Best Virtual Event Platform (2026): 10 Platforms Compared

A virtual event isn't a long webinar. People come for the sessions but stay, or leave, because of what happens between them: whether they meet anyone useful, find the exhibitors they wanted, or get lost in a clunky lobby. That's where these platforms differ most.

I've listed ten alphabetically and in no particular order, with descriptions from each platform's own site, re-checked today. Several are quote-led, so I've kept the free plan column to what each site shows. If your event is really a big webinar, my guide to running a webinar for thousands of attendees may be the better starting point.

Virtual event platforms side by side

The free plan column sticks to what each platform's site states. Yes means a free plan you can keep using. Trial only means a free trial, sometimes arranged through sales. No means a demo or a quote request is the way in.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Airmeet	Virtual event platform	Webinars and virtual conferences	Trial only
BigMarker	Webinar and event platform	Teams running webinars and virtual events	Trial only
Brella	Networking event platform	Matchmaking and meetings between attendees	No
Eventcube	Ticketing and virtual events	A free plan with ticketing built in	Yes
EventMobi	Event app and virtual platform	Associations and corporate event teams	No
PheedLoop	Modular event software	Choosing only the modules you need	No
Remo	Networking virtual events	Mingling at virtual tables	Trial only
Swapcard	Event and networking platform	Conferences and trade shows with exhibitors	Trial only
vFairs	Virtual fair platform	Career fairs, expos and conferences	No
Whova	Event app for conferences	Conference organisers wanting an attendee app	No

Ten platforms for online and hybrid events

Airmeet

Best for: Marketers running virtual, hybrid and webinar events that scale up to 10,000 attendees, starting with a free trial or a custom quote.

BigMarker

Best for: Teams that run both webinars and virtual events and want Basic, Enterprise or larger tiers, with trials available by contacting sales.

Brella

Best for: Organisers who want networking and matchmaking at the centre of the event, with virtual booths for partners, through a demo with the team.

Eventcube

Best for: Organisers who want a free Starter plan for ticketing and virtual events, including selling tickets for sessions hosted on Zoom, Teams and other platforms.

EventMobi

Best for: Associations and corporate event teams that want an event app and virtual event platform for conferences, arranged by request with a demo.

PheedLoop

Best for: Organisers who want modular event management with a virtual portal, picking the modules they need and requesting a custom quote.

Remo

Best for: Organisers who want attendees to mingle at virtual tables on a floor plan, with a free 14-day trial and no credit card required.

Swapcard

Best for: Conferences and trade shows that want exhibitor and networking tools for virtual, hybrid and in-person events, with a free trial on the Starter plan.

vFairs

Best for: Career fairs, expos and conferences that want a virtual, hybrid or in-person event platform, reached through a demo since it has no free plan.

Whova

Best for: Conference organisers who want an attendee app and platform for in-person, hybrid and virtual events, through a quote request and a demo.

What Microsoft Learn says Teams can already host

Before you add a new platform, check the one you may already have. Microsoft Learn's planning guide for Teams events says that with Teams Enterprise, organisers can host events for up to 1,000 attendees with attendee microphone, camera and interactive features, and up to 3,000 with large-event chat, reactions, raise hand, polls and Q&A. It also supports up to 10,000 attendees in a view-only experience with Q&A. An add-on licence, the Attendee Capacity Pack, scales events up to 100,000 attendees, and Microsoft recommends its Teams Events Services for events above 20,000.

What it means for you: if your event is mostly talks plus questions, and your organisation already runs on Teams, you may not need anything new. A dedicated platform earns its place when you need what a meeting tool doesn't do well, such as attendee matchmaking, exhibitor booths, ticketing, a branded lobby or the reports your partners will expect.

Matching the platform to the event

• Conference with sessions and exhibitors: look for exhibitor tools, an agenda and an attendee app.
• Networking event: tables, matchmaking and one-to-one meetings matter more than the stage.
• Virtual fair or expo: booths and a lobby that's easy to find your way around.
• Ticketed public event: ticketing comes first, and the stream can sit on a tool you already have.

A run-through plan for event day

1. Write down the one thing attendees must leave with.
2. Shortlist three platforms that do that one thing well.
3. Run a small internal event on a trial or demo account.
4. Test joining from a phone, a work laptop and a slow connection.
5. Rehearse the full running order with every speaker.
6. Brief exhibitors and partners on their booths a week ahead.
7. Collect feedback and attendance data the day after.

What attendees remember afterwards

• Who they met. One useful conversation outweighs three extra sessions.
• How easy it was to join. A fiddly login colours everything after it.
• Whether sessions started on time. Online audiences drift away fast.
• What they could watch again. Recordings extend the life of the event.

And if you've never run one, start with how online events and webinars work before you plan a full conference.

Do you make a virtual event platform? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice before you book a virtual event platform

Start with the event's purpose. If it's talks and questions for an audience already inside your organisation, check what Teams or your current meeting tool can do first. If networking, exhibitors or ticketing are why people will come, shortlist the platforms built for that and run a real rehearsal on each.

Be wary of booking a big platform for a small event. A free plan or a trial will show you quickly whether attendees can find their way around, and that matters more than a long feature list.

Frequently asked questions

What is a virtual event platform?

It's software for running online or hybrid events, usually with sessions, networking, exhibitor spaces, an agenda and reporting, rather than a single video call.

Is there a free virtual event platform?

One platform on this list shows a free Starter plan, and several offer free trials. The rest are quote-led.

Can I run a virtual event on Microsoft Teams?

Yes. Microsoft Learn says Teams Enterprise supports interactive events of up to 1,000 attendees and view-only events of up to 10,000, with an add-on for larger audiences.

What's the difference between a webinar and a virtual event?

A webinar is usually one session with a presenter and an audience. A virtual event often runs several sessions with networking, exhibitors and an agenda.

How do virtual events handle networking?

Some platforms use virtual tables, some use matchmaking and booked meetings, and some rely on chat. Pick the style that suits your audience.

Do these platforms support hybrid events?

Several on this list mention hybrid and in-person events as well as virtual ones. Check how the in-room and online audiences interact before you commit.