The right replacement for an event management platform depends on what your event is for. If you mainly sell tickets and check people in, a registration tool is enough; if attendees live in an app all day, look at conference apps; and if meetings between attendees are the point, choose a networking and matchmaking platform.
Event platforms all promise to run your whole event, so the shortlists blur together fast. If you're leaving Swoogo, it's usually because the event you run today isn't quite the event the software was chosen for. Maybe registration has become the whole job, maybe your attendees want a phone app, or maybe your exhibitors keep asking for booked meetings rather than footfall.
Rather than ranking these ten, I've grouped them by the kind of event each is built around. Read the group that matches your event first, then glance at the others.
One label, several very different kinds of event
Software for events is sold under one tidy label, but the products underneath are built for different events. Reading each vendor's own description, as of Nov 2026, the split is clear:
- Registration and ticketing. RSVPify leads with registration, ticketing and check-in. Eventzilla calls itself an all-in-one event management platform and pairs it with a sister webinar product.
- Conference apps and schedules. Sched is built for conferences and professional development, with the session schedule at the centre. Whova pairs event apps with event management, and PheedLoop covers in-person, virtual and hybrid events from one system.
- Networking and matchmaking. Brella and Grip both lead with matchmaking and networking, so the meetings attendees book with each other are the product.
- Platforms that sit wider. Glue Up describes association management software, with events as one part of membership. Cvent covers in-person, virtual and hybrid events plus webinars at enterprise scale. Airmeet now describes an AI video suite for events, podcasts and content.
That's why comparing feature lists side by side rarely settles it. Decide whether your event needs registration, an attendee app or meetings between attendees, then compare only the tools in that group.
The ten platforms, A to Z
Listed in no particular order beyond the alphabet, one line each.
Airmeet
Best for: Teams that want event hosting next to video work, as it now describes itself as an AI video suite for events, podcasts and content.
Brella
Best for: Organisers whose event is judged on the meetings it creates, with an event platform and app focused on matchmaking and networking.
Cvent
Best for: Large event teams running in-person, virtual and hybrid events and webinars from a single enterprise event platform.
Eventzilla
Best for: An all-in-one event management platform whose page also promotes free webinar hosting through a sister product called Joinlive.
Glue Up
Best for: Associations and member bodies, since it presents itself as all-in-one association management software rather than a stand-alone event tool.
Grip
Best for: Events where networking is the main reason people attend, using an AI-powered event networking and matchmaking platform.
PheedLoop
Best for: Organisers running a mix of in-person, virtual and hybrid events who want one event management system across all three.
RSVPify
Best for: Registration, ticketing and check-in handled in one place, with a try for free button on its page so you can test it first.
Sched
Best for: Conferences and professional development events built around a busy programme of sessions that attendees plan their day from.
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Whova
Best for: Event apps paired with event management, for organisers who want attendees using an app throughout the day.
Event platforms at a glance
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Airmeet | Events and AI video | Events alongside video, podcasts and other content |
| Brella | Networking and matchmaking | Booked meetings and matchmaking between attendees |
| Cvent | Enterprise events | In-person, virtual and hybrid events plus webinars |
| Eventzilla | Event management | All-in-one event management with a sister webinar product |
| Glue Up | Association management | Associations that run events as part of membership |
| Grip | Networking and matchmaking | AI-powered attendee networking and matchmaking |
| PheedLoop | Event management | In-person, virtual and hybrid event management |
| RSVPify | Registration and ticketing | Registration, ticketing and check-in |
| Sched | Conference scheduling | Conference schedules and professional development events |
| Whova | Event apps | Attendee event apps with management tools behind them |
Questions to put to any event platform before you sign
- Who does the registration form belong to: can you edit fields, add approval steps and handle group bookings yourself?
- How does check-in work on the day, and does it still work if the venue wifi drops?
- Is the attendee app branded as your event, or as the vendor's?
- Can attendees request and accept meetings, and can exhibitors see who they've met?
- How do session changes reach attendees once the programme is live?
- What can you export after the event: attendee lists, session attendance and meeting data?
- Which tools does it connect to, such as your CRM, email platform and payment provider?
If a sales call can't answer these clearly, ask for a sandbox account and build a small test event. Ten minutes of clicking through a registration form tells you more than a slide deck. For a wider look at sign-up tools on their own, see this guide to event registration software.
Moving your next event without losing attendees
Switching mid-season is where organisers get hurt. Registrations already taken, discount codes already shared and confirmation emails already sent all have to keep working, so the safest moment to move is between events rather than during one.
- Export every attendee list, session list and speaker record from your current platform before you cancel anything.
- Rebuild one small event on the new platform first, such as a webinar or a members' evening.
- Test the full attendee journey yourself: register, pay, receive the confirmation, check in and open the app.
- Recreate your email templates and confirmation wording so returning attendees see familiar messages.
- Only then move your flagship event, with your old account kept open until it's over.
If part of your programme now runs online, compare dedicated virtual event platforms too, because some do the online part better than an all-rounder.
My advice for event organisers
Start with the one moment that matters most to your attendees. For a ticketed show, it's the speed of booking and check-in. For a conference, it's the schedule in their pocket. For a trade event, it's the meetings they leave with. Pick the group that serves that moment, shortlist two tools in it, and run a small event on each before you commit your main one.
Be wary of buying the biggest platform just to be safe. Enterprise suites do a lot, but if you only need registration and check-in, you'll pay for training and set-up you never use. And if networking is the reason people come, a general platform with a meetings tab bolted on won't feel the same as a tool built around matchmaking.
Do you make event management or registration software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
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Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between event registration software and an event app?
Registration software handles sign-ups, ticketing and check-in. An event app lives on attendees' phones during the event, showing the agenda, speakers, maps and messages. Some platforms do both, but most lead with one.
Do I need a matchmaking platform for a conference?
Only if meetings between attendees are a big reason people come. Trade events, investor days and partner summits often need it. A teaching conference with set sessions usually gets more from a strong schedule app.
Can I move attendee data from one event platform to another?
Usually, yes, through a spreadsheet export and import. Export everything before you cancel your old account, and check that the new tool accepts your custom registration fields.
Is association management software the same as event software?
No. Association software runs memberships, renewals and communities, with events as one part. It suits member bodies that run regular events, not standalone conferences.
How long does it take to switch event platforms?
It depends on how many events you run and how much you customise. Plan to rebuild one small event first, test the attendee journey end to end, and move your main event afterwards.
