Sched Alternatives (2026): 8 Event Platforms for Organisers

Event software gets judged on one morning: the first day of the conference, when the registration queue either moves or it doesn't. Sched covers registration, scheduling, event websites, apps, check-in and reporting for conferences, education programmes and professional development, so any replacement has to carry the same load without wobbling. Here are eight event management platforms, alphabetically and in no particular order, with the full list first and the groupings after it.

Eight Sched replacements from A to Z

Each line is based on what the vendor says about its own platform. Nothing here is ranked.

Accelevents

Best for: Organisers running in-person, virtual and hybrid events from one platform, with registration, badge printing, agenda management and an event app named by the vendor.

Airmeet

Best for: Marketing teams whose events live on video; the vendor also lists podcast recording, streaming and AI clip creation alongside event hosting.

EventMobi

Best for: Planners who'd rather assemble modules than take one fixed bundle, with the vendor stressing support from experienced people as part of the offer.

Eventzilla

Best for: Smaller organisers who mainly need registration handled well; the vendor's line is more sign-ups with less work, plus attendee engagement in one place.

Grip

Best for: Trade show and conference teams for whom the meetings are the point, since the vendor describes an AI event platform for networking, matchmaking and lead generation.

PheedLoop

Best for: A small team running a big event, which is exactly who the vendor says it built for, covering registration, check-in, badges and mobile apps.

Swapcard

Best for: Events with exhibitors to look after, where the vendor puts registration, the event app, exhibitor tools and AI matchmaking on a single platform.

Whova

Best for: Conference organisers who want the attendee app at the centre, with online registration, event management and event marketing help, as the vendor describes it.

How the event platforms compare

Tool	Platform type	Good for
Accelevents	All-in-one event platform	Registration, badges and agenda across event formats
Airmeet	Video-led event suite	Virtual events, recordings and clips from one suite
EventMobi	Modular event software	Picking only the event modules you need
Eventzilla	Registration and attendee management	Getting registrations in and keeping attendees engaged
Grip	Networking and matchmaking	Trade shows where meetings and leads matter most
PheedLoop	All-in-one for small teams	Small teams running large events
Swapcard	Event platform with exhibitor tools	Registration, app and exhibitors in one platform
Whova	Event app and management	Engaging attendees through an event app

What organisers should check on attendee flow

Every platform on this list promises registration, an app and reporting, so those words won't separate them. What does separate them is the attendee's path through your event. Follow one imaginary delegate from the moment they see your event page to the moment they leave. How many screens does registration take? Can they build a personal agenda, find the people they want to meet and message them? How fast is check-in when two hundred people arrive at once?

Then flip to the organiser's side. What do you see afterwards: who attended which session, which exhibitors got meetings, which sessions emptied halfway through? That reporting is what you'll use to sell sponsorship packages and plan your next programme, and it's where tools differ most once the shiny app screens are out of the way. Run the same real event setup through each shortlisted platform, even a small internal meetup, before you commit.

Matching the platform to your event format

Small teams running everything themselves

PheedLoop says plainly that it's built for small teams running big events, which makes it worth a look if two or three people handle registration, badges and the app between them. Eventzilla keeps its focus on getting registrations in and attendees engaged, so it suits organisers whose main headache is the sign-up process rather than complex exhibitor management.

Networking and matchmaking first

If the value of your event is the meetings it creates, look at Grip and Swapcard. Both talk about AI matchmaking, and both are aimed at events where attendees, sponsors and exhibitors want to find each other quickly. Trade shows and B2B conferences tend to get the most from this style.

Apps and modular event tools

Whova puts the event app and attendee engagement at the heart of things, with registration and marketing help around it. EventMobi takes a modular approach, so you choose the pieces you need. Accelevents covers registration, badge printing, agenda management and an app across in-person, virtual and hybrid formats, which helps if you run a mix of all three.

Video, virtual and recorded content

Airmeet comes at events from the video side, with streaming, podcast recording and AI clips alongside event hosting. It's a natural fit for marketing teams who want each event to produce content they can reuse for weeks afterwards.

Advice for conference and PD organisers

Pick the platform that fits the events you run most, not the biggest one on your calendar. If most of your year is workshops, training days and professional development sessions, an all-in-one tool built for small teams will feel lighter than a trade show platform. If your flagship event lives or dies on exhibitor meetings, matchmaking should be top of your list even if it makes the smaller events feel over-equipped.

Ask every vendor for a sandbox you can set up yourself, and invite a few colleagues to register as attendees. You'll learn more in an afternoon of that than from any sales call. For more options, see my guide to conference management software and my round-up of virtual event platforms.

Moving your sessions and speakers across

• Export your full session list, speaker bios, photos and room assignments before your current contract ends.
• Rebuild one past event in the new platform first, so you spot missing fields before a live event depends on them.
• Check how attendee data comes across, and tell past attendees if their details are moving to a new system.
• Test badge printing and check-in with real hardware, not just the demo screen.
• Brief exhibitors and speakers early, since they'll need new logins and may need to update their profiles.

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

Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.

Frequently asked questions

What should an event management platform include?

Most cover registration, an agenda, an attendee app, check-in and reporting. Beyond that, look at networking, exhibitor tools and video, depending on the events you run.

Do I need a separate event app?

Not usually. Most platforms here include an app for attendees. Check whether it works well offline and on older phones, since venue Wi-Fi is often patchy.

Is AI matchmaking useful at small events?

It helps most at trade shows and larger conferences where attendees can't meet everyone. At a small meetup, a simple attendee list and messaging often does the job.

Can one platform handle in-person and virtual events?

Several can. If you run hybrid events, test both sides with real people, because the virtual experience is often weaker than the in-person tools on the same platform.

What data do event organisers need afterwards?

Attendance by session, check-in numbers, exhibitor meetings and feedback are the usual basics. Agree what you need before the event so the right fields are captured.

Do privacy rules apply to attendee data?

Yes, and they vary by country. Check the data protection rules where you and your attendees are based, and ask each vendor where data is stored.