7 day trial, so you can try them out before deciding.
I love how intuitive their software is, and with their registration based pricing, it may be the best value depending on how many attendees you’re expecting to show up.
#3 - Demio
Best for Webinar Promotion
(Starts at $34 per month)
David's Take
If you want one of the quickest ways to get a webinar up and running then Demio is a great choice. You don’t even need any software, because they provide a browser based software so you can run your entire webinar on any internet browser. They also include awesome marketing tools that help you promote your events. Comes with a 14 Day Free Trial!
Best For
Webinar Promotion
Price
$34 – $69 /month
Annual Discount?
Yup – Save 30%
Promotions?
Demio is probably one of the quickest ways to organize a webinar.
You don’t need to download any software, so you just provide everyone you’re interacting with, with URLs and they can hop on from anywhere with an internet connection.
Demio supports all modern internet browsers such as:
- Chrome
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
So whatever browser you’re using, it should be supported by Demio
You can also use your own logo and branding for all your webinars.
Their Webinar Campaigns are split into 3 different types:
- Live – Regular, live presentation in real-time
- Series – Schedule sessions
- Automated – Pre-recorded presentations that are released on a schedule you choose
They also have a unique “Hybrid Event” feature which you can present BOTH pre-recorded material AND live streams in the same event!
Some of Demio’s Key Features:
- Customizable Registration Pages
- Thank You Pages with Templates
- 1 Click Joining
- Call to Action Buttons
- Embed Registration Page on any landing page
- Great Attendee and contact Analytics
- Email notification reminders to your attendees for upcoming events
- Direct Video Sharing
- Interactive Polls
- Ability to send gifts and handouts
Source: Demio
As with all the best virtual conference platforms you’re able to chat with attendees (both in private and public), provide webcam access, automatic recording, and the ability to see real-time analytics and results.
You’re able able to see where attendees are dropping off during your presentation.
You’re able to provide a few different links to attendees:
- They have a Join Room anytime link, where they can immediately join the presentation without waiting in a queue room.
- You can provide them with a queue link, so you can manage attendees and see who is trying to join your event before letting them in.
One thing I would say is lacking with Demio, is it lacks a lot of third party integration because it is a browser based webinar system.
But overall, it is such an easy way to setup any event and also sharing is super easy because participants don’t have to download any software to join the event.
Demio Pricing
All Prices Based on Annual Plan:
- Starter: $34 per month (50 – Attendee Room)
- Growth: $69 per month (150 – Attendee Room)
- Premium: Quote Request (500 – 1,000 Attendee Room)
All Plans comes with a 14 Day Free Trial to Test Before Purchasing without requiring a Credit card!
Overall, an awesome virtual event platform that’s super easy to use and host your webinars!
#4 - Livestorm
Best for Detailed Analytics and Reports
(Starts with Free Plan - $88 /month)
David's Take
One of the best things about Livestorm is their powerful analytics and reporting. If you need extremely detailed analytics and integration with Google Analytics, then Livestorm is the video conferencing software for you. It’s a great tool for businesses of all sizes.
Best For
Detailed Analytics
Price
$0 – $88 /month
Annual Discount?
Save 20% on Some Plans
Promotions?
Livestorm is also a browser based video communication tool that you can share with your attendees with just a link and they don’t have to download anything.
This video conferencing platform helps with live events, product demos, customer training, and also communication within your own team.
Supports all major browsers such as:
- Chrome
- Safari
- Edge
- Opera
- Etc.
Livestorm is best for when you need detailed reporting.
If you need to know how your webinars or conferences are performing, they have many performance objectives that you can see at a glance.
So if performance is critical to your business, then Livestorm might be a good asset for your business.
Some great aspects of Livestorm:
- Helps plan and arrange your virtual event
- You can set up your registration page and send automatic email reminders to reminder attendees about upcoming events.
- You’re also welcome to start instant meetings with 12 participants and share your screen throughout the meeting.
- You can schedule meetings in meeting rooms and it also integrates with scheduling software like Calendly for easy scheduling workflow.
With Livestorm, you’re also able to play a video in the beginning, middle or have an automated ending to the webinar.
Share your screen with attendees in real-time and chat with them. You can either share your screen with single or multiple attendees.
Some other features include:
- Polls
- Q&A Sessions
- Sharing Pre-Recorded Videos
- And having 1 on 1 meetings with individual attendees
Source: Livestorm
One of the unique things about Livestorm is how you can have detailed profiles for registrants and you can also see participation reports.
With its integration of Google Analytics,
You can also track where your registrations came from (traffic source) and also who referred those registrants.
You also get top notch support in multiple languages.
Virtual backgrounds that are customizable make it super easy to match the background to your branding or the atmosphere you’re looking for.
Source: Livestorm
At a glance, you can see the 4 different tabs so people can easily see what’s important to them during an event:
- Chat
- Questions
- Polls
- People
You can also easily see when a session is live, recorded all without having to download any other software.
The one downside that I see with Livestorm is setting up the webinar for the first time can be a little confusing, but can definitely be worked around.
The biggest upside, is it it’s easy to use for the PARTICIPANTS as they’re the ones that count 🙂
It’s also great for non-tech savvy people because you just need Chrome or Safari to access the Virtual Event.
Livestorm is also used by Airtable, Notion Dolby and Sony just to name a few of their notable clientele!
Livestorm Pricing
Livestorm offers three payment plans:
- Free: $0
- Pro: $88 per month, billed annually
- Business & Enterprise: Quote-based
The Free plan puts a maximum limit of 20 minutes per event, while the Pro plan allows 4 hours per event.
One of the best things about Livestorm is that it’s free to try!
You do have a maximum limit of 20 minutes per event for the basic free plan, but you can get a feel for the virtual conference platform without having to pay for it.
#5 - AirMeet
Best for Networking & Community
(Free up to 100 attendees - $7,500 /year)
David's Take
Airmeet is pretty much networking for the virtual world. Not only are they a great virtual event platform, but also great for networking with people with similar interests. It has some unique features that make it stand out within the other crowd of video conferencing tools.
Best For
Network & Community
Price
$0 – $7,500 Yearly
Annual Discount?
Yes!
Promotions?
AirMeet is an event networking tool that helps with meetups, conferences, trainings, meetings, summits, virtual fairs and much more.
They seem to focus on networking because before and after the event session, you have the ability to connect with the speaker privately in a virtual backstage to get to know the person.
They offer what is called one-to-one networking –
With one click, you’re able to join other networking booths and talk with people that have similar affinities with you.
Just imagine a conference where they set up booths, but in this case it’s all virtual.
Airmeet also supports the idea of sponsorships because sponsors have the ability to sell tickets directly form Airmeet.
Source: AirMeet
With the power to have multiple hosts, you can also share multiple screens simultaneously all in the same event!
With both live streaming and recording, you’re able to present video in split or multi-screen mode.
Airmeet also allows you to have very detailed profiles of speakers and participants, so you can connect with people who have similar interests and just anyone who you find interesting. A great tool for networking.
Airmeet Features
- One-to-one networking for 1 click connection – like networking booths
- Streaming event to Social Media (FB, LI, Youtube)
- Emojis and “Raise Hand” Gesture to ask questions
- Integrates with Stripe for event ticket payment processing
- Private Virtual Backstage for private networking
- Sponsorship management
- Ticket management
- Recorded sessions playback ability
- And much more!
Source: AirMeet
AirMeet Pricing
AirMeet offers three types of plans:
- Free for up to 100 attendees and ten organizations.
- Standard: Starting at $200 per month
- Pro: Starting at $7,500 per year
The custom-based Standard plan allows between 100, 300, and 500 attendees.
Pro allows up to 100,000 Registrations!
Such a unique virtual conference platform that caters towards sponsorships and networking.
#6 - Zoom
The OG
(Free - $250 /year )
David's Take
The original web conferencing software and the app that took the world by storm during the pandemic. It’s simple, it works, but may lack in features like some of the others on the list. But it’s a bonus feature on the list because we’ve all heard about it before.
Best For
The Average User
Price
$0 – $250 Yearly
Annual Discount?
Yes
Promotions?
Of course the best virtual conference platforms comparison wouldn’t be complete without the mention of Zoom.
Probably the most popular virtual conference platform and one of the most versatile.
During the pandemic, Zoom was a household name that anybody could recognize and it saw a huge surge in usage.
Since then, a lot of many powerful video conferencing platforms have entered the market so Zoom lost a lot of its user base, but it’s still a great option for the basic user.
Honestly, it probably isn’t the best for hosting a huge event with hundreds of people or scaling your virtual event, but for basic web conferencing it works just fine.
I would recommend it for small businesses, for schools, for coaching and consultants, and for teachers who have to teach a classroom.
It’s simple and it gets the job done.
Source: Zoom
Some of the features of Zoom:
- Can easily share screen and give permission for others to share their screen
- Whiteboards and annotations can be shared amongst participants to share ideas
- Up to 12 whiteboards can be opened up at a time
- Multiple breakout rooms
- Raise Hand feature to signal raising hand to speaker
- Session Recordings and voting polls
- Host has ability to mute/unmute participants
- Queue room, to keep everything organized
- And much more!
It’s one of the most popular for a reason!
It’s simple to use and the UI is pretty much self-explanatory.
Because it’s almost a Universal software at this point, people won’t need to download a separate software for their virtual conferencing.
The only downside is that it doesn’t have many of the advanced features that some of the best virtual conference platforms may have.
So if your aim is simplicity, then maybe you can take a look at Zoom.
Zoom Pricing
Zoom starts free for basic meetings and conferences.
But Zoom Webinar Starts from $690 /year and Events Start from $890 /year.
You can scale up to 10,000 Attendees which you would need to contact to request a quote.
Zoom is the most popular webinar conference software and although it lacks many features, it just works.
Best Virtual Conference Platforms Summary
That’s a wrap!
These were my top picks for best virtual conferencing platforms with explanations, details, features and pricing.
A lot of these conferencing tools include many advanced features like screen sharing, analytics, surveys and polls, and private chats.
But the nuance difference is up to your unique needs of your business or event.
Here are my picks based on specific needs:
WebinarJam – Best Overall
Eventzilla – Best for Effective Pricing
Demio – Best for Webinar Promotion
LiveStorm – Best for Detailed Analytics and Reports
AirMeet – Best for Networking & Community
Zoom – Best for Personal Use
My Overall Pick:
WebinarJam – Go Here to Get Started Today!
Which virtual conference platforms best fits your event needs and are planning to use?
Let me know which and why!
Thanks so much for taking a read!
Hope this post has added some kind of value to you, because that’s always the aim of these posts.
If you want a different read, you can check out:
Talk to you soon!
-David
Check out some of my other posts here:
- Web hosting for photographers
- My favorite speedy web hosting
- My review on online course platforms
- Read about some personal development stuff
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David Chun
I love to write, teach and try to add as much value to other people as I can. With 20+ years experience in blogging, online entrepreneurship and digital software, I hope I can provide some light for you & my wish is to inspire. I hope I can help forge your own path to a life of freedom – using all the amazing tools along the way.
The “Rebels” journey is about your journey of trailblazing away from the normal path. It’s about you finding freedom, whatever that means to you.
My mission is always to serve. I hope these posts can provide some kind of service to you – no matter how small it is, I hope to add value to you, my friend. With love & much appreciation.
